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    Any change in size of MiniDisk?

    Hi-MD uses a new media format which actually holds about 1GB of uncompressed data. That 151.4MB disc also reformats to 305MB [uncompressed] in a Hi-MD recorder.
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    DAT vs. Minidisc for field recording, specifically D8 vs. Sharp 24bit MD recorders

    Hi-MD uses a new media format that is the same size as traditional MD but holds about 1GB of data. It is also backward-compatible with traditional MD media, meaning it can read your existing MDs as well as write the them in both the old way [for compatibility] as well as using a "Hi-MD"...
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    MIDIStudio 688 matrix probs - HELP!

    thanks Tryng it, doubt it will do anything, but will let you know. I hope part of the preamp section didn't blow. That would suck.
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    Channel Inserts on 488mkII?

    inserts Inserts are for mono effects. It uses a cable that goes from TRS [tip ring sleeve], same as a 1/4" stereo headphone connector, which goes to 2 1/4" mono [TS] cables/connectors.. one goes TO the effect, the other comes back from it. This way you can patch an EQ, echo, compressor...
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    MIDIStudio 688 matrix probs - HELP!

    Okay, I admit that I have left the manual for our 688 Midistudio at my friend's, and she's in Italy for a few weeks. The unit has not been moved, dropped, or otherwise abused. It was stationary and just decided to do this on its own. I know how to use the routing matrix [except for the reset...
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    *&#$@* headphone jack insert!!!!

    By my experience, every single Tascam portastudio I have ever used (or even just seen) has this problem. Perhaps Tascam could improve on the jacks they've used previously? My 688 has two headphone jacks, and neither works well. The 488MkII I used a lot was exactly the same. Bleagh. D.
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    Tascam 488 Question

    Indeed, you can use the other inputs, but you will need an external preamplifier (preamp) for every input you want to use. The trim controls are for the preamps in the mic/line channels. Any line channel has either a) no preamp or b) a buffer preamp only. (1:1 amplification) Basically, you'll...
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    Tascam 688 mods : motor kill switch, and speed reduction .. ?

    I don't know if you've ever looked inside a 688, but the transport is all electronic. I don't know about the tape speed issue, but it should be simple enough to install a killswitch for the tape motors (there are more than one, remember). I'm not so sure that I would actually recommend doing...
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    Tascam 688 Whatcha Thank?

    The 388 I used belonged to the local University. Alas, it was not well kept, and in the 3 years from the first to the last time I used it its condition had degraded so far that the outer tracks no longer worked, etc. It seemed that students kept using cue to rewing/fast-forward their tapes...
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    488 MKII -- LIVE SOUND MIXER??

    The 488MkII's mixer has only 2 XLR inputs, and 2 more 1/4" mic inputs. This makes it almost completely useless for live sound applications, unless of course you're only using 2 channels, or 4 channels and happen to have 2 impedance adapters. Basically, no, the 488MkII isn't very useful for...
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    Tascam 488 Pan Trouble

    Uhh, hmm. The pans (when recording) are used to assign the mixer tracks to tape tracks - they should usually be panned hard left or hard right during recording to maintain separation between tracks. When playing back, the pans are used normally for stereo mixing. Make sure that you are...
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    Whether to buy 2nd portastudio?

    I'd go for a unit with more tracks before getting another 4-track. You could probably sell the 424 and buy an 8-track with little difference in cost than two 424s. I prefer bouncing within a machine - far cleaner. Track to track bounce means a shorter path travelled (electronically), and...
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    Tascam 688 Whatcha Thank?

    I don't know about the demo you're talking about, but I do have a 688. I've used a multitude of the portas, from 414s to 388s (the 1/4" 8-track with mixer built into a console). Most extensively I've used the 488MkII (to record/mix 3 demos) and the 688 (so far just one indy release on it)...
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    WHAT TAPES TO USE

    1) When you record over something (on mag tape) it's gone. Unless, of course, you're the NSA or CIA. 2) The tape speed the 414 uses is 2 X normal. So, when you're buying tapes, the effective length of whatever tape you buy is the length per side divided by two. For example, a 90-minute...
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    To HiFi or not to HiFi (addendum to the HiFi FAQ)

    Important HiFi information for those of you considering using an HiFi VHS deck (or Beta, 8mm, etc. for that matter)... 1) Find one with audio level 'knobs.' If it doesn't let you set the recording volume, it's using ALC - auto level control - and will usually be compressing the hell out of...
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    488 mkII (recording stereo on first two tracks)

    To record in stereo you have to have the tracks panned left and right, bus 1/2 pressed for both tracks 1 and 2, and the 1/2 bus slider up (to between 7 and 8 like usual). If you run it with the pans centred you will record both input tracks on both tape tracks (in other words, two identical...
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    488 mkII (stereo effects loop)

    gibs, you missed something... He wants to use stereo effects, so he should run the AUX 1 output to the left or right input of the processor (one might actually say something like left/mono), and then the 2 outputs of the processor to the stereo ins on either channel 9 or 10. This way you get...
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    Tascam 414 to Platinum Live! Help

    I haven't seen the recent creative mixer so I can't give really specific details... but generally the following should work. 1) Go to the creative mixer, in the 'record levels' section, and select 'Line In' as the source. AUX is usually an extra ANSI input connector on the sound card itself...
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    Few basic questions

    Wet - with processing. Dry - without processing. Preamp: For al intensive purposes, a preamp is used to match the impedance (amplify/attenuate the signal levels) of a specific signal with an input device. IE. amplifying a mic-level signal enough to be recorded on tape. In other words, unless...
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    help with tascam 388.

    It sounds to me like the heads are out of alignment. If I'm not mistaken, the 388 is a two-head machine. When recording you don't really have any confidence monitoring; you just have to trust that what the meters read is really what's hitting the tape. When you go to playback the track is...
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