388 Dbx

[mikey@thecave]

IS THE DBX on the 388 a high quality one??? it sounds pretty good

 

[bigwillz24]

IS THE DBX on the 388 a high quality one??? it sounds pretty good

I'm more confused than a gay man with a with a "lifetime supply of pussy" certificate I tell ya...

 

[cjacek]

IS THE DBX on the 388 a high quality one??? it sounds pretty good

Type 1 dbx NR, as found on the TASCAM 388, is of the highest quality but you pretty much answered your own question .. If it sounds good to you then it must be good, don't you think ?

~Daniel

 

[mikey@thecave]

what exarctly does it DBX type 1 do ???i know its noise reduction but it seems to boost also

 

[franksquid]

what exarctly does it DBX type 1 do ???i know its noise reduction but it seems to boost also

It compresses while recording and expands during playback. I think its a 2:1 ratio so a 100dB source is compressed to 50dB on tape. It cuts the noise floor in half and adds dynaic range at the same time. Cool chit, those Tascam 388s were the ultimate home recording machines of the '80s.

 

[eh91311]

388 with dbx

On a 388, whatever you do, don't record in the red or push the tape hard with the dbx on... doing that will accentuate the dbx compression/expansion effect and your tracks will sound overly compressed and lacking highs on playback.

 

[mikey@thecave]

well I have been pushing the meters --man those meters take alot before they clip thats real fun---so you think i should backoff some? im getting a ton of bass when using the 388 for a stereo mixdown deck- but every thing sound good

 

[Herm]

-5 to -4 is plenty with dbx

 

[ithacadude]

I've been recording with the 388 for about a year, and lately without the dbx. What an amazing improvement! I SAY FORGET THE DBX!! without it you can push the levels quite hard and get some nice compression, and the playback is MUCH more realistic--clear and with no pumping or swelling or wet blanket effect. also, I think it's important to not let tape hiss become some sort of horrible bogeyman--it's OK to have a little hiss--IT'S TAPE, AND WE LOVE TAPE!! And the feeling of simply getting back what you put in is much more honest. try it. hit the tape hard you'll be happy.

 

[jjones1700]

I've been recording with the 388 for about a year, and lately without the dbx. What an amazing improvement! I SAY FORGET THE DBX!! without it you can push the levels quite hard and get some nice compression, and the playback is MUCH more realistic--clear and with no pumping or swelling or wet blanket effect. also, I think it's important to not let tape hiss become some sort of horrible bogeyman--it's OK to have a little hiss--IT'S TAPE, AND WE LOVE TAPE!! And the feeling of simply getting back what you put in is much more honest. try it. hit the tape hard you'll be happy.

I agree that dbx isn't always needed. If you are recording material that doesn't have quiet passages near the noise floor, dbx isn't really necessary. If you've got some pauses or quiet (relatively) acoustic stuff going on, dbx can keep the hiss from being front and center.