going over to the dark side

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trevor machine

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Hi all - I need some opinions on 4 tracking. Specifically, whether to make the switch from my current format and multi-tracker of choice - cassette via Tascam 424 mkIII - to digital multi-tracker - i.e. Zoom MRS-4B.

Ideally I'd like some opinions from those who've used both. I'm well aware that there are other options for similar cost and fidelity etc. But right now I have the option of making the above switch. I personally suspect that the Tascam / cassette approach is the one I'll prefer once I get to compare results from that with the Zoom. However, I'd love to get some experienced views.

I've done a lot of stuff on the Tascam and am a huge fan of the cassette 4 track format - both for ease and speed.

The stuff I record covers a lot of ground but the most important ingredients are probably guitar (acoustic and electric), vocals and *some* keyboards. Drums too, of course.

I particularly like the way in which the tascam's pres clip - and I suspect these overloading kinds of signal fudging would be more difficult on a one-box digital multi-tracker. But I'm absolutely no expert here.

Thanks in advance.
 
go with digital.

for all the more your looking to spend go into the digital. i dont think you will not like what you get. i started with tascam analog 4 track, guy in my last band had a digital 8 track and from just using it to track drums for the last album i did the digital is way nicer i thought. i am totally protools myself with a 24 channel mixer now and wouldnt use the digital 8 track again unless i had to but it is far beyond the analog 4 track i would say. but it is always a matter of preference and comfort. when i went from analog 4 to the old protools and old mbox i fell in love with recording at that point and have constantly upgraded everything since when i can. but thats just me. hope this helps!
 
Digital is where its at...when I started interning at the studio I trained at tape was being used half the time...now those machines are put away and tape hasnt been purchased for years.
 
Thanks for the replies. It would be great to hear from someone who has used both the 424 and 464. I guess there aren't many out there.

I'm perfectly happy using cassette, believe it or not. My budget for up-grading is miniscule to non-existent. But, I have to say - and this may cause some eyebrows to raise - even if I was to get rich tomorrow, there's no way I'd ever stop using the 4 track cassette format. I've simply had too many good times, and don't anticipate that changing for quite some time yet. But then, some of my favourite records include Vampire on Titus and The Freed Man, etc.

Also, for whatever reason - one being that I'm old - the prospect of recording using PCs and/or lap-tops is not something that appeals. At all. I think if I did go down the digital route it would probably be via the one box solution, like the I dunno. The 464, but obviously much better.

Anyway, thanks again.
 
If you want to go digital, don't bother with the MRS-4 here are some good reasons:

Uses Smart Media cards, which are obsolete

Software for editing is shaky, no provision for OS X

At this point in time, you'd be better off with a higher end recorder or an interface with DAW. When I had the MRS-4, it sounded good and was easy to use, but having a memory limit of 128 Mb is a major brick wall.
 
I have two 4 track cassette machines that have been collecting dust for years. With the money that you would be wasting on high quality cassette tapes you could purchase a decent soundcard and use the tascam preamps. Once you realize how much faster and easier you can record and edit using a computer you will be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner. Not having the track limitations and being able to use multiple effects chains is fantastic. There is so much FREE software available that you would have to be a fool not to take advantage of it.
 
i used the tascam 234 for years.
but i have to say digital is way easier.
if you're going to go digital, why limit yourself to 4 tracks?
the price has really dropped on all-in-ones and just a little more than what you'd spend on the zoom would get you into a used 8 or 16-track easy.
i know i'm like the devil talking.
 
Stick with using cassette if you like it. I don't know if you'll get a satisfactory sound from digital. Cassettes are still available for a good price.
 
have a look at the Fostex vf16. I've used one for years, they're great. 16 track digital. Now quite cheap to buy too.

I'm amazed anyone's still recording to cassette tape to be honest!
 
The national hi-fi chain Richer Sounds sell SA90s for 75p.
 
I've used both 4 track tape and computers for recording. From my experience I've managed to get fairly decent recordings on either, and by combining the two mediums. I still use 4 track cassette, mostly for a sketch pad now as it is easy to use and far more portable than moving a computer. When I first got into digital recording I used a Yamaha MT 120 for the basic tracks then converted them to the computer, this was easy but required me to pre mix 4 tracks (more if I bounced tracks) down to 2 digital tracks. The results were OK but not as good as what I wanted to achieve. Then I moved on to all digital but still limited myself to 4 tracks (all I had was a 4 chanel mixer) of simultanious tracking. Now I use Pro Tools and am presently using a 16 chanel mixer. I like the variety of applications I can get with an all digital set up, but sometimes i miss the simplicity of the good old 4 track tape machines. The more I work with digital recording, the more comfortable I become with it.
 
If you bounce a lot of tracks, digital will sound better. If you do not bounce any tracks, a cassette running at 3-3/4 IPS will sound better than cheap digital IMO, assuming your tape deck is in good shape.

Digital can sound great, and I've been fooled by recordings that I would have sworn were recorded to tape - only to read the liner notes and see it was all digital. BUT...using cheap (low quality) digital gear, cheap preamps, cheap mics, etc., makes it harder to get a euphonic sound than if you use the same cheap mics into a Tascam cassette 4-track.
 
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