Yamaha MT44 4-track?

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhinyLittleRunt
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WhinyLittleRunt

WhinyLittleRunt

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Anyone have any experience with the MT44 / MM30 set up that Yamaha had out in the early 80's? I just acquired the entire rig + patchbay and enclosure rack. Pretty cool looking, very 80's retro. Even came with some MS10 (not NS10) active speakers. This is the deck that requires the foil sensor seals on the cassettes to trick the player into recording in 4-track mode, but I read somewhere there is a bypass inside that isn't hard to do, which I have yet to open up and look for myself. But the deck itself seems very solid and the transport is quick and not clunky at all. I haven't gotten the hang of recording on it yet but it doesn't look too hard. Curious to see if anyone else has ever used one.

Even cooler was it came with one of those analog drum machines (MR10) that is like a ghetto version of the 606 but sounds almost just like it without the programming features.
 


It is a pretty cool unit. I definitely have better options for real recording but as a package deal? Who could deny the awesomeness of 1983 goodness? :)

I had it all apart tonight looking for the patch point inside to bypass the 2-track recording and keep it in 4 track mode but couldn't find it. My guess is the instructions were for a newer model deck maybe... either way i can just make a sensor seal out of electrical tape and foil and just stick it on the photo window inside...
 
Cool Buddy!

I have the Yamaha MA-10 (mini guitar/headphone amp with line in/outs, etc) and MM-10 (mini 4-channel mixer), since new in 83. I like it pretty well, although dated, but the MA-10 made a couple appearances on my 80s legacy recordings. I always liked these components, tho I never bought the entire series, there were several others,... including the MT-44 recording kit you just got. Nice one! At the time I'd gotten a Tascam 244 and therefore skipped the Yamaha offering.

MA-10/MM-10 similar to the box you have on top of the MT-44, same product line, but I can't read which "M" product that is.

I have a lot of working older gear and components in boxes and bins that I don't use very often, but I still like it enough to not sell it.

:spank::eek:;)
 

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Would be be a lot cooler if I could figure out how to actually record with it using the provided patch bay... I'm still having problems just getting a signal to tape!

This is why at the end of the day I still enjoy working with my 388 and 244 when I don't want any BS. ...
 
giving this a bump as one has come up in my area that is in good condition and reasonable priced. Anyone know if these things have a mechanical or electrical transport? Are they somewhat reliable or am I better off waiting for a tascam offering? I know they are normal speed so hissy but that's about it. I'm thinking I should get it just because it's interesting!
 
drrats said:
giving this a bump as one has come up in my area that is in good condition and reasonable priced. Anyone know if these things have a mechanical or electrical transport? Are they somewhat reliable or am I better off waiting for a tascam offering? I know they are normal speed so hissy but that's about it. I'm thinking I should get it just because it's interesting!
Click to expand...

I'd wait for a Tascam. The Yamaha is kind of cool, if you're a collector or have a couple older cassette multitracks and want to experiment, but it's not the most practical thing to have. I may be putting a 424 MKIII up for sale soon if yr looking for a reliable unit that's been taken care of. I thought that I read on another thread that you had a 244? If not, I'm about put one of those up too. Both those machines will give you better recordings with more character than this.
 
well I saw it for sale at a good price and thought it looked really interesting for the money, though I've just found out I can get a tascam 424 mk1 locally as well. Would you recommend this over the Mt44? I have a 388 getting repaired (hopefully), but wouldn't mind having a 4tk cassette as I have some outboard gear that would be fun and easy to use with it. I've got lots of fresh cassette tapes too so this is already covered. 4tks being very portable was also another reason I was thinking of picking one up.
 
If the 424 is in good shape then I would go with that. It has both regular and double speeds and is an all around quality 4-track. It's one of the early 90's models, so it's got a lot of plastic but as long as the tape transport works and it doesn't need work, it will give you some cool results. I used one of those for years. The early Ween records were recorded on one too.
 
While the yamaha may be cool, it's destiny is life as a paperweight. It's just a matter of time. Not as common as the tascam, and harder to find parts for.
For the era of the cassette multitrack, Tascam was definitely the leader.
 
Haven't used the Yamaha since I posted this original thread LOL :-)

I'd stick with Tascam if you're making a choice... I was given the Yamaha unit by a good friend and never deny cool music gear...
 
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