Tascam 564 owner hops up to Yamaha MD8!

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, so give me a hand!

(Hint: I have dozens of recorders, so...) I haven't really used the Tascam 564 much, but I think it's an outstanding machine, and I haven't used the Yamaha MD8 at all, 'cept for test, but I think I like the Yamaha MD8 a LOT.

Through a combination of BUSS (4) and DIRECT mode recording, the MD8 can record an honest-to-goodness 8-tracks simultaneously, (8-discrete tracks), which is something I'd always thought the likes of the Tascam 488mkII and other 4-track Portastudios should have done, but didn't,...

which is: Make DIRECT and BUSS separately assignable. F/i, on the 424mkIII, you may record 2-buss-assigned tracks, and Direct-assigned tracks, but unfortunately, the Direct-assigned tracks go to the buss too. Direct mode channels are not adequately isolated from the L/R-Buss, (in either/or arrangement), on any Tascam Porastudio, with exception of the 246, 644, 688, and the unbeatable 388. Needless to say, the 488mkII has 4-buss/4-simul record, but no Direct mode at all!

The Yamaha MD8 achieves separation of 8-discrete tracks, 8-simul-record, with a combination of 4-Buss and Direct Mode track assignments. It's an edge of superiority in design over theTascam 488mkII or 424mkIII Portastudio.

Anyway, that's my announcement & technical comment. Aye!

 

[lleewwiieeddee]

WAT 4 or 8 TRACK DO I BUY???

Hello! wondering if you can help me;

I want to buy a 4 or 8 track where i can plug 4 mics in (using 3 pin mic lead, XLR) and record four tracks at once. i would like it to have phantom power so i dont have to put batteries into the mics.

I dont care wat it records on (dat, HD, tape etc), aslong as it sounds good. i also dont care if its second hand!

i wanna spend upto around £400, but the less the better.

PLEASE HELP ME!!

 

[A Reel Person]

You may think that's a pretty wide-open definition of requirements,...

but anyone with experience would recognize it's a very narrow definition, to be sure.

Okay, I'll take a shot at it.

I believe your best, bottom-dollar, entry level system, that takes care of all those requirements, would be:
- A Tascam M308B mixer, and
- A Tascam 34, (for 4-tracks), OR
- A Tascam 38, (for 8-tracks), AND...
- Either [1] Tascam DX-4D dbx noise reduction unit for the 34,...
- OR [2] Tascam DX-4D dbx noise reduction unit for the 38.

That meets all of your requirements, and keeps within your stated budget. The only decision, on your part, is to go for 4-tracks immediately, or step up to 8-tracks, right at the outset. I'd recommend, that you go for the 1/2" tape, analog 8-track, Tascam 38, because 4-tracks would limit your production capabilities, right away, and 8-tracks gives you room for overdubs, afterthoughts, and higher production value of your musical ambition.

Thank you.

POST EDIT: The Tascam M308B is the smallest of a series of mixers, being the M308/M312/M320 "B" Model, 300 Series of Tascam mixers. You may want to consider the M312, for that much more flexibility on the "front end" of mixing your sessions. PLUS, finding the "B" model is important, because it's the model that supplies Phantom Power. A couple important points, I thought I'd mention.

DOUBLE-POST-EDIT!!: I've reconsidered, and have come up with 3 more recommendations.

1) The Tascam 238, cassette 8-track, gives you decent sound quality, 8x8 simul capability, on a budget format, but would require the M308B mixer.

2) You could also get a similar effect, by pairing the M308B with the Yamaha MD8, 8-track Data Minidisc, porta-format recorder. The MD8's price is falling into the relatively modest $350 range. Use the M308B as front end mixer to the MD8, and record on the MD8 in 8-DIRECT mode.

3) OR,... The Tascam TSR-8 gives you that high end PUNCH on 1/2" tape, like the 38, but has more sophisticated sync & locate functions, plus built-in dbx, for a slightly higher price than a 38, though.

ANY of those solutions would be good for me, on 8-tracks, which gives you a lot more flexibility of production choices than 4-track.

There are loads of 4-tracks that I could name, that are good for 4-tracks, but to keep on topic, not many of the solutions provide phantom power.

My recommendation for all that you ask, onto 4-track format, would be, by default, the Tascam M-308B mixer, as paired up with any of the following:
Tascam 34,
Tascam 34B,
Tascam 22-4,
Tascam 234.

Note: the 34/34B & 22-4 are 1/4" reel tape drives, & would feature dbx as an add-on unit, (the DX-4D). The 234 is a 4-track cassette recorder, that features built-in dbx, in a 3U rackmount format. (Same for the 238).

Think again, that cassette is a low cost format, & presents a viable solution. 1/4" tape on 10.5" reels cost ~$12.50/reel, 1/4" tape on 7" reels cost maybe ~$8, a Data Minidisc can cost ~$10 or more, and a Type II cassette tape is at most ~$2.50, or as low as ~$1.25 in bulk.

1/2"-8-tracks and 1/4"-4-tracks will give you a much bigger sound, & better sound quality, by far, than any cassette tape recorder, although the cassette format 234 and 238 sound excellent, in their own class.

Did I almost forget to mention, that a 1/2" reel of tape costs ~$35-$40.00/ea.??? You get the boost in quality for the boost in price, though!!

A lot of the decision breaks out over budget, and maybe availability.

I think the "phantom power" issue is the critical factor in your "wish" list, that all other Tascam 4-track Portastudios do not feature, but I think I suggested at least 5 good solutions, above! (4 & 8-tracks).

[I recommended the Tascam 688, as an afterthought, but then remembered it does not provide phantom power].

I think I'm partial to 1/2" 8-tracks, overall, for it's sound quality, but given other factors, I like lots of other formats for recording.

In your list, the "phantom" issue is a big sticking point, but I like plenty of other recording solutions that do not provide phantom power.

I've never needed phantom power, myself. I use mostly dynamic mics, and my condensor mics are all battery powered. Phantom powered mics and requirement for phantom power is a more modern "trendy" item, thing, [IMO]. None of my favorite vintage mixers or Portastudios had phantom power, up to the Tascam 488mkII, and the 300B Series mixers, which did. Unfortunately, the 488mkII only has [2] phantom powered XLR's, and therefore, does not fit your qualification.

[JUST MORE POST-POST EDIT AFTERTHOUGHTS, THANX]

That's all, folks!!

 

[Dethska]

Hey Davemania, you Tascam fool,you! You've been reported as missing!

http://www.recordingproject.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=6651

 

[A Reel Person]

Maybe a stack of Tascam 38's crashed down and he's pinned and helpless as we speak. And he's thinking, if only I could reach a SM57, I could record Davemania vol19 while I'm laying here.

Hey, that's so true!! Ha.

Tascam fool that I am, I still mentioned Yamaha, for balance!!!