Any for 4-track recorder recommendations?

[Alume]

I recently stumbled upon the video below and was quite inspired by the idea of performing this way.

Any guys on the forum using 4 tracks that got any advice I can look out for?

Obviously I can do this in Ableton, but i'd like to experiment with some characters and tones of other devices/cassetes. Also the idea of building a clip library on tape is quite appealing to me as i like physical formats.

I located a TASCAM PORTASTUDIO '424 mkII for 150 euro's, is that price about right?

I looked at some older Tascam models but wasn't quite sure what to look out for.

Enough inputs and outputs would be great, other then that I havent got a clue

youtu.be/nxi7RwFSKEg

[innovine]

Seems a bit expensive to me, but if its in good quality why not?
it's still not a lot of cash, and you'll get plenty of hours of fun out of it at least, plus what you can sell it on for. Go for it.
Someone offered me 100 euro for my yamaha mt50 but I held onto it. I've also seen 4 tracks for as little as 30.

it terms of features, variable speed is good. as is having the machine stop rewinding automatically when it reaches zero on the counter.

[Críoch]

You'd want to test it out before you but if you can.. make sure the belts & recording heads are working properly.

[Lost to the Void]

Yeah 4 tracks don't tend to be as looked after as reel to reels.
Bands use em etc.
So you wanna make sure the heads are not worn, and the head gap is not too wide.
Watch out for corrosion on the pinch rollers and yeah, no slip on the belts.

Some recording meme is causing a lot of people to go seeking 4 tracks this season so the prices are going up, so yeah watch out.
What cost 50 quid 6 months ago is now 150 quid.

[Alume]

Good advice. Ill keep this seller busy for a bit while searching around in amsterdam.

As for models, anything that will do nicely other than the tascam 424?

[Lost to the Void]

Old Portastudios, the the 07 or the 09 mk2 are kinda classics.
They do high speed, vari speed and take chromium cassettes too.

I have an old porta07 here, had it since I was 18.

[Alume]

Yeah found those too, so im in the good direction.

Found a porta07 for 125 but its not tested.

What would you consider a good price?

Sorry for all the questions but ive literally never looked into 4 trks

[Lost to the Void]

Personally I wouldn`t pay more than 60-80 quid for a decent one, but prices are skyrocketing at the moment, it`s crazy. Most Tascam allow track bouncing too.
Old Tascams are generally solid, portastudio`s were designed to be humped about so the faders and stuff are rugged as shit.
125 for tested and working I would say might be a fair price these days.

[Alume]

Hmm oke, thanks man. I think I have a decent idea now. Will do some more digging additial diggin online if needed.

[Críoch]

You can still bounce if you can plug the main output into the input/s & record onto another track. Even if it's a cheaper one.

Definitely get something that allows you to change the speed.

[Alume]

Fuck they go for a lot more than 150.

[Alume]

Found a 424 mkiii in mint condition with box etc.

Think i'll have to check it out!

[Alume]

Do you guys only use the type 2 chomium casettes?

Havent got the chance to try them out. The guy gave me a few blanc type 1's


Bisides the trick cortini is doing, what do you use it for? A whole world is opening up to me. Pretty cool to use one of these now, the sentiment and zeitgeist really has its charm.

Eventhough i was still a toddler back then, so not much of that sentiemnt in me