rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Get that song on tape! Errr... disk?
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marqueemoon
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by marqueemoon » Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:18 pm

DeathJag wrote:
Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:07 am
I am moving to Olympia next year so perhaps you can definitely borrow it then! And I’m also serious about the Tascam.
When you move to Olympia you get a complimentary 4 track as a welcome gift from the city.

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by mikeymike » Tue Jan 25, 2022 7:29 pm

I would also like a reasonably priced and functional four track. Wild to see the prices they go for now.

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by sholkham » Sun Jan 30, 2022 11:04 am

Crazy prices for them, but I've noticed that the non-Tascam ones seem to go for fairer prices.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by northern_dirt » Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:12 am

panoramic wrote:
Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:07 am
northern_dirt wrote:
Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:01 am
panoramic wrote:
Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:52 am


cool story
I speak from experience..
preach on...
Just get one of those new Tascam mini mixers..
They act like a live mixer, interface and portastudio.
No stupid tape to ruin everything either

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by tdbajus » Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:10 pm

I can dig it. Part of my rig for a free-jazz adjacent improv band is my old Tascam (the one with hi/norm/slow speed switch, plus pitch dial) run through some delays/eqs/whatever strikes my fancy and it's been acting wonky, spontaneously stopping during playback and ff/rw.

I guess I could probably find some software on my phone does the same thing (I don't have a tablet) but I really get along with my tapes. Plus, I find most consumer electronics/tech stuff now to be designed for hobbyists.

It's a good thing I don't play the stock market. I had assumed that people would naturally move to Linux by now (free, awesome, infinitely configurable), and it's exactly the opposite.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure I can get my tascam repaired at my local shop - even if it costs $600, people seem happy to spend that on a tablet that will be landfill in 4-5 years. Hard to surf the internet on a Tascam though, but I have redundancy there.

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by s_mcsleazy » Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:23 pm

so i got a friend who wants to start doing 4 track recordings and i remember 10 or so years ago, you were tripping over £15 tascams but now, the working condition ones are like £300. i'm kinda shocked actually. why did they shoot up?
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by JSett » Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:17 pm

I'm pretty sure I've still got my old MF-P01 up in the attic somewhere. I might drag it down and see if it still works.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by s_mcsleazy » Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:23 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:17 pm
I'm pretty sure I've still got my old MF-P01 up in the attic somewhere. I might drag it down and see if it still works.
i'd be curious because from what i've read, they're pretty hard to kill.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by JSett » Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:35 am

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:23 am
johnnysomersett wrote:
Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:17 pm
I'm pretty sure I've still got my old MF-P01 up in the attic somewhere. I might drag it down and see if it still works.
i'd be curious because from what i've read, they're pretty hard to kill.
It'll be whether or not I still have the PSU really, my loft is absolute carnage.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by Caddy65 » Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:11 am

Maggieo wrote:
Fri Jun 18, 2021 9:57 am
marqueemoon wrote:
Fri Jun 18, 2021 9:37 am
I started out recording in the 4 track era. There is a certain undeniable vibe to it, and it forces a certain workflow. Limitations are often good when doing creative work.

Still, between the convenience of being able to pick right up where I left off and the remote collaboration possibilities digital allows I would not seek out a cassette 4 track at today’s silly prices.
That reminds me, I should put my Fostex X-15 on Reverb.
Hey, I had one of those Fostex X-15 4 tracks back in the early 90’s. Did a lot of recording with it. Bouncing tracks and trying to keep the balance right was a challenge.

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by stevejamsecono » Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:14 am

I feel like the existing standalone digital devices mimic the workflow well enough and force similar limitations. I have a Zoom H4n that's proven loyal for this use, and I know that Martin Newell, patron saint of the 4 track, is using a a Tascam DP-006 these days and seems happy with it.

The sound might not be as immediately 'vibey' but I think it's easier to muss up a clean recording than it is to clean up a dirty one.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by UlricvonCatalyst » Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:19 am

stevejamsecono wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:14 am
I feel like the existing standalone digital devices mimic the workflow well enough and force similar limitations. I have a Zoom H4n that's proven loyal for this use, and I know that Martin Newell, patron saint of the 4 track, is using a a Tascam DP-006 these days and seems happy with it.

The sound might not be as immediately 'vibey' but I think it's easier to muss up a clean recording than it is to clean up a dirty one.
I would concur with all of this, but the best thing about a cassette 4-track is being able to flip the tape over for recording backwards guitar.

Yes, I know there's a digital equivalent. I've done it, naturally. But it's a bit more complicated than flipping a cassette over.

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by stevejamsecono » Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:28 am

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:19 am
stevejamsecono wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:14 am
I feel like the existing standalone digital devices mimic the workflow well enough and force similar limitations. I have a Zoom H4n that's proven loyal for this use, and I know that Martin Newell, patron saint of the 4 track, is using a a Tascam DP-006 these days and seems happy with it.

The sound might not be as immediately 'vibey' but I think it's easier to muss up a clean recording than it is to clean up a dirty one.
I would concur with all of this, but the best thing about a cassette 4-track is being able to flip the tape over for recording backwards guitar.

Yes, I know there's a digital equivalent. I've done it, naturally. But it's a bit more complicated than flipping a cassette over.
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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by DeathJag » Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:54 am

Sorry the offer is off the table. I realized I have about twenty or so cassettes from my youth that were recorded on that thing. Someday I’m sure I will want to hear them again and make digital archives.

Dan

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Re: rant: all i want is a reasonably priced four track

Post by northern_dirt » Tue Mar 01, 2022 4:50 am

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:23 pm
so i got a friend who wants to start doing 4 track recordings and i remember 10 or so years ago, you were tripping over £15 tascams but now, the working condition ones are like £300. i'm kinda shocked actually. why did they shoot up?
Because nostalgia and hipsterism drive silly things like vinyl and cassette releases.. much like NS10s, harmony guitars, RE301s and other trash that now commands huge $$$

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