TASCAM PORTA/02MKII 2 Input, 4-TRACK Cassette Recorder

by Tascam

Product Features

• Features: 4-track integrated mixer/cassette multitrack recorder; 2 MIC/LINE input channels;

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17 x 5 x 11 inches ; 4.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002H0RDG
• Item model number: PORTA/02MKII
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,420 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #53 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Multitrack Recorders

Product Description

For the aspiring musician, songwriter or music educator looking for the best value in an entry-level multitrack recording system, the Porta 02 can't be beat. With great sound quality, easy operation and full compatibility with consumer stereo cassette decks, this economical 4-track recorder lets you record, overdub and mixdown to standard cassette. Features: 4-track integrated mixer/cassette multitrack recorder; 2 MIC/LINE input channels; 4 channel mixer-LEVEL and PAN controls on each channel; Industry standard 17/8 ips. tapes speed; Headphone monitor output with level control; 2-track simultaneous record capability.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's great at what it does., November 23, 2006

By 

Toomuchnoise - See all my reviews

This review is from: TASCAM PORTA/02MKII 2 Input, 4-TRACK Cassette Recorder (Electronics)

As long as you understand what you're buying -- then this is a terrific unit.

What you're buying is the ability to do four-track recording, two tracks at a time.

You can then mix those tracks down and dub them to stereo -- likely a cassette tape player or our computers' audio card to burn a CD or MP3.

There will be two main people interested in this unit:

- Singer-song writers who use a recorder to help them compose.

- Budding musicians (even your kids) who want to produce simple demo tapes while learning the basics of multi-track recording.

DO NOT buy this unit to record your next chart-topping hit!

Buy this this unit if you want cheap, easy, good-enough multi-track recordings for your own purposes. Don't expect studio-quality -- this is basically a consumer quality recorder, reconfigured for musicians.

I think Tascam deserves praise for keeping a model like this on the market. There are certainly more powerful and better-sounding multi-track recorders but there are times when you just want cheap and easy.

For cheap and easy, this unit is a good as it gets.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tascam porta 02 review, December 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: TASCAM PORTA/02MKII 2 Input, 4-TRACK Cassette Recorder (Electronics)

i got this item for christmas it is very good the only thing is when you play back what you have recorded when youve finished there is a slight buzzing noise. When you are playing the electric guitar if you plug it straight in to the porta studio you will get a clean sound but if you want to have a distortion sound you can by a pedal and have that between the porta studio and the guitar

overall very pleased with item

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Little Mixer, December 6, 2008

By 

Casey Gray (AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TASCAM PORTA/02MKII 2 Input, 4-TRACK Cassette Recorder (Electronics)

If you are a serious musician, this product is not for you (unless you are a strict adherent to the "lo-fi" movement). Most of the following should be obvious from the product name but just in case...

It is a four track mixer/recorder but it only has two inputs at a time. Not bad if you are just recording guitar and vocals, but a hassle if you want to do more. Patience will come in handy to layer the tracks into a decent song. Also, this requires special cassettes to record. Not that analog is bad, just be aware of the cost of tapes and try to think of how many garage/bedroom demos you can fit on a 30 minute tape.

In conclusion, this is a good little mixer. To use it for more than a very basic recording takes patience and a lot of effort. I did use this in an interesting daisy chain of equipment in order to get a stereo recording of a drum track into my MacBook. And besides, the Beatles recorded most of their material on only four tracks.