Tascam 2488 NEO - scene change while bouncing

[cygnus]

Hello everyone.
First post. The Tascam forums are gone, so I was hoping to find some help here.
Has anyone here ever attempted to use scene changes while bouncing tracks?
For some reason when I switch scenes it disables recording on the "record enabled" tracks even though the red lights stay on. Am I doing something wrong, or does anyone know a workaround?

Thanks.

 

[pbassbob]

Hello everyone.
First post. The Tascam forums are gone, so I was hoping to find some help here.
Has anyone here ever attempted to use scene changes while bouncing tracks?
For some reason when I switch scenes it disables recording on the "record enabled" tracks even though the red lights stay on. Am I doing something wrong, or does anyone know a workaround?

Thanks.

I don't think the software allows scene changes while recording or bouncing....you can manually make changes to levels, pan positions, EQ, etc. during a recording or bouncing operation, and that would be the only workaround that I'm aware of.

 

[cygnus]

I used to use the scene changes as automation when mixing down to stereo track for 2488 mastering and it worked just fine, but recently I've changed over to mastering on the computer. When you mix down on this machine it automatically converts to 16bit, so in order to avoid this I mixdown/bounce to two tracks and export the 24bit waves as mono left and right. I guess my only other option would be the Mixermuse T2488 software. Has anyone tried it?

Thanks for the reply pbassbob. I recognize your name from the past Tascam forums. It's a damn shame that it's gone.

 

[pbassbob]

I used to use the scene changes as automation when mixing down to stereo track for 2488 mastering and it worked just fine, but recently I've changed over to mastering on the computer. When you mix down on this machine it automatically converts to 16bit, so in order to avoid this I mixdown/bounce to two tracks and export the 24bit waves as mono left and right. I guess my only other option would be the Mixermuse T2488 software. Has anyone tried it?

Thanks for the reply pbassbob. I recognize your name from the past Tascam forums. It's a damn shame that it's gone.

Yep, I became a "regular" there, and learned a ton about my 2488 MkI there....it's truly a shame that it's gone, and all that invaluable info that built over the years has gone with it!

 

[Zeekle]

I thought the Neo allowed for "on the fly" scene changes - I have never done it so cannot back this up with fact sadly. But I will give it a go when I can.
As a work around can you not record part of your bounce, set a locator mark where you want the scene change and then start recording from there again? A pain and probably more time intensive but I think it could work...

It is nice to see some familiar names popping up in here - I think we all pine for the Tascam forum...

Zeek

 

[cygnus]

I thought the Neo allowed for "on the fly" scene changes

Zeek

That's what I thought too, and I was very suprised when it didn't work. I thought that maybe I had to incorporate the armed track into the scene but that didn't work.

I'll give your suggestion a try, but don't you think starting and stopping the recording abruptly might cause pops?

Thanks.

 

[Zeekle]

Popping??? Yeah you might be right there. I forgot about that I guess it may depend on what you have recorded and what ypu are changing within the scene.
I'll have a go at both tomorrow night and see what happens.
Zeek

 

[cygnus]

Well I ended up sacrificing 8 tracks of drums and squeezed them into one stereo track in order to free them up. With the now available 8tracks I bounced the track alterations and manipulated faders and mute buttons during the bounce mixdown. It worked fairly well.
Here is the result if you are interested in hearing it.

soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11620410

Thanks.

 

[RAMI]

I used to use the scene changes as automation when mixing down to stereo track for 2488 mastering and it worked just fine, but recently I've changed over to mastering on the computer.

Yup, exactly how I used it. It doesn't allow scene changes on the fly while bouncing. But it does allow scene changes while "Pre-mastering". I used the scene changes as a kind of automation.

When you mix down on this machine it automatically converts to 16bit,.

Either I'm not sure if I understand, or I disagree. I haven't decided yet.

Are you saying that when you "Pre-master" on the 2488, that stereo pre-master track is automatically 16bit? I have to look into that, but I think it's in-correct. But, like I said, I might not be understanding what you're referring to.

 

[cygnus]

Hi RAMI,
Keep in mind this is in regards to the NEO. I'm not sure if this is the same on the MkI or II, but when you mix down to the stereo track it converts your 24bit tracks into 16bit CD quality. I've checked the properties of the WAV file once it made it to the computer and it was indeed 16bit. Maybe this is just when it is exported but, page 85 in the manual even states: "Regardless of the master track bit depth, the exported stereo WAV file is 16 bit." This is why I substitute mixdown with bouncing to a stereo track and export each track as L and R mono 24bit WAV files. I wonder if it was designed this way to encourage you to master on their machine?

 

[RAMI]

Hi RAMI,
Keep in mind this is in regards to the NEO. I'm not sure if this is the same on the MkI or II, but when you mix down to the stereo track it converts your 24bit tracks into 16bit CD quality. I've checked the properties of the WAV file once it made it to the computer and it was indeed 16bit. Maybe this is just when it is exported but, page 85 in the manual even states: "Regardless of the master track bit depth, the exported stereo WAV file is 16 bit." This is why I substitute mixdown with bouncing to a stereo track and export each track as L and R mono 24bit WAV files. I wonder if it was designed this way to encourage you to master on their machine?

Hey cygnus,

You might very well be right. In fact, it makes sense. I have the first 2488. I think the later versions had "mastering" capabilities, which would mean that it would make sense that they'd have your files rendered to 16bit (though it would be nice if they gave you a choice).

 

[Zeekle]

If you do your mixdown to create a Master track and then “clone” the Master track into two spare tracks – you can then export these and retain the 24bit rate.- you export them as two mono wav files.

Another option is to use the sp/dif out and record the master digitally onto the PC.

I looked up the manual re the bouncing and scene changes but see Rami has this one covered.

Zeek

 

[cygnus]

So is it the export process that converts it to 16bit? Why can't a master track be created and "exported" in 24bit insteaed of "cloned" to two available tracks? It would be nice not to have to set aside 2 tracks for this.
The SPDIF would be my best alternative, but I don't have a PC (at least not yet) in close proximity to the 2488 so I have to rely on exporting and copying.
Well, at least being able to use the scene changes while mixing down is a great. I'll try your idea. Thank you for looking into this Zeekle.

 

[david42]

That's what I thought too, and I was very suprised when it didn't work. I thought that maybe I had to incorporate the armed track into the scene but that didn't work.

I'll give your suggestion a try, but don't you think starting and stopping the recording abruptly might cause pops?

Thanks.

You'd think so, but I got tired of starting over when I screwed up a bounce and just went back to the part I missed. Starting and stopping doesn't seem to cause any problems.