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[Tam o' Shantie]

I don't yet own a multitracker, but I think I will pick up a 424 mkIII. 4 inputs, 6 tracks, should be fine for portable recording. Each channel has an individual output too which should make it a doddle to export to my computer studio. I think you're right and I should ditch the effects. I just want to get into the habit of recording again, as my flat doesn't really allow it, and my computer setup is far from being portable. With the cassette deck, I could head out to my folks' house or rent a practice room for an hour and get cracking. The DBX pre will stay, but I'll need to get a decent condenser (AT4033) to go along with my limited collection of dynamic mics. Are Joemeeks really as good as they sound? I've ALWAYS wanted their stuff, and they seem so reasonably priced - could pick up a couple of the more budget channel strips for about 150

[HairyScaryMark]

Maybe you should concider a laptop + firewire interface with built in preamps. This is however out of budget but probably makes more sense in the longrun. The Delta 1010 is a good interface but relies on PCI, unfortuatnly and contains no pre amps.

[Tam o' Shantie]

do you really think that's a better use of the money?

[HairyScaryMark]

Oops. I thought I decided not to post that after coming to the same conclusion.

[sonhenry]

something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TASCAM-38-REEL...QQcmdZViewItem

a small mixer, some outboard gear and a few mics and you'll be rocking.

But, you'll be worried about tape supply, head alignment and wear.

[Tam o' Shantie]

if by some insane turn of events, I'm able to afford a couple of hundred bucks' worth of gear over the next few months, I think i'll pick up a 424mkIII, an AT4033 and a Joemeek channel strip or two. Anybody used the green gear, and able to make a recommendation on which Joe I should get to know?

[Alan Cynic]

Originally Posted by sonhenry

something like this:

eBay.co.uk: TASCAM 38 REEL TO REEL 8 TRACK RECORDER + LOOM (item 290105667950 end time 22-Apr-07 21:45:00 BST)

a small mixer, some outboard gear and a few mics and you'll be rocking.

But, you'll be worried about tape supply, head alignment and wear.

You'd be right to be worried, too! I bought one years ago from a local studio who were upgrading to 16 track, and it took a few hours for some tracks to go into record mode, then, after a couple of hours recording time, other tracks stopped recording. It made it hard to be spontaneous.
I passed it onto a friend who made enquiries about getting it fixed, and even getting it done through his work (a music shop) it was horrendously expensive. I think it finally ended up unused at Drumblair studios.

I'm now using an Akai 12 track, which has its off-moments, but is otherwise an easy machine to use, and the quality is fine for what I do.

[emergency72]

The Tascam 688 is what you need, its an eight track cassette based multitrack with a very versatile mixer. They're hard to come by but don't cost anything like they used to...armed with a few mics and some outboard gear, it can become your studio. There were some studios that operated with just this gear alone!!

[Tam o' Shantie]

Originally Posted by emergency72

The Tascam 688 is what you need, its an eight track cassette based multitrack with a very versatile mixer. They're hard to come by but don't cost anything like they used to...armed with a few mics and some outboard gear, it can become your studio. There were some studios that operated with just this gear alone!!

Looks amazing! If you're who I think you are, didn't you pick up a tascam multitrack a while back? 488?

[emergency72]

Used to get a 488 from the library...sucked baws...