Tascam 424MKIII...4 track mix to CD burner??

  • Thread starter Thread starter herringscales
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herringscales

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Hello...I am looking at the Tascam 424 MK III 4-track units. How's the mixing/EQ on this unit? I'm stuck between the digital vs. tape debate. Can you send music from an analog 4-track directly into a computer and/or CD burner (to avoid mixing down to another cassette and losing quality) for finished product?
Anyone care to make an argument for the Tascam 424 over some of the other 4 or 8 track digital recorders (minidisc or hard drive units) on the market? I'd like to hear form other's experiences...Thanks!
Scott
herringscales@yahoo.com
 
424 MKIII to CD Burner

Hi Herringscales and everybody else. I'm new here. Re' your question, I have recently purchased a new 424 MKIII and I have mixed down to computer. I used the "Real Jukebox" software to do this. I like the results. In the not too distant future I will purchase a CD Burner and proceed from that point onward. I like the Tascam 424 MKIII. However, I have a lot to learn about it yet. Like how to get the best possible sound, and what is the best recording mike within a poor man's budget.
 
The 424MKIII is about the best analog cassette 4 track out there. It was my first multitrack unit, and I loved it. My only gripe, it's only 4 tracks...I like having more than enough, so I got a Tascam 688 (8 track cassette), and I love it. For a beginner (or even advanced user), the 424MKIII is excellent. It's easier to EQ things with the physical knobs that you can actually TURN to get that nice sound, instead of playing around with some stupid software EQ. Yes, you can connect the 424MKIII directly to a computer and burn a CD. What you need is an RCA to 1/4" stereo Y cable, which will go from the Line Out to a Line In on your sound card. You need to set the computer to record from Line In instead of Microphone, then get a wave recorder and play the tape, hit record on the computer, yr all set. Burn that WAV to a CD.
 
Can you also mixdown from the 424 to a stand-alone CD deck like the Masterlink WITHOUT first going through a computer?
 
Masterlink

England.....I'm not familiar with stand alone CD decks. Maybe one of these senior members will jump in on this.
 
england said:
Can you also mixdown from the 424 to a stand-alone CD deck like the Masterlink WITHOUT first going through a computer?
Click to expand...
Yes, of course... Main L/R outs from your 424 to analog inputs on the Masterlink.... ;)

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound
 
Yes you can mix down to computer. All you need is an rca to stereo 1/8" cable to run it into your soundcard, which there's a good chance you have from a stereo system (and it costs like $2 anyway if you don't). Keep in mind that the quality of your soundcard is gunna play a part in this though. However, if you're just mixing down things for friends, or to show off here, you should be okay with something like a SB Live! or even lower quality.

As far as standalone cd-rs... yeah, i'm basically sure you can, you just have to find the model/s with the type of inputs and converters you want for your 4-track. Go to the store or read the manufacterers website and you can probably find out what models fit your purpose.

Good luck,
Steve
 
4 track to PC

Hey Herring, I have a 424 and I have Pro Audio for my 'puter. I tried mixing down to a tape deck and the sending the tape to the computer. kinda noisy. Then I tried running the 424 into an Alesis Nanocompressor and then directly into the computer via the 1/8" "Line" input. I used no external effects and instead just used the reverbs from Pro Audio. I then burned it onto disc. It sounded really nice. I did a six song demo for a singer/songwriter duo i know and it came out really good. Made and pressed labels and all. (considering it was not done on big time equipment it is pretty decent.)

The only tricky part is setting the volume levels. If you are doing more than one song, you really have to mess with it to get all of the songs at the same volume. Out of the six songs I did, two had the volume considerably lower than the others. not a big deal. Just keep that in mind when you initially record the parts on the 424 so you have consistency accross the board.


Dennis
 
Microphones for the 424

Hey Boxofrocks. What kind of mikes are you using for the 424 and are you using a mixer?
 
mics

Gitfiddle, I'm using the ONLY mics...Sure Beta 58's! I don't use a mixer now. I will be doing a demo with my band soon and we'll probly use a mixer then to run 5 or 6 drum mics into channel one on the 4-track.

The Sure mics are great and I can't see spending $800 bucks on a higher end mic when I'm using a tape 4-track. Be kinda like putting a supercharger on a Hyundai.

Dennis
 
mics

boxofrocks. I guess I'll have to try those 58's. I tried a 57 and wasn't impressed. Even using Low Z cables, it didn't sound as good as Radio Shack's top of the line 33-984. Maybe because my 57 is about 20 years old and was heavily used. But those 58's sound promising. Thanks
 
quote:
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Originally posted by england
Can you also mixdown from the 424 to a stand-alone CD deck like the Masterlink WITHOUT first going through a computer?
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To answer the question that you posted... I have a 424 mkIII that I use for live recording. It's plugged into my mixer when I bring it in off of the road. I run the signal from the 424 to the mixer then to my CD-RW5000 for mixdown. Then I take the CD and rip it in the computer for the finish work. When it's done in there I burn another CD. This seem to be the easiest and quickest way to get analog to digital that I have found. F.Y.I. Most stand alone CD recorders like the TASCAM will use both CD-R & CD-RW disk.
The CD-RW disk is eraseable, But not with a magnet.

GRIZ
 
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