VF08 & questions about Tascam Porta 03 mk2 and MF-P01 4 track recorders

[e***@hotmail.com]

I have enjoyed following this group for a long time and haven't
posted anything in a while. I have some comments and questions:

I just purchased a Tascam MF-P01 4 track recorder. A long
time ago, I was using a Tascam Porta 03 Mk2 4 track and
had lots of problems with the power supply. The first power
supply on the Porta 03 broke, so I ordered another one from
Tascam. Then, it appeared that the second power supply was
shorting out on the jack of the machine. I had an electronics
wizard friend tweek the machine and he tried a few things over
a few years when the power supply would stop working - he
replaced the Tascam jack, he made sure nothing was shorted out
etc... Finally, the machine would not run anymore.

A while back, I got a Fostex VF08 and forgot about the Tascam.
Did lots of recording on the VF08. I use the VF08 like a
portastudio - don't use most the bells and whistles of the
VF08. Anyone record a CD on the VF08?
I am especially interested in classical and acoustic guitars
since they are a challenge to record on a home digital machine,
in my opinion. (Electric guitar is the easiest).

In any event, my cassettes gathered dust.
Recently, I thought how much I missed the "warm, analog" cassette sound
:-)

Tonight, while I was using the MF-P01 for the first time, I
dug out the old Porta 03 and prayed that it might somehow come
back to life. After it would not start with
the second power supply, I took the new Tascam
MF-P01 power supply and plugged it in the Porta 03 and it
turned on! The Porta 03 needs its pots cleaned and other stuff
so it won't be so noisy, but it basically, worked fine.

I have some questions for you Porta studio gurus:

1. Does the MF-P01 have a new, improved power supply over the
Porta 03? I noticed that the MF-P01 power supply is a little
larger and made in China versus the Porta 03 power supply. My
guess is that the connector on the new power supply seats a little
tighter to the power supply jack on the MF-P01 and Porta 03.

2. What is the frequency response of the Porta 03? Is it
better than the MF-P01? I need to find my old Porta 03 manual.

3. If I really get back into this cassette thing and don't
let the tape hiss drive me back to only using the Fostex VF08,
is it worth buying the "top of the line" Tascam? I believe the
best Porta Studio costs between $250 and $300. Is the added
frequency response worth the extra cost - in other words, would
I get a big improvement in sound quality by getting the best
Tascam portastudio that they currently manufacture?

4. Some friends have Mac garage band. I got to play with garage band
and I thought this was the most fun I had recording in a home in a long
time. I don't have a Mac, but it would almost be
worth getting a Mac, next time I need a new PC.
Only negative was that there appeared to be some kind of delay
between the time you pluck a string and hear it out a speaker
hooked up to the Mac. I can't figure out why. My friends just
recently got their Mac and garage band. All in all, it is quite
amazing to be able to lay down a good drum track using a cheap
keyboard. Anyone experiment with garage band yet?
Thanks for any information, opinions on the above,

Entfred

[jimokiii]

Hi,
Saw a TASCAM porta -03-u mkII for sale, used. No cables or power supply.
45 bucks.

Son is just starting out with a few other kids and playing lead, bass, and
drums for now.

What do you think of price? I can return, if it does not work. But, I need
a power supply converter. What is issue with that? Seems like a generic
power converter might work. No?

Any thoughts/suggestions welcome. Very new to the music electronic area.

Thanks. ***@yahoo.com
j

[jimokiii]

Hi,
Saw a TASCAM porta -03-u mkII for sale, used. No cables or power supply.
45 bucks.

Son is just starting out with a few other kids and playing lead, bass, and
drums for now.

What do you think of price? I can return, if it does not work. But, I need
a power supply converter. What is issue with that? Seems like a generic
power converter might work. No?

Any thoughts/suggestions welcome. Very new to the music electronic area.

Thanks. ***@yahoo.com
j

[Biggo]

Post by e***@hotmail.com
4. Some friends have Mac garage band. I got to play with garage band
and I thought this was the most fun I had recording in a home in a long
time. I don't have a Mac, but it would almost be
worth getting a Mac, next time I need a new PC.

$499 for a Mac mini. You won't outgrow it that easily .-)

Post by e***@hotmail.com
Only negative was that there appeared to be some kind of delay
between the time you pluck a string and hear it out a speaker

It's called latency and it's probably due to a slow USB audio interface.
PCs (and desktop Macs) have built-in audio I/Fs that are much faster in
transferring the signal to/from the computer (this said, GarageBand
itself is rather slow compared to commercial programs but hey, it's free
with the OS).
Listening to your performance from the computer while you record isn't
always a good idea: you should listen to a monitor output (if the IF has
one) or through an amplifier/mixer/etc. The computer output is useful
only if you want to process the signal in real time. The chain I/F ->
computer -> software -> computer -> I/F is obviously *much* slower than
the hardware in a guitar pedal or a multieffect.

Post by e***@hotmail.com
Anyone experiment with garage band yet?

Someone, yes .-D <http://www.macidol.com/>