I get ask quite a few times about which 4-tracks can output all 4 tracks simultaneously so that we can copy our work to either a DAW or a newer console like the DP32. I asked on the 4-track forum page to see what I would hear and I got a lot of answers. I also went looking for more after that. I’ve started a list. Hopefully this will help everyone out!
TASCAM
234- Yes!
244- Yes!
246- Maybe with some help
238- Yes! (8 track)
414- No.
414 MKII- No.
464- Yes!
424- Yes!
424 mkii- Yes!
424 mkiii- Yes!
488- Maybe with some help
488mkii- Maybe with some help
644- Maybe with some help
688- No.
Porta One- Yes!
Porta Two- Yes!
Porta 02 MKII- No.
Porta 3- No.
Porta 7 – Maybe with some help
FOSTEX
160- Yes!
250- Yes!
260- Yes!
280- Yes!
460- Maybe with some help
x12- No.
x14- No.
x15- Yes!
x18- No.
x24- Yes!
x26- Yes!
x28- Yes!
x28h- Yes!
x30- Yes!
x34- Yes!
x55- Yes!
x77- Yes!
xr3- Yes!
xr5- Yes!
xr7- Yes!
YAMAHA
MT3X- Yes!
MT4X- Yes!
MT8X- Yes! (8-track)
MT400- No.
Legend:
Yes – Has the standard ‘Tape Out 1-4/Sync’ outputs (1/4″ or RCA)
No – Doesn’t offer the Tape Out Feature
Maybe With Some Help – Generally a makeshift output like:
1 – Monitor / Line Left
2 – Monitor / Line Right
3 – Effects Out
4 – Cue or Sync Out