best cassette tape for tascam 424??

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clevodrummer

Tascammer
Does anyone have any opinion on the best brand, time recording,etc. cassette tape to use on a Tascam 424MkIII.

I have a bunch of Fuji 90 minute tapes layin around,but I would have to erase them,so Im just going to go buy some new tapes. The manual has a recommendation,but I would rather throw this ? out to the field.

thanks...hopefully gonna start spinnin tape tomorrow evening.

clevodrummer
 
shorter tapes are better - the tape tends to be thicker, and less stretchy, so you'll get less wowwy sounds from that. You also wanna use type II, although I don't know what that means, to be honest. I'm pretty sure that you don't want to use the metal tapes, because they can scratch the tape heads.

I always just buy the 3 packs of whatever it is that radioshed has - 60 min. type ii. With those you can get 15 minutes of music per tape.

You could use your older tapes for demos and creating ideas but anything that you are trying to get a high quality sound for, use a new tape, and the right kind.

Also, if you are new to this, give some thought to how you label your tapes. After you have a few dozen of them, if your labeling isn't good, you can spend all day trying to find the song you want to work on. I always name the tape after the first song on it, then list all the other songs on the tape jacket. Then on my tracking sheet for the song, I note what tape it's on. Works for me. You could just as easily use an alphanumeric code or something too. OK, I've given you way more info than you asked for. Sorry.
 
thanks for the info!!

Thanks andyhix, I really appreciate the advice. I will pick some up at the Radio Shed and use the old one for demos. I really appreciate it, because I am a newbie to the recording universe, and I figured I better star at step#1, which would be what kind of tapes to use. Better to spend a couple of bucks when you consider the amount of time you put in to something like this.

Kind of like the old motorcycle helmet analogy: "gotta ten dollar head,get a $10.00 helmet".


clevodrummer
 
i have a Tascam 488mkII and found Maxell Type II high bias (60 minutes) to be the best. (TDK SM Pro Type II is also very good) I've tried type II tape from Radioshack and they were horrible. I wouldn't waste your time and money. And never use metal tapes and clean your heads after every session :) good luck
 
I usually get the Maxell XLII 60 minute tapes. I've also used Sony CD-IT 60.
They're both high bias.
 
I can't find any other types of type II high bias tape besides the Radio Shack kind. Where do you guys buy your cassettes?
 
Coconuts Music still stocks Maxell high bias tapes. If you have an FYE near you, they may have the tapes also. They are owned by the same company.
 
I'm kinda thinking that the shack sells Maxwells. They are definatley a name brand - Maxwell or TDK - it's not like it's "radioshack brand" tapes. At least not at my local store.

The tip on cleaning your heads with tape cleaner before or after every session in key too. You can get that at the shed as well.

4 tracks are wonderful. You will find your (most important) skills developing pretty quickly, when you aren't bogged down with all the whistles and bells and pains in the ass of computer recording. Not that computers are bad, but I find you can end up worrying about less important stuff, like fx that you don't need, or settiling for the option of "fixing it in the mix." With a 4tk you need to be more concerned with getting a good sound on tape at step 1. Plus it never "freezes up" or gets glitchy.
 
If I had to choose one... TDK SA (or SM) in 60-minute length.

I’ve used TDK SA-60 with all my portastudios since the original TEAC Model 144.

I’ve always had my machines set for the tape, which is as important with cassette as the actual tape you use.

By the way, Radio Shack used to have their own tape manufacturing facility (not sure if they outsource that now). “Super Tape” cassette tape was the worst stuff I’ve ever tried.
 
Beck said:
By the way, Radio Shack used to have their own tape manufacturing facility (not sure if they outsource that now). “Super Tape” cassette tape was the worst stuff I’ve ever tried.
Click to expand...
I can second that. But it was super and it was tape. So they called it...supertape? :eek:
 
Try...

http://www.tape.com
(Type II Retail Packages)

They have a wonderful selection of name brand cassettes there, for very favorable deals. F/I, starting with Emtec CE-II/60's at $2/10-pack!! (and working all the way up to the "pro" cassettes: TDK SM, Maxell MA, including XLII's and almost e'thing in between!!

I've caught Sony CD-It/90's at Walmart. Maxell XLII's are becoming harder to find, but still may be found at many common storefront retailers, too numerous to mention.;) (...but not the Shack).
 
We used Denon tapes when we used the 424. Very few drop outs.
 
MK-Ultra said:
We used Denon tapes when we used the 424. Very few drop outs.
Click to expand...

I used Denon HD7 for a while in the '80s on a 246. I ultimately went back to TDK, but Denon made a great tape.

:)
 
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