| I have a Teac 3440 4-track that I've used for 4 years. I found that it was
sufficient for getting started. However, a digital reverb is a must. Two
weeks ago I added the Tascam (Teac pro division) 38 8-track. It uses 1/2"
tapes instead of the 1/4" found on 4 tracks and Fostex 8-tracks. The tape
is more expensive but there is NO crosstalk. Both machines take 10 1/2" tapes.
I don't know how important long tapes are but I just like working with the
big ones more. (My 4-track can use 7" tapes also.) Also, look into level
controls on the deck. I had to buy a 12 channel mixer to go with the
8-track because it has no level controls. My 4-channel has separate IN and
OUT levels on each track and can be used effectively without a mixer. You
(and anyone else) are welcome to visit me and experiment with my stuff. I don't
know if the store would let you play with their equipment but I would advise
that you get some hands-on experience and see how well different decks meet
your needs. Definitely get some kind of deck. It's very mind broadening.
Ted
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| Definately get some sort of tape deck and mixer arrangement first. You will
want at the very least a digital delay that is reasonably clean sounding, so
you can get echo, reverb, or chorus. If your budget is tight I suggest staring
with a four track. Keep in mind that four tracks don't go very far and that
if you continue to record at some time you will probably want at least an 8
track. I currently use a TEAC 234 syncassette. This cassette deck has very
good specs and sounds within a hair of my older TEAC 3340s, the main advantage
to me is that the 234 uses a much less expensive tape format. Noise reduction
is something else that you neeed to consider. In my experience there is nothing
better than a dbx type noise reduction system. Comparing tapes made with my 234
which has dbx and a friend's fostex 8 track (don't know the model #) which uses
dolby c, I find that my cassette deck performs just as well in the hiss noise
range, his deck has a bit less crosstalk.
I also suggest that you check out the newest Muscian magazine, there is an
article about home studio recording entitled "101 low budget tips" or something
like that. It's very enlightening and informative.
Good luck!
*db*
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| Start with a 4-track. I currently own a Tascam 244 port-a-studio ($900).
It uses regular cassettes (twice the speed, four tracks in one direction
only). It also has a built in 4 channel stereo mixer with que, equalization,
and 2 effect sens. I submix into this with a 6 channel stereo mixer. If you're
new at recording, this type of machine is a great way to learn studio basics
and get your engineering together. Also some effects (digital delay, reverb,
compressors, etc.) is nice to have so your tapes don't come out dry and thin.
For song writing and demos, a good drum machine is nice to have (one with
seperate sends for bass drum, snare, hi-hat, etc. so you can apply the
right eq and effects) and submix them down to one channel). I have a LinnDrum
which is perfect but very expensive.
Another piece of advice is don't buy from music stores. You pay too much
for gear because of overhead, commisions, and taxes. I buy from wholesale
retailers thet advertise in music magazines such as Keyboard and Mix.
Call, get the best price from different dealers, and then buy. For example
I was looking for a digital reverb. I after shopping around I decided I
liked the ART 01a reverb. LaSalle wanted #1399 plus tax. I bought it from a
retailer in Keyboard magazine for $1050 plus $5 shipping, a BIG savings.
Dave
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| Re: 97.5
I don't know exactly how the warranty would work. I've been lucky with
my equipment so far and have not had to have warranty work done. Most
equipment I have bought comes with a list of authorized service centers
across the country. If something I owed broke down on warranty I would
probably select on from the list and bring my piece of equipment in to be
serviced. The worst case scenario would be for me to pay to have it shipped
to the manufacturer for service. That's still better than paying the $400+
to LaSalle's for my digital reverb.
Don't get me wrong. I go to EU's and LaSalle's all the time to check out
the lastest gear and have it demonstrated. I also get technical information
from sales people and buy things like cords, strings, patch bay, etc. What
I'm talking about is shopping around 'til you know what you want and then
shopping for the best price for major purchases. Don't buy because of sales
pitches about service or the salesman plays in a band and is really cool.
Hey, it's your money...
Amps with built in effects are cool. I own a Gallien-Krueger 250ML and
it has built in compression, distortion, echo (like a slapback reverb), and
stereo chorusing. It sounds great live or recording. But having outboard
effects for professional sounding recordings is an absolute neccessity.
Your 'perfect echo' might not be perfect for every song or instrument.
An effect might be too much, not right, or too little depending on the
rest of the tracks in the mixdown and have to be adjusted. Also what
about effects for vocals, drums, keys, bass, or whatever?
By the way, there are digital delays for below $500.
Someone mentioned in a previous note that MXR effects were being discounted?
The reason is MXR folded. A company called ART (Applied Research and Tech-
nology) has bought the rights to make MXR's professional line of rack mount
effects. Looks like Boss (Roland) and Ibanez really chewed them up in the
guitar foot pedals market (they popped and hissed anyway). The president
and some surviving engineers have started Alesis in LA (they make the
XT digital reverb). I called Alesis when I was shopping for digital reverbs
to see if they were planning a 'reverse' reverb program for the XT. They
put on the programmer who works on it and he said maybe, I was the first to
inquire, and then gave me the scoop on MXR. Looks like a lot of the engineers
were pushing for the new rack mount type stuff but managment kept dumping money
into the companies traditional product line and market, pedals. The Japs
did 'em in, finally. This guy also worked on the digital reverb I finally
selected, the then MXR 01a. That's why it has alot of similar type parameter
settings, but the 01a has reverse reverb, gated reverb, 9 room types, 49
progammable presets, and it's also software based so that you just swap
in a new PROM and, voila, you got the latest updates.
Dave
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