Flash: The Tascam 424mkIII is no longer stocked at MF!

  • Thread starter Thread starter A Reel Person
  • Start date Start date
Oh No!!!!

Is this the Y2K of cassette multitracking????? :eek:
 
Seems to me that Tascam and others no longer producing cassette multitracks is the opportunity for some little guys to start making them for people who still want them. They could make some really cool one’s with features that weren’t there in the “Tascams”. I’d like one made out of metal and wood, instead of fucking plastic. BIG capstans, real EQ’s, good pre-amps, lots of jacks, no circuit board push-buttons etc. I’d buy one.
 
OK, so we'll need an Engineering Dept, Research and Development Dept, Manufacturing and Distribution Center, I think this is the Marketing Dept right here. What else?
 
DigitalSmigital said:
I think this is the Marketing Dept right here.
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You got that right! :)

I think we've done a tremendous job at making prices soar at eBay, for better or worse, promoting "vintage" TASCAM/TEAC stuff for many years now.

~Daniel
 
You'd need a Red Tape Department. And a Committee. :cool:

Seriously, if you built these things, you'd also have to ensure a supply of tape.
 
If Tascam was smart,...

they would come out with a new "446" model, that would address the few shortcomings of the 424mkIII. :eek:
 
A Reel Person said:
they would come out with a new "446" model, that would address the few shortcomings of the 424mkIII. :eek:
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I'm not a big fan of the 414 and 424 line of portas. How 'bout just "expand" on the most robust 246 with all XLR's for mic ins, all metal construction with some nice fake rose wood sidings and instead of push button switches, make them all flip types like on the 244 ? That would certainly make it extra yummy, don't you think ? :D Or better yet, make a cassette and m-308B or m-30 hybrid. That would rock some serious shit, wouldn't it ? :eek:

I think the "vintage look" is certainly making a slow but sure comeback so why not capitalize and go all out ?

On the other hand, why thread new waters when TASCAM/TEAC can just re-release their most popular models (cassette, open reel, mixers etc) ? Is there any good and legitimate reason why TASCAM/TEAC can't just make tiny batches and see if these catch on ? Isn't it worth the rather tiny risk ?

~Daniel
 
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Yeah, id love to buy one of these new Porta's for the people, i'm sure there are enough "diehards" for a small organization to sustain itself.

But someone mentioned this above already - what about the tape??

Jiggz
 
They have already begun to phase out type II cassette at the retail level, sales on existing stock, not ordering it anymore, a real shame. But if there was a need for it, someone would still make it.

Get out into the studio and record something today!

Citizens for the Preservation of Type II Habitat, unite...
 
f'in wallgreens

yeah, the only place that I can find type II's are at wallgreens or some ratshacks nowadays.-I stocked up on 7 pack deals of maxell for about 8 bucks per pack....

as for this typeII extinction talk, naw, maybe from chain retailers, but all in all you'll probably have to start ordering them from somewhere online...oh, well.....

a quick question:

I'm wondering what type of cassettes are those used as the end product from commercial artists...i.e.
Is it a good idea to use say, my old Aerosmith tape that I don't listen to any more in my porta-studio?
 
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No...

you really want the tape to be as new and fresh as possible. I have freinds who won't make a second take when multi-tracking because it won't sound as "clean". :rolleyes:
 
Is it a good idea to use say, my old Aerosmith tape that I don't listen to any more in my porta-studio?
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Most commercial pre-recorded tapes were type I ferric oxide tapes so they would not be good for your Portastudio which is designed to run on type II tapes only.

Cheers! :)
 
you are right. The 424 disappeared from mf several catalogues ago,Thougt it was just my imagination....damn!
 
Flash: Zzounds dot com has the new 424mkIII's back in stock again!! (12/19/04).

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--TAS424MKIII

The web site says "available & usually ships next day", so that's encouraging, but I think these may be the very last ones out there. I've searched the web far and wide, and I've not come up with any brand new 424mkIII's, until now. I'm considering getting a NIB 424mkIII from Zzounds now, as it's likely a limited time purchase.

Zzounds' 424mkIII price of $299, complete including shipping, cannot be beaten, either. Seriously.

We don't know if Tascam will unveil any new cassette Portastudios, going forward, so these new 424mkIII's might be your last chance at high quality, topline new cassette 4-track Portastudios. Zzounds dot com seems to be the only retailer in that carries the 424mkIII any more, at all.:eek:
 
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Ah,...

whew! Thank you!!

We'll just buy the rest of these 424mkIII's, and hold tight for the next cassette Portastudio model from Tascam. We can only hope Tascam has another analog Portastudio to succeed it.:eek:

The 424mkIII at $300 is a huge value, relatively speaking.

I'd say, get'em now, while they're hot. ;)
 
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