Super newbie with some questions

[Nostalg]

Hello I received TASCAM MF-P01 for free and I've decided to give this thing a try. I have nothing else except for the MF-PO1.
I'm sorry for being such a newbie but I have no knowledge on this stuff at all so I have a few questions. If you could help me out that would be great!

Here are my questions.

1. What are the basic things I'll need to record with it? Anything extra that might help?

2. What cassettes do I need to use? Where would I get them? (ebay maybe?)

3. What would I use to "mix down" the tapes to one cassette or one side ? And how would I go about doing this?
Something I'm confused about is: Am i recording 4 things to one cassette or what? I'm not even really sure what mixing down is.

4. My brother has a sampler (sp 303). Is there any way to record samples onto the cassette. For example.... maybe a small dribbling of water in the background or something like that.

Thanks!

Edit: There are 2 last questions posted at the end of the thread.

 

[CFox]

Hi, it takes standard cassettes.

Just find a mic with the right connector and plug in and raise gain.

Plug in the out put from guitar fx pedal to get your amp sound.

Mixing down ? You are recording 4 tracks yes, this does need to be mixed down to play on other systems. You can record the output into your computer through the line in port.

Here is the manual and a bonus "Beginners guide to recording" start there


Remember, Google is your friend.

 

[leaningpine]

1) just a microphone and cord should get you started.

2)I always heard also to use chrome or metal oxide cassettes as they have more headroom and higher dynamic range. Also record at 3 3/4 IPS for higher fidelity.

3)You use one side of the cassette to record 4 tracks. You can't flip the tape over or all the sound will play backwards. If you want to mix down just hook up your recorder to a computer or stereo and record your mix that you made to the computer or another tape deck or cd recorder.

4)You can run the sampler directly into the mic input of the recorder on any of the 4 channels.

 

[Farview]

2)I always heard also to use chrome or metal oxide cassettes as they have more headroom and higher dynamic range. Also record at 3 3/4 IPS for higher fidelity.

You can only use metal oxide tapes in players made specifically for it. If you don't know that it can use them, don't use them. Those tapes act like sandpaper on heads that weren't made specifically for them. It will ruin them in a quick hurry.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

You can only use metal oxide tapes in players made specifically for it. If you don't know that it can use them, don't use them. Those tapes act like sandpaper on heads that weren't made specifically for them. It will ruin them in a quick hurry.

Metal oxide (Type IV) tapes require a higher bias voltage than high-bias (Type II) or normal (Type I) tapes. Metal and high-bias tapes also require 70µs bias while normal required 120µs bias. All of the cassette based multi-trackers that I ever used required Type II. I don't recall hearing anything about head wear with metal tapes.

 

[TetraFish]

From the manual....

Only use Type II (chrome or high position)
cassettes with the MF-P01.

 

[Nostalg]

Two more things and I'm good to go.
For cassettes is High Bias and High Position the same thing?

And what does it mean when I'm buying a cassette with "5 minutes per side"? It says the time is 10 minutes though.

And that is all. THANK YOU all so very much for your help.

 

[TetraFish]

And what does it mean when I'm buying a cassette with "5 minutes per side"? It says the time is 10 minutes though.

Say you buy a 60 minute cassette, the 4 track uses the whole tape going one direction so there is no side a and side b. So a 60 minute casette is only 30 minutes in a 4 track.

Some also have a pitch control that will run at double speed so that cuts a 60 min cassette down to 15 minutes. I don't think that's the case with this unit though.

 

[grimtraveller]

Two more things and I'm good to go.
For cassettes is High Bias and High Position the same thing?

And what does it mean when I'm buying a cassette with "5 minutes per side"? It says the time is 10 minutes though.

And that is all. THANK YOU all so very much for your help.

I always used to have fun trying to explain how the cassette gets split into 8 (I have an 8 track) and only runs one way and so a C90 would only play for 22 and a half minutes etc, etc. Those blank "I wish I hadn't asked" stares !
If you go here, in addition to Foxy's manual and the other advice, you'll get help from folk whose lives are dedicated to all things analog and tape based.

By the way, that pitch control is true technical gold dust ! May it serve you well......