Tascam 414 |tear down | versus Mk II - what's the difference?

[@brymilan]

Thanks very much for this addendum to the OG 414.

[@danmozy]

Awesome stuff. I left a long winded question on another video. Let me ask more simply? 414 or 244? Both available locally. I value simplicity and longevity of unit. Thanks!

[@michatroschka]

you seem to be very knowledable!! thanks for the vid!! is there any way to adjust the repro head volume? im getting way less volume from tape than what the input was. greetings.

[@Tetrakan]

Yes, it sounds like your record and playback amps need calibration - check the calibration playlist on my channel, I demonstrated the process on a 424 mk III and Mk II before, it will be similar for your 414

[@michatroschka]

@@Tetrakan thank you very much! i found the vid!! i will do that once i get it running again, for my unit didnt turn on after the psu released magic smoke. it hang on a multi plug that powered my whole studio and got a spark when i switched everything on at the same time. now i worry its more than the psu.

[@jacobbeck5384]

What's the best way to test motor speed? I just got an OG 414 and I have a feeling the motor is 1. too slow and 2. variable.

[@Tetrakan]

If you go to my channel home page and scroll down I have a playlist on calibration that includes videos on adjusting the motor speed, and a playlist on electronic troubleshooting that includes videos about replacing overheating control chips on wonky or dead motors

[@jacobbeck5384]

@@Tetrakan Thank you.

[@igor_timofeev]

Owner's manual for 414 mk1 tells freq.range 40Hz-16kHz, on the other hand for 414 mk2 it tells 40Hz-10kHz. Odd thing for me.

[@Tetrakan]

My guess -10KHz is the highest frequency which the system records *accurately* whereas 16KHz is *the highest* frequency the system can record: The frequency response in both systems the same in both units, but expressed differently in the two manuals?

[@igor_timofeev]

@@Tetrakan Don't think so, There's stated 3dB response deviation in both cases. But freq. range is different. Maybe just wierd mistake... twice (owner's and service manual) LOL

[@igor_timofeev]

@@Tetrakan found this on another site: "The differences in the 414(std) and the 414mkII are: 1) the color, and... 2) the 414mkII has a dedicated guitar input with it's own trim control. The manual states that the 414's top frequency response is 10kHz, but honestly, I've never noticed the 414mkII freq.-resp. to be deficient, and it's very comparable to the 424mkIII,... (and I mean that in a good way). I'd probably be inclined to believe that either it's a typo in the 414 manual, (that it should read 16kHz),... or that they're just being conservative with the numbers. (The 414mkII runs the same (2x) tape speed, the same noise reduction, and uses the same tapes with basically the same head as the 424mkIII, so what gives? The 414mkII's frequency response should be roughly equivalent to the 424mkIII's, and in listening tests, I've not detected a stark difference between the two machines)"

[@only_the_best_stuff5706]

thanks for the "eye-opening" :)

[@stevenluna3756]

do they sound different?

[@Tetrakan]

Generally speaking, no. Heads, tape speed, opamps, anything that might effect equalisation, saturation or dynamic range is the same on both units. You might hear subtle differences in an A B test, but I'd put that down to differences in calibration and the tolerance of the components ( stated values of capacitors, resistors and the like are usually only 90-95 percent accurate). Recording via the guitar input on the mk II sounds subtely different than the instrument input, that's the only difference I noticed.

[@stevenluna3756]

Thanks for the quick response bro. I’ve been checking these out online and I’ve noticed that the gray one is 1) about $50 or more cheaper than the blue one and 2) easier to find than the blue one. So I was assuming the maybe the blue one maybe sounded better?

[@stevenluna3756]

I wish the porta 02 had a pitch control!!!! It would be a game changer if it did. The main reason I’m interested in these is for the lofi tone it gives to drums and guitar. I’m planning to use one of these tascam’s with a BOSS SP202. My drums will be crazy

[@Tetrakan]

I made this video partly because I wanted people in your position to feel safe to buy the grey mark one without feeling like they're missing out - the blue mark two tends to be overpriced and change hands less often because of celebrity users, but the grey one is just as good IMO. I did a video recently showing a really easy cheap mod to add pitch control to the porta 02, here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqfcqYambNutZqc And honestly if you're going for lo-fi grainy textures, you'd be better modding the porta 02, because both 414s are double the tape speed of the 02, it's more of a hifi sound. If you don't feel confident to do the mod so you are going for a completely new portastudio, I'd advise you to get a 424 mk one, the little beige one, it has setting which are half and QUARTER of the 414 speed and a built in pitch control.

[@travishanes8485]

The circuit board looks like an overhead of a science convention in a high school gym.