Tascam 688 - Main/Dual input problem

[toxako]

I have just set up my recently purchased 688.

I am trying to set it up to record 8 simultaneous channels to 8 different tracks on the tape. I have created a new scene which assigns input 1 to group 1, input 2 to group 2, input 3 to group 3 etc.

I am using synths and drum machines, so everything is connected to Line B inputs. I have set the MAIN INPUT on each channel to LINE.

The problem seems to be that the 688 will only see the LINE inputs as DUAL inputs, even if I have set the MAIN INPUT for each channel to LINE (and to make sure, I have set the DUAL input to POST). For some reason, all the inputs I have connected comes through 'group 1-2' and get mixed togehter into one track when recorded, rather then being recorded separately on individual tracks.

In the monitor section, I will only hear the live inputs if I press down the 'DUAL' button, which is strange, as I have set all the MAIN INPUTS to LINE, and DUAL INPUTS to POST. Or if I set the scene up with DUAL LINK to 'Group1-2', I will also hear the live inputs. All of this seems to indicate that the 688 is unable to take the LINE B inputs as the MAIN INPUTS, and will only take the as DUAL INPUTS.

I have sucessfully played back a tape from the previous owner with 8 separate tracks playing simultaneously, I have personally only been able to record 3 separate inputs mixed togehter into 'group 1-2'.

Apart from setting all the MAIN INPUTs to LINE (which doen't seem to do it for me), is there a trick to getting the 688 to taking the LINE B inputs as the MAIN INPUTS to enable me to record 8 separate track simultaneously?

[pehjott]

why did you create a new scene?what you do is actually scene 10 or 11,try it, should work

[toxako]

Scene 10, should in theory work for me. As I want to use the 'Line B' inputs, not the MIC inputs, I have to change this scene. I change the MAIN INPUTs for all channels from MIC to LINE, and change DUAL inputs to MIC (just to disable the DUAL 'Line' inputs).

I am however unable to get any sound on the inputs when monitoring. In order to hear what's coming in on the inputs, I have to change the DUAL inputs to LINE.

This leads me to the following conclusion:
All the Line B input connectors at the back, are hard-wired to the DUAL input section. When assigning the MAIN inputs to LINE, this simply means that you are using the MIC inputs with a XLR-to-phone adapter, basically connecting your line inputs into the Mic inputs with an adapter.

My solution would be to get 8 XLR-to-phone adapters in order to record on all the 8 inputs simultaneously on the Mic inputs.

I was hoping the 'Line B' inputs would allow me to record and route each input to corresponding tracks on the cassette, but this does not seem to work for me

[toxako]

so is anyone else able to successfully record multitrack sessions using line inputs only on the 688?

[andrej]]

thought someone might need it:

midistudio 688 manual
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/120201/Tascam688.pdf

a working link. please, pass the file around and mirror it!

[toxako]

Thanks! The manual seems to indicate that the LINE B input can be used as the main input for multichannel simultaneous recording, I don't get why I can't get 'em coming in on the main input..?