Tascam 388: My first blown preamp?

[A Reel Person]

I did some "preproduction" on my 388 by hooking up 4 mics for my drum set to the 388's Channels 1-4, with kick mic on Channel 1. All seemed well. Sound checked okay.

Quite a while (weeks) later, revisiting the 388 setup for drums, Channel 1 won't respond, but barely a trace mic signal is detectable awash in a high and saturated "radio" static. The static signal will minimize or rise to maximum by turning the Trim control, but basically no mic signal is present. The mic and cable were checked as functional on other channels.

Using the XLR_M-to-1/4"TS_F adapter, which shunts two XLR pins together for unbalanced 1/4" plug operation into the XLR input,... got no sound at all. Nada.

It's as if there's no connection at all on one of the 3 XLR pins on the input, but the others are live wires. I tried reseating the XLR mic into the connector. Contemplated cleaning the XLR, but haven't yet located my contact cleaner.

The 388, AFAIK, was not turned on since the last successful mic check, but the mics were left plugged in and turned off,... incidentally they being (4) battery powered condenser mics.

At one point in the interim, I'd found my kids had turned on the kick mic and presumably were playing the drums in the studio that day, but I know not if they actually turned on the 388 at any time or for any reason. I suspect not but it's unknown. (I don't think they'd actually know how to turn it on, or to do much more than put the phones on their heads. I don't think my kids would be pressing buttons or twiddling knobs on the board),... not only that but the 388 was covered.

But,... IF my kids turned on the mic and the 388 together and were goofing around on drums, I could reasonably see how my Channel 1 preamp might be blown.

However, here's the specific question: IF the kick mic was turned on and the 388 was NOT turned on, could playing the drums unduly loud induce the "powered" condenser mic to deliver a jolt to the 388 input enough to blow the preamp, despite the 388 being off?

Either way, I have a 388 Channel 1 that's not functional at this time and needs some sort of repair. I'd not checked the Line-In jack, but I presume it to be okay. The problem definitely seems in the preamp.

Just wondering if anyone has a strong opinion on this?

Thanx for considering this question, and any replies.

[analogkid]

As far as I know, there is no way that the preamp could have blown if the 388 was off. There just isn't enough current from the microphone to do that - at least that is how I see it.


AK