Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 This is the device that really began the inexpensive home recording revolution in 1979. It may be hard to believe it, but this 4-track cassette recorder was a huge technological advancement for the time. Released the same year as the original Sony Walkman, both devices had the impact of the iPod in their era. I remember really wanting a 144 (I ended up getting a PortaOne in 1988) when I first saw it. It seems quaint and like a relic now, but it really ushered in the era of affordable home recording in the pre-digital era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members musicmaker '55 Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 This is the device that really began the inexpensive home recording revolution in 1979. It may be hard to believe it, but this 4-track cassette recorder was a huge technological advancement for the time. Good thread topic (for me anyway). Just think how many bands/musicians have been able to flesh out ideas and even demos relatively cheaply over 30 years because of multi-track cassette decks. My best friend and jam mate Mark had a Tascam "Syncassette". Remember those? A basic stereo deck that you could record two discrete tracks on (or endless overdubs). That deck was a LOT of fun! Tascam now has a digital deck that's kinda like the PortaOne that you mentioned. It's only about $200, but lacks e.q. and an f.x. loop... but the technological leap is just hard to believe. Start with NO HISS and a full frequency range.. built in stereo mic.. usb... etc. Does someone else out there remember the era before digital multi tracking on a notebook computer?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 I had a porta one. I still have a BR-8, but I never use it. I hate recording for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted January 24, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 I still have and use the following: Tascam Midistudio 688 (1990)Tascam MD Portastudio 564 (1996)Tascam Portastudio 424mkII (1997)Tascam Portastudio 424 (1992) My main recorder now is a Tascam DP-01FX/CD, but I still love the older ones and they all still work perfectly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flummox Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 I had a Porta One and used the hell out of it for years and years. That was a bargain at $600 in 1985, too. There's something to be said for those units. Incredibly basic and simple to use, and they sound just good enough to be a great songwriting and arranging tool....but not so good that you end up wasting your time trying to get a really professional sound out of one. They won't do it. These days even cheap DAW gear is so good and so complex that you can end up focusing too much on the recording process, and not creating better music. edit: As I'm writing this I'm staring at my Digidesign 003 Protools rig and waist-high rack of pres and outboard gear.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 I've got a 424 MK3 that I bought in 2002.It's a great box. Really useful for recording 4 tracks of drums using splitters and an overhead on channel 5. (I don't yet have the Firepod I need)(each track dedicated to a certain drum mic or mics)It gets use, and the panning and effects when recording toms is great.Gives it that true stereo pan effect. The line out is essential for computer HD recording (RCA end to male stereo mini) and it's all good.Only a slight amount of tape hiss, but I found recording in DBX then playback in normal mode helped eliminate that hiss, and also brought out a surprising bit of fullness to the overall sound of the drum mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 I love four tracks! My friend and I use to record on a little Tascam one. We'd buy a bunch of those little splitter jacks from radio shack to mic up my drums. We'd put four mics in to one track and mic up the snare, bass, HH's and ride and then have another couple as over heads......didn't sound great but it wasn't terrible either...but lots of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted January 24, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 It really is amazing what could (and still can) be done with these things. I learned much about the principles of multi-track recording from working with them. The very first multi-track recording I ever did was in August 1981 (I was 18) on a friend's Teac 4-track reel to reel: Dreams Of A Poet An instrumental I wrote and produced with a three piece band I was in at the time. This was the model used, the 3340: I still have the Scotch reel of that session! That experience got me hooked, but I didn't get the PortaOne until January 1988. That led to the 688 (8 tracks on cassette) in 1990 and the other Tascam recorders I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted January 24, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 And to think now we have this!: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 The best home stereo cassette deck I ever had was TEAC. I have never used their recording (studio) equipment but they really made top quality products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members handen Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 And to think now we have this!: I have this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jelloman Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 A friend in college had one of the original Fostex 4-tracks (sorry I don't remember the model). I still have a tape he made on it of a song he was demo-ing. Sounds pretty good, even in this digital age. My recorder is a Zoom MRS-8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted January 24, 2009 Members Share Posted January 24, 2009 i remember the teac 144~ sweet! i still have my tascam portastudio downstairs and keep meaning to do a little recording with it now that i more about what i'm doing. cool thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted January 25, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 25, 2009 My personal fave unit is my 688, which I bought new in 1990: 8 tracks on cassette that sounded really good seemed unreal at the time. Even after all these years, the 688 remains my fave. It has MIDI/SMPTE functionality and was pretty advanced at the time. It was the king of the hill, as far as cassette multitrackers go, no doubt about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny Z Posted January 25, 2009 Members Share Posted January 25, 2009 Had a 144, good machine for it's day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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