Members echodeluxe Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I have a tascam 4 track that I got from andermocs years ago, and I'm gonna start using it again for some recording. I know jack {censored} about cassette types and what is best for decent low noise recording. Can anyone point me to a good resource? Anyone super knowledgeable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Radiofred Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Make sure you buy "TYPE 2" tapes and also make sure the tape is no longer than 60mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members imbuedblue Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Type IV (Metal) if you can find it. I've had trouble though, and use the stuff below.http://www.tapesandmore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195_6&products_id=7&custid=062ad0ee61f5266fc08135d55d3d6e99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Texas Noise Factory Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Metal tapes don't stretch out as much over multiple overdubs. Why are you going this route, may I ask? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted April 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'm going this route because my desktop is too slow for any decent recording. And I have the recorder. And its just gonna be to demo stuff. Can you guys expand on why I should use those types? Bore me with the details, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Radiofred Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I use type two because my manual says i need to :-) Also, The longer the tape the thinner it is so keep it as short as you can for best sound quality. Personally i use TDK type 2's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Radiofred Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I love my 4-track, It allows me to record up to 4 inputs at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Texas Noise Factory Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'm going this route because my desktop is too slow for any decent recording. And I have the recorder. And its just gonna be to demo stuff. Can you guys expand on why I should use those types? Bore me with the details, please. Fair enough. Seems like too much trouble from my point of view. But YMMV, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eti Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Read the manual for the deck. Some decks will not be optimised for metal tape...unless you are playing heavy metal LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hotmess Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I use these: http://www.deltamedia.com/products/chrome-cassette-25pk.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 TASCAM made several different models of four track cassette Portastudios - it really depends on which one you have. The vast majority were designed to use Type II (high bias) tape and NOT Metal (Type IV) tape. Type I will be noisy and overload too easily, so even if it's cheaper, try to avoid those. 45, 60 and even 90 minute tapes are okay, but avoid 120 minute lengths - the tape is much thinner and prone to jamming. If the machine is a dual-speed model (1 7/8 or 3 3/4 IPS) always run it on the faster speed setting for the best fidelity. You'll use more tape, but it will sound MUCH better. Remember that those lengths are based on 1 7/8 IPS speed and DOUBLE SIDED recordings; since it's a four track, it's single sided, so even if you're running at 1 7/8, you'll only have half that amount of time available - 30 minutes with a C60 tape length... and if you're running at high speed (3 3/4 IPS), you'll only get 15 minutes of recording time out of a C60 tape. If it has noise reduction, you'll probably want to engage that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted April 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Cool guys thank you! I have to go buy a new adapter and cassettes, but ill toss some samples up soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Which model is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marmoset King Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Not really useful to the thread but - Years ago both me and a friend used to record everything on tape 4-track (there wasn't anything else). My friend put one of his recordings (a piano/synth track with lots of reverb and delay) into a normal tape player, so the recording was running slow and backwards, and it was the most amazing and spooky thing we'd ever heard. You could strive for years to come up with something so atmospheric and never get there. I believe i'm supposed to say 'C.S.B.' at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hotmess Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Do you still have it? I could use something like that for musique concr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TomCTC Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 I commend Andermocs for his ability to escape the forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marmoset King Posted April 2, 2012 Members Share Posted April 2, 2012 Do you still have it? I could use something like that for musique concr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted April 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2012 Which model is it? Tascam 414 mkII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Cool - at least it's a high speed model. Make sure you run the dbx N/R too and you should be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wrongnote85 Posted April 3, 2012 Members Share Posted April 3, 2012 i never had any problems with any 4 track, and i stuck whatever tape i had lying around at the time in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted April 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2012 Thanks for the input dudes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members christianatl Posted April 3, 2012 Members Share Posted April 3, 2012 You say that so much that it has lost all meaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted April 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2012 You say that so much that it has lost all meaning. Say what...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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