Can you recommend me a Tape Recorder?

Heat Vision · **Posted:** Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:33 pm

Hey

Ive been thinking of buying a tape recorder to record my beats onto but im not sure if there's one that's worth recommending or if any old tape recorder would be good.

Could someone give me advice on this buy?

Thank in advance

ellaguru · **Posted:** Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:56 pm

yamaha mt120 4 tracks, cool and easy.
look at tascams and fostex too.

* warrika * · **Joined:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:26 am **Posts:** 84

My personal favorites are JVC, Panasonic and Sony boom boxes, also Fostex and Tascam can be good, but the problem is with used stuff is that the tape mechanism breaks.

One boom box I bought the tape mechanism broke the next day, I bought it used from a shop with no real warranty. It was cheap and has a working SW receiver, but still.

My first 4-track also busted, same with a bunch of walkmen.

Daniel James · **Posted:** Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:17 pm

I was eyeing up and old Coomber recorder on ebay the other week, we use to use them in primary school. There abit bulky and ugly though, but at the same time had this old retro cool look to them. By the looks of things the majority of peeps round here use the Tascam Portastudios.

Heat Vision · **Posted:** Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:06 am

Thanks for the advice guys. Im going to look into your suggestions.

Heat Vision · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:44 pm

Hey guys i was searching for some recommendations and came across a few tape recorders like these

GE 35027 AC/DC

Panasonic RQ-2102

RCA RP3503

i dont plan on doing any tracking. My goal is to be able to record my pattern sequences to tape.

But i have 2 questions before i even consider a recorder like the ones pictured.

first is a 2 part question

1a.The only inputs on these recorders are a small mic input. So would i just use a y cable connecting the line out of my SP to the Mic Input of the recorder?

1b. Would the sound be in stereo?

2. Ive read that some recorders dont have a very good frequency range so im wondering if these are even capable of capturing acceptable sound quality.

Im turned on to these since they are small, simple, cheap, and available for me to buy. But id like to get some feedback on the potential decision.

Thanks in advance.

ellaguru · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:38 pm

ah ok
i thoguth you were lookin for tape recorders to multitrack, sorry..
i got this Philips D6350

http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sk2kw.se/SK2KW%2520WEB/SM2DMU/Old%2520Radios/Pics%2520old%2520radio/Philips%2520D6350.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sk2kw.se/SK2KW%2520WEB/SM2DMU/Old%2520Radios/Old%2520Tape%2520Recorders.HTM&h=777&w=636&sz=233&tbnid=JpX4hQDStwloyM:&tbnh=248&tbnw=203&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dphilips%2Bd6350&zoom=1&q=philips+d6350&hl=it&usg=__TpO_GwxCLcHOqglZvwjbkCTT-Ls=&sa=X&ei=o10iTb6HBoG38gPL-JiwBQ&ved=0CB4Q9QEwAQ

for tape hissing is ok, it has "mini" imput and "mini" output, it works in stereo...i payed it just 5€

Heat Vision · **Posted:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:53 pm

hey thanks again for the advice

Ill Green · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:58 pm

Just get a brand new tape deck and make use of the RCA inputs. I think a tape recorder would be of low quality compared to a tape deck, plus you can connect an EQ to it to gain even more control.

Just a thought.

kel · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:29 pm

Heat Vision wrote:

Hey guys i was searching for some recommendations and came across a few tape recorders like these

GE 35027 AC/DC

Panasonic RQ-2102

RCA RP3503

i dont plan on doing any tracking. My goal is to be able to record my pattern sequences to tape.

But i have 2 questions before i even consider a recorder like the ones pictured.

first is a 2 part question

1a.The only inputs on these recorders are a small mic input. So would i just use a y cable connecting the line out of my SP to the Mic Input of the recorder?

1b. Would the sound be in stereo?

2. Ive read that some recorders dont have a very good frequency range so im wondering if these are even capable of capturing acceptable sound quality.

Im turned on to these since they are small, simple, cheap, and available for me to buy. But id like to get some feedback on the potential decision.

Thanks in advance.

i call those things shoebox recorders. they are cool but you're not going to get enough low frequencies out of them. also no stereo. i'd suggest a minidisc recorder if you want to go portable. they are cheap nowadays and you can get them at pawnshops. oops but then of course you want to record on tape. a camcorder would work too

Heat Vision · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:15 pm

Thanks for the suggestions/feedback/advice guys.

E.Simon · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:18 pm

i bought this one last weekend

now waiting for yhe right tapes!

cartesia · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:04 am

Have you got a VCR?

admbmb · **Joined:** Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:06 pm **Posts:** 477

cartesia wrote:

Have you got a VCR?

I tried the VCR route. The problem is that you wont get that "head bump" like you would from reel to reel. It writes the data in strips instead of length-wise. I didnt get favorable tape warmth at all.

I did scoop up a Tascam 424 and its pretty cool. The big thing is the fact it has a lot frequency range down to 20 Hz. I also have a tascam porta 02 and it only goes as low as 50 Hz! Huge difference!

KOMSAT · **Joined:** Sat Nov 27, 2010 12:53 am **Posts:** 323

My favorite portable recorder is the Walkman WM-D6C Pro.

It's got Dolby noise reduction and the sound qual is on par with higher end (NAKAMICHI) tape decks of the 80's. Dudes used to em for field recordings and such. Real pro. If you can find a nice condition expect to pay around $100 for it. It's probably possible to find them in thrift stores and charity shops if you live out in the sticks, otherwise ebay is a good bet.

Can you recommend me a Tape Recorder?

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