Followup: Will Cassette Portastudios be manufactured again?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blue Jinn
  • Start date Start date

Will Cassette Portastudios be mfgd in the future?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 12.5%

  • No

    Votes: 28 87.5%

  • Currently existing units repair supported by new parts

    Votes: 1 3.1%
  • Total voters
    32
Blue Jinn

Blue Jinn

Rider of the ARPocalypse
Followup to the new multitrack thread. Lots of posts recently from cassette based users, and looks like Tascam just recently discontinued the MF-P01. Obviously lower cost overall than an open reel. Thoughts?
 
I said "no" to open reel multitracks because of the cost to produce not being lucrative for a company.

The cassette multitracker is even worse in this regard and (next to) nobody would buy them. A pocket SD card multitracker is more convenient and feature-laden for the end user, and that's the biggest market for such a machine...in a more/better/faster society the cassette multitracker finds little solace. I think they're gone. :(
 
Nope...sold out or NLA from every online retailer I just hit (about 5). They may still have it up on their website, but I don't believe it is being produced anymore.
 
Probably not Cory. I guess they're just clearing out the last of the inventory from wherever they have it and that'll be it for the cassettes. :)
 
I have a Tascam 488 that I've been using since 1992. Because I'm still finishing off a load of tracks, I'll probably have it for a while yet but I've been phasing out and phasing in an AKAI DPS12i. Loved the Tascam but it has simply become too limiting for me. I doubt cassette portastudios will see any kind of renaissance, much less manufacture. I'll probably keep mine for a bit, but only for doing backwards instruments.
 
I cant even find type 2 cassettes any more at radio shack! whenever I find them anywhere I buy all of them. I also got the Korg CR4 (the first and last cassette 4track with built in effects and monitors) and an MFP01 off of Ebay. I WISH I could find a decent condition 424 but they are elusive. I suggest if you find any cassette 4 track someone doesn't use, try to buy it off of them. They are becoming rarer and rarer, and the older they get, the engine that pushes the tape around gets more and more worn out until its just dead with no replacement parts.

:( it's a sad world.
 
No they won't. :( Digital is just too cheap, and most of the kids nowadays have never even seen a cassette much less a cassette 4-track. With several computers in every household, that's always the default choice for someone who's just getting started. And with the kids' familiarity with the way digital things work, you could argue that it would be easier for them to figure out a digital DAW than it would a cassette 4-track. To learn a cassette 4-track, you'd have to crack the manual. For the digital rig, they could surely find a friend to show them (if necessary).
 
I sure hope my 3 688's last a while...but I am pretty sure cassette is dead (commercially). NOt at my place of course!
 
jedblue said:
Fostex still have the X-12

Fostex X-12

I think it's the last one out there.

:)
Click to expand...
I used to own one of those. Used it handful of times then threw the damn thing in a drawer where it sat for 3-4 years. What a waste of a hundred bucks. Stretched the tape something awful. It was impossible to overdub because the backing tracks were so flat. Maybe I was using the wrong cassettes but that thing frustrated me to no end.
 
Bobby Darko said:
I sure hope my 3 688's last a while...but I am pretty sure cassette is dead (commercially). NOt at my place of course!
Click to expand...

Three Hermann, I thought you had two? They must be breeding at night there?
 
If they were breeding I would think there would be a little 644 in there that eventually become a 688...
 
I've still got my dead 244. It's got problems in the transport...just plays for couple of seconds and then stops. I guess it needs a new belt and an idler wheel that's got a rubber edge that's degraded over the years? Bought it used for 50 bucks 3 years ago thinking I'd use it to transfer my old 4 track masters to digital and never got around to getting it fixed. I had bought a brand new 244 when they first came out. Paid 1300 bucks for it back then and thought I was king of the world when I finally go it, after working several months to save up for it when I was just out of high school. I should have kept my original one as it worked flawlessly for years but ended up selling it when I got the reel to reel bug.

Anyway, that's enough reminiscing out of me for one night. ;)

Cheers! :)
 
I have a matching pair of Yamaha MT100s & a horde of Type II tapes (I bought a bundle of 20min tapes a couple of years back) so I'll be able to continue for a while BUT I doubt that the "industry" is interested in it as there's bigger money to be made from interfaces.
 
famous beagle said:
No they won't. :( Digital is just too cheap, and most of the kids nowadays have never even seen a cassette much less a cassette 4-track. With several computers in every household, that's always the default choice for someone who's just getting started. And with the kids' familiarity with the way digital things work, you could argue that it would be easier for them to figure out a digital DAW than it would a cassette 4-track. To learn a cassette 4-track, you'd have to crack the manual. For the digital rig, they could surely find a friend to show them (if necessary).
Click to expand...

Just when---after 15 years of work---I have finally finnished recording my album on my Fostec X 24, and am trying desperately to learn how to convert the music to a digital format I stumble across this sad news! Hey Abuse, would you consider selling a few of those type II cassetts? I will pay top dollar!

Meanwhile, I invite you veterans to read my post on the noob thread (Heres my problem---by Slumberjack)

That is the story of my life: a day late and a dollar short! Nevertheless, I am greatful to the powers that be that I found this site.... it is nothing less than a God-send.
 
bye the way, I voted Yes on the poll, just to be opptimistic! :)
 
Maybe Corey can start his own line of super porta's? I would love to see a cassette 8 track with phantom, solo buttons and inserts on the master bus!
 
They wont make them anymore. Everyone will have to buy one from Dave A REELPERSON
 
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