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the simple machine
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 86
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 Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject: Analog Four-Track |
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I'm interested in finding myself a cheap analog four-track recorder. I've never actually owned one and I'd like something that I can use to sketch out ideas for songs and have them down on tape. I'm looking for something that I can find cheap, secondhand. I'm not looking to spend more than thirty dollars and I'm not really worried about the sound quality being anything spectacular.
Anyone got any suggestions? |
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the simple machine
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Woah. I just did a quick search on eBay and realized that my price range is probably a bit unrealistic. Still, any suggestions on a cheap casette four-track that I could find easily? |
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Shannonline
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 117
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:51 am Post subject: |
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| Does it have to be analog or what about using your computer? cheap and easy!! |
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the simple machine
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a computer with a recording program on it, but I don't have a laptop and I want something portable. I figured I could find an analog four track cheaper than a digital one. Plus I prefer tapes. Call me old-fashioned. |
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Shannonline
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 117
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:22 am Post subject: |
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mmmmm tape-hiss lol *shudders*. 
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Reverie Joy
Joined: 29 Nov 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: |
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| For pretty much the same reasons, I just bought a Tascam Porta 2 for $50. I can't speak from personal experience since I haven't received it yet, but I've heard good things about it. |
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pinky_blue
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| Trying recording your stuff to tape in your 4 track and then back into your computer, then have a look at the waveforms. You should see the compression these babies add. Plus it sounds great (if you like things dirty that is). |
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wavertone
Joined: 20 Nov 2004
Posts: 16
Location: chicago,il
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| Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:13 am Post subject: four track wonders |
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| pinky_blue wrote: | | Trying recording your stuff to tape in your 4 track and then back into your computer, then have a look at the waveforms. You should see the compression these babies add. Plus it sounds great (if you like things dirty that is). |
do i really have to get in on this thread? i think i do. simple machine, you need to get your hands on a 4 track, pure and simple. all the lovesliescrushing, astrobrite, everything i have done, recorded on a 4 track, all direct, no amps, just electricity, iron oxide and magnetic flux. you have saturation which gives you warmth and the lovely dirty tape hiss. mmmmmm. and yeah, do what pinky blue suggests, run that into your computer.
4 tracks are magic, auburn lull used my 4 track to record their first demo tape, turned out nice, jessica bailiff sent me her demo that she did on a 4 track, it was lovely, i think some of those songs were on her first disc. and don't get me started on my man, flying saucer attack, he knows what he is doing.  |
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skew
Joined: 06 Jan 2010
Posts: 62
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: |
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But are you talking about a reel-to-reel four track or a simple cassette version?
Those old Tascam reel-to-reel machines were "professional" when they were created. A simple cassette based four track is anything but.  |
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the simple machine
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| Well, I'd love to have a reel-to-reel, but my money is especially limited right now. So really I'm trying to find anything I can afford, which isn't much. |
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Plumerai
Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 450
Location: mass of two shits
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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just have to keep checking on craigslist. there's a couple of them for $40 & $50 in my area. also someone selling 2 for $25 but doesn't mention the problems.
i wish i hadn't sold mine.
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the simple machine
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Any suggestions on brands/models I should keep an eye out for? |
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futuresailors
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 8
Location: New York
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Tascam Portastudios can be had for $30-50. Low-fi goodness abounds, and they're really simple to use. |
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lasermonkey
Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 77
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:13 am Post subject: |
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| If you want to hear how good a 4-track cassette can sound, have a listen to the Posies' Coming Right Along. That's the 4-track demo with just the backing vocs overdubbed! |
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malcolm
Joined: 02 Jul 2008
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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| lasermonkey wrote: | | If you want to hear how good a 4-track cassette can sound, have a listen to the Posies' Coming Right Along. That's the 4-track demo with just the backing vocs overdubbed! |
Really? Wow, never knew, and that's one of my faves off Frosting on the Beater.
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Meat is murder...but a bacon sandwich is justifiable homicide. |
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