Tascam 414MKII 4-Track Recorder

by Tascam

Product Features

• There are 4 mic/line inputs and 2 XLR mic inputs

Product Details

• Item Weight: 6.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds
• ASIN: B0002F6ZAC
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,828 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #3 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Multitrack Recorders > Analog

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

For you or as a gift. The new 414mkII Portastudio is ideal for newcomers or those experienced in multitrack recording, packing high-end features into a convenient, compact and economical package. A high-speed transport, combined with Hi & Low EQ and dbx noise reduction means great sound. For convenience, there are also 2 XLR microphone inputs, and a 1/4" HiZ guitar input. Use it for demos, as a portable sketch pad, or for practicing recording techniques.

Features:

4 track recorder with 8 input mixer 4 mic/line input channels, 2 stereo inputs 2 XLR mic inputs HiZ guitar input 2 effect sends

2 band EQ on each channel 3 3/4 ips high tape speed dbx noise reduction Optional RC-30P punch-in pedal

Product Description

An 8 input mixer feeds 4 independent tracks. There are 4 mic/line inputs and 2 XLR mic inputs, plus a dedicated HiZ guitar input. A 2-band EQ on each channel lets you dial in the tone you like, and 2 effect sends lets the 414mkII communicate with whatever outboard gear you might have in your studio or personal rack. DBX noise reduction helps to keep your recording clean.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good sound; great simplicity, flexibility, and price, August 14, 2004

By 

Aaron Rubenson "Frugal Tenor" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tascam 414MKII 4-Track Recorder

I'm a vocalist, and I wanted the ability to produce good quality recordings quickly (i.e. on the spot/during rehearsal) and inexpensively. I recently purchased the Portastudio 414mkII to meet this need, and I'm quite please with its performance to date. For clarity, this is not my demo quality set up. I use an Edirol audio interface and Cakewalk recording software for that purpose. This latter solution works quite well, but is rather cumbersome to set up and carry through to mastering.

I chose the Portastudio 414mkII over similarly priced alternatives because it seemed to present the best combination of price and features. I looked at the more affordable Porta02mkII and MF-P01 by Tascam, but these units lack XLR inputs, EQ controls, and effects send capability. The X-12 by Fostex was similarly oversimplified, in my opinion. I also considered the pricier Pocketstudio 5 and Fostex MR-8 (both digital units), but ultimately rejected these because their interfaces seemed more complicated than necessary for a rehearsal quality unit. The 414mkII's solid array of inputs and outputs also seemed superior to those on these digital units. I did not consider digital multi-tracks with built in CD burners during this purchase. In my mind, units with those capabilities (and price) compete directly with my Edirol/Cakewalk set up.

As I indicate above, I'm quite pleased with the Portastudio 414mkII's performance. Setup was a breeze, the controls are intuitive, and the manual provides excellent guidance on more complicated features. Recording is basically as simple as turning the unit on, taking a few sample levels, and pushing record. Mixing and mastering are similarly simple processes, and I've found myself recording, mixing, and mastering piano/vocal arrangements in roughly 30 minutes.

Most importantly, the sound quality is incredibly good given this unit's price and ease of operation. I've recorded acoustic piano, electronic piano, and voice thus far, and the resulting mix is truly a pleasure to listen to; in fact, it far surpasses my expectations for a unit priced so reasonably. My only negative feedback is that these initial recordings yielded a barely audible hiss when played back through my home stereo at high volume. Please understand, however, that when I say barely audible, I mean it; normal listeners (non audiophiles) will likely not notice the noise at all. I'm now playing with input and recording levels to try and eliminate even that noise. But regardless of success, I'll remain pleased with the sound quality this reasonably priced unit delivers.

Best of luck with your decision, and happy recording!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Old Standby, November 1, 2006

By 

Tracy Latham "wretchasketch" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tascam 414MKII 4-Track Recorder

I rated this product 5 stars because it is the very best cassette 4-track I am aware of. I record my own bluegrass music. In the last several years, I have been using digital multitrack recorders and digital audio interfaces for digital recording on my PC. I thought I was getting a superior sound compared to the old days when I started doing this on cassette. Well, I did get rid of tape hiss. Recently I dug out some 13 year old old multitrack projects I did on the TASCAM 414mkII. The sound has a friendliness that I just don't get from digital recording. I would recommend this recorder if you are looking for an easy way to create some warm tracks to work with. Stay away if you have an aversion to very slight tape hiss.

Tracy Latham

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars can't beat it's ease of use but make sure you know how to convert/ mixdown, March 2, 2008

By 

Amber H. "my crush with eyeliner" (Austin TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tascam 414MKII 4-Track Recorder

I have the 4 track and the eight track; I do recommend this for it's ease of use- it's portable- it's tough- and awesome to have to record ideas for songs and be your own amatuer producer; I admit I have had a lot of fun with this one and the upgrade (note tapes from the four track do not play on the 8 track); I've had a lot of great ideas transferred onto this thing and with cheap add ons like effects pedals etc. you can do a lot..that being said, these tape recordings only play on the recorder - as is for all multitracks- they have to be mixed down to a master tape and/or cd before you can share your work with others. Don't get me wrong this can be done- but it took me forever to figure it out- like all multitracks (from all brands) the user manual is crap- and sadly for the not so tech savvy it can be difficult to figure out how to convert the music into a readable file; apparently there are many ways of doing this- but possibly the easiest two options I have found are:
1. if you have a computer get a Firewire converter or another converter/sound box- plug the 4 or 8 track in and then plug the firewire into your computer push play and "viola!"; this is especially great for an iMac- you can import directly into your itunes, garage band, logic, or protools.If you are without acess to a computer, another way to do a mix down is through an external tape player(to make a tape- and if you want a c.d...) with a cd burner-this is costly if you don't already have the equipement; if you don't you might want to go with a digital that has a built in c.d. burner it may save you money in the long run and analog is hardly used anymore; The downside to digital is a less warm sound unless you have the right configuration for your amp/mics; And with digtal- it isn't a sturdy thing b/c any of the cheaper versions especially can crash on you and erase all of your work; Many of them are confusing and you have to mixdown/bounce tracks on them as well before you get a master copy. At least with analog you do have a hard copy with a warm sound that will probably stand the test of time- and if you can use a tape player you can use this.
Shure SM48 Vocal Microphone (Standard)Sony MDR-V150 Monitor Series Headphones with Reversible Earcupsor any cheap over the ears headphones.