I'm an avid Portastudio person, since the beginning,
so even though I might consider myself a Portastudio 'expert', this is only my opinion.
The Tascam Portastudio series of recorder/mixer combo is exactly what you need, to achieve your musical production goals, and more.
The basic Portastudio is based on a 4-track cassette recorder, but goes up to 8-track, too. Mixer section varies considerably, from 2 to 8-or-more inputs between models.
Tascam invented the Portastudio format, and Portastudio is a trade name of Tascam's. All the other porta-studio-like devices, such as Yamaha and Fostex, are clones and 'me too', aftermarket devices, which may be functional, but trust me, all the innovation in real Portastudio design has been done by Tascam.
This is the Tascam forum, so it goes with the territory, but for the most part, I'd stay away from the non-Tascam porta-studio-like devices, and stick with Tascam Portastudios, the 'real' Portastudios.
4-track/Portastudio production is a lot of fun, and I recommend that everyone does it.
The basic Tascam Portastudio line has consisted, usually, of a low-end, mid- and high-end design. Models, by year, have varied considerably.
Currently, the brand new Portastudios that are available are the 424mkIII, the 414mkII, and the Porta02mkII, w/the 424 being the high-end model. These are the only Portastudios that are available as new. These are all good machines, and worth getting, however, I'd not recommend going below the 414.
However, blah blah blah, sorry to go on, but I'll conclude by actually answering the question.
I agree w/the previous post, in that the 246 is an awesome 80's vintage machine. I'd also agree, that some of the 246's, and/or any other vintage tape machine of that age, might need a little maintenance.
However, overall, I don't think that with the 246 you're looking at an entire class of machines needing maintenance. Most do not.
You're just as able to get a mint 246 now, as you ever have been. With a gigantic transition to digital, the 246 and any analog recorder can be bought CHEAPly, used.
Also, if a Portastudio-class recorder needs maintenance, it's typically the rubber parts that will wear out, and not the recording head. Rubber belts and rubber parts do wear out, after about 15-20 years, and replacement of belts is relatively minor maintenance, especially for the DIY'er.
A lot of Portastudio machines you'll see floating out on Ebay, are not necessarily worn-out junkers. Some are junkers, true, but a lot of these machines are well kept, mint gems, of which little real wear has been incurred.
Not only am I a fanatical Tascam gearhead, but I'm an avid Ebay watcher and buyer. People may disagree, but I think you really can tell the general overall condition of a device, with a clear photo. You can definitely tell if it's near-mint, or a dusty old beater. A photo tells a lot about the gear, and the closer, the better.
I won't go on at length, any more, but I base my opinions on experience using Tascam Portastudios since the 244 ['82], which I still have, and also the fact that I've picked up many used and vintage Portastudios, like hotcakes, to the point of literally becoming a Portastudio/Tascam collector.
I record on Portastudios, and have repaired Portastudios, probably much more than the 'average' person, whatever that means, ahaha. In this age of digital frenzy, I'm still a big user, and booster of the 4-track cassette, in production.
Digital may be everyone's favorite gimmick, but there's something staid, solid, trustworthy, reliable, and 'earthy' about a 4-track cassette. As compared to most digital devices I've seen, the 4-track cassette Portastudio is almost like an 'organic' thing.
Ok, enough with the cliches, haha.
I have several Portastudio models, including the 244, PortaOne, 424mkII, 424mkIII, [234 Syncaset], and the 246.
I'm not a huge fan of the cassette 8-track Portastudio, but I think the design of the 488mkII is probably the one I favor most. I'm a little concerned about less headroom on the narrower 8-track cassette format, but I'd assume the overall sound quality is quite decent. I'LL possibly get into 8-track cassette Portastudios, as a sideline, at some later date, but it's not my basic format.
My basic, favorite format [in Portastudios] is the 4-track cassette.
Specifically, regarding the 246, I think it's the most excellent design, which is definitely a cut above the 424, or anything that's available as new.
There's something that's a little more complex on the 246, which is a 4-BUSS technology, which is, technically, a lot more flexible w/signal routing, than 2-BUSS models, like the 244, 424, etc.
Long story short, IMHO, the 246 may be the BEST Portastudio design, used or new, and no, you're not getting a brand new machine, but there are still quite a few low-hour, well kept, near-mint 246's out there, to be had.
I have bought 2 mint/cherry 246's, just this year, and they're the real prizes of my Portastudio collection. Neither one needs maintenance, and both worked great, right out of the box.
There's definitely a higer level of technology in the 246, than in the 424, and you definitely get more bang for your buck w/the 246. They may be technologincal features that you're unfamiliar with at this time, but the 246 has plenty of open flexibility to grow with you, as your production needs change and mature.
BTW, The 246 is a much sought after collectible, among audio geeks [like me], for this, and many other reasons.
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The 246 is an awesome Portastudio design, which is literally hard to beat, in new or used gear. It's definitely a Portastudio worth having, and seeking out, over and above the rest of them.
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The 246 is the design that's classic vintage good looks, VU meters, easy functionality, etc, with the 4-BUSS mixer section, which definitely puts it a cut above almost every other 4-track Portastudio, [w/exception of the 644 and 464, which are LCD-display-type Portastudios].
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Good luck, and long story short, is if this were my first Portastudio purchase, I'd either get the brand new 424mkIII, or hold out for the 246, and nothing in between, or better yet, step up to the 388 Studio 8, which is 'the bomb' of 'portastudio-like devices'.
-At ~85+ lbs, Tascam wouldn't dare call the 388 a 'Portastudio'. The 388 is the "Studio 8", but like a Portastudio on STEROIDS.
I'd even get a 246, and have a little maintenance done on it, if necessary. BTW, I'm a DIY'er, and can do much of my own Portastudio maintenance & repair, which helps a lot, and I understand that everyone cannot to that.
By my first hand experience, I'd say that most of the maintenance needed on vintage Portastudios is minor.
Typically the capstan/drive belt needs replacing, which is very minor, and almost anyone can do that repair, but sometimes the pinch-wheel and other internal rubber parts are affected, which is a more highly complex repair, and is better left to the HARDCORE DIY'er, with repair experience, [like me], or leave it to TASCAM SERVICE.
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Being the Portastudio user and collector, I'd recommend each of the Portastudio models I've previously mentioned: the 244, 246, 424mkII, 424mkIII, [234 Syncaset], as being the 'best' Portastudios, with the 246 being an example of a higher level of Portastudio engineering, perhaps the 'best of the best' CASSETTE 4-track, w/the 1/4" reel 388 being the king of them all.
The 246 is definitely one of my favorites, and I regard it as one of the best Porta's, ever. It's alone in it's class, in that it shares it's basic features and design more with the Tascam 388, 1/4" 8-track "Studio 8", than with any other cassette Portastudio.
Most other cassette Portastudios out there are 2-BUSS mixers, with the 246, 464 & 644 being the only 4-BUSS Portastudios.
A 4-BUSS mixer section gives you LOTS more signal routing flexibility than a 2-BUSS mixer.
Further, the 246 is the ONLY 4-BUSS Portastudio with VU METERS. In that respect, the 246 is alone in it's class.
BTW, the 464 and 644 are fine, vintage, 4-BUSS Portastudio designs, but it's just that I'm not a fan of LCD-display-type machines. Other people may prefer LCD displays, or may not care, but I prefer the 'classic' design of machines like the 246, with real VU meters. Second best, is the LED-type display on the 424mkII/III, which is highly visible, but lowest on my list is the LCD-display-type machine, which I find a little harder to read and see.
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That's all I wanted to say.
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No, I'm kidding, I could go on! Haha!