Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Seems to me Guitar Center had one of the Yamaha 4 tracks for around $375 not
too long ago.  Also watch the "for sale" note here.  I think someone puts
up a 4-track on the average of one per month.  Just have a little patience
and you'll get your deal.  Or call one of the Guitar Centers or Sam Ash or
one of the mail order joints and offer them your price.  They'll probably go
for it...

Oh yeah, according to the Issues & Gripes note, all you have to do is mention
COMMUSIC and the retailers will roll over & spread 'em for you.  Let us
know how it works.

    Does anyone know anything about a "Vesta Fire MR-10B"? I found a mail
    order listing for it at $369.

    
    The Vesta Fire units (also seen some with the "Vestax" brand name) are
    made in Korea.  Very cheap and dirty little boxes.  They work (I've
    used one) but the cheap ones are the absolute bottom of the barrel when
    it somes to quality.  If you plan on using it a lot (say a few hours a
    week every week) I wouldn't expect it to last very long without a *lot*
    of TLC.
    
    							Brian
    
    P.S. Go check out the new version of the Yamaha MT-100...Sam Ash has
    them for about $375 and it'll eat Vesta Fire for lunch.

    Sam Ash is a little far from Maryland but thanks for the tip on the
    unit.

Yeah, but they ship.  It is far from Mass too but I've bought a few items
there.

Chad

    Do you know if Sam Ash has a catalog?

    They don't.  But once you buy stuff you get on their mailing list,
    and every once in a while they send a thing of about 20 pages with
    whatever they are pushing at the time.
    
    I just got the May issue, and on the cover is a new 4trk from
    Yamaha, the MT-100 MK-II.   List $495, their price $380.  It
    appears to add a 10-band graphic equalizer, and has stereo effect
    return.  Still no EQ per track though.
    
    They also carry some used stuff, which is not in the flyer.  That is how
    I got my 4trk, at considerable savings.
    
    Other multitracks shown this month:
    	Tascam Porta One $500
    	Tascam Porta 05  $400
    	Tascam 644	$1200
    	Yamaha MT3X	 $680

    Doesnt 400 for a used PORTA 05 seem high? i was looking at the bottom
    of the line (PORTA 05?) at daddys last summer for 400 new. Maybe it was 
    a sale or something. Anyone know the list price on a Porta 05?
    
    j
    

    Oops, I think I read .7 wrong. Those prices at the bottom are new
    prices. Sorry.
    
    

    I was going to ask the same question! I found one of my mail order
    catalogs from American music supply.I have come down to 3 (maybe 4)
    choices.
    
    Vesta Fire MR-10B
    Vesta Fire MR300
    Yamahah MT-100
    Tascam Porta-05
    
    On the Tascam it said call for prices. so how much does it cost? From
    those 4 what is the best and the 2nd best FOR THE MONEY?...
    
    Wait a sec...I dont think I read all of not 2338.9
    

    
    
      I'd take the Porta-05. As a matter of fact, I did.
    It's got an eq and an effects loop, which I'm pretty sure the vesta's don't
    have.
      Manny's in NY had a sale on them a while back.
    I think they were going for $369, including a FREE microphone.
    
    
                          
    RichC
    

    Given that choice of 4, I'd stay away from the Vestas and take
    either of the other two.  The MT100 is probably higher quality
    sound, but lacks EQ and has only mono effect return.
    
    Don't forget used!  I picked up a very slightly used Fostex 260
    (list over $1K) for $450 last year.

    The latest MT100 has a graphic EQ of some sort.  Like the Porta 05, it
    apparently works on the mix only as opposed to the individual channels
    (acceptable for one-instrument-at-a-time recording). The return is now
    stereo as well 
    
    This is what Sam Ash was advertising recently.  It's called an MT100-II
    or some such.  Be careful if mail ordering that you get the new one.
    
    							Brian

    re -.*
    
    The fluff in the Sam Ash catalog says that the MT-100 MkII has...
    
    - Two Speeds
    - 10 Band Eq 
    - Return to 0
    - dbx with defeat
    - 1 aux loop with stereo return
    - Footswitch punch in/out
    - Pitch control
    - $379.95
    
    Sounds good to me. Does anyone out there actually have one of these
    (the MkII model)? Can it record on all four tracks at once, like the
    MT3X? Right now I'm trying to decide whether or not to foot the extra
    $300 for the MT3X. The MT3X can auto punch in/out, can record on 4
    tracks simultaneously, has 6 inputs, 2 band eq on each input, and has
    two fx loops which return in stereo. I'm not sure if this is worth the
    extra $300 for me. Any suggestions?
    
    dp

    	I've been going through a similar decision-making process.  I think
    my conclusion will be to go with one of the cheaper units.  Face it -
    you're not going to get studio quality without a studio price tage (at
    least for the "under-$1K-price range".  I think it may be better when
    you're in this bracket to just go with a whatever appears to be the
    best machine for tyhe price.  Yamaha has done fairly well in making
    inexpensive four-tracks (though I doubt they have the market share that
    Tascam has).  The MT100 MK II is probably a real good deal.
    
    	Dan
    
    

    I've heard from people in this notesfile that the Yamaha has better
    sound. From what i've seen of yamaha stuff the quality is excellent.
    I used to own a porta studio and would probably go for a Porta 05 if
    I ever bought one again. But its close. Another factor for me would
    be the dealer and service and number of authorized warranty centers.
    
    j 
    

    The vanilla MT100 can record 4 tracks at once, so the Mk-II probably
    can too.

    I called LaSalle's today, and confirmed that the MT100 MkII can record
    all four tracks at once. Also, all four inputs are Line/Mic attenuator
    controlled, just like inputs 1&2 on the MT3X.
    
    That sells it for me
    
    dp

    ok...now its down to the Portasound-05 or the MT-100 MKII..I need to
    know..What is list price of the portasound and the MT-100? and how
    cheap could I get them for?
    
    A probelm with buying used is that most  N

    Well, I went and got the MT100 MkII this weekend, and I am very
    pleased. The features we have discussed before are all valid, with one
    amplification the 10-band eq (5-band stereo) CAN be used to eq input
    signals. Obviously, an eq on each input is desirable, but hey, if you
    need it, the R and L halves may act as 5 band eqs for your inputs.
    Pretty neat.
    
    The 4-track I have used in the past is my friend's MT2X. I liked the
    deck so much, I was ready to get an MT3X myself (the stopped making the
    MT2X before I could afford it!) and then I came across the MT100II
    which had nearly all the features I needed from the MT2X for $300 less.
    
    The only two features missing from the MT100II that the MT2X has are
    1) 2 band eqs on each input, and 2) SYNC in/out with dbx defeat on
    track 4 for sync. Of course, the MT2X has 6 inputs, but only inputs 1&2
    handle mic level inputs. All four inputs on the MT100II have input
    level adjustments for mic/line level signals. 
    
    Well, You still have the ability to eq signals going into the MT100II,
    and even using dbx, and the ordinary direct out jack, I was able to
    record sync, and drive my ESQ1 with no problem.
    
    The users of the original MT100 indicated that input selection was
    accomplished by pluging in or removing an input jack. This nit has been
    removed, and input selection, and recorded signal source are now
    competely controlled by switches. 
    
    Upon examining the Porta05, it occurred to me that due to the way they
    devised their input switching scheme, it was only possible to record on
    two tracks simultaneously. The MT100II may record all four tracks
    simultaneously, if desired.
    
    The MT3X has some nice extras, but for me they didn't justify an extra
    $300. Among them are: Auto 'hands-off' punch in/out (MT100II uses a
    footwitch like the MT2X), sync in/out and dbx defeat on one track,
    TWO fx loops with stereo return (MY100II has 1, stereo return), 6 input
    channels (2 line/mic inputs).
    
    The MT100II is not without its ergonomic nits. The MT2X would flash a
    red light over the record select switch if the track was selected to
    record. No such warning esists with the MT100II. The red light above
    the record button indicates that there are selected inputs, but it's up
    to your eagle eye to make sure that you aren't trashing a valuable
    track. Also, wallbug haters have another appliance to hate.
    
    dp
    
    

    I've been using a crusty old MT1X for about as long as I've been
    into MIDI (I bought it, and an ESQ-1 as my first purchase) and I
    have been very very happy with it.
    
    The live tracks (guitars and vocals) "The Low Calorie Blues" on 
    COMMUSIC VII were done on it.
    
    I think it has has excellent audio qualities for a cassette unit
    and reasonable transport-type things.  The only thing I've ever
    wished for was more channels and tracks.  SOnically, I guess it's
    easily as good as I need (or deserve ;-)).
    
    And I've used and abused absolutely every feature on it too. 
    I've even used it in configurations and for purposes that it was
    not intended (keyboard mixer, aux inputs as additional channels, etc.).
    
    	db

    What the are 'local' (eastern MA, southern NH) prices for the MT100 II?
    Is it available for less than $400  anywhere?
    
    Rodney M.

    LaSalle, Boston: $399
    
    Music Workshop, Salem, NH: $425
    
    Both places usually listen to reason if you have cash.
    
    dp

    'nuther question about the MT00 II:
    
    Does it support track bouncing/stacking without an external mixer?  That is,
    can I bounce the contents of tracks 1,2,& 3 to track four, while adding
    a live track (to track 4) at the same time?
    
    Or all the inputs hard-wired to tracks?
    
    Rodney M

    re -.1
    
    Absolutely. The manual details how you can get 10 parts onto the tape
    without pinging a track more than once.
    
    The way to pp 1,2,3 to 4 whilst mixing in track 4 live is as follows:
    
    Set inputs 1,2,3 to be from TAPE, and set input 4 to be LINE/MIC
    
    Set record select for 1,2,3 to OFF, and record select for 4 to RIGHT.
    
    Pan all inputs RIGHT. Set mix levels to taste. All four inputs (tracks
    1,2,3 and live input 4) will converge on track 4.
    
    It works,  I've tried it.
    
    dp

    Well I ended up borrowing a Portasound 05 from somebody in the BBS
    world in MAryland. I cant really use it until I get some headphones
    that have the right connecter. OR get a adapter from radio shack. Also,
    I need to get a good microphone .
    
    I pretty much understand everything and the manual is well done. Ill
    probaly come up with some questions once I get the headphones.