2488 Rewind Button Getting Cantankerous....

[Zaphod B]

.....dammit. Just like some of the other 2488's I've heard about. I'm having to give the rewind button about twice the pressure of the other transport buttons to make it work.

I'm predicting complete button failure in about 1-1/2 projects. There's an authorized TASCAM repair shop in Dallas. I'm gonna call 'em soon to let 'em know I'm on my way.

[Rokket]

I was about to sink some money into one of these...

Tell me about any other problems?

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by Rokket

I was about to sink some money into one of these...

Tell me about any other problems?

None so far, for me at least. They are not well suited to environments where there is a lot of vibration (for example, recording live gigs, placed on a table that isn't too solid and gets bumped a lot). And if you do record live, and record a whole set's worth of songs as a single recording, there is no easy way to split it into component songs.

But it's well suited for home recording. I've had mine for about 2-1/2 years, and with moderate use that rewind button is the only thing that has gone south, and it's not even inoperative yet - it may continue to work fine just the way it is.

[Oancient1]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

None so far, for me at least. They are not well suited to environments where there is a lot of vibration (for example, recording live gigs, placed on a table that isn't too solid and gets bumped a lot). And if you do record live, and record a whole set's worth of songs as a single recording, there is no easy way to split it into component songs.

But it's well suited for home recording. I've had mine for about 2-1/2 years, and with moderate use that rewind button is the only thing that has gone south, and it's not even inoperative yet - it may continue to work fine just the way it is.

Good info to have Zaphod. I have read lots worse stories about the 2488, especially the original version. But at the current going price of $700, it is soooo tempting.

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by Oancient1

Good info to have Zaphod. I have read lots worse stories about the 2488, especially the original version. But at the current going price of $700, it is soooo tempting.

Most of the horror stories I heard were the original versions, with the original firmware load, and there were some pretty ugly quirks associated with that firmware. Also people using them for recording live have always complained about the units locking up mid-recording and losing that session's data.

My unit is the original hardware version but the firmware is the later version, and it's been very stable.

For $700 bucks - that's an incredible amount of capability for the money.

[Nicole_Rose]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

.....dammit. Just like some of the other 2488's I've heard about. I'm having to give the rewind button about twice the pressure of the other transport buttons to make it work.

I'm predicting complete button failure in about 1-1/2 projects. There's an authorized TASCAM repair shop in Dallas. I'm gonna call 'em soon to let 'em know I'm on my way.

cantankerous huh? ironic.

seriously, how long have you had your 2488?

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by Nicole_Rose

cantankerous huh? ironic.

seriously, how long have you had your 2488?

Yeah, the irony is killing me, too.

Ummmm, I think I got it in June of 2006. It's a Mk I with the final firmware.

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

Yeah, the irony is killing me, too.

Ummmm, I think I got it in June of 2006. It's a Mk I with the final firmware.

I am going to give it a try... in about 6 months...

Thanks for the information!

[shockingcandy]

One of my cursor key's was a bit tempremental for a while but seems to be OK again now. Possibly some dirt on the switch contacts? If it's possible to get access inside then a quick squirt of contact cleaner will probably sort it (used to this a lot with my SR16s pads).

I've also had my 2488 since 2006 (latest firmware) and, with the exception of 1 minor write failure which I put down to overheating after a long seesion, I have had no problems.

In fact I like the machine so much that I am planning on getting a 2nd one (possibly a mkII or a used mkI) to sync up and make a 48 tracks / 14 inputs monster!

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by Rokket

I am going to give it a try... in about 6 months...

Thanks for the information!

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it.

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by shockingcandy

I am planning on getting a 2nd one (possibly a mkII or a used mkI) to sync up and make a 48 tracks / 14 inputs monster!

Great idea - and I guess you can set one of the units to accept the time sync from the other. You could only master from one unit at a time, though, so your master will still be limited to 24 tracks although you'd still have those extra 24 for scratch tracks, inserted effects, etc.

You know, I often think about what a giant leap there has been in recording technology within the last few years. Even 20 years ago it was unthinkable that an individual with $2,000 or so could have access to what would be found in a moderately-equipped studio. My home recording equipment has made a vast difference in my ability to express myself musically, particularly during this period in my life when it is impractical to play with other musicians regularly. Great stuff.

[shockingcandy]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

Great idea - and I guess you can set one of the units to accept the time sync from the other. You could only master from one unit at a time, though, so your master will still be limited to 24 tracks although you'd still have those extra 24 for scratch tracks, inserted effects, etc.

Yep will sync them up using MTC in a Master-Slave configuration. Actually by routing the line / monitor outputs of the slave device into the master unit you can pre-master all 48 tracks on one machine though backups have to be done seperately. Monitoring connections need only by made through the master machine and there's the added benefit of having an extra 3 (1 internal, 2 external) effects loops though obviously these can't be shared across the machines.

My intentions is to use the slave machine primarly for recording live drums (8 mics). This avoids any potential phase issues that might caused my slight shifts in the sync though it should be said when I tested this configuration with a 788 as the slave there were no issues whatsoever! It also means I can plug one of my Lexicon boxes into the slave's AUX outs and have beautiful plate reverb on my drums whilst using the other Lexi for vocal delays and guitar effects on the master.

There's more info about syncing multiple 2488s / 788s (or other HDD recorders) over at www.tascam2488.com

Much cheaper than buying an X-48!

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by shockingcandy

Yep will sync them up using MTC in a Master-Slave configuration. Actually by routing the line / monitor outputs of the slave device into the master unit you can pre-master all 48 tracks on one machine though backups have to be done seperately. Monitoring connections need only by made through the master machine and there's the added benefit of having an extra 3 (1 internal, 2 external) effects loops though obviously these can't be shared across the machines.

My intentions is to use the slave machine primarly for recording live drums (8 mics). This avoids any potential phase issues that might caused my slight shifts in the sync though it should be said when I tested this configuration with a 788 as the slave there were no issues whatsoever! It also means I can plug one of my Lexicon boxes into the slave's AUX outs and have beautiful plate reverb on my drums whilst using the other Lexi for vocal delays and guitar effects on the master.

There's more info about syncing multiple 2488s / 788s (or other HDD recorders) over at www.tascam2488.com

Much cheaper than buying an X-48!

Sounds like a great setup.

Are you sure you can't share the external FX loops across units? What would happen if you went out through the send on a channel on Unit 1, through the external effect, and into one of the inputs of Unit 2?

[shockingcandy]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

Sounds like a great setup.

Are you sure you can't share the external FX loops across units? What would happen if you went out through the send on a channel on Unit 1, through the external effect, and into one of the inputs of Unit 2?

Potential phase issues aside I see no reason why that wouldn't work. You probably could share an FX unit by using an external line mixer to combine the AUX ouputs from both units and then routing the FX unit outputs back into the master 2488. There does seem to be a lot of possibilties including the potential for multiple cue mixes!

[Rokket]

I don't want to hijack, but since you guys have strayed a bit from the intent of the OP, here goes:

I am seriously considering getting the 2488. The more I look at it, the more I like what I see.

But I don't mix ITB, I tend to prefer using Reaper and taking all my tracks to PC. So the question is: with all its capabilities and the ability to use outside fx, would bying this machine be an overkill for me, when something like its little brother, the DP02 would probably suit my needs more?

I was using a Fostex MR-8, and it was good for what I do. I don't track live drums, and it's just me, so really 2 inputs is all I ever used. The pre amps on the MR-8 are shite, so I am using a Yamaha MG 10/2 mixer as a pre amp. The MR-8 died tragically in a 220v accident, so I am shopping.

Would I be better off going for the DP02 and not the 2488?

[shockingcandy]

The DP-02 is only 16bit if I'm not mistaken where as the 2488 is 24bit and obviously has a much higher track count.

But if using an external mixer and Reaper then why not just get a simple 2in / 2out audio interface and record straight to your PC?

[NYMorningstar]

Originally Posted by Rokket

I don't want to hijack, but since you guys have strayed a bit from the intent of the OP, here goes:

I am seriously considering getting the 2488. The more I look at it, the more I like what I see.

But I don't mix ITB, I tend to prefer using Reaper and taking all my tracks to PC. So the question is: with all its capabilities and the ability to use outside fx, would bying this machine be an overkill for me, when something like its little brother, the DP02 would probably suit my needs more?

I was using a Fostex MR-8, and it was good for what I do. I don't track live drums, and it's just me, so really 2 inputs is all I ever used. The pre amps on the MR-8 are shite, so I am using a Yamaha MG 10/2 mixer as a pre amp. The MR-8 died tragically in a 220v accident, so I am shopping.

Would I be better off going for the DP02 and not the 2488?

The 2488MKII has portability and options you may want to use in the future.

[Nicole_Rose]

Originally Posted by NYMorningstar

The 2488MKII has portability and options you may want to use in the future.

ya. i have a MkI and i love it. a MkII would be a little better but i got a deal on this one.

[NYMorningstar]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

. And if you do record live, and record a whole set's worth of songs as a single recording, there is no easy way to split it into component songs.

.

I don't have one of these yet but can't you split the recording into several different tracks on a cd using Live Writer and how does that work?

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by NYMorningstar

I don't have one of these yet but can't you split the recording into several different tracks on a cd using Live Writer and how does that work?

I don't know - I've never done it. But you can't do it on the 2488 in native format.

[NYMorningstar]

Check out chapter 8 in the manual and see if that will let you split up the songs like you were saying above. I'm looking to get one of these and hope that you can split up the songs easily.

[Zaphod B]

Hmmm. Chapter 8 in my manual covers MIDI so there's nothing there about splitting songs.

However, I found something in the "Recorder" chapter that I didn't know about previously. You can make a copy of a song (and save it on the 2488) so I guess you could take a "song" with multiple performed numbers, copy it to a different name, and delete out everything but, say, song #1, then repeat for song #2 etc.

That could be a long laborious process but I it can be done, so I stand corrected.

I would say that the only caution would be whether the big song - the one with multiple performances - can fit on your hard drive twice. I'm not saying it wouldn't, I've just never recorded anything an hour long with 8 tracks then tried to copy it.

[shockingcandy]

I think Live Writer is only featured on the mkII

[NYMorningstar]

Originally Posted by shockingcandy

I think Live Writer is only featured on the mkII

Ah, that makes sense. That's the manual I was looking at.