Best cassettes to use for a MF-P01 Portastudio?

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Dingoman53084

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JUST got a TASCAM portastudio, mf-p01. Everything I've read has told me that you can use standard recordable cassettes, but is there any kind of minimum standard? What have you guys found are the best tapes to use? I just bought some Maxell normal bias UR, IEC Type I. Thanks everyone.
 
Yo Dingoman on the Outback:

Most any name brand cassette will work. I always used Sony when I was using a 488 eight-tracker.

Type II high bias tape like Sony UX PRO was my favorite brand. [NOT METALLIC]
UX PRO may be difficult to find. TKD or any other major brand should work.

1. Do NOT use 90 minute tape to record.
Use 60 minute tape.

2. If you have a speed control dial on your unit, keep it set at its FASTEST setting--this will give you better fidelity.

Clean the heads of your recorder often. You can buy a cleaning kit or buy a cleaning Cassette. Some folks don't go for the cleaning cassettes as they might wear the recording heads; I've used them for years and have had no problem; however, I don't record to tape anymore except for a quick demo of something.

Cheers,
Green Hornet :D
 
You'll need Chrome - Type II tapes for the MF-p01, minimum.

Ferric- Type I tapes will definitely not sound right on any Tascam Portastudio.

There is no external speed control on the MF-P01, so don't sweat it.

I'd agree, to try to find 60 minute cassettes, (Maxell XLII or TDK SA). 90 minute tapes may be more readily available, but I've found signal response on 90 minute cassettes to be a bit uneven and spotty.

However, if selection of Type II tapes is limited and all else fails, get yerself some Maxell XLII 90's and have fun!

;)
 
Thanks a ton for the responses, they helped a lot. This is an amazing resource for a newbie like me... cheers guys!
 
PS: Maxell XLII 90's seem to be the most common Type II tapes to find...

at Walmart and the corner market,... & that's why I use'm,... but I've been increasingly critical and unhappy with my latest few batches of XLII 90's, especially after stringent record-response tests in the "lab",... heh.

I believe the c-60 cassettes to be a sturdier tape stock, with a bit thicker oxide layer, that would lend itself to more even frequency response, end-to-end,... than c-90's. I have other stocks of Maxell and TDK C-60's, but I have limited time to test tapes and tape decks, or for recording in general.

However, if XLII 90's are all'ya can find, and it's convenient, then get'em and use'm. I do,... and I'd certainly not recommend anyone do anything that I'd not do myself!!

Hear my Portastudio-related recordings at:
http://www.soundclick.com/davemania

Thanx & good luck!

;)
 
The best sound from tapes I got on my 488 MKII was Quantegy brand. I only used two, Quantegy and TKD SM-60 "Pro", and I could and still notice a difference in favor of the Quantegy cassette. My subjective opinion.
 
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