here's the deal: I'm using my old Tascam cassette multi-track hooked up to the 404 with the RCA cables. In order to send a signal to my tape machine, I have to turn the 404 volume way up... which then sends that annoying buzz onto the tape. What I'm wondering... even when I do get a computer studio going... you still have to send your patterns through the RCA cables. What do you do about the inherent noise that the 404 seems to make at higher volumes?
And for now, how do I get the best sound from my Tascam/404 combination?

possible bad RCA cables or the infamous static hum from your wall outlet

yeah probably bad rca cable. I had that problem recently.


I would test the rca cable by connecting the cable to the 404 input, then compare the buzz with the ext source off and on.

thanks for your help... I'll let you know what happens. But the 404 is awesome.

thats for sure not the 404. I gotta turn my 404 way down to get levels that dont peak

don't peak? I have to turn mine way up (for my cassette machine) to get a decent sound... and then it's full of noise. Hope nothing's wrong with mine...

well, just try to do what juxt said & see what happens... & if you have an extra RCA cable lying around then try that too... it could also be your 4 track... i had a similar problem when i was recording into my 4 track which was an old fostex X-26, it would pick up the static hum from my wall outlet... the static hum would stand out & just drown whatever i recorded, even at high volumes... let's just hpoe that it's not your 404... did you buy your 404 used or new??? i'd take it back to where ever you bought it from and have it replaced... godspeed

thx for your help, man... but you're worrying me... I bought it brand new... 395... I hope it's just the wall static... I thought maybe it was just my ancient recording technique... but, like I thought, it should be better.....

let me know if you have any more advice

sorry man, didn't mean to worry you... i'm pretty sure it's just static hum... try plugging it in different places around your house or garage... or try recording something else into your 4 track, like your dvd player, cd player & see if you still get that buzz or hum... i doubt that it's your 404... let us know what happens...

I live in a basement apt.... so it could be that the wiring is weird.... I have rechargeable batteries... so I'll fire them up and check it out. What I want to know is this: with a computer based studio, can you make beats on the 404 and them dump them whole (4,8measures) onto your track in the computer.... them re-splice/sample them?? does anyone here work in Reason or Tracktion??

It's most likely 'cause you're sampling to tape. Do a Google search for how to bleed a tape using a 4-track tape recorder. Make sure when you sample that you have the recording level adjusted to maximum, even if it distorts you can turn the volume of the sample down afterwards, now when you are going to record turn the master volume to about half way between the middle and maximum and adjust the sample's individual levels so they are just below the point of peaking. This should eliminate some of the extra electical static while increasing the clarity of the samples, recording analog is a lot more of an art than using a digital recorder.

I'm only going to mention it because I don't think anyone else has: Is the gain turned up on the four track?

I track a lot of stuff to a Tascam four track, such as my 202, MPC1000, and my PC. I never get any noise such as you are describing. Only the slight, subtle (and appealing) hiss that tape always makes.

There are some good suggestions here, I would try what everyone has already suggested. Also never underestimate the shittiness of low quality RCA cables... Or cables in general.

true...

true... sorry for the double post, damn...

I use a tascam joint too.

Set each channel on tape and turn the sliders to the max, then go back in mic/line mode and set them high too. In addition check if the master slider is all the way up.