HOW TO CLEAN A TASCAM 424 MKIII 4-track Cassette Recorder | 424recording.com

[@nedschneebly398]

Hey there, just wondering who you recommend for cassette recorder servicing? I have the 424 mkiii as well and I want someone to look it over and bring it back to life so it can operate at its full potential.

[@brentcollins4534]

Love that cleaning trick (powering up while holding down REHERSAL and STOP) totally made my day

[@424Recording]

Yeah! That's fun, right?

[@brentcollins4534]

Do you dry with a q-tip too?

[@424Recording]

The alcohol evaporates almost instantly... when I used the water on the pinch roller, I make sure the cotton swab is damp not dripping... so to answer your question, I just let it air dry

[@hoyerd]

@@424RecordingI think mine was too went and wrecked my mkii 😢

[@VincentFirebird]

Super ! Thanks Do you degmagnetize too ?

[@jacobholland2127]

What about cleaning a mki? Do you have to take the face off the unit to reach the parts you need to clean?

[@onab]

Heres question i juat played 4 track tapes and forgit i had to clean it because of the dust , are my tapes in danger ?

[@wetdewlap8741]

I have a porta studio03.. can I just get one of the cassette cleaners or is that a big NoNo?

[@xdumpstrspunionx902]

I bought a used MK 3 and it came without that plastic cover flap thing where you insert your tape. I'm guessing I'm just going to be more vigilant about cleaning it... and that I should probably cover it with something when not using it? Right now I got it covered with a layer of bubble wrap that it was shipped in, and I'll then drape a shirt or towel over ontop of the bubble wrap. Does anyone know if I could find the panel flap thing as a seperate part and maybe try to reattach it myself? Or have any more tips in relation? I would hugely appreciate it.

[@pooppooppoopiepoop27]

any tips to fix a sticky/stuck slider/fader

[@424Recording]

Detoxit

[@tonygraham4939]

Hey on mine..when I turn it on.it ffwd/stops on its on,over and over.i turn it on and off 10 plus times it quits... but when I try to play/record...it starts again...just checking wondering if you know why??? I Miss your channel/you ..like ur info and recording...thxs if u can help...God speed my friend 🤕

[@phoenixrising1576]

Thank You for this!Hey ive just got a new Tascam 424 mk111. I used Old but unopened TDK SA 60 type 11 and Virgin Type11. Each track had a different audio level/poor quality. I then tried a maxell type 1 C90 normal (which u arnt ment to use) and it works perfect, good levels. Any ideas?? Is it Ok to use normal type 1?

[@Musinformation96]

Have you come across any plastic cleaners / polish for the tascam case that you’d recommend? I know a lot of people just remove the case and wash it with windex or in the sink with dish soap... but specifically looking for a polish.. or wax type situation. Thanks for any help

[@424Recording]

I have not heard of any, Ben!

[@happy.holiday.1905]

Hey Mike, tascam 424 mki doesn’t have the rehearsal button? How do I do the cleaning in there?

[@424Recording]

I used to clean them without using that mode. I only recently figured out it did that when I made this video haha!

[@tayshawnjacksonbluntsmokah9979]

Track two volume control wont make a connection unless i hold my finger on it. I used a can of duster on it but still won't work properly. Any ideas you have would help. Thanks!

[@424Recording]

Sounds like a loose solder joint. Might need to take it somewhere. Good luck!

[@tayshawnjacksonbluntsmokah9979]

@@424Recording thanks! One more question though sorry. Where would i take it too? Im having trouble finding anyone that will work on it😢

[@424Recording]

There's a list of places here for the US: 424recording.com/collections/faq

[@jacobsimpson5986]

Can you use 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean Tascam?

[@424Recording]

I don't see why not. I think the one I have is 90%. The higher the alcohol content, the less water, so the faster it will evaporate from wherever you use it (which is a good thing)

[@OliviaMcShaneMusic]

hello! please could i email you with a question? i am totally stumped on how to record on channels 5 and 6. the manual and forums haven't given me the answer. have been banging my head against the wall over this for weeks.

[@OliviaMcShaneMusic]

massive thanks in advance :)

[@424Recording]

I'm on it Olivia I'll get back to you when I get a second. Thanks!

[@OliviaMcShaneMusic]

thank you so much :)

[@424Recording]

So I'm assuming you have a 424 mkiii... there's only 4 tracks you can technically record on, 1-4. The way the tape works is tracks 1 and 2 record to the left and right channels of Side A and 3 and 4 record to the left and right channels of Side B. Channels 5 and 6 are extra inputs which record to the left and right channels of which ever track they are routed to. For instance, I used inputs 1, 3, and 5 to record acoustic guitar, drum machine, and vocals to track 1 simultaneously, thus recording three inputs to track 1 in one pass. There are other things you can do with channels 5 and 6 and effects to which I'm planning to make a video about soon. Hope this answers your question!

[@424Recording]

Hey, Olivia! I made this video on Inputs 5 + 6: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqetYYZ5lrKtrrs

[@roro_fosho]

would it be a similar process for the first gen 424?

[@424Recording]

For sure. I have one of those too!

[@xdumpstrspunionx902]

Thank you so much

[@Zpro20]

Hey, just got a Tascam and am thoroughly enjoying it. Everything seems to works fine however there is a consistent clicking as the tape spins around coming from the cassette compartment during playback. Doesn't seem to affect anything, it records and sounds great just annoying and a little concerning. I've cleaned everything and tried multiple different new cassettes. Any advice? Thanks any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@rrproducciones9545]

We need a demag video, please ;)

[@424Recording]

Damn, a buddy of mine borrowed my demagger... I'll have to get it back from him asap

[@khairilmuhammad4007]

Hey thanks Mike!

[@424Recording]

Hey Khairil! You got it! Making a demag video soon. Just need to get my demagger back from a friend haha

[@nhdyz]

I tought about you today, i just cleaned my 488 😉

[@424Recording]

N H D Y Z nice dude! How’d it go?

[@nhdyz]

424 Recording Easy & Steady !! Now it's clean like baby Jesus 😄

[@424Recording]

🤓

[@alanduncan1980]

I've never cleaned my 4 track, and I've had it since, oh, I'd say around 2001. I don't have any alcohol. I'll have to pick some up.

[@424Recording]

If it's still sounding fine then it might be okay. I've noticed that I don't need to clean mine that often when I use good tapes. I just picked up some 91% rubbing alcohol at the food store; it should be regularly available at food stores and drug stores. Don't for get the cotton swabs!

[@johnlenz420]

@@424Recording do you know why i get a super bad low hum when i use mine? i have an x24 is it just not hi quality? even after cleaning it has a bad hum but i love the convienance could it be just bad power cord ?

[@dreambabydream1679]

I watch this video every time I clean my 424 mkii, simply because I forget how to activate the cleaning mode.

[@424Recording]

Cleaning mode ftw!

[@elevenpigs]

hey how's it going? is there a way i can get in contact with you? i have a few questions if that's okay

[@424Recording]

424recording at gmail dot com

[@ForMyDearFriend]

Do you ever demagnetize your heads? That is one thing that I know a lot of guys don't do.

[@424Recording]

For My Dear Friend I did a vid on demag a while ago... should answer your question kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCuhIKeoaZ2sNk

[@vitasmortis8143]

The plot thickens. What is this demag you speak of?

[@brandonbrunious]

Shit dripping 😂

[@hoyerd]

Just a warning to people. I just followed these instructions and now my machine won’t work anymore. I’m not saying not to do it… just be careful? Immediately after cleaning (still in cleaning mode) mine stopped playing. And now the tape heads won’t emerge or anything in non cleaning mode. It will attempt to play for 1 second and stop, with a subtle “power down” sound.

[@hoyerd]

I wonder if I had too much water on the punch roller? Maybe water fried it?