Yuck.....That 424

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Matt_Gill

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Well....I've got a 424 mk3 and a Shure Sm-57, and im not all that impressed with the sound its rather muddy + not quite what ide of imagened, is there anythink i can do to improve on the sound? Is it the mic? Or jsut a genraly cheap set up? Thanks
 
Tell us more about how you are recording. What are your levels? Signal chain? etc. Generally the 424mkiii is considered to be a good machine. I have had a 424 for more than 15 years and still use it once in a while without any problems. I have been a fanatic about keeping it clean though and constantly clean the heads and roller. Good luck.
 
Use the EQ on the input-side of the recording chain,...

to tweak the sound to be as optimal as possible, before recording to tape.

It doesn't hurt to give the treble (Hi-EQ) a little extra bump up, for pre-empasis of the high end, 'cause there's a natural rolloff of the high frequencies when recording to cassette tape. That's a LITTLE bump in treble for pre-emphasis, & nothing too searing!

Also cover the basics,... that your heads are thoroughly clean, that you're using high quality name brand Type II tapes, that the dbx NR is switched ON during recording and playback, and that you're recording on the High Speed setting.

I also agree that the 424mkIII is a fine machine that gives good sound quality, but a lot of the sound quality you get is based in technique, not technology.

/DA
 
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Ok, thats realy healpfull thnaks i didnt know about the loss of highs when recording to cassette, any more tips and such on getting the best out of a 4 track?
 
Not really,...

but just to emphasize it's okay to use the EQ to help optimize the sound on the input-side of the recording chain. (As well as your basic mic choice and placement being fundamental to the sound). The more optimal you have tweaked your input-sound to be when recording, theoretically it should need less tweaking on playback. That's a philosophical thing that people sometimes disagree with, but I swear by it.

Pls check my 424mkII/SM57 stuff at:
http://www.soundclick.com/davemania

Note: The recordings off the 424mkII were deliberately mixed to MONO, so pls take that into account when listening. (All record-details below song titles);)

[EDIT]Yeah,... actually,... keep your VU-LED's bouncing solidly to "0", with peaks flashing the "+3" led occasionally,... in other words, keep your input signal near "0vu", avg.[/EDIT]

[EDIT #2] In fact, listen to:
"Commando" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3094751&q=hi
"Chain Saw" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3100962&q=hi
"Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3210466&q=hi
"Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3416824&q=hi
"Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3146646&q=hi
...and...
"I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You" http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3450525&q=hi
... for a quick reference on the 424mkII's sound.

Pls check all the others, if u have the time!!
Thanx.[/EDIT #2]
 
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I used the 424MkIII for years with an SM57 and 58, and got much better results by running the mic through a tube pre-amp. You can snag an ART for $60 or so on eBay.
 
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