Tascam Portastudio 464 - Cannot multitrack more than two sources, need help...

[Spockless]

Hi guys, I'm new here to the forums since I only got this recorder for a few weeks. It's been a great ride and it is amazingly fun to use this tape recorder!
But today I found a problem that I simply cannot workaround and I'm starting to think that it's a malfunction of the device. Today I needed to multitrack instruments with other people, so, as specified on the manual, I tried to use the DIRECT recording function, so that every instrument is recorded to it's own track, instead of the usual LEFT - RIGHT way. But when I activate the DIRECT function, any kind of signal stops going to the tape. I can monitor on the headphones, but I simply cannot record every channel to it's own track...

Am I doing something wrong? I'm not using a type II tape, does that have anything to do with it? This is unbelievably demoralizing and I hope that someone can help me here.... I really need to be able to record more than two sources at the same time...

I would greatly appreciate any type of help or tip.

 

[DocRock]

HI,

sorry, I'm not sure, if I can be of any help to you since I do not own or use the portastudio. But recently I found people in a german forum talking about it*.
These guys definetivly point out the use of tape-type II (4th post), and also state that the machine needs constantly to be cleaned and de-magnetized (that should be explained somewhere in the manual?). Have dbx switched on during recording but be sure not to exceed 0 db - for dbx doesn't seem to like that.

So, I'd give demagnetisation and tape type II a chance before thinking about a device-malfunction. Hopefully this will do the trick. All the best to you - hope your 464 isn't broken!

best regards
DocRock

* I'm not allowed to post the URL since this is only my second post... :-(

 

[Spockless]

Thank you. This will be my next move. I'm not sure why the tape type could have anything to do with with the direct recording process, but i'll post as soon as I get my hands on type II tapes.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Magnetized or dirty heads and using the wrong tape will generally cause poor sound quality rather than silence. I would suspect some setting on the recorder.

 

[Spockless]

That's what I'm thinking, but for the life of me I cannot seem to grasp what could be wrong. I simultaneously press the DIRECT button and the tracks that I wish to record. The selected tracks start to blink showing that the direct recording should be ON, but the meters don't show any sign of signal passing through. Dead silence. Only the monitor works... Does anyone here have the same Tascam model or a similar one that could post their step by step process so I could see if I'm doing something wrong? I wouldn't even know where to find someone to fix the recorder if it was actually broken...