Tascam 246 Portastudio, Mic Input Question

[Rich Smith]

I want to fire up a Tascam 246 Portastudio (Cassette) for the first time and the Owner's Manual is a little vague about the microphones I can plug directly into it.

Question #1:
If I use a mic that needs "Phantum Power", do I need a to run it through a preamp before it hits the 246 mic input?

Question #2:
If I need a preamp, can you please give me a few recommendations? I expect to need 2-mic's (vocal + acoustic instrument).

Question #3:
Any problem with using a Large Diaphram mic with phantum power on Track 1; and something like a Shure SM57 for the acoustic instrument on Track 2?

Thanks,
Rich

(Sorry to be so lame about this stuff, but I haven't recorded since the 60's on Reel-to-Reel.)

[pehjott]

1.no,all you need is something like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_pps2.htm -->external phantom power
and cables: http://www.thomann.de/gb/cordial_ccm_5_fp.htm
2x http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnake..._xlr_patch.htm


2.i would use the 246 inputs,they can sound very good (for cassette)

3.no problem.you can use anything.like condenser mic into input 4 and recording to track 1 and at the same time recording on track 2 with input 2,3 or 1,it doesn't matter.you can record on 4 tracks at the same time with numerous inputs,mics,cables whatever.

ask when you don't understand me.

[arcaxis]

Since you're in the US, take a look at a Guitar Center for one of these...

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringe...30-i1129177.gc

I had bought a used Tascam DP-01 recorder and the guy included the unit above. It works OK, doesn't seem to affect the sound, and it's cheap. As the poster noted above you'll need a cable to take the XLR out of the phantom power unit to the 1/4" in of the 246. Hopefully the GC guys can set you up with the right ones.

[szmola]

Hi! I will ask here because it's similar question and it's a same Portastudio.
I started to record on 246 and I really like that sound but I think some compressor and effect like reverb could help. I am new in recording world so I apologize if question is not concrete.
Can anyone recommend some equipment that should work nice and it will fit to it. Like racks, processors, compressors, effects, mics?
I am really into that old school, retro sound, mostly all genres close to punk and new wave from the 70's and 80's so if you know what was using in that time?

Thanks!

[Rich Smith]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. That's the info I needed.

I plan to record clean 3 1/4"ips 2-track live masters on the 246 and mixdown to a Tascam 122 MkII. I still have a working 1-channel tube Fender Reverb from the 60's, to work through. The Fender worked really well on direct mic input to the old Akai reel-to-reels. I hope it works as well on mixdown from the 246 so I can keep the masters clean.

I'll work the playback through my home stereo...a beefy old Quadraplex amp and four 3-way 12" Apollo speakers. 40 years ago we'd compare final mix down volume and equalization through something cheezy that would replicate a car radio. This was necessary to avoid overproducing something that only sounded good on a big home system. Ha! I wonder if anybody does that kind of thing anymore?

I don't have any modern equipment. But a friend keeps telling me to at least let him digitally copy the masters for later use and mixdown. Well.... maybe.

Thanks again,
Rich