tascam 424mkIII

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shizzle

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hey guys..i am contemplating the purchase of one of these and was wondering if i could find some stuff out. with this could i record with all 4 tracks (2 guitars, 2 drum mic's), and then lay vocals on top of that? i know it doesn't have xlr outs on channels 5/6 so i was wondering if i could still do that. also i was wondering if there was any way i could hook up monitors or something to it, i believe it has outs for that. any overall feedback on this machine would be appreciated. right now its looking like a good buy. any answers to those questions is greatly appreciated...later
 
You can record four tracks simultaneously on the 424. If I remember rightly you can also record on channels 5 and 6 at the same time, but these channels would record to one of your four tracks. i.e. you'd end up with, for example, a guitar and a vocal both on the same track which would limit your mixing options.

You can hook up monitors to the 424. It has monitor outs. (You'd need a power amp if the monitors aren't powered.)

The XLRs are XLR ins BTW.

Here's a review of the 424 MkIII, in case it's any use:

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/mar01/articles/tascamporta.htm

The 424 is a good machine but maybe has been superceded by some of the digital machines now available.
 
Well, let me put my 2 pennies worth in here. My sidekick, Jeff, has a 424 MKIII and if I were you, I would buy an external mixer to do what you want to do no matter what kind of Multitrack Recorder you get and though you CAN record 4 Tracks at once on the 424 MKIII, I wouldn't. It leaves no room to bounce tracks and punching in is a real pain when you are trying to fix a mistake, etc.

You will probably need at least 4 Mics to properly record the drums. The old addage is the Kick, the snare, and two in the air as far as the minimum amount of mics for a small drum set. This is where the external mixer comes in.

Here's a good artical that someone turned me on to a couple of weeks ago about four track recording. Solid info in it.

http://www.itrstudio.com/4-track.html

BHS;

CR

Bethel MP3's: http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/9/1352/singles.shtml
 
hey guys, i was also looking to buy the 424 and get started recording my music. I really like the low price, but I was wondering what everyone thought about analog vs. digital recording? Obiously, digital has a better quality sound and is easier to transfer to my computer, but what if I get a tape recorder and just buy a high quality mic with it, will that help the sound at all? Maybe I should try looking at the 788, what else does TASCAM carry in the digital category for around that price? Thanks
 
mixer

hey thanks for your responses...i noticed one of you said if i have a mixer...i have an 8 input mixer..can itake that and somehow hook it up to the recorder to give me more tracks? how would i go about doing that?
 
Well, there's nothing else in the price range of the 424mkIII,

digital or otherwise, that has all the features of the 424mkIII.

The PXR4 & BR532 are digital, but they just don't have comparable features to the 424mkIII, with it's full mixer, etc.

A 424mkIII can handle all of your basic recording needs, from the novice to the fairly experienced user. You can dump your work to a computer, and there's no real need for an external mixer, unless you're really running out of inputs, like with large ensembles, etc.

In fact, if you wanted more flexibility than the 424mkIII offers, like the guy above was referring to, I'd recommend purchasing a Tascam 234 and M30 mixer, instead. Or maybe better yet, an M30 and a Tascam 34B or 38, which would be a big boost in hifi. BTW, You can get an M30 mixer and a 38 1/2" 8 track for less than the 788.

But back to my original point, IMO there's nothing in the price range of the 424mkIII, currently, that has such a full complement of features, never mind sound quality. The 424mkIII, if used right, can produce a rich, hifi sound.

You know, these days being digital is "it", and being digital is trendy, but IMO comparing the PXR4 & BR532 to the 424mkIII is an apples to oranges comparison.

More, IMO, A Tascam M30/38 rig makes the 788 look like a tinker toy. Likewise for the 424mkIII. By my comparison, the PXR4 and BR532 are little 4-track tinker toys, as compared to the 424mkIII.

Shop for yourself, assess your own recording needs, etc. Compare for yourself. Try a few hands on demos, and really scrutinize the features of the PXR4, BR532 and 424mkIII, and maybe you'll see what I mean.

Good Luck
 
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Tascam 234 and M30 mixer
Click to expand...

i can't find these products anywhere...not even on tascam's site..

any idea where i can shop and look at info?

thanks a lot:D
 
Ebay.

BTW, in 4-track Portastudios, there are also three 4-buss models: the 246, 464 and 644.

A 4-buss Portastudio design gives you more routing flexibility, and techinally, is a better design than the 2-buss architecture that you'll find on most other Portastudios, incl. the 424mkIII.

F/I, the M30 mixer is also a 4 buss design, [8x4x2x2], and therefore, coupled with a 4-track, like the 234, would definitely give you more mixing power and flexibility than the 424mkIII.

Most of these Tascam models I've mentioned are relatively vintage, and Tascam's website won't have any info on any of them, except the 34B reel-to-reel. Tascam's website is mainly for showcasing their new products, but Tascam Parts still sells manuals for all it's old equipment. To find these older Tascam units, you may look around in pawn shops, etc, but I think Ebay's your best source.

As used Portastudios and used analog Tascam gear goes, the choices are almost limitless, depending on your budget.

As NEW Portastudios go, IMO, the 424mkIII is definitely best. It's well worth the money, and has a lot better features than anything in it's class.
 
I have a 424mk3 for sale

424 is in new condition also a small fx processor and a beat machine, all for $250
pics
 
hey shizzle,
welcome here. I've been using the 424mkIII for 2 years. I have a 16 channel mixer with pres for my mics. I've tried a lot of different ways with this recorder and am like Reel Person. You can't get much better for a 4 track tape based unit. Here's some stuff I've done.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/dtb/singles

dtb
 
newbie

i am also now looking at the 424. i don't know that much about recording, and i was wondereing. I know that there are 4 tracks, but i can fill as many inputs as possible on each track right? i.e. i could (even though stupid) record 4 drum mics, a guitar, bass, electric mandolin all on one track, right?
thanks
 
YEAH

YOU CAN RECORD ALL THE TWO DRUMS TO TWO TRACKS. TWO GUITARS TO ONE TRACK. THEN RECORD YOUR VOCALS ON A TRACK BY ITSELF
 
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