four track question

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goodshipp

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I'm a long-time musician, but just starting out in home recording. I'm looking to stay lo-fi, but want something I could make a playable demo on. I'd like to use a cassette-based recorder for budget purposes. What models do you recommend and what are the best aspects of them?
 
it might actualy be cheaper to go digital, The last one I used was tascam porta studio it was ok. They go for around 100 bucks you can get a comparable interface for the same amount.

Noone accepts tapes anymore anyways it would be cheaper to duplicate too.
What kind of equipment do you already have?

Your going to need a mixer if you go analog yamaha mg10 is good and around $100 it might sound better by itself tho. You should just get that and a mic and use your pc, Theres free programs like reaper and cd burners are dirt cheap.
 
hmm all honesty I never used any sort of portable studios like that, but I heard tecam's are pretty good bang 4 your buck like this
but what I have personally done for a short period of time was just hook up a cheep bherenger mixer and sent the "tape out" to a tape deck, which worked ok, but no multi track capabilaties, so basicly what came in your stuck with (unless you have 2 tape decks, than I sugest):

hook up one tape deck too one of the channels of your mixer. and hook the other tape deck to the "tape out" rca jacks, you record onto the one, then swich the tapes in the tape decks and play it back, you will have some controll over the "overall" sound of the after mix, which will be re-recorded on the other tape deck.

this is probably verry confusing (and much more difficult thatn it should be) but thats the only experience I had using tape recording. but in all honesty, If you don't already have a mixer and a tape deck or 2, I'd advise with going with something like the tescam. (or yamaha or whatever)

hope this helps!

Nick_Black

Edit: dirtyp seems to have a better awswer than me. lol
 
Dude my band would never be caught dead recording anything less than digital. if youre not the shit, then why bother thats what I always say dude.
 
What do Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Woodie Guthrie, Muddy Waters, and every musician who recorded more than ten years ago have in common?

They all recorded analog. So unless your band is better than all of them, kindly shut the fuck up.
 
I use to record in analog with no problems it seems simpler, but this is when digital studios cost thousands I didnt realy have a choice.
I dont realy like dealing with plugins, software, etc more of a hardware guy but even from a budget perspective if you have a pc, burner, might as well go digital your halfway there and with the amount of free programs and digi selling sometimes cheaper it seems like a no brainer.


if you go analog you need ---stereo,mixer,4 track , mic....
Digital ---pc, daw, interface, pre , mic....
If it was still the days of the multi track I might tell you otherwise.

Tell us what equipment you have, budget, and instruments your plan on recording....
 
Nalencer said:
What do Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Woodie Guthrie, Muddy Waters, and every musician who recorded more than ten years ago have in common?

.
Click to expand...

Ummm, quite a few of them are dead?? :confused: :rolleyes:

Pink FLoyd in Particular was a very "State of the art" band. Its pretty inaccurate to compare these guys and a technology that didnt exist then.

To the original poster:

There are digital units like Boss and Fostex to be had for cheap. They work like 4track cassettes yet record digitally. They would be worth checking out.
 
...

I agree that the Tascam 414mkII is a good unit for the money, at $249 brand new.

Even better may be a used/like-new Tascam 424mkIII off eBay, which sell for average of $150, depending on the day.

That's for new and like-new/used equipment that's reasonably priced. However, if you wanna dig deeper, there are many worthy vintage Tascam Portastudios, (244, 246, 464, 644), but the rub with vintage gear is that it's harder to find them in v-good condition, although I know for sure it can be done if you shop carefully.

So,... to maximize value and minimize risk, I'd say the short list is a new 414mkII or a new/barely used 424mkIII. I have both, so I know they're worthy. :eek: ;)
 
When recording at locations other than my studio/practice room I use a Yamaha MT20 cassette deck. It's a lot easier to haul around than my pc. When I return home it is easy to download the 4 tracks to my pc, remix, then burn to cd. This works fairly well for recording live situations and I even use it in the studio when someone wants to record analog. The main drawback is finding CR O2 tapes anymore. High bias tapes will work and they wont hurt the deck but they are a little noisy. I bought my deck used for about $100 which at the time seemed like a good deal. I have a Fostex 4 track too, but it only records 2 tracks at a time (I don't use it much.)
 
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Yamaha MT-20?

...................... :confused:

The Tascam 414mkII and 424mkIII record up to 4-tracks simultaneously, for when the need arises. The 424mkIII has the best mixer of the two, but the 414mkII is functional enough. :eek: ;)
 
Get a Tascam 424 mkII or III. You'll eventually end up going digital, but having the 424 handy is always great for sketching out ideas, etc. Not to mention, it's a very easy way to get into recording, without worrying about computer BS. With this, the only only other gear you'd need is some mics and cables, tapes, and something to mix the final mixes down to - another tape deck, DAT, minidisc, stand-alone CD burner, a computer with a CD burner, etc.

You don't need a seperate mixer - not sure why several people have said that (until you get into condensor mics, because the 424s don't offer phantom power, but don't worry about that for now).
 
thanks

Thanks for the many responses.

I'm in a band, but am more interested in home recording for my own ideas. I have acoustic and electric guitars, a bass guitar, drum set, mics and lots of cables. I also have an old DJ mixer for turntables that has 2 channels.

I also have a laptop with a cd burner and a home stereo system with dual tape decks. I don't have a lot of room on my laptop to use it for much recording or downloading more programs and plug-ins.

I was teetering b/w the tascam II and the $99 fostex. I've read that some four tracks don't use standard cassettes....what kind would you use and where could you get them? I would prefer to be able to use standards.
 
myhattbroke said:
Dude my band would never be caught dead recording anything less than digital. if youre not the shit, then why bother thats what I always say dude.
Click to expand...


He said he wanted to go analogue...it's a matter of prefernece for this guy, not functionality.
 
myhattbroke said:
Blah blah blah.
Click to expand...

Note that this is myhatTbroke - some troll, imposter, loser. He/she/it is just posting stuff to get a rise out of people.
 
DavidK said:
Ummm, quite a few of them are dead?? :confused: :rolleyes:

Pink FLoyd in Particular was a very "State of the art" band. Its pretty inaccurate to compare these guys and a technology that didnt exist then.

To the original poster:

There are digital units like Boss and Fostex to be had for cheap. They work like 4track cassettes yet record digitally. They would be worth checking out.
Click to expand...


I have a Fostex MR-8 which I have had for 3 years. Very easy to use and gives very respectable recordings.
 
wilko said:
I have a Fostex MR-8 which I have had for 3 years. Very easy to use and gives very respectable recordings.
Click to expand...
Yup, they are easy to operate, relatively affordable and good quality.
 
I was teetering b/w the tascam II and the $99 fostex. I've read that some four tracks don't use standard cassettes....what kind would you use and where could you get them? I would prefer to be able to use standards.[/QUOTE]

Most cassette tapes are Ferous Oxide (FE O2) and most 4 track recorders are designed to use Chromium Oxide (CR O2) tapes. Chrome tape holds up to the higher speed much better and is quieter for recording. It will not harm the deck to use standard tape but you will need to clean the heads more often and you will probably get more hiss. High bias FE O2 tape works fairly well.
A lot of people seem to put down the use of 4 track recorders but I find mine to be very usefull, especially when working out ideas and writing. Use good mics, record at the highest speed, keep the heads clean, and remember to use fresh tape. You can erase and reuse tapes a few times (4-10 times, depending on the quality of the tape) but tape looses a lot of sensitivity when you reuse it. Chrome tape will hold up to 50-100 uses but it's getting hard to find, you can't get it at Radio Shack any more.
 
I still use & love my Yamaha MT100. It's good - there are better out there. I often do basic tracks to it & then upload to cakewalk Pro Audio 9.3 for OD's & mixing.
The one downside in Australia is the increasing difficulty buying decent 60min Chrome cassettes. I have quite a bundle but it took time to find them & money too.
A so so sound card & a free multi track prog would be almost as cheap as a 2nd hand cassette machine.
Try the analogue only forum for more up to date info ideas.
Don't be put off - tape can be VERY VERY good even in the form of a 4 track cassette machine.
Good luck.
 
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