I want to record voice and acoustic guitar????

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kmcmichael

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I want to be able to record voice and acoustic guitar at the same time. I was a professional musician about 16 years ago. I did record some stuff on a TEAC 3340 reel to reel. It was simple to do. I want to make some CDs just for fun. I purchased a Tascam US-428 and tried to use it with my computer a Dell Demension 8100. I could only record one track at a time. In my opinion it was waaaay to complicated for me. I finally unloaded to a guy on ebay for 300 bucks. I hated it and told him so, he bought it anyway.

I do not have much spare time. I do not want to take up playing time to learn about how to do this. I do not want to learn about midi or anything like that. I do not want to add anything electronicly I do not even care if it has reverb or echo. I looked at a ZOOM small recorder and it said that it would do a thousand things but it only had one high impedence input. The bad thing about a cassette is that you cannot show it to anyone because no one has them anymore.

Thanks in advance
Kevin
 
kmcmichael,

If you are looking at only recording 1 guitar and 1 vocal at one time you will only need 1 high impedence input for your guitar, you shouldn't require one for your vocals.

The only limititation in the zoom that I can see (I don't own one, I'm looking at it's description on zzounds) is that it only has a 32mb card with it... which wouldn't give you that long of a recording time.

Porter
 
kmcmichael, analog reel to reel recording is not dead.

There is no reason why you can't buy a TASCAM 32-4 or 32-2 and record the way you know how without the additional learning curve.

If it's been awhile since you've checked prices on these machines, you will be pleasantly surprized. They still sound as good as they used to when you were using your 3340.

A machine like those I mentioned and a modest mixer and a couple of nice mics will have you up and running in no time at all.

You can always mix to an internal or external CD burner instead of a cassette deck. ;)
 
???

Porter

How could you record two things with one input?? I do not understand why I would not need an input for my vocal mike?? 32 bytes would be enough for how many tunes??

Sennheiser

I will check into those things that you mentioned I have not idea what they are if they need a mixer and a tape deck or CD burner to work. I still have a SM58 and a SM57 but I have thought about getting a better mike for the guitar as I have a couple of nice sounding Martins but that is way down the road. Could you recommend something self contained. I do not want to give the impression that I knew anything as I remember I just plugged mikes into the tape machine and set the levels just south of redline. The only fancy technique that I remember is turning the tapes around and recording the guitar backwards.........high tech!

Kevin
 
It'll still work that way if you want it to. You don't have to have a mixer to record two mics into a two-track or four-track recorder as long as they have input and output controls.

The TASCAM 34-4 is a four track close relative of your 3340. The 32-2 is commonly used as a two-track mixdown deck for semi-pro use. Both have input and output controls so you can forego the mixer entirely.

I can't recommend an all-in-one analog unit that will give you the sound you are looking for except the TASCAM 388.

The TASCAM 388 is an eight track reel to reel recorder and mixer in one. Uses 1/4" tape. Fairly cheap on e-bay if you mind the auctions regularly. I hear that it is still a very good sounding unit despite it's format and age.

Go to e-bay and search "Tascam". About 11 pages of stuff will come up. You'll find what you want there.

Good luck. ;)
 
Sennheiser

How about those inexpensive Cassette recorders that Tascam sells could you make your recording and do the line out thing to a computer in order to burn a CD??

I will check on the 388. It does not need to be reel to reel for me, if the cassette thing works that will be fine.

Kevin
 
It will work but will not give you the quality of sound you are used to using the 3340. That's why I was recommending the large format.

The cassette based units will work fine, but won't sound anything near as good as large format reel-to-reel.

Take it from someone who has used Porta's for 17 years. I just moved up to 1/2" format a couple of months ago.
 
computer interface

Porter

I believe that this unit needs a computer to operate. The add was vague. That would put me right back in the same boat as my Tascam US-428. ie trying to get an enginering degree! The Tascam was ridicoulously complicated and I do not want to try to interface with a computer again. I appreciate your suggestions. I am leaning towards the cassette recorders at this time.

Kevin
 
Find a used Korg D8, get a good two channel preamp and get to work. It's as easy to use as a cassette ( almost ). I would never go back to recording on cassette with this kind of equipment available so cheap.
 
Heres whatcha do,

Get a Tascam 424 mkII 4-track ($300) and then get a stand alone CD burner or the kind that comes in one of the shelf units that they sell now. ($200 or so I guess) Then get a M-Audio DMP3 preamp. Then sing and play. Need cheaper? Change the 424 mkII for a MFP01 or some other $99 four track, and substitute the preamp for a $80 Midiman Audio Buddy preamp, or one of those $100 Behrninger mixers.

The first solution costs about $700. The second solution about $400. You can now record songs and burn them to CD to show your friends. It will however sound like you recorded it on a 4-track. If you want a lil more clarity in your mix and want it to sound more professional the Korg D-8 suggestion is probably the best way to go with one of the aforementioned preamps. Ive seen em go on ebay used for around $400. Add the cost of the preamps and CD burner and you have an all digital recording with efx. Having 8 tracks for overdubs and other cool efx is not bad either..... Just depends on what you want and how much you are willing to spend.
Later
 
Korg

I could not find out anything about the Korg on thier website. What are these units and why do you need a preamp? They were not desingned for using with a microphone?
 
Yeah they do have built-in preamps, but they are marginal at best.
 
recording acoustics

I am looking at a Korg on ebay now. I have also been contemplating using two mikes on the acoustic. I have heard about different techniques. I am assuming that these are probably over my head but it does make me wonder if I could use more than two inputs? Are dual mikes on an acoustic guitar superflous unless you are more accomplished in recordingology?

I would aslo like to thank you guys for your responses!

Kevin
 
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