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statecap
New member
When recording the 424 MK III, do you use DBX and High speed?
Just one or the other or both?
Just one or the other or both?
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Vurt
New member
A lot of people will talk about the compromise of noise reduction, but I've never done anything that has sounded better without it. For a long time I experimented with it On/Off, but after a while, I just left it On. The only time I could see using normal speed would be if you need the extra tape length, or are just jotting things down for future reference.
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statecap
New member
Thanks for the input Vurt!!
A Reel Person
It's Too Funky in Here!!!
Yeah, on the 424mkIII, and other similar Portastudios,...
you should record in HIGH speed and dbx ON.
That's the max-hifi setting: High speed/dbx ON.
The NORMAL speed and dbx OFF settings provide compatibility to normal cassettes, and backward compatibility to Tascam's "Ministudios", such as the Porta02, which run NORMAL speed, NO dbx. Also, vintage recorders like the PortaOne, ran NORMAL speed, dbx ON, so there's obviously a few different formats that Tascam wants to have covered.
The HIGH/NORMAL tape speeds and dbx ON/OFF switching gives maximum flexibility, and compatibility.
I have actually recorded normal stereo cassettes, in a normal home stereo cassette deck, and then some time later, popped them into the 424mkII, for overdubs. In this case, I ran NORMAL speed, dbx OFF.
Unless for compatibility reasons, turning dbx OFF doesn't really accomplish anything, but it lowers S/N ratio, and brings tape hiss back in, which are both undesirable.
IMO, dbx side effects are apparent only in the most rare cases, and in general, for most uses, dbx is transparent, but it definitely kills the tape hiss.
On Portastudios, unless for compatibility reasons, you should record & play back with dbx ON, at all times.
you should record in HIGH speed and dbx ON.
That's the max-hifi setting: High speed/dbx ON.
The NORMAL speed and dbx OFF settings provide compatibility to normal cassettes, and backward compatibility to Tascam's "Ministudios", such as the Porta02, which run NORMAL speed, NO dbx. Also, vintage recorders like the PortaOne, ran NORMAL speed, dbx ON, so there's obviously a few different formats that Tascam wants to have covered.
The HIGH/NORMAL tape speeds and dbx ON/OFF switching gives maximum flexibility, and compatibility.
I have actually recorded normal stereo cassettes, in a normal home stereo cassette deck, and then some time later, popped them into the 424mkII, for overdubs. In this case, I ran NORMAL speed, dbx OFF.
Unless for compatibility reasons, turning dbx OFF doesn't really accomplish anything, but it lowers S/N ratio, and brings tape hiss back in, which are both undesirable.
IMO, dbx side effects are apparent only in the most rare cases, and in general, for most uses, dbx is transparent, but it definitely kills the tape hiss.
On Portastudios, unless for compatibility reasons, you should record & play back with dbx ON, at all times.
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statecap
New member
What a clear and precise answer that is "A Reel Person".
Extremely valuable information.
You don't write manuals do you?
I am looking for a definiton like that in regards to adding effects.
Extremely valuable information.
You don't write manuals do you?
I am looking for a definiton like that in regards to adding effects.
A Reel Person
It's Too Funky in Here!!!
Sure, I write manuals,...
all on this board. Haha. Thx.
-HIGH speed/dbx ON.
all on this board. Haha. Thx.
-HIGH speed/dbx ON.
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll defer to Dave on the HIGH speed/dbx ON as he's right- that's the ideal that works best most of the time.
For the last year that I used my Tascam, though, I started experimenting with turning it off. I found that with a good preamp and a good condensor mic that it sounded better with the dbx off.
In most cases, though, definately default to leaving the dbx on.
High speed is a definate must though. I even turned the fine tuning all the way up just to squeeze a little more tape speed out of it. I think that stressed the motor out, though, which is why it bit it last year. (Sigh) R.I.P.- 12 years of solid service.
Take care,
Chris
For the last year that I used my Tascam, though, I started experimenting with turning it off. I found that with a good preamp and a good condensor mic that it sounded better with the dbx off.
In most cases, though, definately default to leaving the dbx on.
High speed is a definate must though. I even turned the fine tuning all the way up just to squeeze a little more tape speed out of it. I think that stressed the motor out, though, which is why it bit it last year. (Sigh) R.I.P.- 12 years of solid service.
Take care,
Chris
A Reel Person
It's Too Funky in Here!!!
12 years? That's cool. What kind?
Portastudios are belt driven, so likely, after 12 years, the belt just broke. IMO, that is a simple problem with an easy DIY repair. You can get access to the belt on a Portastudio, by removing the bottom cover. In most cases, it's relatively cheap, and easy to fix this problem.
What kind of Portastudio did you use?
Portastudios are belt driven, so likely, after 12 years, the belt just broke. IMO, that is a simple problem with an easy DIY repair. You can get access to the belt on a Portastudio, by removing the bottom cover. In most cases, it's relatively cheap, and easy to fix this problem.
What kind of Portastudio did you use?
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sjjohnston
New member
Yeah, What He Said
On a cassette recorder, dbx on / high speed always. I don't even touch the dbx switch. (Okay, in fairness, there are a few oddball situations where you'd turn it off).
On a reel-to-reel, I sometimes turn the dbx off, or turn it off on certain tracks, when I want to slam the tape with a really hot level.
(Another exception is timecode, which should be recorded with dbx off on that track, which most Tascam decks let you do by putting a switch in "sync" position or something like that).
On a cassette recorder, dbx on / high speed always. I don't even touch the dbx switch. (Okay, in fairness, there are a few oddball situations where you'd turn it off).
On a reel-to-reel, I sometimes turn the dbx off, or turn it off on certain tracks, when I want to slam the tape with a really hot level.
(Another exception is timecode, which should be recorded with dbx off on that track, which most Tascam decks let you do by putting a switch in "sync" position or something like that).
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detuned6
Metal dude
i use hi speed but not the dbx. " I " feel that the dbx kinda sucks. Ive tryed on and off, and never happy with the sound. Ill just deal with the tape hiss insted of the sound of the dbx choking everything.