tape recorder : very useful or not ?

[Kidpo]

I receive that tascam 424 mKII. It works great but I can't find how to erase the tape. I can record on it but I would like to empty them.
I can obtain a bit of tape saturation but I would like some more.
How can I do that ?

Thanks...

[YUBA]

I can record on it but I would like to empty them.

??
not sure what tape kine tape u r using, but why cant u just record over yr old stuff? or record silence over the whole tape and then start fresh?

[Kidpo]

I find old type II tape but in good condition. That's why they are full but I m good right. I rewrite in the Old stuff... Thanks for The reply.

[k´rüöl]

hi! nice purchase gz on the wise decision, tape recorders are great!
i use the 414mkII with a little less features but theres is still so much you can do!
i come from the resampling style loop bounceing internally on the SP but if i record to separate tracks on tape instead i instantly have 2 band eq and volume control afterwards that reduces my mixing failures a lot

other thing is the sound, on that double-time tape speed its really good

but you can go nuts on the hissy vibes by slowing down, using bad tapes, broken cables and whatever your voices tell you

pitch control is so much fun! try microadjustments for warble madness or how your beat would sound in extreme +/- pitch. maybe that loop you produced was really meant for another tempo and you just didnt know!

try recording your four parts (for example sample, drums, bass, additional drums) on a whole tape through and then bounce back to your sampler while making a live dub of your shits. probably also cool for live stuff.

then there is effect sends and resampling in the tape machine which i rather use the SP for but still nice feature to change up your workflow once in a while

you also have the 4 outputs on your tascam i think so it integrates well into any other mixing or recording setup, even in a computer environment when the audio interface has also 4 outs and ins

aaand dig the tapes for samples first please then just record over them or randomly mix in the old stuff reversed from opposite side

sorry, so much to say about tape recorders, bottom line is
have fun with yours

[RayFrancis]

Is there any difference between a normal old tapedeck and this thing in the sound? When you just want to record drums on tapedeck to get more lofi sound, or tape your beats on cassette, an old tapedeck will do, I guess?

[janglesoul]

Is there any difference between a normal old tapedeck and this thing in the sound? When you just want to record drums on tapedeck to get more lofi sound, or tape your beats on cassette, an old tapedeck will do, I guess?

An old tapedeck is just fine if you want to bounce for lofi dirt.
4-track portastudio normally runs doublespeed to get higher quality, so at least in theory you wouldn't get as much dirt bouncing to one of those. Use the machine you've got and make it work.

[RayFrancis]

Yezzir, I will

[chaz dolo]

Generally, the harder you hit the tape- (the louder the signal is going into the tape recorder) the more natural compression you will get. Other things will also affect this, including the type of cassette you are using (type/bias/brand), the frequency content of the signal (bass or low frequencies seem to squish or compress more), and the type/age/condition of the recorder.

Good luck, and may the force be with you!