tascamtascam 424 mkiii and multritrack cassette in general

[pewing33ny]

I just got a tascam 424mkiii multitrack recorder and I've been having problems with the different tracks. If i have a tape with stuff already on it is there a way to erase it without just recording over it with nothing.

[overseas]

Yeah, you can erase the entire tape by purchasing or borrowing a bulk eraser. It's essentially a giant electromagnet.

Bruce

[Seanmorse79]

Those work very well. Radio Crack sells them pretty cheap. Keep it far, far away from anything important though (like computer, other tapes, any type of magnetic media).

[esactun]

Yup, a bulk eraser (sometimes called a degausser) will do the trick.

Your post wasn't clear, so forgive me if this sounds dumb, but: Rremember that a degausser will erase the entire tape--if you just want to erase, say, track one, you'll have to record over it with silence (or another take).

Also, if you don't expose it to the degausser for a long enough time (or from too far away) there will still be "ghost" sounds on the tape (quiet, screwed-up versions of what had been on the tape). I haven't used one in close to a decade, but seem I recall that 30 seconds or so on each side of the tape will suffice.

Like Sean said, keep the thing far away from anything magnetic. I'd add credit and debit cards to his list, probably microphones as well. And keep it away from your belt buckle!

[pewing33ny]

u guys have really helped me. thanks esactun because i also wanted to know how to delete just 1 track.

[esactun]

You're welcome! And welcome to the BBS.