My First Experience With a Cassette Tape Recorder - TASCAM MF-P01 Portastudio

Claude_Ruelle

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all doing well.

I impulse bought this cassette tape recorder on eBay as this was a new thing I kind of wanted to try. After messing around with it for a few days I've realised that It’s been a wonderful practice tool that allowed me to work on my musicality and discipline while recording. Crazy to think people use to make full albums on 4-track tape machines.

This one does not sound the best. It is a bit noisy and the playback sounds a bit flimsy (it can be a cool effect for lofi stuff though). If I get better at working with it, I might want to invest in a better one.

Here's a short video I made with it: 

spark240

Cool bud.... Ive done tons on multitrack cassette and Im afraid I wont be going back anytime soon ;-)....but having an option for quick recording ideas is worth having  

Caffeine_Vampire

Nice. I wondered how you were getting on.

Claude_Ruelle

It's a fun process. And I don't know why, but I'm fascinated by the idea of recording without needing anything digital. Also, the fact that you cannot edit or easily punch in, or quantize forces you to play better.

spark240

Claude_Ruelle said:

It's a fun process. And I don't know why, but I'm fascinated by the idea of recording without needing anything digital. Also, the fact that you cannot edit or easily punch in, or quantize forces you to play better.

Nah...it just makes you really good at dropping in ;-)

Supportact

Good that it worked out for you. I can relate to what you said about it being a different process from digital/DAW based recording.

 One thing that really made it more fun for me was to get a second hand rack reverb/effects unit to put in the aux send/return. You can get ones on eBay that are relatively cheap (I got a Lexicon MPX one, cheaper than what I've paid for a lot of my effects pedals. It can do a huge amount of stuff as well as the reverbs). 

Although that would take you away from the 'non digital' idea I guess.

Claude_Ruelle

That's definitely a good idea. Well, actually I'm already cheating since I've got some digital effects pedals on my board.

spark240

See if you can find a Great British Spring reverb….

Supportact

Claude_Ruelle said:

That's definitely a good idea. Well, actually I'm already cheating since I've got some digital effects pedals on my board.

Don't worry we won't turn you in!