Conference napalm::guitar

    
    Look in Music note 6. One of the more recent noters has a Tascam
    Porta-One for $350. Someone else has a Tascam 4-track reel-to-reel
    for $375.         
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Mark
    

    correction, the Tascam porta-one is listed for $300. If it is in
    good shape, this is a great deal.
    
    

	As .1 and .2 point out, the Tascam Porta-1 is a *great* machine.
	I picked up mine for $400 new (got a "free" AC adaptor, though).
	If the person selling the used unit doesn't have an AC adaptor,
	it's worth buying it from LaSalle or some other dealer.  It costs
	about $25.

	/ravi

    O.k.
    Thanks for ALL the E-mails and replies! I have to go outta town
    (about 2 hours ago) and will return Thurs. I will respond to all
    when I get back.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    BJ
              

    Re .3   I believe the ac adaptor is included with all new Porta
    Ones. I got one with mine.   They are nice machines. The biggest
    differance between Tascam and Fostex is the noise reduction. The
    Tascam has DBX type II, and Fostex has Dolby C.  This is an impor-
    tant consideration if all your tapes are dolby. You could get an
    outboard dolby unit to get around this.
    
    Mark
    
    

    Im looking for a handyman's special 4-Track...How much do you want
    for the Fostx as is and what model is it????? 

    The porta-one is a really good machine - I've used mine for the
    past 3 years with great results.  But you really should check out
    the yamaha (mtx ?) 4 trackers as well.  They have come out with
    some new machines which sort of look and feel cheaper than  the
    porta one, but I think they have some really good features - one
    of which is being able to record on 4 tracks simulantaneously -
    with the porta one, you have 4 tracks but can only record on 
    2 tracks at any one time.  Just a suggestion--
    
    Roy

    Don't know if this is the proper note to ask this in, if it's not,
    tell me, and I'll delete this... 
    
    Here goes:
    
    Any thoughts on the Tascam 234?  this is the rack-mountable unit.
    I have freinds with these, and they've have good luck with
    them.  I hear Tascam has come out with a new machine which replaces
    this unit, with some new features/fixes on it, but that's still
    in the +$1000 range.  
    
    I'd sometime like to get a good 4-track, and this seems like the
    one I'd like to end up with, either that or a 246.
    
    Does anybody have any comments on the 234?  Pro's/con's??
                                                        
    thanks in advance...
    
    /c
    
    

    I have a 234, it's great machine. What exactly would you like to
    know?
    
    I do make one recommendation to anyone using a 4 track cassette.
    Buy extra good tape. I recently discovered that the tape I was using
    (either maxell UDXL-II's or TDK supre whatever high bias..) failed
    to compare with Denon HD-8.  The denon absolutely blows the TDK
    or Maxell away noise wise, frequency wise, soud wise.
                                                                 
    
    dbii

    Hi Dave.  Thanks for replying.
    
    What would I like to know?  Anything, basically: Reasonable prices
    for used ones, neat features/pains in the arse, frequency response, speeds,
    noise/hiss level, things to watch for when buying, inputs/outputs,
    etc...
    
    You have to buy a board for that though.  Anybody have suggestions 
    towards a good, cheap mixer?
    
    Thanks for all input.
        
    
    Craig

    One thing I don't like about my 234 is that the dbx breathes in
    an annoying manner. This is really apparent when listening to single
    tracks, but it tends to get lost in the mix. I'd be happier with it
    if it also had Dolby C.
    
    
    Danny W.
    

    I also recommend buying short length tapes like C-60 or C-46 or
    C-30's if you can find them.
    
    These tape formulations are thicker and more able to withstand
    the addition abuse of 4-track recording.  I find that this is
    VERY important if you use tape-sync.  A little fold or stretch
    in the tape is more than enough to throw the sync out.
    
    	db
    
    p.s.  FYI, "tape sync" is a method for syncing a computer/sequencer
          up to the tape so that the sequenced  parts can play in sync
    	  with the recorded parts.

    re: .10
    
    Speed: the 234 runs at twice the normal cassette speed  or 3 3/4
    IPS
    
    Freq resp: something like 20-20Khz + - 3db (although I have a nagging
    supicion that it may be mroe like + - 1db but don't quote me)
    
    noise reduction: dbx, it can be defeated
    
     re: .11: I haven't had much trouble with breathing but did notice
    that bas tracks will breathe unless you boost the treble on record
    and cut it on playback..perhaps this will help..(I got this handy
    advice from dbx way back when...)
    
    cost: mine was a package deal (234 plus a rudimentary mixer) for
    $900 at EUW several years ago....used I have seen them as cheap
    as $300-400
    
    ins/outs:   4 1/4" mike inputs, these have pads on the back of the
    		unit
    		4 RCA inputs
                4 RCA outs
    		2 RCA stereo outs (you have the option the mix outputs
    		from the front panel ie: level and pan controls)
    
    misc: punch in/out input
    	  RC-71 remote input
     	  pitch control + - 6% (??don't quote me!)
          auto stop/rewind/auto play functions on front panel
         
    Mine has been a nice reliable unit. I've had no problems at all
    (except getting an RC-71, took nearly 5 months!)
    
    For a mixer I'd recommend looking at a Tascam M-106, a nice affordable
    ($500 or so) 6X4X2 mixer. Don't confuse this mixer with the Tascam
    M-06.
    
    good hunting!
    
    dbii

    OK I bought one...Thanks for all the offers.  The old one went to
    younger brother to disect...
    
    BJ

    Rather than start a new note, I'll tack my request here. Also if
    there is another that deals with this subject that I couldn't find,
    a pointer would be appreciated.
    
    I finally blew the guts out of my Dokorder 1140 reel to reel 4 track,
    so now I'm in the market for simething else. Ive looked in the local
    papers and seen 244s going for about $550 (Can) and 246s for about
    $1400 (Canadian). 
    
    Not knowing much about cassette machines, can anyone please give
    me the basic differences between the two. I'm still biased towards
    a reel to reel as I already have a mixer and don't do a lot of track
    bouncing (so no great need for noise reduction), but these cassette
    machines certainly look interesting.
    
    Any info would be helpful.
    
    Ken