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Track Format and Tape Recommendations
Tape Type
The Portastudio 414 MKII is internally adjusted for
HIGH BIAS Type II tape. This means that for best
results, you should only use tapes of this type. TDK
SA, Maxell XL-II or equivalent formulations are
recommended. We strongly suggest that you select
one good quality brand and use it exclusively. The
time you spend creating your multitrack master is
much more valuable than the money you save by
buying inferior tape. The cassette shell essentially
becomes a part of the 414 MKII's transport. Poor
quality shells can cause wrinkles, snarls and
shredding of the edges of the tape with use. Even
small scratches on the tape oxide can cause
"dropouts" (temporary loss of signal) on one or more
tracks. High quality tapes are less likely to cause
problems in the long run.
Accidental Erase/Record Protection
To protect a finished master tape, it is necessary to
punch out both record protect tabs. Even though you
are recording in only one direction, the 414 MKII
uses the entire width of the tape. If, for example, you
remove only one of the tabs, you could accidentally
insert the cassette into the 414 MKII backwards and
erase all four tracks of the master.
Tape Length
Use the shortest possible tape for a given work. It is
not unusual to play a tape 100 times before you are
finished, so select a cassette length that is as close as
possible to the length of the program you plan to
record. Cassettes C-60 length and shorter are often
made from thicker stock than longer cassettes.
The tape used in C-120 cassettes is extremely thin
and can cause winding problems, crimping,
wrinkling, and other damage to the oxide coating of
the tape which will destroy your work. Don't use
C-120s in the 414 MKII.
Remember that with twice the normal speed and the
"one-side-only" 4-track single direction format, you
have only one quarter of the normal play time:
Cassette Play Time
C-46 11.5 min.
C-60 15 min.
C-90 22.5 min.
(approx.)