What models do you guys prefer and then what type tapes should I be looking to get with that model?

Thanks in advance.

the 424's are pretty awesome. I have a Mkii. love it.

as far as tapes, use the highest quality tapes you can find/afford and record them at as fast as speed as possible.

Is it possible to record on them too hot and get a nice saturation on them with the portastudio? I've never worked with tape in this manner, but have been interested in it for a bit (thanks to these forums).

yeah, you can run them as hot as you like and smash the signal. obviously the clarity and frequency response go out the window the harder you smash it, but clarity and frequency response are for squares.

I also have another question about tape recorders...
are the tracks in stereo or mono? Like a 4 track...is that 4 stereo channels or 4 mono channels?

Mono.

got a portatwo ministudio recorder. It's pretty awesome though i havent really used alot but will be real soon. Though it was a bitch to get the manual, ran threw hundreds of links on google till i found one guy who was willing to give the manual to peeps

could anyone make a list of 4/8 track recorders (not necesarilly tascam) with what should be a decent price for them?
I don't know a thing about those machines except that i would like to try and work with them and not use a computer. don't want to spend a lot or too much. thanks

i used Yamaha mt120 4tracks for years, very cool. it's still in my studio. another i used is yamaha mt4x, nice too.



for the type of tapes:
try always the type II (chrome position): best quality for tape recorders (also cool to re-recorder few times)...one good label is TDK.
46 and 60 models are preferable than 90 'cause as some of you said the recorder makes less effort...

why record as the faster speed possible? like turn the pitch all the way up on the recorder?