Help me choose a Cassette Deck!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter KaoticMentality
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KaoticMentality

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Ok, so I am looking into buying a cassette deck so I can try a new technique of recording by hooking it up to my powered mixer record inputs. I have a list of cassette decks I am interested in, but I do not know anything about them. Which brands to stay away from, which are good, etc. So I want some people with experience to help me on this one. I will give a list of the ones I am interested in, and you tell me which ones to stay away from and which I should go for.
JVC KD-D10J Stereo Single Deck Cassette Player
Sankyo STD-1850 Single Cassette Tape Deck Player
SANYO RD W59 DOUBLE CASSETTE DECK
Sansui D-X119W Dual Double Cassette Deck
Pioneer CT-W630R

Any advice on which one to get?
 
Look for a Nakamichi. The best cassette deck I ever had.
 
I just want to know what this "new technique" is...

Otherwise, Nak is certainly a top brand, any of the nicer Tascam decks (102's, etc.) are nice. Most of the good ones are nearly impossible to find anymore (because even the best ones sort of suck).
 
Massive Master said:
I just want to know what this "new technique" is...

Otherwise, Nak is certainly a top brand, any of the nicer Tascam decks (102's, etc.) are nice. Most of the good ones are nearly impossible to find anymore (because even the best ones sort of suck).
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It's just a new technique to me. Instead of hooking up mics to an interface, you plug each mic into a seperate channel powered mixer. Connected to the powered mixer is a cassette deck (my powered mixer has RCA inputs specifically for a cassette deck that say "Rec" above them, idk if all have it) U then record onto the tape, then convert it to CD or mp3 and put the track on ur computer into the software. Im going to test it out with one or two mics to see how well it works. Just experimenting. :)
 
I found a NAKAMICHI 500 CASSETTE DECK for a good price. I noticed the Nakamichi's were more expensive. You think that is a good model?
 
KaoticMentality said:
It's just a new technique to me. Instead of hooking up mics to an interface, you plug each mic into a seperate channel powered mixer. Connected to the powered mixer is a cassette deck (my powered mixer has RCA inputs specifically for a cassette deck that say "Rec" above them, idk if all have it) U then record onto the tape, then convert it to CD or mp3 and put the track on ur computer into the software. Im going to test it out with one or two mics to see how well it works. Just experimenting. :)
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If your goal is to waste your money and end up with tracks that sound like total ass then you will not be disappointed.
 
Just buy an interface for Christ sake! Unless your into things like communicating via pigeon mail or reading stone tablets. :D
 
If you're looking to get "tape" sound, you're not going to get it from less than 1/32" per track @ 1-7/8 IPS.
 
jimmys69 said:
Just buy an interface for Christ sake! Unless your into things like communicating via pigeon mail or reading stone tablets. :D
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Maybe interfaces with enough channels to record drums cost a shit load and i can't afford one right now.
 
Hopefully that mixer's RCAs are OUTPUT, otherwise you won't be sending any signal to the cassette deck! Input is for sending a signal TO the mixer.
If you can't afford a multi-channel mixer good enough for all the drum mics at one time to your DAW, then use the mixer to send a stereo signal to a 2-channel (affordable) interface. Recording onto a cassette is just going to get you a crappy sounding drum mix!
 
jimmys69 said:
Well an interface that will be 100 times better than the tape deck approach you are planning for $60 is a start in the right direction. lexicon alpha - Recherche Google

Tascam US1800 only $300. Product: US-1800 | TASCAM

Get one of these instead of playing around with a cassette deck that you will quickly realize is worth nothing much more than to play old cassettes on. :D

Jimmy
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^ This!

Messing with cassettes today is a waste of time and effort. You'll QUICKLY reach it's limitations and be bored..

If you're planning on spending any money on this project, I'd recommend you just stash it away and save some more until you can buy a proper interface. Consider used.......Craigslist can be your friend!
 
Yeah, that Tascam interface looks like a pretty good deal. I know tapes have their limitations and wont sound to well, but I saw that CD recorders also can work with the RCA outputs. That quality will be better. Right? (I plan on getting more professional eqipment once I learn more and get more $)
 
Don't waste your time on a CD recorder! Do you have a computer with a CD burner? You can download Reaper (recording software) for free to try out. A 2-channel interface can be picked up for under $150 - under $100 if you ship craigslist/ebay. Or save a little more and get a 4-channel or even an 8.
 
Does anybody know where I can get a Wow-and-Flutter plug-in? Or a Hiss plug-in? I can do the cross-talk and bleedthrough with the mis-alignment plug-in I already have . . .

Or should I just save time and effort and $$$ and just EQ the mix?

I really need to find that mojo plug-in . . .

Paj
 
My M-Audio 2496 Audiophile card was $100 brand new.

I have a working dual-well auto-reverse JVC cassette deck with Dolby B, C, and HX Pro that I may be willing to trade for something cool if you really must have one though. :D
 
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