Using a four track as a conventional mixer?

[fukineh]

I'm wondering if so called "portable recording studios" can be used as regular mixers to hook up to a computer (for digital recording with software) or hook up to a PA system. The reason I ask is that someone I know is selling a Tascam Portastudio 424 MKIII four track......

Can someone please tell me if this can be used as more than a 4 track recorder?

 

[MemoGtr]

Yes you can

i do the same thing. just take a cable from the line outs of the mkIII into the line in of your PC or PA system. get a recording software like cool edit or something and you're done

you can record more tracks on the mkIII if you bounce them

 

[fukineh]

Sweet, thanks a lot.

 

[DaveO]

I have tried this with my 4-track (a step down from yours, a Tascam 414) and yes, it works, but the sound quality isn't great. I do this mostly when I'm working on material with my partner. I use the 414 to mix his guitar, my bass, and my drum machine, run it all into the PC, and either just use that to play back or to record scratch tracks. For these purposes it's fine.

However, I also tried it for recording keeper tracks and I didn't think the results were that great. Since I have no need to record lots of tracks simultaneously (such as live drums), I just track one instrument at a time. I've gotten much better results that way.

Now, I'm not saying this 424 won't be useful. I still use my 414 on occassion, such as recording my wife's band's shows (holiday celebrations, parades, small local shows, etc.), the music at my friends wedding, any time I need something portable, etc. It was also a good platform to learn on because it covered a lot in one small unit (mixer, EQ, channels vs. tracks, sends and returns, inserts, etc.). I have no plans to get rid of mine until it dies.

 

[MemoGtr]

hey mine works great, nice quality. i hooked it to a Behringer UB1202 so i have enough channels to record a complete drum kit and i've doing that for 6 months or so.