Gasalcoholics anonymous? whoever said this was a help group?

[Seance]

What's your workflow like? How many tracks do you expect to need? Do you expect to be doing a lot of mixing or editing on the device? Do you want it to be able to give you a master bus mixdown, without ever needing to import into a DAW? Does it need to be convenient to travel with? Or another to approach it: what do you wish the H5 could do?

I wish the Zoom H5 had more on-the-surface controls for level/panning. But mostly I wish it could do overdubbing by simply pressing a button. Even with its 3 tracks (stereo for mic and Tracks 1 & 2), if I could arm tracks easily for overdubbing, then I could build tracks up by bouncing down existing ones and adding new ones as needed. I don't really need a lot of tracks.

I've thought about getting either a used Tascam DP-006 or DP-008EX or something similar because they seem straightforward and not too expensive. But they don't have as many surface controls as I'd like.

I have thought about getting a used Tascam DP-24SD. It seems to cover a lot of my requirements/wishes, but I'm not sure if spending 3 to 4x more and getting a Tascam Model 12 might not work better since it has more surface-controls for volume/panning/etc.

I'd probably prefer to mix down on the device without going to DAW because (although I've had a friend give me some pointers and rules of thumb about recording/mixing) my approach is pretty much in the hashy/improvised realm.

I've never liked the band KISS, but when it comes to certain sorts of technical things I'm stupid and need to keep it simple.

I don't need it to travel, although I did use the Zoom H5 a couple times to record a screening where I improvised the soundtrack or to record audio while shooting visuals.

Mostly I just want something similar to the workflow of an old Tascam Portastudio but without mechanical parts that can wear-down or that might need repairs so I can flail around within a limited sandbox.

I want to be able to just chunk things together via overdubs and find a stand-alone device that I don't have to hook up to my computer because I think that such a setup will help lower the mental barriers and hurdles that typically keep me from completing things. If the learning curve or the technical possibilities are too great, or if the workflow is too clunky, then I find it off-putting, lose momentum and drift off to other projects.

If a process makes sense to me, I can be driven. If not, then not.

Like with animation, I can hunker down and methodically scratch and/or paint a series of tiny images onto the surface of minuscule film frames (from 35mm to 16mm to Super8 film) for hours a day and for days at a time and for weeks on end.

But when it comes to animating things on my computer (even though I can easily "undo" "mistakes") I find that my enthusiasm is easily deflected, deflated, defeated.

[friendship]

I mean I've never used it but it sounds like the Tascam Model 12 is right for you. Lots of surface control for the basics, you can mix down the master bus, has a good amount of tracks to work with. It doesn't have virtual tracks, but that only makes the workflow more like your cassette Portastudio. Plus, you can still send recorded tracks to other track numbers, e.g. if you record a guitar part on track 1, you can assign it to track 2 and record something anew on track 1 without having to unplug/plug your instrument.

Seems like it might work for you maybe

[Seance]

I mean I've never used it but it sounds like the Tascam Model 12 is right for you. Lots of surface control for the basics, you can mix down the master bus, has a good amount of tracks to work with. It doesn't have virtual tracks, but that only makes the workflow more like your cassette Portastudio. Plus, you can still send recorded tracks to other track numbers, e.g. if you record a guitar part on track 1, you can assign it to track 2 and record something anew on track 1 without having to unplug/plug your instrument.

Seems like it might work for you maybe

This reflects my initial thoughts. But with the tariff situation and the weak Canadian dollar, these units used to be around $750 CAD a couple years ago and are now sold at $1,119.

I'm also making queries about a used Tascam DP-24SD that is being sold semi-locally (an hour away from me) for $300 CAD. This might be the way to dip a toe without losing an arm and a leg.

Option paralysis about devices to avoid option paralysis is a gear Cath-22 that, with gear prices in Canada, usually leaves me hemming and hawing until the options dwindle away.

[friendship]

I mean I've never used it but it sounds like the Tascam Model 12 is right for you. Lots of surface control for the basics, you can mix down the master bus, has a good amount of tracks to work with. It doesn't have virtual tracks, but that only makes the workflow more like your cassette Portastudio. Plus, you can still send recorded tracks to other track numbers, e.g. if you record a guitar part on track 1, you can assign it to track 2 and record something anew on track 1 without having to unplug/plug your instrument.

Seems like it might work for you maybe

This reflects my initial thoughts. But with the tariff situation and the weak Canadian dollar, these units used to be around $750 CAD a couple years ago and are now sold at $1,119.

I'm also making queries about a used Tascam DP-24SD that is being sold semi-locally (an hour away from me) for $300 CAD. This might be the way to dip a toe without losing an arm and a leg.

Option paralysis about devices to avoid option paralysis is a gear Cath-22 that, with gear prices in Canada, usually leaves me hemming and hawing until the options dwindle away.

What the fuuuuuuuck that is bonkers. I can definitely understand not wanting to pay that much, I was assuming it would be like half that. I hope the DP-24SD works out, it looks like a lot of machine for the money.

[imJonWain]

I haven't been buying/selling gear or even playing much lately but a deal popped up that was too good. I got a 68 Bandmaster w/ 2x12 cab for $350. The amp needs a little work and the cab is crap but it does have 71 oxford 12T6 speakers in it.

[Gone Fission]

Score! Oxford and CTS speakers have taken a lot of shit from vintage snobs, but sometimes they can actually be a more appealing choice.

[Seance]

What the fuuuuuuuck that is bonkers. I can definitely understand not wanting to pay that much, I was assuming it would be like half that. I hope the DP-24SD works out, it looks like a lot of machine for the money.

Picked up the used Tascam DP-24SD. It also came with a RC-3F footswitch, a 32GB SD card, the manual/power cord, and an instructional DVD for $300 CAD (about $219 US).

Now I have to dig out my old DVD player, peruse the manual, and watch some tutorial videos on YT so I can figure out how to at least thrash some sounds together.

[dubkitty]

cool! looking forward to hearing how it works.

[friendship]

Hell yeah! I don't know much about it but it looks like a ton of machine for the money. Congratulations! Share your recordings when you make 'em!

[Seance]

Thanks!

It might take a while, but if I manage to record something I'll share the results.

[dubkitty]

i’m looking at some mean and nasty medical bills coming up in the near future…they want $1700 for the MRI on my back, and god only knows how much i’ll get socked for from the cataract procedures. so i figured i’d better grab a couple of items for my projects. the first is a Telecaster neck that’s rather unique; it’s mahogany with a rosewood board and carbon fiber reinforcement rods and a wheel truss rod adjuster at the heel end of the neck. i wouldn’t have thought of carbon fiber, but otherwise this is exactly what i’d ask for from a builder as a custom order. it’s for a Telecaster project; see below for more info. i watched this for months and was afraid i’d miss the boat so i jumped now.

the second is a set of Bigsby pickups from Mojo in the UK. they’re astounding and not all that dear when you consider the tooling involved. i already have the Supro Black Holiday that will get the pickups, which they call P.A.B.’s for Paul A. Bigsby. i am extremely excited to get these pickups because i’ve never heard anything like them and they’re right up my street.

IMG_7113.jpeg (94.19 KiB) Viewed 5 times

you can hear them here:

https://youtu.be/_D3Q6_nfX8s?si=sWUAtvaNOcEcbz6S


the Tele project will include a bound alder body, a modern Tele bridge without the side rails and with 6 massive metal saddles, a “speedbump”-type neck pickup in a Tele shell, and a “Suprocaster” bridge pickup styled on the Supro lap steel pickup in a Tele configuration. and a Gibson-style toggle switch…i don’t like blade switches much. small locking Sperzel tuners as i continue to tour the locking tuners market. it’s going to have to wait awhile because i have other stuff in front of it.

on the other hand, literally all i should have to do with the Supro is install the pickups, change the bridge saddle to a compensated aluminum Bigsby saddle, and mount the old Bigsby B5 that used to be on my 335 in the 70s-80s. i’m trying to find replacements for the metal plugs that should cover the neck bolt holes. so far the smallest i’ve found lists as being for 1/2” apertures in electrical boxes but their caps are 22 mm which i think is too wide for the placement. i have one leftover plug from a batch i bought online and used to cover the unused control holes in the Kondor pickguard, but it’s so small it falls into the holes. the search continues…

[dubkitty]

the neck is Canadian and was only $219. GOAL! the Mojo pickups hurt at over $400 the set, but that’s not horrible when you get 12-month payment terms. yet another guitar with pickups more expensive than the host guitar.