A Little Tascam 388 Studio 8 Trivia

[Beck]

The tracks you guys are talking about have a lo-fi quality that was chosen for an *effect* much like a guitar pedel. Its not like the whole album was recorded with a 388.

Simply wrong again, and you couldn’t be more wrong. People use various tools because they are there and get the job done. Labels and advertised purposes don't matter -- they never have. For one thing they can be misinterpreted, as you have demonstrated.

People with the right stuff have success with something like the 388, just like people with the wrong stuff fail with an MCI 24-track, regardless how people categorize these devices.

You aren’t going to find any support here to justify your failures. All it takes is one person to prove the worthiness of a machine. It does not work the other way ‘round. If you have no tips; no encouragement -- no positive input to offer after 8 years or whatever using a 388, then that's what it is -- utter failure.

Again labels like pro, semi-pro, prosumer, etc, often have nothing to do with what a given machine can do sonically and everything to do with operating levels and industrial design standards. An individual outfitting a private studio does not require a machine built for 24/7 operation in a commercial studio. Eureka! That’s right… and that’s how semi-pro was born. If you don’t get it now you never will.

Labels are for beginners; signs are for drivers that aren’t familiar with the area, and if you’re wearing a T-shirt that says, “I’m not a tourist” that’s a dead give away to the locals that in fact you are.

Accept the fact that I paid the same *or less* for my E-16s and a tad more for my MCI 24 track and am happy with my decisions. I don't run around defending them against Studers and the like because if I wanted a Studer, I would have a Studer. Its that simple.

You don’t appear as one who is happy with your decision, so much as you are unhappy with everyone else’s. There’s a big difference. As for me, I don’t own a 388 and never have, but I’ve worked with them and know what they can do in capable hands. In fact, my choice for my private studio uses twice the tape width @ twice the speed. For some odd reason I don’t feel compelled to hang out here and run down other member’s “skinny tracks” as you call them. But I know better. I could achieve professional results with much less than I have now.

Maybe you don’t have to run around defending your MCI against Studers because we don’t have an asshole on this forum with a studer running around attacking your MCI.

 

[Dr ZEE]

signs are for drivers that aren’t familiar with the area...

and may I note also, that (whether making it through the home-town or being lost in a questionable neighbourhood of the big-city ) knowing the meaning of all the road signs does not make one a good driver... actually it does not make one even a 'bad driver'... it does not make one any kind of driver. All it does - it makes one a "know all the signs"-guy.
As a matter of fact, Many of those guys ARE professionals. And! - For many of those professionals the price-tags are the only road signs they know. They check the price-tag first, then they "apply" their ear-judgement (actually, I must stress here: they may! apply their ear-judgement, but more likely they'd skip it factually however would always mention it verbally ), and then they enter the "discussion of the matters" accordingly to their expertise... .

 

[cjacek]

be happy and quit trying to defend your choice.

We are not "defending" for the sake of it but are doing so as the result of people like yourself who arrogantly spew out misleading info, which could be construed as fact by newbie recordists who may be thinking of picking up a 388 or any others on your to "shit all over" list of gear. You really have to get over yourself and the world which you think revolves around you, your opinions and your 24 track MCI.

 

[cjacek]

Maybe you don’t have to run around defending your MCI against Studers because we don’t have an asshole on this forum with a studer running around attacking your MCI.

HA! LOL!!!

 

[elmerfunk]

?????????

For the life of me I can never really understand WHY people are so interested in what someone has recorded and what quality their recordings sound like when discussing a simple thing like a tape machine?

What does production quality have to do with it?

A 388 is a sucky machine compared to most reel-to-reels for a hundred reasons, none of which have anything to do with how talanted the operator is? It is also a great machine for its intended audience. It is a home demo machine made for throwing down ideas and playing them for a band.

Do you even know how to plug your fucking machine in??? You sit atop your MCI throne and spew forth totally misinformed facts. If you are so well versed and have so much knowledge in this area feel free to prove us wrong. My guess is you don't have first clue how to get a good recording out of ANYTHING. If you did you would be posting up some audio clips to prove us wrong. You are quick to judge but very very late to prove.

Have a nice day.

 

[elmerfunk]

I have an $800 Calloway driver.....

does that make me a pro golfer???? I think not. Am I telling Tiger Woods that the $75 putter he won the Masters with is a piece of shit? I think not. Does the fact that you own an MCI make you a professional engineer??? I think not.


STFU

 

[Dr ZEE]

...If you did you would be posting up some audio clips to prove us wrong. ...

mci can't do that. he does not own publishing rights for any material he records. he's a big-shot fat-cat PRO, remember?

 

[Dr ZEE]

Does the fact that you own an MCI make you a professional engineer??? I think not.

If he uses it to record his client's material and charges them for the services - then it actually DOES
But it does not add to nor substructs from the level of inherited foolishness and arrogance. It does not add to nor substracts from the level of acquired mastership in the field of music recording either. What's there is there with or without possession.

 

[MCI2424]

Simply wrong again, and you couldn’t be more wrong. People use various tools because they are there and get the job done. Labels and advertised purposes don't matter -- they never have. For one thing they can be misinterpreted, as you have demonstrated.

People with the right stuff have success with something like the 388, just like people with the wrong stuff fail with an MCI 24-track, regardless how people categorize these devices.

You aren’t going to find any support here to justify your failures. All it takes is one person to prove the worthiness of a machine. It does not work the other way ‘round. If you have no tips; no encouragement -- no positive input to offer after 8 years or whatever using a 388, then that's what it is -- utter failure.

Again labels like pro, semi-pro, prosumer, etc, often have nothing to do with what a given machine can do sonically and everything to do with operating levels and industrial design standards. An individual outfitting a private studio does not require a machine built for 24/7 operation in a commercial studio. Eureka! That’s right… and that’s how semi-pro was born. If you don’t get it now you never will.

Labels are for beginners; signs are for drivers that aren’t familiar with the area, and if you’re wearing a T-shirt that says, “I’m not a tourist” that’s a dead give away to the locals that in fact you are.



You don’t appear as one who is happy with your decision, so much as you are unhappy with everyone else’s. There’s a big difference. As for me, I don’t own a 388 and never have, but I’ve worked with them and know what they can do in capable hands. In fact, my choice for my private studio uses twice the tape width @ twice the speed. For some odd reason I don’t feel compelled to hang out here and run down other member’s “skinny tracks” as you call them. But I know better. I could achieve professional results with much less than I have now.

Maybe you don’t have to run around defending your MCI against Studers because we don’t have an asshole on this forum with a studer running around attacking your MCI.

You can dish it out, but you can't take it.
So many personal attacks from some of you guys without ever really knowing any of my experience and accomplishments.

Tisk, tisk. I had no idea a 388 has such adoring fans that will trash anyone who dares risk questioning its already questionable worth as a recording medium. Beck, you simply have to get a life along with Drk. Zee. There are so many recorders out there that can, and do completely kill a 388 in every possible area. Those are the machines of legend and available at a price that a 388 went for new.

And I would like to set the record straight. You CAN'T make a lousy recording on GREAT equipment. You CAN make a lousy PRODUCTION on GREAT equiupment.
If you can't make a hit record on a TASCAM, you can't make it on an MCI

MEANS

that your production sucks on both AND your recording sucks on the TASCAM too.

This is why PRO recording people use PRO equipment. If the home stuff was JUST AS GOOD as Beck and DFrk.ZEE would have people believe, then we would have a world full of TASCAMs and Studer, MCI etc. would have never opened their doors.

To the good people who have yet to buy a machine, read this and remember, the 388 is a sucky sounding 7.5ips recorder with a lousy, nasaly sounding mixer tacked on as an afterthought.

Buy a good Fostex E-16 and a good mixer that you CAN upgrade later WHEN you want better quality or more channels UNLIKE the lowely 388 where you are STUCK with both components that will suck forever together.

That is all.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

So many personal attacks from some of you guys without ever really knowing any of my experience and accomplishments.

Apparently, you have mistaken us for people WHO GIVE A FLYING FUCK. Guys, here we go again It never fucking ceases to amaze me that these kind of people DON"T GET IT .....now, since Mr. Fucking Brilliant can't read, lets say the name of this BBS outloud....all together now guys.......
HOME RECORDING.com

again now just in case he doesn't pay attention...Mr. Clueless, does

HOME RECORDING.com

imply a goddamned thing to you?????????????????????????????????????









Another thing Mr. Silver Spoon without a clue.....I just read EVERY post you've managed to slime this bbs with, and without a doubt, you are absolutely, unequiviqably, irrefutably, undenably, and unarguably the Big Bang of arrogance, yet you are one of those people who possess almost every gift, except the gift of the power to use them. Unfortunately, nature, not content with denying you the ability to think, has endowed you with the ability to write, which perfectly illustrates you are a sophisticated rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of your own crushing banality. As to your self defined sonic accomplishments as an audio engineer, I'm confident it doesn't take an Eienstien to distinquish a product of the untalented, sold by the unprincipled to the utterly bewildered. And if that weren't enough, the mere fact you choose this bbs to bless your profound idiocy makes it abundantly clear your delusions of adequacy are completely unspoiled by dismal failure. But dispair not my dear lint, as there are other more meaningfull engineering career paths. May I submit, one such as yourself may find success and an upgrade in professional esteem and social acceptance in the field of SANITARY engineering.
In closing teflon brain, let me leave you with this thought...your pearls of wisdom are like Next-day delivery in a nanosecond world....

 

[superbeatballer]

To the good people who have yet to buy a machine, read this and remember, the 388 is a sucky sounding 7.5ips recorder with a lousy, nasaly sounding mixer tacked on as an afterthought.

Buy a good Fostex E-16 and a good mixer that you CAN upgrade later WHEN you want better quality or more channels UNLIKE the lowely 388 where you are STUCK with both components that will suck forever together.

That is all.

This advice comes a bit late for me I suppose. That's o.k. though, as I'm quite happy with my 388. So far, the sounds I've laid down with it are my best yet and they almost mix themselves. Its like-> set up a mic, push the fader up and hit record. Pre-388 I would labor for hours and hours with my tracks and in the end they would always fall short in my mind.

My point is that the 388 is a good machine in my hands for my material with my ears listening. That makes it far from sucky.

I need no MCI beacause I use my 388 and love the results. So don't even try to convince me that I suck for loving my sucky machine. I know it is a great recording tool. Are you convinced about your tool, or do you have 388 envy?

 

[Dr ZEE]

So many personal attacks from some of you guys without ever really knowing any of my experience and accomplishments. .

no sh*t!
Just for the record: from me to MCI-twenty-nothing everything IS PERSONAL. Same goes to every f*ng a*s from (or pretending to be from (which is the same thing, actually )) the "service field" (professional recording field, that is) coming to home-recording field and acting like arrogant as-*s (which what they are and nothing more than that). It has to be personal and always will be... you can bet on it.

...without ever really knowing any of my experience and accomplishments. .

Achievements and experience of guys like MCI mean no crap to independents musicians and producers. As a matter of fact... the more MCI-like dudes have "achievements" (ala platinum discs on the wall or collection of personally signed posters by "superstars" and sh*t like that) - the more laughable those achivement are.... and so is the "achiever".

MCI!, you have no f*ng idea how pathetic you are. And yes... you can take it as personal as you wish... as so you should. ...and , btw, nevermind, that your "personality" consists of nothing more that three letters "m", "c" and "i". I understand - "big" people must keep their "identity" in secret.
You 've got not even a single shred of respect for home recordists and independents musicians/producers, nor you have a shred of clue about home recording and about what being an independent musician/producer is all about.... that's why you never get why you are so pathetic and so are all of your "valuable" points .. .
*******
...now go ahead, tell us another story about what else one of your non-paying "clients" have left in your "state_of_the_art studio" as 'downpayment'... or do you call it 'installment' ... or is it a 'tip'. Like anybody gives a flying f**k... ... but why not? Go ahead!... we need a laughter too from time to time, you know. If there's no real story in your mind, then make something up... it's easy...

 

[Dr ZEE]

btw, RICK! ..heh heh
that was some sophisticated word-work ... ! lol

 

[Beck]

Tisk, tisk. I had no idea a 388 has such adoring fans that will trash anyone who dares risk questioning its already questionable worth as a recording medium.

Setting up your straw men again I see. I don't care if someone likes a certain machine or not. What I do care about is people like you that have no clue coming here to give "advice" based on imagined experience and bad science.

There are so many recorders out there that can, and do completely kill a 388 in every possible area.

Yes, I know... I own one. But there will always be a better machine than that which one has. How many must you fail with before it dawns on you that you are no good? No device will save you.

And for those with ability, there are few machines that can hold them back.

Ever been at a NAMM show? You often see famous faces. The brightest and the best don't go there wearing MCI T-shirts; They're wearing Mickey Mouse T-shirts and are quite comfortable in their own skin, which you are obviously not... your conduct here betrays you. You fool no one.

My guess is you’re not getting the results you want with your E-16 either, and the MCI, if you have one, is sitting in the corner covered with dust.

 

[Dr ZEE]

The brightest and the best don't go there wearing MCI T-shirts; They're wearing Mickey Mouse T-shirts ....

wha ha ha ..lol

Rockers who actually DO rock do NOT wear AC/DC t-shirts.

 

[nickdahl]

I just bought a 388. We used one to record some demos back in 1987, and the demos sounded great...if we had more tracks, they might have been even better, but who knows?

Anyway, while I'm waiting for my 388 to arrive, I'm wondering if someone could help me with a question I have, since I don't have the manual. I just received the master for the demos my band recorded on the 388, and I want to transfer the tracks into Pro Tools. I have a Digi 002R and can send the eight tracks over all at once.

Here's my question...if I remember right, the 388 has jacks on it that allow you to bypass the board and output tracks without having to go through a bunch of circuitry. Is that true? And, if so, what kind of jacks are those (1/4" TS, 1/4" TRS, RCA, XLR)?

Thanks for the help. Oh, if any of you know where I can find a manual online, please let me know.

Nick

 

[superbeatballer]

I just bought a 388. We used one to record some demos back in 1987, and the demos sounded great...if we had more tracks, they might have been even better, but who knows?

Anyway, while I'm waiting for my 388 to arrive, I'm wondering if someone could help me with a question I have, since I don't have the manual. I just received the master for the demos my band recorded on the 388, and I want to transfer the tracks into Pro Tools. I have a Digi 002R and can send the eight tracks over all at once.

Here's my question...if I remember right, the 388 has jacks on it that allow you to bypass the board and output tracks without having to go through a bunch of circuitry. Is that true? And, if so, what kind of jacks are those (1/4" TS, 1/4" TRS, RCA, XLR)?

Thanks for the help. Oh, if any of you know where I can find a manual online, please let me know.

Nick

It has a program bus-in per channel to bypass the mixer section for incoming tracks and tape outs on each channel to bypass on your way out from the recorder. I rather like the "sucky" mixer and use it constantly though, only bypassing it when I fly in edited tracks.

The 388 is a routing wet dream. Enjoy!

 

[nickdahl]

It has a program bus-in per channel to bypass the mixer section for incoming tracks and tape outs on each channel to bypass on your way out from the recorder. I rather like the "sucky" mixer and use it constantly though, only bypassing it when I fly in edited tracks.

The 388 is a routing wet dream. Enjoy!

Great...thanks! Do you know what type of jacks the TAPE OUT on each channel are? I just want to be sure I have the correct cables when the time comes.

Thanks,

Nick

 

[superbeatballer]

Great...thanks! Do you know what type of jacks the TAPE OUT on each channel are? I just want to be sure I have the correct cables when the time comes.

Thanks,

Nick

Tape outs=rca