Category Archives: The 4-Track

Home Recording Is Killing Low-End Pro Studios (1989)

Posted on 06/19/2013 by chris

“Home Studios are one of the fastest-growing segments of the music equipment industry.  The availability of (fill in the blank) is killing the low-end professional studio scene.  After all, why should musicians pay $1,000 to record on someone else’s four-or-eight … Continue reading →

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Tascam 144 4-Track c.1979: Original Catalog

Posted on 06/10/2013 by chris

Download the original 6pp brochure/catalog for the Tascam 144, the first ’4-track’ ‘porta-studio’: DOWNLOAD: Tascam_144_Catalog I’m a little embarrassed to admit/realize that this is the third post we’ve done on the 144.  First was this article regarding 4-track aesthetics, followed … Continue reading →

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The Concept of Home Studio Carried To Its Logical Conclusion

Posted on 07/02/2012 by chris

Bathroom Studio Kitchen Studio Yamaha home-studio adverts circa 1989.  Click on the images to expand.

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The Introduction Of The 4-Track

Posted on 04/19/2012 by chris

1979.  Teac/TASCAM introduces the 144 Porta-Studio, the first four-track integrated tape machine/mixer.  The first 4-track.  A truly revolutionary product for many reasons, and the first of a product category that would have a profound effect on musical and audio aesthetics … Continue reading →

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Out-of-print Book Report: “Making 4-Track Music,” John Peel (TRACK pub., 1987)

Posted on 01/22/2012 by chris

Download a seven-page scan of some interesting hardware on offer in “Making 4-Track Music,” Track Publishing 1987: DOWNLOAD: 4trackMusic_JohnPeel Includes advertisements for Yamaha MT2X, DX100, and RX17 drum machine; Akai MG614 four-track machine, Tascam Porta2 4-track, Fostex 160, the Boss … Continue reading →

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The Fostex 250 and 250AV cassette four-track machine

Posted on 02/25/2011 by chris

Fostex week continues at PS dot com. Download five pages of original FOSTEX product information on the 250 and 250AV ‘four-tracks’: DOWNLOAD: Fostex250 I’ve never used one of these machines personally.  Anyone? The 250AV, btw, is the same as the … Continue reading →

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What’s a Fostex?

Posted on 02/20/2011 by chris

Download the 4pp circa 1984 Fostex Full Line (condensed) catalog: DOWNLOAD: Fostex1984 Fostex was the yin to Tascam’s yang in the home-recording 80s.  What does this mean?  What is the sound of 4 tracks of noise reduction with no recorded … Continue reading →

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