I'm planning to buy one of these General advice/impressions?

>>53575315
Might as well just learn to do it on the computer, have more control and not have it sound as shit right off the bat

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>>53575474
DAW softwares are abstractions of real-world physical gear. Learning to use physical gear that DAWs are based off of can help you get a better sense of how to work within a DAW. It can help you understand signal flow and actually know what it is you're doing when you send something to an aux or put an insert on a track.

>>53575474
More control =/= better.

Learning with limitations can keep you from becoming overwhelmed and/or overambitious.

>>53575554
And a desktop is an abstraction of a desk, but learning how to use a desk is pointless as everything is on my computer.

>>53575315
Just a couple things, make sure you got 2 of each kinda cable (1/4 inch, xlr, midi), and get a bunch of adapters that can convert xlr to 1/4 inch, 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch, those things are vital. Also, I wouldn't plug your guitar straight in, plug in a microphone and put it next to your amp.
>>53575474
Hey man, whatever you wanna do. But that's like learning Japanese by reading a Japanese newspaper. It's just not going to work well.

>>53575599
What do you mean by "use" a desk?

>>53575315
Also, recording on tape is quite a bitch. It'd be ideal to have someone who can control the machine while someone is playing an instrument, but 90% of the demo I'm working on right now had me operating both. It's good to put a drum machine or metronome on a track so you have the beat, then record your parts and erase the drum beat.
Monitors would be good too, so you can hear how it really sounds, because tape, as you know, has surface noise that could be worsened by bad microphone levels.
After you get used to recording, start recording your songs bit by bit. That's seriously the best way. It's hard man, but so fucking worth it.

>>53575474
>>53575554
>>53575573
>>53575599
To be fair my macbook died last month,sso i decided to go full analong. Also i like the idea of having limited possibilities, sometimes i felt so overwelmed about what can i do with digital recording that i couldn't do nothing

>>53575613
Nigger, we are on the internet right now which is loaded with tutorials for just about everything and it's not like a DAW doesn't come with a manual, a wiki and a forum. Fuck, I only use a one as a 4track and it's still a million times easier to work with.

>>53575685
Sort files, write things, make notes, pull out the typewriter and set it up to type a document, copy, paste, store pornography, all the things a desktop does but in a completely different and often superior way that makes learning how to use an actual desk worthless.

>>53575746
>using tutorials
exactly. fucking exactly. what a good way to set yourself up for mediocrity.

>>53575761
Filtered.

>>53575778
The truth hurts.
You'll never make it in music using fucking YouTube tutorials. You think Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada used tutorials? No, they probably started with tape and analogue devices as kids and moved on to computers when they started getting serious with it.

>>53575819

>You think Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada used tutorials?

actually they did, it's called the User's Manual

>>53575819
Op here

Well tutorials are kind of useful to understand the basics,but you are kind of right.

>>53575746
Someone who has a cognitive ability to work a computer in an efficient and organized fashion will also have the cognitive ability to open up drawers and put things in folders in at least a decently efficient fashion.

Using Pro Tools will not teach you how to use a physical console. There are many similarities and you will have an advantage over someone who has never touched a DAW, but you will not be able to function if placed in front of a console and asked to route signal effectively.

That's the difference. And as I said earlier, understanding how a console works and dealing with signal flow can give you a better understanding of how to use a DAW.

>>53575315
I have that exact one in your pic OP and its great, go for it dude

use a computer and an audio interface you caveman

>>53575867
A user's manual isn't the same thing as a tutorial. A tutorial says "do what I do to make a song this specific way" and a manual says "here's a bunch of options to get certain sounds"
imo, i think that experimentation is the most vital thing for figuring out those instruments. Tutorials will only ensure that you make derivative, vapid music and depend on copying others.

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>>53575315
Just got that exact one a couple days ago, and it's pretty solid so far. I only got some tapes for it today, so I've only had a chance to toss a couple songs through it, but it's amazing if you dig that lo-fi cassette quality. But even for a 4-track, you can get some decent recording quality out of it if that's what you're going for. The noise reduction is p. good, and even after bouncing between audacity and tape a couple times, it maintains decent frequency response. Plus there's a ton of interesting tricks you can do with it that I haven't gotten around to messing with yet. So it's a great investment either way

My only advice is to either wait for the market to drop, or pick it up from a good will or something. I got mine for a solid $70-80 cheaper than they normally go for by waiting for one to pop up in a local good will

>>53575554
Rofl, abstractions? DAWs are 100% direct products of evolution in sound recording. Replace magnetic tapes with magnetic harddrives, and there you go. I'm just saying "abstractions" is the completely opposite word. If it means anything, the "abstraction" is moving backwards toward simplistic recording from working digitally and making it seem as if you're doing some sacred Zen-like move toward simplicity. Even Phil Elverum uses GarageBand.

Take this from a guy who would spend hours recording parts, bouncing tracks on my even more basic Tascam 4 track than yours: just write music while you save up for a new laptop, OP. The 4 track isn't an "instrument" the way the recording studio became one in the 60s. The 4 track is seriously a huge pain in the ass for recording anything beyond 6 tracks. If you're in a band, micing up the bassist vocals drums to each track makes sense. That's a great way of getting out a band demo. But just doing 4 tracks, like, a bass, guitar, second guitar, and vocals? It's super annoying. But IMO, it's a shitty thing to experiment with, but I think all guys who record should have experience with a 4 track.

>>53575935
I had both. Read the thread

>>53575961
I agree with the spirit of what you're saying, but I don't really think you're right. If you've picked up a new mastering compressor plugin or something, you can either fuck around with it until you understand it or you can watch a tutorial which explains how the basic parameters function. That doesn't mean you need to watch a tutorial that says "How to master your mix with this mastering compressor". You can just learn the basic parameters to get a quick idea of what the different buttons/settings do.

>>53575315

hi im ignorant can someone explain to me whatever this is in as little amount of time possible for you to take out of your day.

>>53576044
Put cassette tape in, plug in instrument, record instrument, record another instrument, record another instrument, boom, full song.
Also, you can "bounce" those three tracks to track 4 and just keep going.

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>>53575961

>"do what I do to make a song this specific way"

Which is a perfectly valid way to start producing music.

You see, unless you are a wunderkind or borderline autistic, your first songs will be shit. Instead of wasting time re-inventing the wheel, producers will often start out by replicating/making a bland copy of whatever genre they're producing (or another producer), and once they learn the ropes, they move on to their "own sound", which is actually the hard part that often takes years and years of hard work.

You of course have no fucking idea what you're talking about ("AFX, Boards of Canada, the list could go on) and you believe in some romantic fantasy of le autistic wizard producer just "punching buttons until music comes out". Reality is a lot less exiting than that. And if you look at the discographies of plenty of respected producers, their first releases will often have "homages" and borrowed elements from the time the music was produced, or as I said again, producers that were famous at the time.

Keep pretending you know about music production though

>>53575474
>>53575935
>>53575976
You guys realize you can use both, right? I arrange and structure everything in a DAW, but occasionally I'll bounce a synth or track out to tape to play around with without the distractions that normally come from working digitally, then bounce it back in. It all depends your style of working, but some people work much better with tactile controls and a limited palette, and vice versa. It's silly to completely deny the utility of one or the other

>>53575976
op here

I'm a solo musician tbh. I just play synths and drum machines. I want also use it as a basic sampler,messing around with tracks and using cassettes as memory. Dunno i'm just excited about his possibilities.

>>53575976
You can use whatever word you want; by "abstraction" I mean it is based on real world gear. Both in how it looks (faders, pan knobs) and how it functions (Signal flow, routing, signal processing). Understanding and learning what they are based on can give you a better understanding of how they work and how to use them.

>>53576029
Yeah, idk. Whenever I use a DAW i just end up putting the same reverb and delay effects and everything just sounds the same. I think it'd be best to figure out how a real mastering compressor works before you use one on a DAW, but you know, money. DAW's are the easiest, cheapest, most efficient way. But that can also be a negative imo.

I'd focus more on music composition. If you well record crap you 'll still get crap.

>>53576141
I'm not talking about using a DAW vs. using real gear, I'm just talking about figuring out a DAW on your own or figuring out a DAW with the help of tutorials.

Obviously just looking up "how to make a kick sound fat" or "how to make dubstep" you're going to just end up sounding like everyone else. What I'm saying is it's fine to at least just check out how a plugin actually functions using a tutorial.

Fucking around and experimenting with a new plugin can be fun, but some times I just want to know how the thing works so that I can just get to work already

>>53576214

He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about

>>53576090
I really don't know much about music production, I'm not a producer. I wouldn't want to be a producer. I'm a songwriter. I'm just saying what works for me and what doesn't work for me, that's all.
I'm guessing you make EDM. lol

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>>53576235

>I really don't know much about music production, I'm not a producer.

well will you look at that. guy writes poetry and that makes him an expert in music production

>I'm guessing you make EDM. lol

I only make the chillest vapor-trap and oceangrunge ; )

>>53576186
If you are alone you just need to record a lot of crap before recording good stuff

i bought a tascam 4-track a couple months ago, but when i record, the recording is backwards. yes, i've switched from 1 to 4, or 2 to 3 to record from A and B sides, but still. i dunno what i'm doing wrong.

>>53576104
See, I knew the question was more simple than the OMG 4 TRACK ZEN BUDDHISM freaks made it seem.

I would say go for it. Get a cheap mixer, like a Behringer for $60 bucks, run your instruments into the mixer, run the mixer output into the 4 track, probably split the mixer output to send into your amp and into the 4 track, start recording a loop while you're playing. Here's the problem.

The tape needs to physically rewind in order for the loop to begin again, for it to even "loop." That's what makes digital so nice. That could sound cool if you like the sound of the rewinding noise, or if you want to record maybe a 30-40 second loop, hell make it two minutes long, then start the tape loop while you do something new on the instrument. Switch back forth. Fuck Buttons might do something similar. It's a lot of work to mute the tracks you need to mute, to switch back and forth. IT'll make you appreciate digital sampling.

>>53576229
I know it's the unpopular opinion on this board. Hell, the entire internet. I get flagged every time I express this opinion, but when I ask to hear the music of the people saying their way is right and my way is wrong, the conversation immediately stops. So...

>>53576235
>I'm a songwriter
That really makes any thought, any opinion you have about anything that isn't writing songs not worth its weight in shit. Musicians are the most retarded fuckers on the planet, especially drummers, bassists, and anyone doing 'beats'.

>>53576298

opinions /=/ facts

sorry if that bothers you

>>53576292
They record on both sides at the same time, forward on side A, backward on side B (which is why, along with the 2x recording speed you only get 1/4 the recording time), so I'm guessing your machine is fucking up with which side is which. Does the opposite side of the one you're recording on play in the right direction?

>>53576319
Dude, you make vapourwave and oceangrunge. That's like the music you make if your goal is to be derivative. We just have different goals I guess.

>>53576287
It's not mandatory.

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>>53576398
This is Suburbanoid.

>>53575315
I want one too, but the ones on ebay are always like 100-200$
all the other cheaper ones are for parts

>>53576398

>Dude, you make vapourwave and oceangrunge

lmfao you're one dense idiot aren't you

go back to writing your shitty "lyrics" for your shitty emo band and leave production to producers

>>53576389
>Does the opposite side of the one you're recording on play in the right direction?
Not really. Now that I'm checking, the only tracks that work are 1 and 3. 2 and 4 (Side B) are fucked since whenever I record it sounds muted. Oh well, I spent 30 bucks for it. I'd probably buy a decent one later.

>>53576607
melody > lyrics
I'd like to hear your recordings but I'm sure after all DAW defending you did, you'll be too embarrassed to post it.

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>>53576705

hahaha you're so stupid you don't even realize I've been telling you what music I produce every single time I post

I knew most "songwriters" had their heads up their asses but you take it to a whole new level lol. got any more "production tips" for us?

And why would I show my music to some idiot who doesn't even know the first thing about it?

>>53576745
Jesus I thought that trip was a joke.
Good luck with your music m8, I'll post the first song on my demo later tonight because it's cunt flaps like you who make musicians do what they do. I really don't expect you to show me your track, it's alright.

>>53577067

at least I don't go into songwriting/melodies threads talking out of my ass and when called out saying "well you see I am not a songwriter, but my input is still valid please value it" you twat

>>53577116
It's not a producing thread, retard. It was about recording on a 4-track, and I happen to know what the fuck I'm talking about when it comes to that.

reminder to ignore ADTBG

he's a suburban black dude with dreadlocks lmao

>>53577136

and my point wasn't about 4 tracks, you idiot, it was to you talking out of your ass about music production

>hurr durr le AFX doesn't use tuts why would you hurrrr
>well u see I am not a producer I just barely know how to use a 4 track

shut the fuck up

>>53577185
I'm hearing a lot of pretentious criticizing and absolutely nothing that backs up your claims. So until you can do that, I'm not contributing to this thread unless someone asks a specific question about 4-tracks I'd be able to answer.

>>53577302

good for you man, stick to answering questions about 4 tracks, and shut the fuck about electronic music production

glad we were able to clear that out

Op still here (i'm at work actually)

Thanks for your reaponses though this was not an analog vs digital recording discussion. As i said before i'm not new to digital recording (even if not that experienced), i just wanted to know if that particular tape recorder does his job properly for the way it's intended to do it ( and it does, based on your opinions)

So thanks to everyone

>>53577386
adtbg!! fancy seeing you outside of /bleep/

>>53577781

hey man how goes it

I'm not a very smart person and I've used my Tascam Portastudio 4 track casette recorder for about 8 years now to make demos to give promoters and bar owners and whatnot. I only record two track singer/songwriter stuff to give out, and it sounds good enough, but I do a lot of ambient, sound collage glitchy stuff for fun and I love it for that. I took the cover off so I can press down to change the tape speed and I loop it back into itself with pedals and it's pretty fun. Also I just like the way it looks on my desk, like it's just a really utilitarian little piece of recording equipment with a nice kinda communisty looking aesthetic.

Is there a better 4 track?