Help W/ My New 4 Track Please

triple c

DISCLAIMER:I am a ROOKIE with equipment stuff

I bought a tascam 4 track yesterday (steppin up from my little cassette recorder). It came with mic and its cord, headphones, and a cassette. I get home from guitar center and Im ready to rock and roll. I read the instructions and its tellin me i need a seperate tape deck. Shit.

What do i need aside from the 4 track just to record?
Is the seperate tape deck for recording onto a final format after mixing?

Shit i dont even know if Im askin the right things here.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

exhausted

you don't need the second tape deck for recording. you're right. it's just for recording your final two track mix.

all you need to record is the 4-track, the mic and some headphones to monitor with.

triple c

Would you suggest using the mic for recording guitar tracks or wire it straight to the 4 track?

brain of c

i like to plug straight in to the 4 track, myself.

mccreadyisgod

Does this thing have a mic preamp with an XLR input (1/2" circle with three peg holes)? If so, you might consider getting a better mic like a Shure SM57. If it's just got 1/4" inputs, then you would need an external preamp, which would get pricey. If it has a dedicated 1/4" hi-Z instrument input, that would work, but it's not going to get the same tone as you would get out of a mic'ed up guitar amp. I'd try both ways and see which you prefer the sound of.

I just saw a Roland 8-track digi recorder in a pawn shop for $450. It only has 1/4" inputs, but it has MIDI and digital outputs, plus a Zip drive. It's almost tempting. The same place had new mag wheels and tires that would fit my car for $350...

Of course, I'm broke. Damn.