porta one and 424 balanced TRS??

[ikiru]

Ok, I have a friend's old beat up tascam porta one. it has 4 1/4" mic imputs...here is my question. Are they balanced TRS 1/4" imputs? if so i could just make a Xlr to TRS 1/4" cable...if not i think i need a balancing transformer(radioshack)...what about the 424's? (i've been thinking of buying my own 4-track...I know they don't have XLR imputs...but are they balanced? thanks in advance...

[Blue Bear Sound]

If they are TRS inputs, then they are balanced, if they are merely TS inputs, then they are unbalanced. XLR inputs will be balanced...

It is highly unlikely that 1/4" inputs on any PortaStudio-type units are balanced... it wouldn't be cost-effective on such budget-oriented equipment.

Bruce

[Vurt]

The 424 mkII and mkIII both have 4 xlr and tsr inputs.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Actually, I miss-spoke... if they have TRS connections, they MAY be balanced. Or they could simply be inserts...

I just checked the specs at Tascam's site... the 1/4" inputs are NOT balanced...

Bruce

[ikiru]

Thanks guys...as i expected. How good are the mic-pre's on these things...say to a mackie 1202? Should i bother with a transformer or just make some out board mic pres?

[ikiru]

One more thing. what about the mic pres on the 424 mk2 and mk3's? because they got for about double the price of the older 424...Would it maybe be a better plan to just get an outboard mic pre and a 424?

[Blue Bear Sound]

The Mackie pres will blow the 424s out of the water... not even close!

Bruce