advice on tascam 488

  • Thread starter Thread starter spuddy_777
  • Start date Start date
S

spuddy_777

New member
Hi all you Musos...

I'm experienced in using a four-track (yamaha), but now have the chance of a used tascam 488, and need advice before I buy.

I want to be able to record up to 8 inputs simoultaneaiusly.
(I know that you can only record four tracks at once on the 488). The question I need answered is:

Can I route all 8 inputs simultaneously on to the four tracks via the mixer?

....And if I CAN. will I finish up with 8 independent tracks?.......or will I have 4 tracks, each with 2 sources 'baked' together?

Any advice will be welcomed.

JT. (UK)
 
No, you cannot get separate tracks that way. Btw, what exactly are you recording (instrumentation)? You seem to want each individual instrument to have its own track, am I correct?

You could record 4 tracks at once on separate tracks, and then monitor those and record another 4 tracks separately.

If you have a midi keyboard and a sequencer that generates time code, you could program parts on the keyboard and synchronize your 488 to it. The keyboard stuff would never have to go to tape.

Better yet, get a mixer AND a Tascam 238 Syncassette on e-bay. Those are very robust and will record 8 tracks simultaneously but don't have the built-in mixer that the 488 has. Or, you could get a 688 Midistudio, which will record 8 tracks simultaneously AND has a mixer built in. All of these are used items, obviously. The 688 will be the oldest of all of these.
 
Yo Spudman 777:

I have a Tascam 488 sitting in my vault. I replaced that with an MD8 and that is sitting in my studio at rest.

I replaced the MD8 with a Yam 2816. I like the 2816 as it has great sound and 16 bit and built in CD, and records 8 tracks at once; however, I have never had a need to do 8 tracks at once as I don't work with any group that large -- I guess I'm the group most of the time unless I'm recording a vocalist with CD background music.

I'd suggest you audition Any of the DAW Yamahas: 2816, 4416, and the new kid in the group the AGW16.

All can record 8 tracks at a time; total digital domain right down to burning your CDR or CDRW. Not too hard to learn but, as per Yamaha, the manuals are a vacuum in places.

You would need to buy a UPS power supply as any of the Yamaha DAWS require one to protect the hard drive from crashing in case you lose your power while working the box. Not expensive but Yamaha doesn't tell you that in its advertising.

The think you will LOVE about a DAW is no tape to rewind; push the button and you are back at GO.

Something to think about.

Green Hornet:D :D :cool:
 
You can record eight channels to four tracks simultaneously.

You cannot record eight channels to eight tracks simultaneously, but you already knew that.

You do the first by bussing instead of direct recording.

The only problem is that you have two sources on each of four tracks. If it's not mixed perfectly while tracking there is not much you can do to "fix it in the mix".
 
thanks Stannheiser

Your post was welcome...I've had people in this thread telling me I can't do what you say I can do....they musta misunderstood my question. Thanks for the help. Now I have to find out how to do it (without a manual!).
Thanks again.
JT (UK)
 
Enable tracks 1-4 or 5-8 to record.

Channel one select buss 1L-2R. Pan hard left.
Channel two select buss 1L-2R. Pan hard right.
Channel three select buss 3L-4R. Pan hard left.
Channel four select buss 3L-4R. Pan hard right.

Repeat for channels 5-8.

The reason you cannot record all eight tracks at once is because the 488 and 488 Mk II are only four-buss machines. You would need an eight buss to record all eight at once, or have direct eight-track record capability which these machines lack.

Don't get channels and tracks confused. They are not the same. I had a difficult time years ago trying to separate the two in my head when I first started with Porta's.

It's a lot easier to visualize when the tape machine is separated from the console.
 
hey guy's dont wanna be a bother but i have a 788, and found out my uncle has a 488. how are these 488's and do you think i could hook them together? how much does a 488 go for in price?
Thanx.
 
$275-$325 for a 488. $325-$425 for the 488 MkII. The 488 has synch capability. I didn't have mine long enough to use it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top