Audio equipment manufacturer TASCAM has released a new recording application for the Apple iPad. The Portastudio is based on – and nearly the same dimensions as – the TASCAM Porta One four-track cassette recorder that debuted back in 1984. The Portastudio app records four tracks, one at a time, with VU meters and a virtual “cassette transport” that gives the app a vintage look and feel.

While only one track can be recorded at a time, the Portastudio has controls for EQ, gain, L-R pan and a master fader.  A four-position selector switch assigns which track Portastudio records to, and input trim and limiting are applied to the input before recording. Audio can be recorded form the iPad’s built-in microphone or a microphone plugged into the headset jack. The iPad will record from the built-in microphone if standard headphones are plugged into the jack.

The cassette-tape styling features may feel odd to a generation of users who never have used FF and REW buttons, but are charming nonetheless. When an audio project is complete, the app can mix the recording to a stereo track that appears in iTunes, or users can use their preferred audio editor, and/or online music sharing site Soundcloud. Mixes are saved as CD-quality WAV files inside iTunes.

Portastudio by TASCAM is available now via the iTunes App Store for $9.99.

http://tascam.com/product/portastudio