I got a a multitrack cassete recorder from a friend I helped move

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kennyxloggins

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Thing is my knowledge of what it is and how to use it stops there. If anyone could enlighten me and let me know if the thing is worth using I would be more than obliged
 
Well, furnish us with some details. Your question reads like "My friend gave me a car. Is it worth using ?".
Don't mean to sound harsh, but details oplease. What make is it ? How many tracks ? What kind of condition is it in ? Has your friend told you anything about it ?
Oh, and welcome to HR !
 
It's a Yamaha MT4X four track cassette recorder. Aside from a little bit of dust it's flawless. Its only been used to record my friend's brothers a few times.
 
IMHO technology has improved so much since then that I would say it's almost pointless to screw with it. Cassette tape?! Not gonna mess with it. If you really want to record, look into a small interface (read the sticky post in this forum "intro to digital recording"). If you just want to mess around with an old piece of technology and have some fun - go ahead and play with it - 4 mono tracks, pretty limited. (I would have loved to have one in 1988...)

If you are so inclined you can find out more about it here: https://homerecording.com/bbs/general-discussions/analog-only/yamaha-mt4x-95981/

GL HTH
 
There are lots of people still using similar recorders. What is your aim in doing home recording? What instrument(s) do you play and have? You are going to need more equipment than a recorder - microphones, monitors, headphones.
 
Friend? Some friend...

You realise he may have set you on the path to financial ruin by opening up the Pandora's Box of home recording... :laughings:

What you really need to make it work properly is some good quality preamps... and a mixer... and some microphones....

Everyone here is poor.... put the recorder down and walk away quietly.. shhhhh..... ;)
 
I've never used the yamaha stuff but have used fostex and tascam machines for many, many years. Once I started taking it somewhat seriously, the results were pretty good. I see no reason why you shouldn't try it out and see what you think.

I'm assuming based on your post that you're entirely new to this, so the MT4x could be a good, simple way to try out mutitracking without investing too much. Long term, it probably isn't much of a solution though.

To track with that machine, all you need is a dynamic mic. The pre-amps will be quite usable.

Finding good quality blank cassettes is getting to be a bit of a pain though.

To mix down a finished product in stereo though, you would need either a stereo cassette deck, a stand-alone cd recorder, and/or some way to connect to a pc for cd burning.
 
My first recorder was a fostex 4 tracker (1985). Loved that rig and used it till I wore it out. Heatmiser has pegged it, I think--good rig to cut your teeth on, but pretty limited for serious endeavors.
 
Armistice said:
Friend? Some friend...

You realise he may have set you on the path to financial ruin by opening up the Pandora's Box of home recording... :laughings:

What you really need to make it work properly is some good quality preamps... and a mixer... and some microphones....

Everyone here is poor.... put the recorder down and walk away quietly.. shhhhh..... ;)
Click to expand...

I spent the past few days before and after I posted on here looking other peoples studios on here and youtube. It seems all on really needs now is a decent computer, mics, and an interface to get the ball rolling. That being said I still wouldnt mind messing around with this thing for come kinds of music I do before I get a few 12 core macs and make a fort out of them because they are so cheap. Any suggestions for a decent preamp and mixer?
Btw, you guys rule
 
Ha! Funny this thread comes up 'cause I just dug out my old Fostex 280 circa 1990 and have been transferring my recordings to digital. These things must be built like tanks 'cause it still works perfect. Even the transport runs at close to the same speed, I can play along no problem and still be in tune.

Like others have said, good luck finding tapes. Also a head demagnetizer probably wouldn't hurt. I remember I let mine go for too long and ended up having this annoying static click added to one of my tapes every few seconds. A demagnetizer fixed this up. I wonder if you can even get them anymore?
 
kennyxloggins said:
Any suggestions for a decent preamp and mixer?
Btw, you guys rule
Click to expand...

Read this https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...ltitrack-computer-interface-recording-323561/

You really only need a hardware mixer to play live. A good interface will work as a basic mixer, there are also interfaces that are also a complete mixer. You can get something decent for $350 - $600 depending on what exactly you want to do and how many tracks you want to record simultaneously. Preamps are built into the interfaces, if you want to get fancy check the mic forum and be prepared to spend a lot of money :P

as ArmiStarmi mentioned you will spend all your extra money and probably some you don't really have on an equipment addiction...
 
The MT4X is actually easier to operate than an equivalent Tascam. I would say it's worth bothering with if you want to get your feet wet in home recording before you shell out a ton of cash on computers, software, and other gear.
 
mjbphotos said:
There are lots of people still using similar recorders. What is your aim in doing home recording?
Click to expand...
This is really the key question, the wheel on which this whole line of enquiry and advice turns. You've been somewhat vague in saying exactly what your aim is and how far or serious you want to be ~ at least in intent.

heatmiser said:
Once I started taking it somewhat seriously, the results were pretty good. I see no reason why you shouldn't try it out and see what you think.

I'm assuming based on your post that you're entirely new to this, so the MT4x could be a good, simple way to try out mutitracking without investing too much. Long term, it probably isn't much of a solution though.

To track with that machine, all you need is a dynamic mic. The pre-amps will be quite usable.

Finding good quality blank cassettes is getting to be a bit of a pain though.
Click to expand...

clivus said:
My first recorder was a fostex 4 tracker (1985). Loved that rig and used it till I wore it out. Heatmiser has pegged it, I think--good rig to cut your teeth on, but pretty limited for serious endeavors.
Click to expand...

TetraFish said:
These things must be built like tanks 'cause it still works perfect. Even the transport runs at close to the same speed
Click to expand...
I'm currently in the process of remixing a ton of songs that I've recorded down the years on an 8 track cassette. Because I also record digitally, I get the current practical benefit of both. I used the cassette for 17 years before the switchover and for what it is, I think it's great, especially if you're right at the start of your recording life. It will teach you lots of things that will come in good stead as you go on. I'll never knock cassette portastudios although I think 4 tracks is too limiting. I thought that even as a beginner, hence the move to 8 track. Even that has become limiting.
That all said, and believe me, I'm one to champion any way when it comes to recording, we live in the digital age now. It annoys me that things like your machine aren't part of the ever expanding cache of recording, choice has been taken from us. That's just the way it is. They don't make analog portastudios anymore so those that use them can never buy new again, run the risk of, if something goes wrong, having a hard time finding someone that can repair said item, if you find someone at all; as has been pointed out, cassettes are not so easy to find {although they can be found ~ there are still some specialist outlets}. I soooo want to disagree with Arcadeko on this because I want to encourage anyone with a cassette to just go for it..........but when all is said and done, if you really want to record your own stuff, it makes so much more versatile sense to either go with a digital standalone {sort of the digital equivalent of what you have been given, but much better and more powerful} or the kingpin, the computer.


The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
and I sink to a watery grave.....
 
When I upgraded from a Tascam 488 cassette multitracker to a Yamaha AW1600 DAW I found that the 488 was far easier to use and understand what was happening. I was playing with it (the 1600) so infrequently that I had to relearn the damn thing every time I used it, which caused me to not want to use it. Now that I'm committed to recording as my main hobby I know the machine and no longer have this problem and would never go back to tape. But the 488 was fun and easy to use and a great starter tool.

I would say play with that 4-track without spending much, if any, money and see if you even enjoy it. You can always upgrade later if it becomes a passion.
 
robbieaz62 said:
When I upgraded from a Tascam 488 cassette multitracker to a Yamaha AW1600 DAW I found that the 488 was far easier to use and understand what was happening. I was playing with it (the 1600) so infrequently that I had to relearn the damn thing every time I used it
Click to expand...
I've used the 488 so much that initially, the workflow was so much easier than the Akai DPS12i. Even now, it's very easy to use and particularly with effects, once I worked it out it seems so simple. But as I've used the DPS12i for a couple of years now, it's become simple to me. I remember, every time I used the DPS 12i initially, I had the manual with me. A recording session was at least one quarter me reading and trying to work out how things went ! Now I never need to look at it.
 
I started with a Yamaha MT100 - brilliant thing for its time. I STILL use it too. Sometimes the sound, the preamps etc are just right. You'll need to get your hands on some chrome cassettes. If you can do that you'll be sweet. The manuals are easy enough to find online. The tapes less so.
Uinsg 4 tracks certainly sharpens your objectivity and should make you think about what you're recording & in what sequqnce. You can do more than 4 tracks through ping ponging.
Don't reject it until you've had a fiddle - great way to learn & VERY portable.
You can record into the yamaha & then upload indiv tracks or stereo pairs into a computer.
I did a song last year entirely on the 4 track: two guitars, bass, drums & percussion - took a couple of pings & some planning/thought but it came out well enough for my stuff.
Chrome tapes, NR engaged & on high speed - clean the heads between projects with fluid & demag as well and clean the capstans too (for the cleaning aspect I use a cotton bud dipped in metho). When demagnetising you'll need to turn in record off & the volume to 0 or you'll blow things up.
Great fun & some good stuff can come of it. Remember - the Beatles cheered when they moved UP to 4 tracks!
there's a mixewr built into the machine.
 
Plenty of love for cassette based multitrack systems - as has been said here - a great introduction to recording for very little money and limited head scratching.
This is the original "plug n play"
Have fun!
 
First off I want to thank everyone for posting, you are all extremely helpful and motivating.
I ordered some tapes on ebay but before I got a few suggestions of what I should have gotten so they might not be the greatest (high bias xll2 90). my goal is for now is to just have some songs I've written on some format rather than forgetting them. Is there going to be anyway of getting these on my computer am i going to need a bunch of stuff?
 
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