8 track cassete recorders?

[Vagodeoz]

WTF?!
When I first saw that porta studio 4-track cassete thing I fall in love with the system (and bought my tascam 414mkII a month ago). But now I found out that there are 8 track recorders :S The only one I found was the tascam 488 but it seems to be discontinued.
Was it the only one of that kind? Anyone here has it or has tried it? Was it discontinued becouse splitting the tracks didn't provide enough quality?
I wanna know everything

 

[cjacek]

The only one I found was the tascam 488 but it seems to be discontinued. Was it the only one of that kind? Anyone here has it or has tried it? Was it discontinued becouse splitting the tracks didn't provide enough quality?

There were several 8 track cassette models outthere, including the 488, 688 and the 238 (but that one needed a mixer). While you do get a dip in quality when you record to 8 track (on cassette), I've heard some great recordings made on this track format. They were discontinued, as was analog in general, due to a shift in interest toward digital.

 

[Vagodeoz]

But there 4 trackers that are still being manufactured right? like the tascams? fostex? korg? So why give up the 8 tracks but keep the 4 tracks?
Btw, only tascam made those 8 trackers?

 

[A Reel Person]

No.

All cassette based multitrackers have been discontinued. Any of the new stock on retailer's shelves are being sold as a discontinued item, on a use-til-gone basis. This includes the 414mkII, Porta 02mkII, MF-P01, and of course the 424mkIII and anything before that,... all discontinued.

Don't forget the 488mkII, which was a stark improvement over the 488(std). The 488mkII was discontinued about 10 years ago, though some units may be found used in like-new condition.

 

[A Reel Person]

...

I've done only 1 recording on the 488mkII, with more as yet TBD, but I've found the sound quality to be worthy:...
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5673353&q=hi
Someone told me this sucks, so YMMV!

The thing about 4-track vs. 8-track cassette,... is that each individual track on the 4-track cassette would have more headroom than each individual track on an 8-track cassette, but their overall fidelity should be roughly the same.

Off the top of my head, this specs out to about 98db S/N ratio with dbx on.

 

[A Reel Person]

...

As cjacek said, Tascam made the 488, (488mkII), 688 and 238, but Yamaha also made the MT-8X & MT-8XmkII, which is a clone of the 488mkII.

Yamaha was good at making clone versions of popular Tascam models. They got a lot of mileage out of that.

Fostex never got in the 8-track cassette game, though they were a leader in 'me-too' 4-track cassette Tascam clones, all of which were inferior to their Tascam counterparts, (IMO).

 

[Vagodeoz]

Cool! I have a discontinued product Which by the way has been giving me problems lately I had recorded in track 1 but now it's still recorded but with almost zero volume and sounding totally crappy (like with no highs at all), I can't record yet, I plug the mic and the peakmeters move but nothing gets recorded. Any ideas what might me?
Back to the gearhead stuff, you really are a reel person That recording sounds great, sooooooooooo warm.... arghhh my kingom for a 488mkII hehehe (I never ever though I would want to get rid of my 414 so quickly)
In a few years, when I can afford it, would you advice a 488mkII or a used reel recorder? (reel tapes are no joke to find in bolivia) Even though this isn't that expensive at all...

 

[A Reel Person]

My friend,...

many thanks for the words of support!

I'd start by cleaning the head thoroughly with (min) 91% alcohol and a swab. Clean the "spindle-thing" (capstan) also. Try not to use alcohol on the rubber pinch wheel, as it might cause it to degrade over time. If u really want to clean the pinchwheel, water on a swab should be enough.

Then, your tapes sound iffy, if I'd say so. UD-XLII are 80's vintage tapes, as probably are those other tapes you mentioned. New Maxells are "XLII". Not to say that there's definitely degradation there, but finding new tapes is the best starting or reference point. My 80's vintage archive tapes have held up remarkably well. A lot depends on the environment & how they were stored.

Thanx & good luck!

 

[TexRoadkill]

WTF?!
When I first saw that porta studio 4-track cassete thing I fall in love with the system (and bought my tascam 414mkII a month ago). But now I found out that there are 8 track recorders :S

Welcome to 1986

 

[A Reel Person]

...

Reel recorders are a huge step up in fidelity from cassette. A reel/mixer system is a whole other ballgame than a Portastudio. Reel tape supplies could be a real concern, as that's already a looming issue. New reel tape is still available, though.

Most online US tape retailers probably don't ship to non-US destinations, but it can't hurt to look and inquire.

I've gotten lots of tape here, at reasonable prices. Tape is heavy, so keep shipping costs in mind when buying.

http://www.totalmedia.com/default.asp?CID=-1&OID=-1&bustype=01

 

[Vagodeoz]

Welcome to 1986

I was born in 1987 you know...
And I got into (digital) recording just 2 years ago, when cassette recorders were long discontinued and I am just starting to figure out all the analog part of recording.
It seems like reel recording is too much dreaming at least for now.
Anyway, I can still make pretty good recordings with my tascam 414 (considering bolivia's standarts of audio) and then of course I can always record on cassette and record it back on the pc and mix it with zillions of plug-ins and stuff.
By the way, my tascam 414 records 4 tracks at once, but I can only get out 3 tracks at once: 2 channels through the main mix, and one through aux send 2 (which is pre-fader), to use aux send 1 I have to bring up the fader, which will start sending the signal to the main mix (which I don't want).
Anyone found a way to get out the 4 tracks separated?
Of course I could record 2 and then 2 again, but (afaik) tape speed isn't constant, which wouldn't be so terrible for 4 different instruments, but if you record first the snare and the kick, and then the two overheads, and they aren't at the exact same speed, then we have a problem.

 

[A Reel Person]

And...

this!..............

 

[Seeker of Rock]

All cassette based multitrackers have been discontinued. Any of the new stock on retailer's shelves are being sold as a discontinued item, on a use-til-gone basis. This includes the 414mkII, Porta 02mkII, MF-P01, and of course the 424mkIII and anything before that,... all discontinued.

Don't forget the 488mkII, which was a stark improvement over the 488(std). The 488mkII was discontinued about 10 years ago, though some units may be found used in like-new condition.

And I happen to have one of those MkIIs in immaculate condition...well, litle break on the vents on the upper right side, but immaculately cared for and a fine machine for recording, if I may say.

 

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, I agree.

It's a fine machine!

Seeker, I sent you an email off this board, but got an error screen, so I don't know if you got it?

I hope you caught my recent 488mkII recordings linked off this thread?

Thanx!

PS: could you send me that link again? Okay!