Favorite 4-track!!!!!!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter little z
  • Start date Start date

Favorite 4-track

  • Tascam 424 MKII

    Votes: 57 28.8%

  • Tascam 424 MKIII

    Votes: 56 28.3%

  • Tascam 414 MKII

    Votes: 25 12.6%

  • Fostex X-34

    Votes: 5 2.5%

  • Fostex X-18 or is it X-7???

    Votes: 3 1.5%

  • Tascam 488

    Votes: 30 15.2%

  • Tascam porta07

    Votes: 22 11.1%
  • Total voters
    198
one more question?

... in using a tascam 246, what would be the best way to get a signal to the 1/4 inch inputs from a mic without compromising the signal (as with an adapter). are there some good reasonably priced mic pre's that would work well with this machine? and if there are, would this be just as good as good as the signal with on board xlr ins (like on the 424 mk II). i know i may be nitpicking here (after all, cassette recording does have it's limitations), but i would like to learn as much as i can.
thanks- jv
 
I have more gear, not pictured, including...

246
564 MD Portastudio
Porta-One
Fostex- various
etc.
 
My Yamaha MT4X analog 4 track had three-band equalization on every channel. Tons of features. Kicked my Tascam 424's ass for sound quality and features, but I have to admit the Tascam was less intimidating to learn.

I bought the yamaha when my Tascam took a dump but couldn't afford a good digital multitrack. They were still so damn expensive.
 
Ya forgot the best multitrackers ... !!

Why weren't the TASCAM 244 and 246 included ? They are (were) BY FAR the GREATEST and BEST SOUNDING 4 track cassette portastudios in the world! Others in your list can't touch 'em. My vote goes to the 244 and 246.

Daniel
 
i put the mkIII, cus its the newest... but ive been having lots of fun with my original 424.
 
JV, the nicest "budget" pre I've used/owned thus far is the Studio
Projects VTB-1. I think they're still $129 at www.bpmmusic.com

IMHO, the quality of your microphone(s) and pre's make much
more of a difference than the chosen recording format.
(I include the Shure SM57 as a "quality" microphone BTW)
Assuming the "engineer" is halfway competent! :D

My Tascam 244 has a very cool vibe to the sound, in its own way,
I like it as much as the 18 bit digital recorder Vestax HDR6 that's
also in the "collection", which is comparable to a good DAT recorder in sound quality (HDR6 is a 6 track(!)).

Chris
 
You never forget your first: 244.

An 18-bit/6-track? [Yeah, I saw that one].

You're way out on your own little branch of digital evolution, eh chess?;)
 
chessparov said:
JV, the nicest "budget" pre I've used/owned thus far is the Studio
Projects VTB-1. I think they're still $129 at www.bpmmusic.com

IMHO, the quality of your microphone(s) and pre's make much
more of a difference than the chosen recording format.
(I include the Shure SM57 as a "quality" microphone BTW)
Assuming the "engineer" is halfway competent! :D

My Tascam 244 has a very cool vibe to the sound, in its own way,
I like it as much as the 18 bit digital recorder Vestax HDR6 that's
also in the "collection", which is comparable to a good DAT recorder in sound quality (HDR6 is a 6 track(!)).

Chris
Click to expand...

Hey Chris,

Yeah the sm57 is surely a favorite of mine. It's cheap but not cheap sounding ;) . Outperforms most more expensive dynamic mics out-there. The pre's on the 244 and 246 are very clean sounding with a lot of room before distortion occurs .. actually, I have a hard time distoring even when I'm all the way to the red on my 244. Cool preamps to be sure. MUCH MUCH better than the newer portas.

I love my 244 as well, as it was my first "vintage" porta. I was lucky (I emphasize "LUCKY") that I bought it "mint" on eBay - The recording section seemed to have been very minimally used as it looked new. I opened the back and found it very very clean, like new looking, and the belt was still hanging in there. It wasn't very firm but it wasn't loose either. The only marks were on the bottom plastic plate, from moving it around I presume. Anyway, it's simpler to use than the 246 but sounds the same, which means FANTASTIC! I like the sound better than some of the digital portastudios I've tried in the past. I look at the 244 as a stripped down 246 and very much like a 234 but with faders and sweepable eq section. Did I mention I love my 244 ;) .

Daniel

PS: Chris, when did you buy your 244 and for how much ?
 
Reel, as you may remember, my "museum of dormant technology"
also includes;

Tascam 40-4 1/2" reel to reel (gotta use it more for mixdowns!)
Yamaha MD4S minidisc 4 track recorder
(nice, but Tascam 564 was sold in error-thought 564 wouldn't
record on 2 track consumer MD's)

Personally prefer the "sound" of 4 track 1/4" and 8 track 1/2"
over the minidisc format too, although all are nice for demos.
Regard the 234's/244's/246's as perfectly fine for good demos
BTW.

cjacek, paid a total of approximately $400 ($200 for 244,
then $170(+gas $$) for repairs), as the seller misrepresented
the operating condition of it on e-bay.

Very happy with the 244 itself, however, poor thing just needed
a good home.

Chris

P.S. Reel, have been listening again to the "Davemania" CD's,
good job on those recordings! :)
 
Yeah chess, thanx much. Repeat enjoyment in every spin, I hope.

;)
Too bad about the 564 this spring, but remember what I told you? In 12 months, you'll be able to pick up another one at 75% of what you sold it for. A win/win, IMO.

I thought the 40-4 was 1/4" tape.[?]

You know, I saw that Vestax 6-track digi, and I was 'this' close to being a phantom bidder on that. VERY interesting piece, that's for sure. Hey, what's compatibility when you're happy with your format? Anyway, mixdown to analog, or dither, man, dither!;)

Cheers, & happy mixdown. Thanx again./DA;)
 
Yes Dave, I can tell you had fun making the CD's too.

I think the typo (1/2") on the 40-4 was wishful thinking. :D

Chris
 
little z said:
What's your favorite cassette-based 4-track??? Steve :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I do love my TASCAM 464 and use it more than my 424 mkIII. That makes it my favorite. But the BEST? I hear from those folks in the know, the 246. I think A Reel Person is the one who should get to vote 100 times. He's owned and used almost every one.
 
424 mk 3, IT'S COOL i mix down to my pc hard drive, works great!!
if you bounce tracks to and from the hard drive you don't loose alot of sound qaulity.
 
Re: Re: Favorite 4-track!!!!!!!!

DigitalSmigital said:
I do love my TASCAM 464 and use it more than my 424 mkIII. That makes it my favorite. But the BEST? I hear from those folks in the know, the 246. I think A Reel Person is the one who should get to vote 100 times. He's owned and used almost every one.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are quite right. The 246 is the BEST 4 track cassette portastudio.

Daniel
 
mint 244

... i just recieved a mint condition 244 for christmas from my girlfriend. the original owner bought it in 84, messed with it for a day (said he found it too complicated), and stuck it back in the original box for 20 years. it even came with all the original paperwork along with the manual (brochure, etc). it's a bit of a time warp. works great...sounds great.
i already owned a 244 that is in pretty good shape (had pinch roller, heads, and capstan motor replaced). the assignment buttons can be a little fickle at times (might need cleaning), and i think the pots on track 4 need some cleaning. pretty solid machine that now might be looking for a home. if anyone's looking for a 244 for pretty cheap, let me know.
thanks- jv
 
That was a really great score, man!

They just don't make'em like that any more!

Way-cool!;)
 
Fostex 250

The question was best Cassette 4 track, yes?

I bought my Fostex 250 in the mid 80's.


Carl
 
going going gone

... by the way, the tascam 244 is a 4 trk cassette porta... and the one i spoke of selling is gone. thanks to everyone who emailed me about it. i am amazed by how good these old recorders can sound. i have a cubase setup, but spend more time on the 4 track these days.
peace - jv
 
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