level problems with tascam 388?

[burok]

realized that I maybe posted in the wrong thread earlier... but I'd really appreciate some help here.... it's driving me nuts

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=176920

[Beck]

Everything ARP said, plus... someone could have set it up for 407/Maxell 35-90 level. In that case the 1-8 track meters would read high on playback with 456/457... or the calibration may have drifted out.

[burok]

is it hard to calibrate the machine back to what it is supposed to run under if that would be the case?

btw - I'm using a quantegy 456 tape right now

[burok]

tried out to record at a lower level to measure up how much higher the actual recording gets, seemed to be around 2db higher if I compare before recording it to tape and after (and reading of the vu meters, not the stereo mix)

is that how you calibrate for a 407 tape?

this is starting to get really frustrating...

EDIT: seems like it's 6db higher after recording.... sorry about that.

[Beck]

There are several steps to level calibration.

If you want to start from the beginning you will have to get an MRL calibration tape.

Chances are the record levels will do, so if you just want a quick fix for playback levels, record a few minutes of a 1 kHz tone for each track onto the type of tape you will be using at 0 VU. Next, play the tape back and adjust the playback levels internally to read 0 VU.

You get at the level adjustments by removing the top from the section with the meters in it. There are six circuit boards mounted horizontally.

From the position of standing in front of the 388:
The bottom two (closest to the VU meters) are for DBX – don’t touch those.
Top left card is for channels 1 & 3
Next card down is for channels 2 & 4
Top right card is for channels 5 & 7
Next card down is for channels 6 & 8

The variable resistors to adjust are R143 and R243 on each of the channel boards.
R143 is the 3rd from the left as you are standing in front of the 388
R243 is the 6th from the right

You make the adjustments with a tiny insulated jeweler’s screwdriver or plastic tool available at Radio Shack.

You think it's frustrating now... wait unitl you've been listening to 1 kHz tones all day.

[burok]

or maybe I can get some 407 tapes instead? or whatever the meters are calibrated for?

[Herm]

Before you start getting happy about turning screws and changing tape make sure your monitoring everything correctly with your monitor switches for the meters.

[Beck]

Originally Posted by burok

or maybe I can get some 407 tapes instead? or whatever the meters are calibrated for?

That'll work... especially if maybe nobody changed it from factory settings over the years after all. It’s best to use 1-mil thickness anyway, so there you go. 407 is good stuff – I use it on other machines.

[burok]

which would be?

I've been recording a simple sine wave in stereo, channels 1 & 2, both volume pots are set to maximum in the monitoring section - all faders are set like each other... something I've missed?

channel strip pan-pot 1, full left
channel strip pan-pot 2, full right

same goes for the pots in the monitoring section

[Beck]

Meter adjustment… but then you're best doing a full calibration instead of my quick and dirty reproduce level fix.

Use the 407… make music… be happy.

[burok]

let me see if I got this right, in a clear way:

the reason why the channels meter show a 6db difference between value it shows when I'm monitoring (and recording) and the values it shows during playback on the channel has to do that my machine is calibrated for another tape type (the 407)

sorry for being stupid, but hey - it's quite confusing with all these mods

[Beck]

Yes, basically the same record level will come back hotter on playback with 456/457 than on 406/407 if the machine is calibrated for 406/407.

[burok]

and that difference is 6db? (or something like that?)

anyone got any suggestion where I can get suitable 407 tape? preferably in europe, I saw that usrecordingmedia.com had this one though:

http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/quan40714x18.html

[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by burok

and that difference is 6db? (or something like that?)

anyone got any suggestion where I can get suitable 407 tape? preferably in europe, I saw that usrecordingmedia.com had this one though:[/URL]

http://www.studiospares.com - They're in the UK but also ship to the continent.

[burok]

allrite, this will do ok

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_12122...x900%20PLA.htm

right?

[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by burok

allrite, this will do ok

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_12122...x900%20PLA.htm

right?

This would be better: it's a 7" reel. The one you've found is on a 5" spool, so you'll have half as much recording time per tape.
Since this is a 388 we're talking about, go for the 1800' reel. If it was a Uher or similar portable recorder, then you would want the 900' reel (as a 7" reel would be too big for it).

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_12123...1800%20PLA.htm

[burok]

Originally Posted by jpmorris

This would be better: it's a 7" reel. The one you've found is on a 5" spool, so you'll have half as much recording time per tape.
Since this is a 388 we're talking about, go for the 1800' reel. If it was a Uher or similar portable recorder, then you would want the 900' reel (as a 7" reel would be too big for it).

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_12123...1800%20PLA.htm

Yeah, I noticed that... thanks!

another stupid question while I'm at it, why doesn't the effect return get recorded to the track if I use the eff-send pot for the track while recording? do I have to assign the L/R switch to the track or something?

[Mark7]

Because the effect return jacks are hard wired to the stereo buss. If you want to add effects to a track, or tracks, in the machine you have to either use one or more spare input channels bussed to the same track, or plug the effect units outs into the appropriate PGM buss ins