788 vs DP01

  • Thread starter Thread starter davidstus
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davidstus

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Hi,

I'm new here, but old enough to have had one of the first porta ones, I've recently wanted to start recording again and am checking out the DP01 fx CD

But I've also seen used 788 for around 250 with burner,

Any comments or recomendations on the two?

I see the 788 is 24 bit vs 16 for the DP01, does that translate into an audible difference???

Thanks for any comments or recomendations!
 
Hi David,

24-bit in itself should be a strong selling point for you, both for tracking and for later editing. You want to start as cleanly as possible. 24-bit gives you more processing headroom for effects/editing decisions and keeps the sound quality up.

I had the 788 myself and it is a fine little machine as long as you work around the shortcomings.

The built-in preamps are trash. By the time you get the input trim up to some kind of usable level with, say, a dynamic mic, the pres hiss badly.

So as long as you consider getting a clean pre to run into the 788, you will get high-quality 24-bit sound out of the machine.
I can't speak for the quality of the pres in the DP 01.

Beyond that (much like the DP, I would guess) you get a bunch of effects that are passable without being fantastic.
If you use the reverb by itself, it is fine; if you combine it with 'multi-effects', the reverb tends to get tinny and pinched sounding.
Again, just something to remember, not a deal-breaker as long as you know it.

Editing is a breeze on the 788, and the many virtual tracks help out too. The looping auto punch-in allows you to re-do a phrase for as long as you want automatically, with a variable pre-roll set on the machine.

You can go far with the 788; I only upgraded to the 2488 because I needed more tracks. The 788 may be 'old tech' as things go, but it still delivers a lot for the money. You mention about $250 with burner; that's a steal.

Best,
C.
 
the pre's on the dp 01 fx are alright. at least there are no power issues. it powers both kinds of mics just fine. editing is easy and it's really easy to use in general. but i imagine the 788 isn't that difficult either. i really like the dp 01 fx, but i have regret that it's not 24 bit. that's one reason i'm upgrading to the 2488. it's already bought and paid for, i'm just waiting on shipping. i can't wait :)
 
I used to have a 788. It's and excellent machine. Can't say I ever had any problems with the pre-amps though most of the sources I recorded were pretty loud (yes, even the singer I was playing with at the time!). Mine is still going strong after 6 years - have passed it on to my current singer as I now have a 2488

Bear in mind the DP-02 is due any day now (they had them on the Tascam stand at Music Live over the weekend)
 
shockingcandy said:
I used to have a 788. It's and excellent machine. Can't say I ever had any problems with the pre-amps though most of the sources I recorded were pretty loud (yes, even the singer I was playing with at the time!). Mine is still going strong after 6 years - have passed it on to my current singer as I now have a 2488

Bear in mind the DP-02 is due any day now (they had them on the Tascam stand at Music Live over the weekend)
Click to expand...

DP 02? there's nothing about it on Tascam's site. do you have a link?
 
Late but ...

I too have considered a used 788 for its low cost ability to record 6 tracks at once. However, I do not think it will export WAV files, which the DP will do according to the manual. If this is the case it I think it would limit exporting to your PC for mastering, or to a professional for the same purpose, as well as limit collabortion with others who don't have the 788.

Tom
 
The 788...

The 788 will export wav files directly to the CDR, given that you have the latest revision of internal opcode.:eek:;)
 
Nicole_Rose said:
DP 02? there's nothing about it on Tascam's site. do you have a link?
Click to expand...

Nope, but I have seen it with my own eyes. Much more aesthetically pleasing than the DP-01 - kinda slimline and very black - however the specs I saw looked quite similar (still not 24 bit).
 
...

The DP-02(std) pictured, left.
The DP-02CF (right) presumably records to CF cards???
Site's in Japanese, so that's an assumption!:eek:;)
 

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A Reel Person said:
The DP-02(std) pictured, left.
The DP-02CF (right) presumably records to CF cards???
Site's in Japanese, so that's an assumption!:eek:;)
Click to expand...

Yep, I saw it on another european site that it is CF cards
 
A Reel Person said:
The 788 will export wav files directly to the CDR, given that you have the latest revision of internal opcode.:eek:;)
Click to expand...

Interesting ... and reason to reconsider the box .... any of the recorded tracks can be exported a mono track? Standard CD format readable in a PC? Do you know the firmware version needed?

Tom
 
Thanks again, pretty much all my other questions on the 788 were answered with out me asking!

One more though:

If I buy a used 788 w no warentee, in terms of maintenence, parts wearing out and repair, what are the most likely things to worry about and about how much $$$

I believe the only moving part except for knobs, sliders would be the drive?

Is that a standard PC type, something I (an experienced bike mechanic haha)
could swap out?

Anything else I should consider that could go wrong and add up to $$$?

Thanks
 
Hi David,

Think of it this way: anything in this genre you pick is a computer-recorder; no more and no less likely to have issues with the drive as a regular PC with a drive (minus the Windows hassles.)

Go here:

http://www.tascam2488.com/

and do a search for a replacement drive for the 788; as I recall, it was a 'half-stack' kind of design, not quite as big as a regular drive for your PC, same diameter, but lower height (I am going by memory.)

Never hurts to see if you can still get replacements; the rest of maintenance is just keeping dust/dirt out of the faders and not subjecting the machine to heavy vibrations or high heat.
A good can of air and a bit of Windex now and then can do wonders. Plus covering the machine when not working.

Oh, and backing up your work to CD religiously. And that one is crucial.

Let us know what you choose,
C.
 
shockingcandy said:
Nope, but I have seen it with my own eyes. Much more aesthetically pleasing than the DP-01 - kinda slimline and very black - however the specs I saw looked quite similar (still not 24 bit).
Click to expand...

still not 24 bit? that sucks. i was looking forward to that.
 
davidstus said:
I believe the only moving part except for knobs, sliders would be the drive?

Is that a standard PC type, something I (an experienced bike mechanic haha)
could swap out?
Click to expand...

Nope -- its a SCSI drive, not a IDE drive like used in PCs. I seem to recall that SCSIs were used in MACs at one time; maybe they still are -- I don't know MACs.

Tom
 
Oancient1 said:
Nope -- its a SCSI drive, not a IDE drive like used in PCs. I seem to recall that SCSIs were used in MACs at one time; maybe they still are -- I don't know MACs.

Tom
Click to expand...

SCSI was also used in PCs, especially servers. They tended to have faster sustained data rates than older IDE (PATA) drives which is good for multi-track recording. I think SATA drives have long since rendered them obsolete but last time I checked you could still get them.
 
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