Portastudio refers to a series of multitrack recorders produced by TASCAM beginning in 1979 with the introduction of the TEAC 144, the first four-track compact cassette-based recorder. A TASCAM trademark, "portastudio" is commonly used to refer to any self-contained multitrack recorder dedicated to music production.[1][2][3]
The Portastudio is credited with launching the home recording revolution by making it possible for musicians to easily and affordably record and produce multitrack music at home,[4][5][6] and is cited as one of the most significant innovations in music production technology.[7]
History
editCassette Portastudios
edit
The first Portastudio, the TEAC 144, was introduced on September 22, 1979 at the AES Convention in New York City.[5] The 144 combined a 4-channel mixer with pan, treble, and bass on each input with a cassette recorder capable of recording four tracks in one direction at 3¾ inches per second (double the normal cassette playback speed) in a self-contained unit weighing less than 20 pounds at a list price of US$899.[8] The 144 was the first product that made it possible for musicians to affordably record several instrumental and vocal parts on different tracks of the built-in 4-track cassette recorder individually and later blend all the parts together, while transferring them to another standard, two-channel stereo tape deck (remix and mixdown) to form a stereo recording.[9] In 1981, Fostex introduced the first of their "Multitracker" line of multitrack cassette recorders with the 250.[10]
In 1982, TASCAM replaced the 144 with the 244 Portastudio, which improved upon the previous design with overall better sound quality and more features, including: parametric EQ, dbx Type II noise reduction, and the ability to record up to four tracks simultaneously.[11][12][10]
TASCAM continued to develop and release cassette-based portastudio models with different features until 2001,[13] including the "Ministudio" line of portastudios that offered a limited feature set and the ability to run on batteries at even more affordable price points, and the "MIDIStudio" line which added MIDI functionality.[14][15][16] Other manufacturers, including Fostex, Yamaha, Akai, and others introduced their own lines of multitrack cassette recorders.[3][17][18] Most were four-track recorders, but there were also six-track and even eight-track units.[14]
Digital Portastudios
editIn 1997, TASCAM introduced the first digital Portastudio: the TASCAM 564 which recorded to MiniDisc.[19] Later Digital Portastudio models, some with the ability to record 24 or even 32 tracks, utilize CD-R, internal hard drives, or SD cards, and commonly include built-in DSP effects.[14][20]
Impact and legacy
editThe Portastudio, and particularly its first iteration, the TEAC 144, is credited with launching the home recording revolution by making it possible for musicians to easily and affordably record and produce multitrack music themselves wherever they wanted,[4][5][6] and is cited as one of the most significant innovations in music production technology.[7] In general, these machines were typically used by amateur and professional musicians to record demos, although some Portastudio projects, most notably Bruce Springsteen's 1982 album Nebraska, have become notable major-label releases. Beginning in the 1990s, cassette-based Portastudios experienced new popularity for lo-fi recording.
In 2006, the TEAC Portastudio was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame, an honor given to "products and innovations that have had an enduring impact on the development of audio technology."[21] In 2021, in conjunction with TASCAM's 50th anniversary, a software plug-in emulation of the Porta One ministudio was released by IK Multimedia.[22]
Notable usages
edit- Bruce Springsteen recorded acoustic demos for an upcoming album on a TEAC 144 between December 1981 and May 1982, and chose to release those demos over the full-band arrangements later recorded at the Power Station recording studio for his 1982 album Nebraska.[23]
- Seal recorded the original demo for his multiple Grammy award-winning single Kiss from a Rose on a Tascam 244.[24]
- William and Jim Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain used a TASCAM Portastudio to record their first demos sent to Bobby Gillespie and Alan McGee.[25]
- "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded half of the songs on his 1983 debut album with a TASCAM Portastudio.[23]
- Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder used a Portastudio to record the tracks that would become the debut album of his solo side project, Recoil, in 1986.[23]
- Ween recorded their albums The Pod (1991) and Pure Guava (1992) on various TASCAM Portastudio cassette recorders.[23]
- Elliott Smith recorded his solo debut album Roman Candle on a Portastudio.[26]
- John Frusciante recorded his first two solo albums, Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt and Smile from the Streets You Hold, on a 424 Portastudio.[23]
- Wu-Tang Clan's debut studio album was mixed down to a Portastudio 244 after the recording and mixing was completed.[23]
- Madlib recorded his debut studio album, released under the name of Quasimoto, on a TASCAM Portastudio.[27]
- Portastatic was named after the Portastudio Mac McCaughan used to record the songs that became its first album.[28]
- Clive Gregson and Christine Collister recorded their 1987 album Home And Away on a 244 Portastudio.[29]
- Mac Demarco recorded his 2012 debut mini-LP Rock and Roll Night Club with a TASCAM 244 Portastudio. It made extensive use of the 244's pitch control and used the method of bouncing 3 separate tracks down to a single track.[30]
- Black Tape for a Blue Girl recorded their 1986 debut The Rope on a Portastudio. [31]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Réfeillac, Jean-Michel (2021). Recording and Voice Processing, Volume 1: History and Generalities. London, UK: ISTE Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78630-670-8.
- ^ Mellor, David (October 1992). "Hands On: Cassette Multitracks". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b Mellor, David (March 1988). "Which One Would You Choose? Three 4-tracks". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b Molenda, Michael (2007). The Guitar Player Book: 40 Years of Interviews, Gear, and Lessons from the World's Most Celebrated Guitar Magazine. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 180. ISBN 9780879307820.
- ^ a b c Verna, Paul (September 11, 1999). "Tascam Marks 25 Years Of Audio Innovation". Billboard. p. 64. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b Hann, Michael (15 November 2023). "'It was a way to share your musical experiences': why cassette tapes flourished, and still endure". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b Cameron, Samuel (2015). Music in the Marketplace: A Social Economics Approach. Routledge. p. 84. ISBN 9781317934738.
- ^ "Twenty-Five Years Ago Tascam Changed The Industry". TASCAM. March 28, 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Alberts, Randy (2003). TASCAM: 30 Years of Recording Evolution. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780634011566.
- ^ a b "Teac 244 Portastudio, Fostex 250 Multitracker". One Two Testing. January 1983. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Bacon, Tony (November 1982). "Teac 4-Track". One Two Testing. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Tascam 244 Portastudio". Home Studio Recording. No. Dec 1983. December 1983. pp. 16–17. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Derek; Poyser, Debbie (March 2001). "Tascam 424 MkIII & 414 MkII". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Fumo, Dante (28 September 2016). "The Tascam Portastudio Through the Ages". Reverb. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Novak, David (2013). Japanoise: Music at the Edge of Circulation. Duke UP. p. 207. ISBN 9780822397540.
- ^ White, Paul (January 1986). "Tascam 246 - an Un-Reel Machine". Home & Studio Recording. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Walmsley, Richard (June 1986). "Yamaha MT1X Portastudio: Studio Test". International Musician. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Gary (November 1983). "The Four Track Future - Where To Start With Cassette-Based Recording". Music UK. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Robjohns, Hugh (December 1996). "Tascam 564: 4-track MiniDisc Portastudio". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Flint, Tom (April 2005). "Tascam DP01 & DP01FX". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "TECnology Hall of Fame 2006 Inductees Announced". MIX. Future plc. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "TASCAM & IK Multimedia Collaborating On T-RackS PORTA ONE Giveaway". 20 July 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Lloyd-Russell, Andy (5 July 2024). "The 10 best recordings on the iconic TASCAM Portastudio". mixdownmag.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "What Makes This Song Great? Ep.105 SEAL". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- ^ Howe, Zoë (2014). Barbed Wire Kisses. United Kingdom: Polygon. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-84697-331-4.
- ^ "The Tascam Portastudio 414 and the dawn of the bedroom producer". happymag.tv. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "Madlib | Redbull Music Academy" Redbullmusicacademy.com Archived 2018-12-30 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Parker, Chris (September 10, 2008). "Mac McCaughan: Through with Portastatic?". Indyweek.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Clive Gregson And Christine Collister - Home And Away". Discogs. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Ben Berke and Jay Mamana - Varispeed and Beyond". Tape Op. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "Black Tape For A Blue Girl offers 'Seven days till sunrise (2024 mix)' single". Side-Line. Retrieved 21 May 2024.