TASCAM 246 | Creative Recording Ideas with a Portastudio

[@dirkpoward4382]

one of the best tascam machines ever made. In fact, one of the best four track cassette machines PERIOD.

[@paulthesimple7483]

I've only had a few 4 track cassette decks in my life, and this one is the most fun to use for recording and screwing around

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

I had one of these from 1997-2014... I sold it to a collector who has refurbished it. Such a fun time... I think mine was a 244 though. I use a PC now. 19th solo album being recorded now.

[@JeffyG]

Stumbled upon this video - not sure how - but these are cool ideas. I find some old-school musicians/producers have crazy computer fears so they go DAW-less or with tape. That and nostalgia keep the demand for old Portastudios quite high. I used one to convert old 4-track recordings from the 90s to digital. I’ve been a Logic guy for 20 years with an ever-evolving home studio. Using the Tascam as an outboard FX is interesting, but I gotta believe there’s free plugins that sound similar. The sampling approach is nifty, but working those samples once in Ableton is key. I used to make my own samples, but decided a few years ago that everything has been sampled - why would I think my samples were any better or original? But, there’s something undefinable and the crude Tascam mixer and the idea of using the cassette tape, even with its wobble and tape hiss. I know a local artist that releases full albums on a 288 (no DAW, he says) and he’s got quite a following. Hard to explain.

[@larrytan73]

it never stopped! tape is still being used!

[@truthfinder4973]

What I like about the old stand alone is y can get ideals down fast and not forget what you was doing.

[@paulthesimple7483]

True! its a great way to learn how to record and make music vs being so stuck in a DAW that you never even make anything!

[@josephkeller8085]

I had one its fun!!!

[@psychesoap]

The tape choice is great because I often seen Type 2 tape as the near-perfect choice of tracking. I'd like to see BASF Chrome (Type 3) being used but it's pretty rare (as it was rare back then). Careful of metal (Type 4) there cause even though it's the rarest and greatest, if not compatible with your machine, it could eat up your machines and tape. Metal Tape Tip: there should be barbs up top in the middle much like there are on the sides to tell if it is metal compatible.

[@jocknarn3225]

Cool; i've got a 246 .. all ears .. I'm jazz-oriented .. "jams" with gtr against practise-trks. The 244 had the best ergonomics but the 246 can do more

[@xisotopex]

how does this compare to the other tascam tape portastudios?

[@RichTuorto]

I just bought one of these. Can you explain how you are physically connecting the 246 to your interface. Are you connecting the inputs to through a patchbay and are you connecting the outputs to the patchbay or interface as well?

[@paulthesimple7483]

Video coming soon! Patchbay helps but I usually directly connect it to my 2nd interface thats using ADAT!

[@demodeiowa]

how did you manage to get zero latency running to and from the external gear?

[@paulthesimple7483]

It depends what DAW software you are using but with Ableton you can use external effect to route the audio in and out and it allows you to compensate for latency. Depending on how powerful your system is, the more ability you will have to do lower latency in real time