Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    
    I own a 4 track, and I've used a home 8 track. If all you want to do 
    is flesh out tunes for demo purposes, 4 track may well be enough. But
    if you want to even begin to sound 'professional', get a used 8 track
    open reel machine. Your D10 has stereo outs, so it's a shame not to use
    stereo, and this tends to limit your 4 track work.
    
    Richard.

    The only problem with Richard's advice is the cost implications.
    
    Also, if you're new at this game, you might want to develop some
    4 track chops before you jump in the deep end.  It helps to understand
    *why* 8 tracks is better than 4, and nothing helps as much as spending
    a year or so doing 4 track apprenticeship.
    
    I'd also recommend you stay away from stereo sources initially; yes,
    it's nice, but it needlessly complicates things and obviously consumes
    tracks at twice the rate. 
    
    len.
    

    Another thing to consider is that you can probably SYNC your D20's
    sequencer (They do have one in there don't they??/) to one of the 4
    tracks of the 4 track tape deck. This will essentially leave you 3
    tracks that you have available for guitar/vocals/whatever & still be
    able to have the D20 play along with you. The adantage is that you
    should be able to mix down the D20's sterio with the 3 tracks that
    you have with music on the 4 track & still get a nice sterio sound if
    you want it. It will involve one additional mixer, but, this is a
    small price to pay for the flexibility. The other positive point is
    that all of the synth sounds will be first generation to any master
    tape that you make & the 3 tracks of sound on the 4 track may be no
    more than second generation. Should allow excellent sound quality.

    I have a 4 track deck & would love an 8 track, I just can't justify it
    (and all of the other musical stuff that I want) at the moment.

							    Jens

    The Tascam is sorta high-end and expensive.  It's a fine deck, but
    you can get the same needed functionality for a lot less.  The money
    you'd save would be much better applied to something like a reverb.
    
    My recommendation would be to look into a 4-track with a six channel
    mixer.  Something like a Yamaha MT-2X.
    
    With your budget and goals, I wouldn't worry about tape sync yet.
    
    Now of course, I personally would dump the D-20 and get something
    like an Ensoniq ESQ-1 or SQ-80.  That has a better friendlier
    sequencer, and COMES with tape sync.
    
    	db

RE < Note 1966.4 by DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "Conliberative" >
    
>    Now of course, I personally would dump the D-20 and get something
>    like an Ensoniq ESQ-1 or SQ-80.  That has a better friendlier
>    sequencer, and COMES with tape sync.

	But he'd lose the drums and built-in reverb...

    Dan

    I agree with .5. The last thing you want to do is dump ANYTHING! The 
    D20 gives you a 9th timbre of as many percussion noises as you want.
    I also reckon .3? made a good point -- if you try and keep the D20
    1st generation, your rhythm section will sound good and crisp to
    (as I believe the pros say) 'kick butt into the leadline'.
    
    Perhaps my 8 track suggestion was a little premature -- I certainly
    can't afford one myself. And maybe you don't need reverb yet, since you
    have it in the D20. You may chose to get one of the latest multieffects
    units at a later date for chorusing and delay, but again I'd say these
    sorts of effect gain 100% from being used in stereo. (I didn't believe
    this til I tried it).
    
    Richard.

Norman,

I'd be tempted to go for a four-track cassette, if only for cost reasons.
You could either get a 'portastudio' type with built-in mixer, or go for a
seperate mixer (the latter option obviously being more flexible when you
come to upgrade). I'd certainly be tempted to spend some money on effects - 
a compressor and one of the multieffects units would give you reverb for
vocals plus chorus for your guitar along with some other goodies.

Don't forget - making your mind up is (supposed to be) half of the fun :-)

Hope you're enjoying the warmer rain !

Derek.

    I'm not sure how much the porta thingy goes for so disregard if
    not even in the ball park.  Used Fostex A-8 8-track w/ dolby-c
    (no dbx wars please) can be got near $800.  An OK sounding
    mixer can be made for $30-$40.  These may be alternatives?
    
    FWIT I was in the exact same position as you a while ago, except I went
    for the recorder before the backing sounds.  I'm not sure how
    usefull my experience will be but just in case, a number of things:
    1. Fostex A-8 is not the best, esp used - but it's good enough for me
       I really like not running out of tracks and not ping ponging...
    2. mixer has not all the features I'd like - but I can use it for now
       it actually sounds (or doesn't 'sound') pretty good.
    3. Leaves me in a posistion to upgrade by modules - not likely though
    4. I also *really* missed effects and sprung for Midiverb II, cheap and OK.
       Lots of so-so attempts at effects in 1 cheap box.
    5. I'd like some to get more effects and stuff including compresser/
       and limitter.
    6. I'd also like a good sounding mike
    
    Hope it helps,
    Tim
    

    
    Norman.
    
    Vaughan (who is looking over my shoulder) says that we don't fund
    you Valbonne walleys so that you can spenf your time hawking round
    the notesfiles for something to do !
    
    When I had the fourtrack I used to work out all the sequenced bits
    and then record the final stereo sequence onto tracks 1 and 2. Then
    3 and 4 would be guitar and lead bounced using 3 and 4 and then
    Vocals on 3. I think unless you are going to get into heavy  vocal
    mutlitracking that this would do in the first instance. A good
    portastudio the 246 is expensive. Should cost about 4-500 quid.
    MAke sure it runs at double tape speed. I think thats 3 3/4 ips
    for cassette. Then get a midiverb II or REX 50 for effects as these
    will do echo and delay as well as reverb. The REX will fo distortion
    as well so you can get the Ovation to sound like a Van Halen strat..
    
    Now get back to work !
    
                                        Paul.
    
    					Regds to "the Boss"