A
Axis
oompa loompa
Are there any cassette mulitrack recorders or analog recorders out there that are fairly cheap (under $1000 but preferably $500 or less)?
C
chessparov
New member
Axis, would you prefer the better sound quality of a reel to reel
or the convenience of a cassette multi-track?
I just got a Teac 40-4 4 track 1/4" reel to reel and although it
was worth it for me there's a certain amount of additional
maintenence compared to getting a cassette unit.
Kind of like deciding to get a dog or a cat for a pet if you know
what I mean If you're just writing songs and making rehearsal tapes you may prefer going cassette-the sound quality is pretty good BTW. Guitar Center was "blowing out" Tascam 424 MKIII"s for about $330 recently, it's a nice 4 track cassette recorder.
You can pick up reel to reel recorders on e-bay for under $500.
Good luck on your search!
or the convenience of a cassette multi-track?
I just got a Teac 40-4 4 track 1/4" reel to reel and although it
was worth it for me there's a certain amount of additional
maintenence compared to getting a cassette unit.
Kind of like deciding to get a dog or a cat for a pet if you know
what I mean If you're just writing songs and making rehearsal tapes you may prefer going cassette-the sound quality is pretty good BTW. Guitar Center was "blowing out" Tascam 424 MKIII"s for about $330 recently, it's a nice 4 track cassette recorder.
You can pick up reel to reel recorders on e-bay for under $500.
Good luck on your search!
A
Axis
oompa loompa
i forgot to mention something which i probably should have done at first. I already have a 4 track (portastudio 02mkll) and im trying to get more tracks atleast 6 without having to bounce tracks. Im using these tracks for my band's and my demo's.
C
chessparov
New member
Axis, do you have access already to a good digital 2 track like
a DAT? That way you could record on the 4 track you have and
"bounce" it to DAT and back to your recorder to open up more
tracks, rather than spending more $$$.
a DAT? That way you could record on the 4 track you have and
"bounce" it to DAT and back to your recorder to open up more
tracks, rather than spending more $$$.
BrettB
Well-known member
U sure ou want an analog multitracker. Maybe you're tired of hearing this, but there are some great digital machines on the market....
A
Axis
oompa loompa
I have a dual deck cassette multitrack right now. I don't really want to get into digital. What I have been doing is recording on 3 or 4 tracks mixing those recording onto track 4 and so on and so on but it doesn't come out stereo.
C
chessparov
New member
A "el cheapo" way instead of using a DAT is to use a Hi-Fi
VCR as a two track. There's plently of info on how to use one
via the search button and I think Dragon's info on it is still
available on the home page (last time checked anyway).
If you have the time, inclination, and space for an eight track
reel to reel though, you can make some really fat sounds with
it. You should be able to get one along with a decent mixer
ala Mackie VLZ series for well under $1000 BTW.
You could use your present 4 track to rehearse so that you less
reel to reel tape for your important recordings.
Two good other good websites for analog users besides this one
are www.tascam.com and www.tapeop.com
VCR as a two track. There's plently of info on how to use one
via the search button and I think Dragon's info on it is still
available on the home page (last time checked anyway).
If you have the time, inclination, and space for an eight track
reel to reel though, you can make some really fat sounds with
it. You should be able to get one along with a decent mixer
ala Mackie VLZ series for well under $1000 BTW.
You could use your present 4 track to rehearse so that you less
reel to reel tape for your important recordings.
Two good other good websites for analog users besides this one
are www.tascam.com and www.tapeop.com
P
Pirateking
New member
Search for a Tascam 488 on ebay, I payed $300 for the Mk. I, it should cost pretty close to that for the Mk. II. It's a cassette 8-track, the last one that Tascam is going to make, supposedly. I like mine.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
For less than $1000 get a digital multi. They blow the doors off crappy casette multis.
Sorry to say but, yes, all casette multi tracks are crap.
Sorry to say but, yes, all casette multi tracks are crap.
P
Pirateking
New member
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
You're a fucking moron!
Anyone who can make a broad generalization like that and be serious about it is a fucking moron!
I can't help but notice that the original question was a request for info on "any cassette mulitrack recorders or analog recorders." By definition, a DIGITAL multitrack recorder is not a CASSETTE multitrack recorder or an ANALOG recorder. Moron.
You're a fucking moron!
Anyone who can make a broad generalization like that and be serious about it is a fucking moron!
I can't help but notice that the original question was a request for info on "any cassette mulitrack recorders or analog recorders." By definition, a DIGITAL multitrack recorder is not a CASSETTE multitrack recorder or an ANALOG recorder. Moron.
C
chessparov
New member
Tex, although I certainly know you're not a moron(!),
there are plenty of examples of even cassette multi-tracks
providing GOOD ENOUGH sound quality for commercial releases.
While objectively the sound quality of digital is better in the
"technical" sense, sometimes due to a song's vibe, etc.,
a warmer lo-fi technology like cassette can be more effective.
Examples would include Springsteen's "Nebraska" (needed mucho
mastering though!), Guided By Voices' various releases, etc.
In addition, as you may know, the layout of a portastudio is more
immediately intuitive than scrolling through menus on a computer,
or a "studio in a box"-although the Tascam 788 seems pretty easy.
BTW, the early Tascam portastudios like the 238 (8 track) are
generally considered superior to the present model 488.
The trick is to find one with either low use or well maintained.
If you can find one with dolby that's supposed to be better than
the dbx noise reduction-model 238S, they don't come up for sale
too often though at e-bay!
P.S. I hope Pirate's comment was just missing the smiley face
icon!
there are plenty of examples of even cassette multi-tracks
providing GOOD ENOUGH sound quality for commercial releases.
While objectively the sound quality of digital is better in the
"technical" sense, sometimes due to a song's vibe, etc.,
a warmer lo-fi technology like cassette can be more effective.
Examples would include Springsteen's "Nebraska" (needed mucho
mastering though!), Guided By Voices' various releases, etc.
In addition, as you may know, the layout of a portastudio is more
immediately intuitive than scrolling through menus on a computer,
or a "studio in a box"-although the Tascam 788 seems pretty easy.
BTW, the early Tascam portastudios like the 238 (8 track) are
generally considered superior to the present model 488.
The trick is to find one with either low use or well maintained.
If you can find one with dolby that's supposed to be better than
the dbx noise reduction-model 238S, they don't come up for sale
too often though at e-bay!
P.S. I hope Pirate's comment was just missing the smiley face
icon!
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
I will go to the grave defending my statements.
I am all for capturing the right musical moment on whatever you have. But if you are going to buy something new why not get the best quality you can afford?
Nebraska is a great album but you cant tell me it doesnt sound like shit.
ANYTHING sounds better than an analog casette multi track. I would sooner record live to a VHS deck.
I am all for capturing the right musical moment on whatever you have. But if you are going to buy something new why not get the best quality you can afford?
Nebraska is a great album but you cant tell me it doesnt sound like shit.
ANYTHING sounds better than an analog casette multi track. I would sooner record live to a VHS deck.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
Even though he specificaly asked for an Analog recomendation I just wanted to mention digital because maybe he doesnt know how cheap it's gotten.
C
chessparov
New member
Hey Tex, but I LIKE Bob Dylan's voice! (60's/70's that is)
Best is not always better IMHO.
O.K.-so even an expensive multi-track was used, at least it was
analog. Oops- I'm validating your point!
My main point is just that whatever format you like that keeps
you working on songs and/or performance without feeling
too distracted is the "best" one (ever try a Roland VS series?)
For myself even though I have an objectively better 4 track
(Tascam 564 minidisc), than the Tascam 244 recently plucked
from e-bay, darned if those VU meters don't look cool.
Plus when talking to the senior tech at Tascam, he informed me
that the recording heads can typically last over 5000 hours.
Not too bad for "obsolete" technology. It even makes a decent
mixer for the Teac 40-4 if the recording portion of the 244
croaks! The technician said the effective frequency response goes
up to 18Khz BTW, although it "hears" up to 20Khz +/- 3db BTW.
Best is not always better IMHO.
O.K.-so even an expensive multi-track was used, at least it was
analog. Oops- I'm validating your point!
My main point is just that whatever format you like that keeps
you working on songs and/or performance without feeling
too distracted is the "best" one (ever try a Roland VS series?)
For myself even though I have an objectively better 4 track
(Tascam 564 minidisc), than the Tascam 244 recently plucked
from e-bay, darned if those VU meters don't look cool.
Plus when talking to the senior tech at Tascam, he informed me
that the recording heads can typically last over 5000 hours.
Not too bad for "obsolete" technology. It even makes a decent
mixer for the Teac 40-4 if the recording portion of the 244
croaks! The technician said the effective frequency response goes
up to 18Khz BTW, although it "hears" up to 20Khz +/- 3db BTW.
King Elvis
New member
I record on a VS-880ex, but I started off on a Tascam Porta 07 4 track. When I listen to some of those tapes that I made using outboard effects I am just amazed at the sound quality. I would not go back to using a cassette multi but some of my old tapes make me sit back and say "how the hell did I do that??" Great stuff!!
C
chessparov
New member
King Elvis, thanks for taking my "VS" comment in stride!
BTW, as a fellow (huge) Elvis fan, here's a quote from Johnny Carson,
"If life was fair, all the Elvis impersonators would be dead and Elvis
would still be alive". Of course if you DO Elvis impersonations it's meant as
tongue-in cheek only!
Actually there is a way to fool most people when a recording was done on
cassette rather than digital-don't tell them. Just hand them the final CD
and be done with it! Keeping in mind the average adult's hearing only goes
up to about 16Khz......
BTW, as a fellow (huge) Elvis fan, here's a quote from Johnny Carson,
"If life was fair, all the Elvis impersonators would be dead and Elvis
would still be alive". Of course if you DO Elvis impersonations it's meant as
tongue-in cheek only!
Actually there is a way to fool most people when a recording was done on
cassette rather than digital-don't tell them. Just hand them the final CD
and be done with it! Keeping in mind the average adult's hearing only goes
up to about 16Khz......