If you're looking to get into recording music, I would definitely recommend looking into a computer based system rather than this one, but if you're looking for four track tape recorder like this one, please continue reading. Of course this is an older piece of technology, so I will review the unit based on what it is capable of doing, and not fault it for being a product of its time. The Tascam Portastudio 424 is a cassette based four track recorder and mixer. But hey, that's normal after all, a Ministudio on tape: comparing like with like )) ^_^ Besides that the analog and the recording capacity is limited. His entry line dedicated to control the external master recorder: this input is not fed back into the bus master the final mix which enables real-time monitoring the quality of recording the final mix on external master recorder and it, when it is a tape recorder or cassette that has three heads (1 erase head, a recording head and a read head to read right away just behind the recorded tracks), it is actually a advantage: no need to have to connect the headphones to master the recorder, the control can just as easily be done on the 424 ^_^ Besides the 464, I have found circuit monitoring of this type, even Akai DPS16 on my current D16 and Korg! ))) We see therefore that serious Tascam is a house that manufactures equipment worthy of the name ^_^Д¬onnection a little too tight but other than that, I note no. And this is a unique feature that I have seen on this model, all brands. Its slow speed 2375 cm / s, which doubles the recording capacity of a cassette tape that is already divided by two since the original uses only one face and not the two sides. With technological change (ministudios digital hard disk requires), it is virtually impossible to repeat the same choice, the cassette is a ministudios manintenant Obselete principle, although Tascam still makes his direct descendant, the Tascam 424 MKIII ^_^ But if I had to stay in the Cathegory of multitrack tape, I would resume a Tascam willingly. Instructions ultra-well done and very educational: We learn very well the principle of multi-track recording ^_^ Brands concurrent best known for such devices are Fostex (who themselves instead uses the Dolby or Dolby C S instead of dbx) and Yamaha, and I can tell you, because I had the opportunity to try a Fostex and Yamaha, that even in ministudios cassette, I never found such a great ergonomics. The ergonomics of the system of punch in - out, notament, is incomparable. Besides the 464, then I have never been able to find such a great ergonomics. Small, portable, robust, never broke down and very good ergonomics, the user is one with the device. Tascam deserves his legend in this type of aircraft. And then I bought a Korg D16 Digital mulitpiste as tiny as booster and a Roland VS-1680 Used for its sound. But it was not very reliable: so I changed to an Akai DPS16, same principle Portastudio hard drive. Then, after faithful service, the 464 was replaced soon released by the Sony MDM-X4 for its editing capabilities, but the same principle of MD-DATA (for the version of the MiniDisc to computer), then changes technological help, it was replaced with the Fostex VF-16, same principle but 16 tracks on hard disk, and this including all-digital mixing desk. Then, as soon as the Tascam 464 with a more complete connection out, I rushed over as the choice of the connections of this 424 is really limited. This is the first I used Ministudio there are about 10 to 15 years and I learned the principle of Ministudio. Lanes 5-6 and 7-8: Volume and signal assignmentД¬onnectors: unbalanced TS jack of all except the main audio output, if I remember correctly: cinch Setting postfader sending the signal to the output for an effects processor Reduction system breath dbx type II Perman (that is to say indГ©sactivable) that allows Tascam announced a S / N ratio around 95 dB ^_^Д«uttons settings by 1-4, in the order of treatment: 4-track recorder audio cassette type II (CrO2) with integrated mixer 8 / 1 departure of integrated effects (return of the external effect normally provided on inputs 5-6 or 7-8)

Recording with tascam 424 mkii