Two questions for newbie

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Frogcorder

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We're doing a quick and dirty demo to promo our band to local clubs. The drummer has a Tascam 424 mkiii that he's struggled with.....I now have it to struggle with and it's driving me nuts.

Question 1: are almost any of the digital machines out there better sounding and/or easyier to use than this machine?

Question 2: anyone out there willing to answer my stupid questions on how to do this and that on the 424? (I do have the manual and can read....just hasn't sunk in yet.

Thanks in advance.
 
A decent sounding demo can be made from the 424. It just depends on what your expectations are and what you are trying to achieve.

As for fielding questions, try giving the manual another once over, play around with the deck a bit, and then let us know what you are stumped on.;)
 
Expectations aren't real high.....just something to put in a media pack for the locals. A bit of background....I'm approaching 60 and have been playing in classic rock/blues bands since a teenager and have no plans on stopping now!
Have a good feel for computers and gadgets....finally just went thru the learning curve on mixing boards. I've fooled with recorders before (always loaners) and have always been intimidated by them. Several years ago I bought a copy of "Using Your Portable Studio" and have been up late reading it and the owners manual over and over. This morning I was finally able to record an Alesis SR16 drum track and my rhythm guitar on tracks 1 & 2, then bounce to 4, and add a track on 1.....not exactly sure how it happened! The band laid down tracks the other night (guitar direct, bass direct, one overhead condenser mic on drums) to tracks 1, 2 and 3 and want to bounce to 4, then add lead vocal and backup(s). The drummer set it up to record direct and had the pan in the middle for each track. The manual talks about recording to the L/R buss as opposed to direct, panning this way or that and I'm just not understanding that interaction yet (I know 1 and 3 go to the left buss but you can pan them to the right to send to the right buss..totally making my head spin). Also, when I bounced the tracks they got more agressive (hotter/louder)......guess that's part of the analog way. I'm confused by the switches and the L/R vs. tracks 1-4 and they way they interact. Hopefully just a matter of time. Sorry for the long winded post....please reply with any words of wisdom. :confused:
 
Frogcorder said:
Question 1: are almost any of the digital machines out there better sounding and/or easyier to use than this machine?
Click to expand...

That's a subjective question, depends on the individual but for me, and a bulk of people on this board, the answer is no.

Question 2: anyone out there willing to answer my stupid questions on how to do this and that on the 424? (I do have the manual and can read....just hasn't sunk in yet.
Click to expand...

My suggestion is to sit down with the 424, manual along side you and figure it out, mostly hands-on with manual to refer to when need be. Sometimes you need to fool around with the recorder, in order for everything to make sense.

Seriously, the 424 is the easiest thing to figure out so put in the time and you'll get it.
 
Thanks.....I'm guessing that at some point I'll have one of those AHA's. One other quick question. In the "Using Your Portable Studio" it talks about recording the entire cassette with no inputs before starting to actually record sound on the tracks........is this a good thing to do?
 
Frogcorder said:
In the "Using Your Portable Studio" it talks about recording the entire cassette with no inputs before starting to actually record sound on the tracks........is this a good thing to do?
Click to expand...

I don't know why they'd recommend that. Seems pointless to me.
 
It had something to do about reducing background noise....sounded kinda odd to me too, but had to ask.
 
I think it's starting to sink in....been able to bounce, lay down extra tracks, mix, etc. Will plunder on and hopefully get on to it.
 
I have a 424 mkII...when I was getting started it took me a bit to understand the monitoring and routing. Now that I've had more experience with a number of bigger mixers (bigger than the 424's mixing section) I can relate the control surface of the 424 to those bigger mixers and it makes more sense. Tascam did some things a little uniquely as far as control conventions and labeling, but you grow to really appreciate it because it is actually very handy once you get comfortable with it. They did right with the 424 IMHO, among other things. ;)

I and many others are comfortable with the 424 so don't hesitate to post a question if you get hung up. Good job working through it though. That is, as stated above, of more value to you in the long run.
 
I'm certanainly no pro at this point, but WOW......this is more fun than a person should have. I'm finishing up the demo for the band and we're mixing it down to stereo and a CD tomorrow evening. I've bounced the instruments and overlaid lead vocal, backups and harp. I bought one of the TC Helicon Harmony-G boxes for doing harmonies for a solo project and we used the effects on it and it really livened up the vocals. Appreciate the support! Thanks again.
 
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