Quick 4 track/cassette question

[Serpentine]

Hi,
My friend is giving me an old yamaha mt3x cassette 4-track and I was just wondering if I need a certain type of cassette?
I have a lot of TDK D60 cassettes, will these do the job?
any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks!

this is the kind of tape I have:

 

[ErichS]

Hi,
My friend is giving me an old yamaha mt3x cassette 4-track and I was just wondering if I need a certain type of cassette?
I have a lot of TDK D60 cassettes, will these do the job?
any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks!

this is the kind of tape I have:

The Yamaha specs at the link below call for a Chrome Type II tape. I'm not an expert on cassette types, but I think the ones you have will work but might produce dull sounding recordings.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA...526DETYP%253DATTRIBUTE%2526LGFL%253DY,00.html

I've seen this topic discussed before in the Tascam User Forum, you might want to post this or do a search there

https://homerecording.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=11

 

[Massive Master]

I'd go chrome also (avoid metal, which will be like sandpaper on the heads).

 

[grimtraveller]

I'd go chrome also (avoid metal, which will be like sandpaper on the heads).

Chrome, type 2. Massive's right, metal will kill your head {funny, people said that to me in the 70s when I discovered Deep Purple !!}.
And on a more alcoholic level, make sure you clean your heads with something like isopropyl before and after each use.

 

[dintymoore]

I'd go chrome also (avoid metal, which will be like sandpaper on the heads).

I know that's correct, but I did my first two albums on a Fostex 4 track cassette and I knew you weren't supposed to use metal tapes but we did. The sound improvement over the CrO2 tapes was dramatic. We used it like that for over a year and my feeling was even if it destroyed the tape deck it was worth it because the masters we got were far superior. I can't tell you how much I hated that Fostex, so maybe that was part of why I was ok risking it.

For me I would only consider those 4 tracks as a steeping stone so why not.

 

[dervish riff]

I've had an MT3X since about 1996, definitely get the chrome tape. The next thing would be a small mixer to use in place of the Yamaha's preamps, this will cut down a lot of the hiss and allow you to use some better mics.

This will get you started with a much easier learning curve--no computer problems to trip you up, just get some mics up and make music.

 

[rayc]

I still use a yamaha MT & it's chrome/typeII tape all the way. It's set up for it. You can try other tapes but the results from "normal" tapes will be poor &, as said, metal isn't good for the heads.
Keep the unit flat & level, (tilting can alter the pressure of the head on the tape), use chrome, clean & demag the heads before each new session/use, clean the capstan reasonably often, remember to engage the NR, set the speed for high, set your levels for just in the red, try not to FF or FRW in play mode to much & get a 2 click pedal so you can punch in/out easily.
Oh, the inbuilt pres aren't too bad really but don't over crank them.
Enjoy!

 

[Dani Pace]

I have a MT120 (similar but not exactly the same) and Iv'e tried all types and most brands of tape on it. For best results use chrome II tape, If you can't find chrome tapes High Bias tapes will work if you don't plan to do much track bouncing or reuseing the tapes. Regular cassettes are ok for single use like making copies but get niosy really fast if you rerecord on them. As already mentioned, clean and dry your heads frequently with any type of tape. If you don't have the owner/user manual you may can still download a copy from Yamaha in PDF.

 

[stefolof]

Hi,
My friend is giving me an old yamaha mt3x cassette 4-track and I was just wondering if I need a certain type of cassette?
I have a lot of TDK D60 cassettes, will these do the job?
any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks!

this is the kind of tape I have:

More specifically, you should probably look for TDK SA or Maxell XLII as these are two of the few chrome cassette models still being manufactured.