2488 Workstation Review

[ChrisCabz]

I'm looking to upgrade my Boss BR-8 to somthing that records on CD and has at least 16 tracks. The 2488 looks almost to good to be true-- 24 tracks, 24bit, 8 simultamious recording channels, ect... all for about $1000-$1200. Is this too good to be true?

If you own or have used one extensively, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the 2488... kinda like a review.

Chris

 

[A Reel Person]

Go see:...

http://www.tascamforums.com

 

[philboyd studge]

I've recorded quite a bit on mine but but in a style similar to the way I used my 788 and haven't used all it's features yet. So far, I like it.

 

[blind dog]

self contained ???

philbood .... is the 2488 self contained like a 788 . or must you connect to computer ????

 

[junplugged]

The GC near me has one out on display and hooked up to power and monitors. If you can go to demo it, do that too. I had fun w/ it for a while doing some listening to the 24 track demo that was on it.

There's a review of it in EQ magazine, I think this mo. They said the Hdd is partitioned and has a fat32 part and another for native use. you have to transfer data to the fat to xfer w/ pc. Also search here for more info on it, I don't remember the name, but I remember seeing a thread on it.

I didn't really like it that much, but I'm not sure why besides that fact that I don't need 24 tracks, and it's big, ugly and over $1,000.

 

[freshmattyp]

It's about the only thing at that price point that gives you 24 Track, 24 bit recording. I've had mine for about 6 months and love it. Well worth the money.

 

[Danny B.]

I had considered purchasing a 2488. However when I go to their discussion board it seems that alot of things are going wrong with them. Display screens going bad, hard drives malfunction, freeze ups, I understand it's new and takes time to work out the bugs, but, for $1200.00 I don't really want to take the chance of my machine dying on me, and having to send it back for repairs.

 

[philboyd studge]

I had considered purchasing a 2488. However when I go to their discussion board it seems that alot of things are going wrong with them. Display screens going bad, hard drives malfunction, freeze ups, I understand it's new and takes time to work out the bugs, but, for $1200.00 I don't really want to take the chance of my machine dying on me, and having to send it back for repairs.

That bbs is independant of Teac/Tascam and it's for those reasons of making their gear look bad that they dumped their own discussion board some time ago. Problems will be found with any piece of complex music gear and for me, it's nice to have a place where things can be discussed and often worked out. The 788 has gone through at least 5 software upgrades that I can recall and I'd expect the same from v.1.0 on the 2488.

It's best to talk to owners.

 

[Danny B.]

That bbs is independant of Teac/Tascam and it's for those reasons of making their gear look bad that they dumped their own discussion board some time ago. Problems will be found with any piece of complex music gear and for me, it's nice to have a place where things can be discussed and often worked out. The 788 has gone through at least 5 software upgrades that I can recall and I'd expect the same from v.1.0 on the 2488.

It's best to talk to owners.

I agree with you. My point is that as with any new piece of electronics equipment it does take time to get the bugs worked out. I have seen very few negative remarks on the 788 but as you mentioned it has been around for some time. Everyone has their preference of what they want to buy. I myself like Zoom equipment. Alot of people will put Zoom down, however I have had only one piece of their equipment ever fail me, that record to me speaks for itself, but I am not interested in their recorders. I do enjoy the 2488 site and have learned some things from them.

 

[joekodiak]

I was so excited when I saw the 2488 come out, but when I really looked into it I was bummed. To me, it's basically a 12 track unit. I don't like the fact that there are 12 tracks out of 24 that you are forced to pan hard left and right. To me, that's like losing control over 12 tracks.

I bought a Korg 1600mkII instead. It is one incredible machine. 16 true tracks and very intuitive to use. (by the time I was laying tracks, a friend/software developer with the Yamaha unit was still trying to figure out how to route a signal). It has a CD burner in it and is capable of red book quality CD's. There are some great mastering effects included and a multi-band compressor (although only 3 band).

Come over to my side! I don't think you will be disappointed.
Check out the forums at www.korgstudios.com You will see lot's of people making great music.

 

[philboyd studge]

I was so excited when I saw the 2488 come out, but when I really looked into it I was bummed. To me, it's basically a 12 track unit. I don't like the fact that there are 12 tracks out of 24 that you are forced to pan hard left and right. To me, that's like losing control over 12 tracks.

I bought a Korg 1600mkII instead. It is one incredible machine. 16 true tracks and very intuitive to use. (by the time I was laying tracks, a friend/software developer with the Yamaha unit was still trying to figure out how to route a signal). It has a CD burner in it and is capable of red book quality CD's. There are some great mastering effects included and a multi-band compressor (although only 3 band).

Come over to my side! I don't think you will be disappointed.
Check out the forums at www.korgstudios.com You will see lot's of people making great music.

Actually the 2488 is 24 bit uncompressed, 12 single tracks and 6 stereo for a total of 18. Folks tend to mix and bounce pairs to the stereo tracks to get 24.

 

[bat63]

I second the Korg D1600 mkII.....

16 *pure* tracks ,each with their own pan control

Touch screen control and lots of inputs......


Even if I am a D1200mkII fan...

 

[bilyum]

Hi freshmattyp!

How do you like the functions for effecting/equalizing each track seperately?
I'm just curious. I have a friend who just bought one to replace a brand new PC with the lastest version of SONAR.

I'm happy to say, he didn't sell the PC. I'd like to learn to love the 2488, but so far it seems like a pain in the butt.

And vocals don't sound as good ass thet maybe 'could' directly into the unit.
I wonder if a preamp would help. Thanks!

Billy

 

[philboyd studge]

How do you like the functions for effecting/equalizing each track seperately?
I'm just curious. I have a friend who just bought one to replace a brand new PC with the lastest version of SONAR.

I'm happy to say, he didn't sell the PC. I'd like to learn to love the 2488, but so far it seems like a pain in the butt.

And vocals don't sound as good ass thet maybe 'could' directly into the unit.
I wonder if a preamp would help. Thanks!

Billy

My opinion is that choice of and how to use mics, pres, and to some degree compressors is far more important in the end than recorders of equal sample rates.

 

[Flight 16]

Actually the 2488 is 24 bit uncompressed, 12 single tracks and 6 stereo for a total of 18. Folks tend to mix and bounce pairs to the stereo tracks to get 24.

yeah that to me is not tracking...i dont want to mix down while im recording...i want to focus on performances...then i will go home and mix...this is not a 24 track in my eyes ..and its VERY bugy

i took it back and got the Korg

 

[bilyum]

lost my password for awhile

My opinion is that choice of and how to use mics, pres, and to some degree compressors is far more important in the end than recorders of equal sample rates.

sorry it took so long to acknowledge your reply, philboyd.

yes, I think you're right about the hows and whens to use preamps/ effects etc

so, if Sonar and the 2488 both can record at 24 bit, don't you still have to go back to 16bit for the master CD?

 

[bilyum]

just a quick question

yeah that to me is not tracking...i dont want to mix down while im recording...i want to focus on performances...then i will go home and mix...this is not a 24 track in my eyes ..and its VERY bugy

i took it back and got the Korg

what if 12 tracks were enough to suit a given Individual? would your feelings change about the unit?

I don't own the unit. A friend who I am working with owns it. he hasn't gotten very far into the learning curve. any hints?

even if 12 tracks would suffice, would you still have bought the korg?

thanks much!

 

[philboyd studge]

sorry it took so long to acknowledge your reply, philboyd.

yes, I think you're right about the hows and whens to use preamps/ effects etc

so, if Sonar and the 2488 both can record at 24 bit, don't you still have to go back to 16bit for the master CD?

The goal is to stay at 24 bit till you're ready to make a cd, the reason being the extra digital headroom while working on your tracks and mixes because there is some degredation as you process.

 

[junplugged]

I didn't know that. I don't know where or when or how the degradation happens but someone has to know these things, right? Lots of engineers/producers don't like it for those reasons but they can actually hear, or claim to hear, the difference. But I doubt that info is widely available since it would hurt the products. but if I actually knew more, I might accept the limitations, rather than not knowing and not getting involved with the unknown - PC based recording/hdd recording.

 

[philboyd studge]

I didn't know that. I don't know where or when or how the degradation happens but someone has to know these things, right? Lots of engineers/producers don't like it for those reasons but they can actually hear, or claim to hear, the difference. But I doubt that info is widely available since it would hurt the products. but if I actually knew more, I might accept the limitations, rather than not knowing and not getting involved with the unknown - PC based recording/hdd recording.

Lets use an example away from recording and say you've got a photograph you want to work on in photoshop and adjust color, contrast, brightness, maybe change a backround color or use effects before turning it into a jpeg at 74 dpi for internet use. Would you rather work on that photo as a 2mb bitmap or as a max quality jpeg at 850K? You'd go for the bitmap everytime.