After a bit of advice really.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mathews
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Mathews

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Hi,

I have been using my Tascam 424Mk II for a while now as a tool for coming up with ideas for songs and getting the basic framework down. Therefore I have been simply plugging my guitar directly into it, using a pretty dodgy mic and, well not really going for a "quality" sound shall we say. However, I am interested in maybe using it to make better recordings of a reasonable demo standard. Don't get me wrong, I know it is just a 4 track tape recorder so I am not naive enough to think I will get a pro tools, digital standard sound, but I would like to know how to get the best out of it. It should also be noted I am a bit technically stupid (honesty the best policy eh!) so go easy please.

So Compressors (?), mics, and any other stuff you think I should get, as well as tips on reducing hiss and getting clarity in my recordings would all be greatly appreciated.

Oh and in case it makes any difference, the instruments I use for my songs are acoustic and electric guitars, keyboard and sometimes a drum machine and all of these have vocals on.....

cheers in advance for your help
 
I also have a 424 MKII and use a rode NT1 condensor, Shure sm-57 and a behringer mic100 ultragain tube preamp. Not the best preamp but it just serves the condensor with phantom power.

To reduce the hiss use the noise reduction built into the tascam and try and get the best signal levels you can. Dont exceed +6db on it.

Hope this helps
 
Thanks very much. I figure the more info I have the better for me it will be so I really appreciate your advice
 
I think some kind of compression will be useful. This would help you to get a better level to tape by reducing the difference between the loud and quiet bits (aka reducing the dynamic range). When I used to go to tape I used one all the time (in fact still do) especially cos if you overload the dbx it does weird stuff with acoustic guitars.

Good Luck

Orc
 
Oh right cool. Any idea or opinions of what sort of compressor I should get?
 
no ambient noise!!

I have the 414mkii...the first purchase for me was an aphex 107 mike preamp.
This was to boost the mike signal cleanly...the mk414's trim or fader had too much noise for me. The second purchase was a Joe Meek C2 compressor.
This "focused" the acoustic guitar or bass sound as it was being laid down onto the recording. I spent about $100.00 usd on each. Now I'm laying down a focused, clean signal (guitar, bass , vocal) without any background hiss or noise. And maxmizing the dynamic range of the tascam. It took a year to acquire the right used equipment at the right price.
 
This is all really good stuff guys, I can't thank you lot enough.......
 
The best way to get a more professional output out of your Portastudio is to put a more professional input into it. As mentioned already, making use of better quality microphones, pre-amps and compressors to optimize the most of what signal the tape sees is the best method in an electronic sense. After that, it all comes down to your skills as a musician and engineer to perform your parts as best as possible and for that, you must develop the patience to keep redoing a part until you are proud of the performance and make sure that is as mistake free as possible.

When it comes to mixing, try to achieve balance in terms of mixing parts so that all the parts are heard in the mix and that none of them are too harsh, shrill or overly boomy in their eq. Make use of the stereo sound field by panning instruments away from each other; like where you have a rhythm guitar and keyboard playing similar parts, pan them off to to opposite sides of each other so each will gain more clarity. Same thing goes for vocals.

Always keep in mind that most of our older favorite songs, in many cases, were loved because of the music itself, not the quality or fidelity of the recording.

Cheers! :)
 
A favorite technique of mine, is to...

Plug the electric guitar directly into the 1/4" mic/line input on the 424mkII, with the channel and master faders to "7", & Trim all the way to "Line" (CCW) position, EQ-flat. Then, bring up (turn CW) the Trim to a point that you're peaking at 0VU, all the while monitoring on an actual monitoring system,... or phones will do in a pinch. This would be your basic level setting sequence, per the manual.

Next, EQ the line-in direct-guitar signal for best sound over the monitors. Adjust the Trim downward at this point, if necessary.

MUTE the monitors and put on phones. Turn the guitar-Line-In input to "OFF", for the time being.

Use another channel to put a close-mic on the body of the guitar, about 9" from the strings & about 45 degrees offset angle. Set input to MIC and (TRIM) gain to an appropriately hot level (0VU peak) and EQ to taste over headphones.

Then, switch the guitar-Line-In channel back to MIC/Line, bringing it back into the mix. MIX the MIC signal with the LINE signal of the guitar, using the Line-in guitar signal for fullness and the Mic signal for "liveness".

This mic/line mix technique works really well for livening up the notoriously dead sounding line-in sound. I think you have to have a hint of the string buzz/snap/fret-slap/pick-thwack to bring out the live edge ambience of electric guitar/bass recordings.

It's simplest at this stage to keep the PAN on the mic and line-in channels to Center, and the Stereo Buss R/L levels to 0VU (peak), as well as 0VU (peak) on the target track,... while recording your target track in Buss L/R mode.

Mix per the above, with EQ printed to tape. I always try to get the best overall sound to tape in the recording phase, that hopefully needs less futzing around at mixdown time. YMMV.

;)
 
Last edited:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!

Ghost of FM & I think in "Uni-thought"!
:eek:
 
Yeah - but at least you don't think your the pope! :)

Orc
 
carelessorc said:
Yeah - but at least you don't think your the pope! :)

Orc
Click to expand...
I don't think I am the Pope either but due to a silly poll in the Dragon Cave, I have been elected to the position, none the less! :eek: :D

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
I don't think I am the Pope either but due to a silly poll in the Dragon Cave, I have been elected to the position, none the less! :eek: :D

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...
I think it had a lot to do with your avatar.... :rolleyes:
 
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