Log in
Log in

or
Create an account

or
EN
FR
Yamaha MT400
(1)
Write a user review
Where to buy MT400?
Less
No retailers are offering this product at this time.
Availability alert
There are no classified ads for this product.
New ad alert
Stefan Kronberg Stefan Kronberg

« Good, effective, simple-yet-versatile fourtrack recorder »

Published on 07/01/20 at 08:31
Best value: Excellent
Audience: Anyone
I picked up on of these relatively cheap. The competition from Tascam fetches much higher prices even in 2020 – undeservedly so, I think: This little Yamaha appears to be as good as the competition!

I want to use this recorder for two and a half purposes:
– simple quick recordings of ideas that vanish before I have booted up the DAW
– audio manipulation such as tape saturation, reverse playback effects, etc.
– for use as an auxiliary 6-channel submixer, if needed

The Yamaha does all this and more – I am discovering more tricks and uses all the time. Check out Youtube and similar sites for inspiration – these things can serve as:

– super-complex "oscillators" for modular synthesis
– echo effects
– tape saturation effects
– musical instrument (drones, playback tracks, etc.)

I used to have a similar recorder almost 20 years ago, by Tascam (but don't remember the model name). It was directly comparable to this machine, I would say. Maybe the Yamaha feels a bit "lighter", for lack of a better word, but the machine seems very well put together. Yamaha gear has *never* given me any trouble, and I don't expect this little recorder will, either.

The pros of this product are:

– highly intuitive,
– quick
– "good"-sounding recordings (if you like tape sound)
– more uses than I ever imagined

The cons of this product are:
– don't expect a limitless (but also soulless) DAW!