3:00 -Skip to the song “Lantern” Here’s an example of a simple home recording studio without computers. This video is about my Dawless Setup - The Tascam 246 into the Model 12 for Mixdown. 4 Ever 4 Track.
Fab. And what a truly great song. In 1981 I bought the original Portastudio 144. Now I've just bought the Model 12 and it's fantastic. Almost an analogue experience but with digital technology which is a joy to use. I think many people are learning that some of the older simpler ways of doing things are more inspiring and bring greater joy. Keep it up, you're pretty good.
What a true songwriter's treat....and here I thought I was just gonna be learnin some recap on old gear, and yet Lantern took me for a ride through the past, the present, and more. We all got stories, and you just told quite a few...that is life stuff right there brother. thanks
It takes real talent to get this quality from a simple setup. Love the song, the warmth of the analogue tape, but most of all your demeanour. What a good guy you are. Thanks for sharing.
Came here for the video, and like so many others...Wow, what a beautiful song! Hooray for simplicity! I leave here knowing that the Model 12 is the direction I want to go to get away from the DAW and back to keeping music production simple and fun.
My friend, what a nice song was that!!! I am glad and greatfull I find you and your channel!!!,i am looking forward to buy a tascam 12, and start enjoy recording!!!! Thank you so much!! You are an inspiration 💖 to me!!!Greetings from Greece!!!
I have a Tascam 414, and just got the Tascam Model 16 for doing exactly what your doing. I figured out years ago that the 414 has 4 outputs - L, R, Mon, and the sync out is always channel 4. The Model 16 seems a bit intimidating but the menus remind me of the ones on my Zoom H4. Great minds think alike. Great song BTW! - cheers!
What a beautiful song. People need to start to listening to natural recordings. You remind me of Sugar Man. You should release it, I would steam it and downloa it. Thank you for sharing Bigg eMs 🙏🙏
Thank you for listening and for saying such nice things about it. The song is available on my new Bandcamp page. I forget if It’s free or like a dollar, but I agree that more music should be made naturally with real instruments. Hopefully this link works, otherwise there is a link on my “about” section of the channel to get to Bandcamp. thelowend2.bandcamp.com/follow_me
The plasticity of music today is out of control. And the crazy thing is, the more of it made, the less valuable it is to people. But people do everything to put out more of it for less effort and with less talent required. I know no one gives a crap if I post a song, so why should I be in a rush to post them? It makes more sense for me to concentrate on learning to play, learning to write songs with parts that fit together sonically, and to record them as they should sound. It won't be inhumanly perfect, but it shouldn't be.
So Cool , I had the 144 and still have the 244,. That is how I recorded in the late Seventies and eighties. Now I’m getting mine repaired. Your song is nice too👍
I bought a Tascam Model 16 today. I'm thinking maybe I'll grab one these discounted 24SD units! I would never need a DAW and have endless channels to play with. GREAT SOUND! Perhaps, old school tape/analog recordings will always remain king of warmth.
In addition.... what you said about limiting the recording to so many tracks and working with what you have.......... excellent advice. Too many choices today....... way too many. These choices lead to complete indecision and waste tons of time and then eventually come to nothing of value. This has been a great video. Thank you again.
The music reminds me of Pearls Before Swine meets Gordon Lightfoot. Thanks for the video. It came up as a recommendation as if to say: "Stop buying modules for your synthesizer and get your 244 fixed!"
Thanks for this video. I am mixing down 4 tracks from my Tascam 234 over to the Model 12 to archive some old recordings of my late dad and I in my 90’s Home Studio. I plan to make an original track as well as a full band accompaniment.
I 'stumbled' across this video when looking at gear reviews for the Model 12. That was back in April and I remember being 'touched' by the song and it's recording. Recently I've been looking for it again and I've finally found it after searching through my history on YT. The song is as good as I remember it. It's beautiful both lyrically and musically and the recording has some atmosphere about it that gives it a haunting quality. I really like the guitar solo too. I think you are far too humble about your talents, but then again I guess that's a good thing and probaby goes some way in how you ended up with a quiet masterpiece like this one is. It reminds me of something that Willie Nelson or Mickey Newbury, or even John Denver would write. I hope you see fit to share it more widely. Really inspirimg stuff.
Thank you for such a nice comment. I have been truly in awe of the kindness of others since posting this video. I really am very grateful that you took the time and shared your words with me. This track is on Spotify (under the name A.R. Meadows and The Low End) if you would like to add it to a playlist and share with others, that will help it get out there into the world. I'm working on recording more songs and releasing them into the wild - doing my best to learn more about social media and what platform might help the songs find people that might enjoy them. Hope to see you out there in virtual land. Thanks! A.M.
I love the sound you got. Song is great. Def a subtle darkness but earthyness at the same time. Can you write a rundown of what you used? Mics, guitars, outboard gear etc.?
Awesome tutorial on this Tascam model and wow, love your song, I've only recorded "digitally" but this "analog" warm sound has really peaked my interest
This is great - I love that Tascam 246! I have Tascam 424 and 414 plus the model 12 and use very similar to you, with extensive use of the track 1 - 4 line outs and mix on the Model 12 - it is such a joy! I'm glad you mentioned Mike @ 424 recording. I was just like you that I came across that channel, and resulted in me dragging my old Tascam 424 mkII out of storage and I dont miss my old DAW at all. Well done and I subscribed!
I recently discovered Mike @424 also. He makes some great lofi tunes. I just purchased the DP-24 for the purpose of transferring my old 90s 4trk recordings to SD on the DP24. I'm excited to remix the songs and master them!!
The voice (and the song) is absolutly wonderful. Although I find myself using lesser and lesser plugins, trying to simplify my recordings, I'll never come close to something sounding half as good as this. Cheers!
Wow, thank you so much for the compliment. I can tell you that I probably quit 1000 times after comparing myself to others and it wasn’t until I stopped doing that I even felt comfortable enough to share my music. Just keep creating - that’s the reward itself - making something that didn’t exist without you.
Usually I fast forward the song portions of these videos.... Not here. You did a great job my friend. Great song and very well played and produced. Thank you !!
I started on a setup like this 20 years ago and now I've gone full circle to where I want to be back here - buying RC-20 to fake tape noise when I used to just record to a tape cassette was the tipping point I think :)
Yes, I find your video great and useful, as well as your music is very nice and well produced, simple and emotional, you must show it at more places and leave more your basement because specially your voice is really very impressive, thanks for the video and greetings from Germany
Woah! I came here to see the tech info on this machine so I can compare it to the DP-24SD I'm thinking of getting and your song just gave me the feels. Amazing song with feeling! That's how it's done!!!!! 😁👊
My god, that song is beautiful. Definitely the star of the show! The tape really elevates it as well, perfect for a song like this. But you need a great song first, and this is a great song. Love it!
How Beautiful! I'm glad to see so many people that are still using tape. I have had to give in, to digital, and it's not as easy, for me, to use. Thanks! My Model 12 is coming today. I'm hoping it does everything I need it to do. Mixer/Interface, and DAW control. It seemed better than getting another box for DAW control.
Maybe if enough people share it and add it to playlists on Spotify it will grow some wings, but honestly it’s just awesome to know that some people are enjoying it.
Great song, I still record on an external recorder like you (Boss BR 600), but after the recording process I transfer the files to the DAW for mixdown.
I think you have cracked the mould and broken free...👍👍👍 This is wonderful wonderful writing, pure and all that music lovers want deep down. This will play in anyones living room without any feedback, including mine. Your vocal is just ‘’’ so fits the vibe ‘’. and so listenable with the simplicity of a story to be told. Not comparing you to ‘dylan’ but if he released it , would be a hit. Your vocal is darn better for this and more. Cheers and best wishes from Nz. 👍👍👍🌏👍👍👍 Your music is seriously gifted and quietly brilliant. The rest is up to you. Be your own boss and keep control, always.👍❤️👍
You are so welcome and I meant each word. Even not looking for fame and fortune, you must own what you create for that is your offering. This is who you are musically. Own it, then you may pass it on. By the way, its bloody brilliant.👍❤️👍
Thx! That song, Lantern, is actually on Spotify now under A.R. Meadows and the Low End. If you add it to a playlist and share it with friends it helps me get my music out into the wild!! Thanks again.
Nice song and sound. Those Tascam's take me back! You had to be so focused and productive with these. I was happy when I got my first 4 trk and the 8 trk was a wet dream!
Thanks for the video Just loved that warm sound of the pre amps on the 246. It reminded me of a friends dad who sounded very simalar to your voice and style of song. But didn't have the technical side of recording so i helped him setup a little home studio. That was over 20 years ago and I still use that recording as my reference. Funny how my hearing adjusts to wav and mp3 recorded music. Maybe listening to analog pre amps for so long then trying to duplicate this is one example I enjoyed just listening while the old and new technoglies combine.
WOW. This finally feels like the true spirit of 4-tracking in a modern home studio! Thanks for demonstrating your technique and showing it can be more than a novelty. ...also, can't quite tell if that's an "MS" / "Studio Tape" XLII in there, but if so, we are definitely cut from the same weird cloth ;)
Love this video and great song! I have a Tascam 246 and a 238, 34b and a Teac 80-8 that I play around with as a hobby in my studio. It’s a wonderful break from the daily grind on Protools that pays the bills. Cheers!
Thanks! DAWs belong in the hands of guys like you that get paid for it, but the tape decks are great for those of us that just want to throw down some simple songs so that they can exist outside of our brains.
One tip is to use a towel or thicker bed spread to cover your mixers (and other equipment) in a home environment. I worked with a 688 for a while that had been in a dusty place and pulling those apart to clean individual channels and replace sliders is a pain. Furnace filter material, general dust and other pollutants in the air can and WILL get into those machines and reduce their lifespan and give you a severe headache right when you need it the least.
Same with all kinds of instruments, and effects pedals too. I picked up a few inexpensive Yamaha keyboard covers (they make them for 49-key, 61-key and 88-key keyboards, those are tall enough that you can use them for much more than keyboards).
Thanks! That really is an amazing comment, I’m truly grateful for such nice words of support. I am getting things recorded and will be posting it all to Bandcamp as I finish them. Thanks for the follow and the support!
Gorgeous song. There's a lot to be said for forcing it be about talent and content, reducing options and distractions. I use a DAW, but take a similar approach, by committing everything during tracking and treating it like a tape machine.
i had it and returned it. Great device - and a pain in the a** with driver. I had to restart my pc so many times ... or the device ... it couldn't work without mailfunctions for hours. Oh and you need several driver just to get the full experience with the Model 12.
That was a great song. The sound you got from the guitar warm gorgeous. Its made my mind up to not go to a daw i have been thinking about that way. But when you here a guitar a bass and vocals like that simplicity but in England we say bloody good.
Great song and great instructions on using model 12 for dawless digitizing! I notice you had to bust a few moves with track sharing on track 1. Another way you could approach that is to split the output from track 1 of the 4 track and have the track sharing going into 2 tracks on the model 12. That way you can have everything preset and you only need to toggle mute buttons. You can even get some interesting reverb or echo tails to create an illusion of extra tracks that you wouldn't otherwise get mixing down on the 4 track. Thanks for a great posting!
@@Haze763 Hi - yes that is one way to do it. Because I already had 4 x RCA to Mono TRS, then I extend that with a female TRS to 2 x Male TRS splitter cable. I think the one I have is this one (Hosa YPP-308 Y Cable)
Exactly!! U gotta pick less compelling music... or is that your devious marketing scheme? "Hey Kids, want some technical info about the cool new mixer/?" Us: "Yes!!" "Ok... oh THAT? Thats just a little song to demonstrate the mixer and 4track." Us: *Weeping like babies*
wow, havent thought of trying this. have a 424 mkiii and model 12. can see how the vintage sound could bring something special to the digital recording. Got my model 12 last summer and have only been working with it since then.
The 424 mkiii is a great 4 track. I’ve used it and always thought it was awesome. I had that before I owned the Model 12 but it should have the same ability to connect the tape outs to the 12. It’s a fun way to try a bunch of different bounces to the 12 and keep your tape clean just the way you tracked it.
