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Just got hold of a TASCAM 244 4 track portastudio from the early '80s ("Go Grandad GO!!!") Whilst I'm waiting for replacement belts to arrive could anyone on here kindly recommend compatible microphones to use with it? I've read in the manual that the four 1/4" inputs on this model are all...

Apart from my instruments all I have is a Tascam 488 MkII (well, two actually!) I'm just getting back into this (ie: analogue recording) after a long lay off and I was just wondering what sort of outboard gear folks would recommend for my existing set up as I don't have any. BACKGROUND I...

Hi! I'm in the fortunate position of owning not one but two working (touch wood!) TASCAM 488 MK II machines. I got a good deal on the second one and thought it would be wise to grab it incase my main machine went down. I'm now considering recording an all-analogue album and it crossed my mind...

Hi! Just dug out my old 488's (I have two!) Having spent too long on 'The Dark Side' (ie: attempting to make muzak with a computer) I'm really enjoying firing up the portastudio and working in an 'old skool' analogue way again. I'm just wondering ... for the main parts of a song say, lead vox &...

Hi! Just about to take delivery of an old (well, new to me!) AKAI MG1214 analogue recorder. It's still limping on regardless apparently but has had a hard life from the sounds of it (it was used in a community studio for many years). I'm just wondering how best to give it some TLC before I...

... post -recent service, you've been recording to Tracks 1 through to 8 with no fidelity issues on that front then, completely out of the blue, you can't record oto Track 1 anymore? So far I've tried: - Recording Line In (and when that didn't work, with an XLR Mic signal) into Channel 1 and...

Anybody who's been following my (slow!) progress this end will be aware that I recently attempted my first recording mixdown using a Tascam 388 but with very limited success! Nope, it didn't go so well as my machine definitely appears to have some kind of fault with its Record button (when ever...

... IT ALL GOES PEAR-SHAPED (AGAIN!!!) As some of you may know if you've been following my fried & crazed nocturnal posts on here, I've been having more than my fair share of gremlins and ghosts in the machine just trying to get to grips with setting up a meagre project analogue studio this...

Okay, so I got hold of this Space Echo [an RE-201]. As with practically everything vintage I acquire these days, it was in need of a service so I left it in with a tech. Here's the thing .... it's sounding great as a pre-console, in-line effect unit (eg: using it as you would any regular...

Hi, I'm using a Tascam 388 & I am noticing audible clicks & glitches on playback of my latest recording. I've (finally!) realised they're occurring at points where I dropped in line-by-line for a backing vocal that I hadn't rehearsed - I just ad-libbed on the fly. I'm aware that you're probably...

Tapes are dead in both Space Echos I'm trying out (crinkled, worn, ... just completely shot basically!) As a result (at least, I hope it's just the tape!) the echos emitting from both units are weak & neither machine self oscillates - the motor speeds up and slows down but no audible oscillation...

Just interested to know how folks go about planning their songs on an 8 track recorder. I used to record Tracks 1 through to 6 then stereo bounce to 7&8. Using my 7&8 stereo submix bounce as my guide I would then continue by over-writing Tracks 1 to 6 and building the project up like that...

OK, I admit, that was never going to make a great joke & I can't come up with a punch-line HOWEVER, apart from my guitar, bass & drums, the three components of this post's title will be the basic ingredients of my minimalist project studio set up as of next week. Yes, after much deliberation...

I am VERY excited! I am very soon to be the temporary owner of a mid 70's era ROLAND 'Space Echo' RE-201 AND a late 70's (I believe) RE-501 model! Their owner is going off on safari or something and has entrusted both units to me whilst he's away as he feels they'll 'bring something' to my...

Just wondering! The SHURE SM7B is a dynamic mic I believe and all reviews I've read so far state you need a ton of preamp gain to get the most out of it. Are the standard Pre's in the 388 good enough for the job do you know?

Hi Folks! Due to ill health & a lot of my vintage gear breaking down on me I have to say: 'I'm having a REALLY crappy year to date!' I'm hoping the good, kind & knowledgeable folks on here can help cheer me up some! So ... after a LONG lay off I've now got my repaired spring reverb unit [a...

I'm still trying to acquire 'the right' 2 TRK machine for mixing down purposes. My question is: 'Recording Speeds'. If my machine (a Tascam 388) records at a set 7.5ips is there any real benefit to getting a mixdown machine that records higher? Price is a big consideration as, after the workshop...

Hi! How hy'all doing? It's been a while but I've now FINALLY got my Tascam 388 back from the workshop (over 3 months!) I've set to work making some preliminary test recordings with it & it seems to be behaving itself! I'm still without a mixdown machine so, in the meantime, I'm looking to...

I'm looking at a Ferrograph Series 6 reel-to-reel machine that's come up. I've been in touch with the seller and, although they can't give me a model no. (they don't sound like the brightest of sparks to be honest!) I'm guessing going from the picture it's a 632 unit. Apparently it 'needs some...

Hi! Apologies for asking the following real basic questions here but .... I've been reading a fair bit about setting VU levels when tracking & what to aim for. I have to admit, I've gotten a bit confused! When folks state: 'Hit the tape hard' what does that mean exactly? I'm supposing this is...