Bobby Darko
New member
i've been recording for a few months on a tascam 688 now, and i just love it! If you want to keep it low-budget and use those cassette tapes you bought, go for a 688. It's a great machine...
GemSmith said:Thanks again for all the great info guys... this thread has continued to evolve in very cool way.
As far as 1/4" tape goes, what brands/types do you guys prefer? Is there a particular kind that offers good quality for an affordable price?
Is there a good place to buy it online?
Also, I've been looking at cleaning/demagnetizing supplies, and I found this kit by S&R Audio on eBay.
Has anyone used the products in this kit?
GemSmith said:Thanks for the tip... I just ordered the one you suggested, as well as the head cleaning and roller cleaning fluids, and 1000 swabs from USRM...
If I've learned anything about analog from my experience with vinyl playback, it's that GOOD cleaning products, anti-static, etc. make a HUGE difference!
I think this supply of cleaning stuff ought to last me at least a few years!
FALKEN said:whoa....not sure how the han-d-mag is going to work on your porta.
you'll be surprised how fast you can use it up.
GemSmith said:Crap... really? Why won't it work? Is the han-d-mag too big or something?
Never having used any kind of demag device before, I guess I didn't really know what I was doing... If it won't work with the 424, I'll save it for when I eventually get a 388 and buy one that will work with the 424.
cjacek said:GemSmith: I know that some will disagree here but I am of the thought that the Han-D-Mag is just too strong for a cassette based recorder. It's too powerful period. In fact Nakamichi recommended against its use for its cassette decks. I'm also of the thought that one should demagnetize only when there is a problem, when you know your tape path is actually magnetized. Demagnetizing often can actually leave the tape path magnetized. I'd opt for no demagnetizing and only have it done periodically by a professional when you have your machine serviced or when the heads and tape path came in close proximity to other magnetizing objects.
Case in point: I just bought an Annis magnetometer, checked my TASCAM 388 and TEAC 3440, both of which I never demagnetized and the result was: no magnetism!
As for cleaning fluids: you could have just bought some cheap isopropyl alcohol (at least 90% and perferably 99%) for the metal tape path parts and got a rubber cleaner from www.caig.com But you don't want to treat the rubber pinch roller frequently, perhaps just once to restore the roller's grip and former look and do it only when that has strayed, which may be many, many months. Other than that, just use dampened with water lint free cloth to clean the tape residue from the pinch roller when you do your head and tape path cleaning with the alcohol. Also make sure to use q-tips that have a wooden or paper handle and no plastic.
A Reel Person said:PS: I forgot to mention the Tascam 48 & 58 in the line of 1/2" 8-tracks. They'd be contemporary with the 38 model, but higher end, respectively.
cjacek said:GemSmith:
Case in point: I just bought an Annis magnetometer, checked my TASCAM 388 and TEAC 3440, both of which I never demagnetized and the result was: no magnetism!
cjacek said:Case in point: I just bought an Annis magnetometer, checked my TASCAM 388 and TEAC 3440, both of which I never demagnetized and the result was: no magnetism!
FALKEN said:i don't doubt this....but the manual usually recommends a degauss every 10 hours or so.
SteveMac said:Reel, Do you know why those models seem to be more rare than the 38 and the TSR8? I'm guessing they came somewhere inbetween the two? Also, any features they have that maybe make them better or worse?
FALKEN said:i don't doubt this....but the manual usually recommends a degauss every 10 hours or so.
SteveMac said:Reel, Do you know why those models seem to be more rare than the 38 and the TSR8? I'm guessing they came somewhere inbetween the two? Also, any features they have that maybe make them better or worse?
SteveMac said:Yes, I've read that too. And sometimes they're pretty emphatic about it. I guess I just don't like demagging. I always feel like I'm doing nothing.