Tascam Portastudio 246 | REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Here is a specifications overview of the Tascam Portastudio 246, a 4 track cassette recorder with a 6 channel mixer which came to market in 1985.
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TETRAKAN - Fix & Use Tape Recorders
Overviews; tear-downs; repair vlogs; techniques; tutorials; demo recordings...
...covering every cassette multitrack recorder ever made!*
*(eventually)
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I prefer to answer questions in the youtube comments where my answers can help more than one person, but if you need to share photos etc, you can message me via facebook.
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Love these machines so much! We just finished a concept album recorded on the Tascam 488 Portastudio. It's alt-folk style music with some experimental sounds like tape loops, musical saw, synths, field recordings, etc. It's uploaded on our channel if anyone wants to check it out!
I produced great recordings on this unit in the 80's into the early 90's...I even did a low budget film score...I Love this machine. Wish I still had one.
i got 2 of them.... great sound
Hey! Thanks again for all these amazing videos.
I managed to get a 246 and it works, apart from one small issue:
The VU meter of Track 2 only works when playing back from Tape (and only when the RECORD FUNCTION 2 light is off, and the CUE PGM is off).
And the VU meter also doesn't work when monitoring the input. Any idea what the issue could be?
edit: after some more experimentation the culprit seems to be MONITOR channel R/2…because when I pan channels to the right and listen to headphones on MONITOR I can't hear the channels.
But if I use PGM it works fine.
Any help is appreciated!
Comfort viewing! 246 is life.
Glad you made this one. In terms of flexibility and mixing tools, this is the king imho. I think because of inherent and unavoidable impedance due to all the interconnectivity I still hear it as less hot-sounding than the 244 (I know I’ve mentioned before). If the preamps/record level could match the 244’s, this would simply be 🤯🤯🤯 to me as a unit. As it is now I think it definitely trumps the 90’s units unless you really need multiple memory positions.
I have a dream that, in addition to hot-rodding the preamps, you could somehow get the freq response from 14khz on the high end to 18khz, maybe via adding HXPro like the Marantz PMD 740. I have a sony cassette deck that can hit 20khz on standard cassette speeds and it sounds uh-mazing, no reason that they couldn’t have achieved that on these units at twice the speed. But I’m not an engineer. Just dreaming in technicolor.
Still though, the 246 is probably the best Tascam did with maximum flexibility 👌🏻🙌🏻.
You have the best channel around for me. Thank you so much for all of your knowledge
Do you think that the 244 have better Pre, in terms of analog sound?
No. It's the same components.
how does the 246 compare to the other tascams? is there anything about this that stands out, or is it just older and lower spec'd?
I have one of those, in a box in my shed. Thanks to your genius and enthusiasm I'm going to buy a replacement belt/roller kit for it.
Cause lets face it "We all Love the sound of Tape!!
Glad I could help
Nice video, very interesting to see what the 246 could do, seems like it would have been a very comprehensive home recorder in the late 80’s. Cheers for the content.
Thanks so much for this! This is the first comprehensive guide I found for this device :)
Great overview! Very informative! I need to replace the belt and the idler tires on my 246 ..purchased them but still hesitant about ...best safe way to open the 246 for access ...🙏
I did the same to mine two years ago following Tetra’s instructions via the 244. Worked like a charm. Worth the effort 👍🏻
Thanks for watching. I think it's easiest to remove the transport from the chassis and replace them from the front. For access the transport see this video ua-cam.com/video/-jfrWJCRltI/v-deo.html to replace the tires see this video
ua-cam.com/video/JJ_CTuMzDE0/v-deo.html
@@Tetrakan thanks allot for all your work on this channel! Will have a look at the video in the link, you give me a Hope🙏
@@BogoEN thanks for words of encouragement, I really need them now, to start dismantling the Tascam 246 finally🙏
jazzroom Glad to help - it was the easiest repair I made to any four track👌🏻 Just required patience ;-)
Well, I’ve managed to convince myself that this is what I need. I don’t blame anyone…I don’t have G-A-S … denile is only a river in Egypt. What I do know is that your information and incredible channel helped me make the ‘right’ informed choice.
Thankyou!
Mine was serviced 18mths ago. Found the remote 4 it. Should b able 2 punch-in/out with a Yamaha channel foot switch. Have managed 2 find & have serviced a Tascam 122 for mastering down 2 stereo also with its remote. Have retired 2 study Jazz Gtr & havvan idea 2 overdub gtr parts 2 Jamey Aebersold study materials. Mostly line-level experiments inputting various Korg Pandora multi-fx / modelling units. Each has basic on-board Dm & Bs rhythm/metro mode. Or input iReal Pro rhythm trks.. & over dub. Had fun sourcing Tascam electret condenser mics 4 it .. some have both Omni & cardioid capsules or could b fun putting a larger diaphram condenser in front of my acoustic L5. One minor niggle, headphone output’s noisy. I know it won’t affect recording .. but my then tech couldn’t fix the noise problem (he confirmed wot u said the guts being a “rat’s nest”). I learn more with each viewing. Handy tutorial, thx.
Great, thanks
Thank you! studied lot!
Glad it helped!
Becareful when the fuses start blowing....
I just started refurbishing a 388. Your videos are great to watch and learn!
I've got a faulty 388 here, haven't got round to filming it yet but that'll be the subject of a tear down etc, at some point...I suspect accessing the boards is a more convoluted process but the electronics themselves are pretty similar to the 246?
@@Tetrakan yeah i had to do servo adjustments on mine with the tensioner thingy which i was nervous about. you're the expert i'm just an amateur so i'll keep a look out for your video!
I need to fix or replace the RCA effect out on the back of my 246. Is there a specific or generic part that works for that? Thanks
I’ve always had the luxury of spares donors so I’ve never blazed a trail to sourcing those parts…maybe the parts list in the service manual would give you some hints about keywords for searching mouser and digikey’s catalogues? I take it just reflowing solder or jumper wires over bad pcb tracks haven’t resolved the issue you’re having with the original sockets?
@@Tetrakan there's something jammed inside the RCA hole thing.
the 246 is the finest 4 track of them all. I still use it alle the time.
Sorry to bug you bro! I have a couple questions:
Thanks to your videos, I was able to change out all the rubbers and get my 246 working for the most part. Had no issues the first 2 weeks. But now the tape is getting pulled slightly when played back. Seems to be sticking to the brand new pinch wheel? I tried using a cassette head cleaner and demagnetizing it again. But no go. I only have one cassette atm so I can’t test another tape. Any advice would be great
Yikes, sounds like the pinch roller isn't as new as the seller claimed? Try another rubber part from another seller? The tape should NOT be sticking like that!
@@Tetrakan thank you! damn! They just refunded me on Amazon lol. But now I gotta find a reliable source and go back in 😱 haha.
While I have you: what are the 6 major inputs on the back even used for? I notice all the videos use the front. And if the pitch control isn’t working. Do I need to buy another part for that?
@collapsibleentmt. There's an on/off toggle switch for the pitch control, do you have that pressed down? The rear sockets are for stereo "Y" cables so you can put FX like a compressor between the preamp and EQ for that channel.
Yessir. The switch for the pitch control is down but the led light is off for it and it doesn’t change left or right when the switch is down..
@collapsibleentmt. if the led isn't lighting, I'd suspect something to do with the switch is faulty. Check for cracks or broken wires on the little printed circuit board.
How would you say this machine compares to the porta two from the same era? I have a porta two that i think sounds good and it operates well, but ive got an oppurtunity to buy a 246 from a friend. Is the 246 vastly better or does it just have some features absent in the porta two?
The 246 is a bit better. Mosty the transport - it's logically controlled with a big heavy flywheel and fewer moving parts so it has less wow and flutter and its easier to maintain. Other differences are more to do with features than quality. The effects return and signal routing is more flexible in the 246. The 246 is dual speed whereas the porta two, even the HS (high speed) model is single speed, and the vanilla porta two is low speed, so the hiss and high frequency reproduction is inherently poorer than the 246's higher speed, from an audiophiles point of view. Other major difference is the eq - high low shelving vs 2 band parametric. Ideally, both units would have both types of EQ, since they are both very useful in different applications. But the parametric eq can be used as a substitute for high low shelving in a pinch, but not vice versa, so I'd say the 246 has the edge there too.
What an amazing review and lovely machine!
Hey i had a question in regards to the plastic capstan motor pulley wheel. Do you have any recommendations on where one may find those? In specific, Tascam 424. THANKS for all the amazing tutorials and videos.
I'm sorry I'm not sure where to go. I handle a lot of this stuff, first time I fix a model, I try to buy three of the same unit broken on the assumption that I'll fix 2 and keep the worst one back as a spares donor, so my spares graveyard keeps me right.
Love it... I’ve just resurected mine! What’s with the trippy panning man!??
Feels good, man
Great video. I just acquired a 246. Question! I want to use the 246 parametric eq as an insert on a separate mic pre I have. Using the insert-return trick on the 246, I can bypass the 246 pre, then I’d like to get the audio back out of the 246 post-eq. Is that possible?
Thanks. Yes you can do that, you'd take your outputs from the PGM out RCA output sockets on the back of the unit.
I have a porta 03mk 2 and wondered if I could use the pinchroller for my 246. I don't know the 246 pinchroller dimension as the person that was going to fix it removed the rubber and later died! Otherwise could i get one (even the cheap one to modify) and belts through you and pay extra to donate to your excellent site.
Forgot to mention that I live in NZ.
Sorry for late reply on this, if you ahve the brass core you coudl order this part from ali express and transplant the rubber www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004370283132.html
Great review/tutorial ! I've just got one of these off my Uncle who recorded many acoustic sessions and Highland raves in the 80s/90s 😆 It's needing looked at and a few small repairs are in order I believe. Just on the off chance, I'm noticing your accent and wondering if you are also in Scotland and might be able to repair this? (we're in Glasgow)...
Thanks! Yeah that could be feasible...can you message me via Facebook to discuss?
@@Tetrakannice one, indeed!
thanks
great video! so if I was to use my own mic pre's I could go into the "inserts" in the back, and that would bypass the built in preamps but still go through the eq's on the mixer? still a little confused with the inputs on these things but i'm sure i'll work it out with a bit of use, thanks for the awesome review
Thanks. Yeah that's right, external preamps can be used. To get a clearer idea of how that could work you might want to watch this video where i do something similar with the insert points on the 244 ua-cam.com/video/gJFhiO5P_kE/v-deo.html
@@Tetrakan awesome! thank you
Big fan of the channel. I have a 246 that’s served me well for years. Recently I’ve been having a problem recording on track one. the VU meter reads what seems like a normal signal going in but it will playback really quiet with a low VU read. I’ve tried recording hotter but it still plays back with a much lower output (although it will record the signal distorted like it’s hot). Do you have any guidance about how I can begin to fix this problem?
It sounds like the record amp gain is set correctly but the playback amp needs to be turned up. There are trimpots on the large PCB which you see when you remove the bottom case. Ideally you would do a full calibration, but that requires a calibration tape, scope or decent multimeter etc, so just try turning the appropriate trimpot 30 degrees clockwise and see where you are. Here’s the calibration procedure on a 244 - location of the trimpots are totally different but principal is the same if this is totally new to you ua-cam.com/video/vNCSR447M5o/v-deo.html
@@Tetrakan thanks for the reply, I’m gonna check that out. Does your 246 tear down video show where those trimmers would be located? Could the sudden need for a tune up be able indicator of a component failing or do these machines tend to drift over time?
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take my machine apart before finishing a project I’m working on. Since it is tracking fine with the exception of the quiet playback, do you think there is much harm leaving the track the way it is for the time being. Adjusting the playback later won’t affect what I’ve tracked to the tape right?
Thanks for being a great 4 track guru
The issue could have other causes, but - Occam's razor and all that - try turning up the playback trimpot first, its a reversible step which won't do any harm to the recording. If the location of the trimpots isn't remaked upon in the tear down, they are definitely in the service manual which is a free download from my blog, link in the video description, good luck!
I am indebted to your videos...got a 246 relativity cheap since I could change the idler tire with confidence thanks to your vid. Thanks you kindly for sharing your knowledge.
Feel you on the headaches with the cuepgm/insert, and starting to understand its purpose with this video (really only relevant to monitoring/punching in it seems). Just to be clear, the insert button has no relation to using the inserts on the back?
Little correction regarding the meter discussion (33:00). The meter selections only set the smaller meters on the right, not the larger meters on the left is what I am seeing on mine.