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Will25
New member
If anyone has heard of 'Soothing Music for Stray Cats', it was recorded on an 8 track portastudio and it sounds great..if anyone could recommend one it would be much appreciated 
VESSEL2020
Somewhere in Space
If anyone has heard of 'Soothing Music for Stray Cats', it was recorded on an 8 track portastudio and it sounds great..if anyone could recommend one it would be much appreciated
Tascam 688 (Midistudio)
or
Tascam 488 mkII
Both machines are great in my opinion.
Though you can only record 4 tracks simultaneously on the 488 mkII,..whereas you can record 8 tracks simultaneously on the 688.
Either way,..you can't go wrong with either machine.
Another good one is the Yamaha MT8X mkII (which has phantom power like the 488 mkII)
I own doubles of each, just in case somethin' happens to one of 'em...due to the fact that I have several recordings made on each of the machines. I have some bigger tape machines that I utilize as well, like a Tascam 388, 38, & TSR 8...but I always get drawn back to my 488 mkII's & 688's for some reason.
Another good one would be the Tascam 238 or 238S which is like a rack mount version of the 688 without a mixer section.
You would have to purchase a mixer to go along with it.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
I have the Tascam 488, the mk1. I'd recommend it to anyone {except Charles Manson}.
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Will25
New member
Thanks for the replies. I'm gutted, just lost out on ebay for a 488 mkII, original owner...£170. Ah well, there'll be more.
witzendoz
Senior Member
Could have also been a 238, these are a recorder only and need an external mixer.
Alan.
Alan.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
My vote would be for the tascam 688 (truth be told - the only 8 track cassette studio I've owned).
Very large and heavy, with a steep learning curve, but well worth it. Feature laden with a great sound and lots of room to grow into.
Very large and heavy, with a steep learning curve, but well worth it. Feature laden with a great sound and lots of room to grow into.
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MSH
New member
£170 is a bit much for a 488 - I picked up a really nice one from ebay for £100 and I've seen them go for less. Be patient and you'll find one at sensible money.
I really like the 488 although it's taken me a while to adjust my workflow having been digital for a long time. Despite the narrow track width and relatively slow tape speeds you can still make great sounding recordings if you use high quality cassettes
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Peck
Guest
I think the 688 is really cool, as long as you get lucky. Really to test every function on one of those, right when you are looking at it, is pretty difficult.
It is difficult because you have to learn how to work the little screen on the machine to change the signal flow. So... a manual is also necessary, although I'm pretty sure I just got mine off the internet.
But as long as you find one, where everything works on it... seems difficult in my opinion... I like the 688 a lot. I mean you have all XLR inputs too, and can record all of those at once. But maybe you're just doing overdubs, in which case that's not as big of a deal.
I've never messed with a 488... they have phantom power? that's nice. 688 does not. I'm sure whichever is fine, as long as it all works. good luck...
It is difficult because you have to learn how to work the little screen on the machine to change the signal flow. So... a manual is also necessary, although I'm pretty sure I just got mine off the internet.
But as long as you find one, where everything works on it... seems difficult in my opinion... I like the 688 a lot. I mean you have all XLR inputs too, and can record all of those at once. But maybe you're just doing overdubs, in which case that's not as big of a deal.
I've never messed with a 488... they have phantom power? that's nice. 688 does not. I'm sure whichever is fine, as long as it all works. good luck...
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Will25
New member
The 688s do look quite impressive...I think they're harder to find though. How do you get by on the 488s without a gain LED thingy...I've seen the red needles on some portastudios, is there any sort of attachment you use, like a pre amp sort of thing? Or is it just trial and error?! 
VESSEL2020
Somewhere in Space
Only the 488 mkII has phantom power. (on 2 channels)
I am quite surprised this feature never made it onto the 688 as well.
The only "cassette" units I've ever seen with this feature are the 488 mkII,
& the Yamaha MT8X mkII,
It's a nice little feature to have instead of having to carry around an extra phantom power supply box.
Sometimes I'll record some live shows of my friends bands, and my own (just for archiving purposes & remembrance) ...and I'll run 2 condensers through the first 2 channels on my 488 mkII for room mics,...and then I'll blend the stereo outs from the sound board onto tracks 3 & 4. Usually end up with a pretty decent recording, depending on where I was able to place the condensers...and if the soundguy has a good mix goin'.
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Peck
Guest
Yeah they are hard to find in good shape I think. Especially if you do the, wait for it to show up locally, thing. But buying it locally is nice to avoid the dreaded shipping. I've finally realized that it's almost always best to wait for something local when possible.
You will see the levels, on the screen of the 488 mkII. that's how it was on my 424mkII and I'm assuming the same for the 488 mkII. 488 original version??? Would be on a little screen as well... I have a little 424 original that a friend gave to me for free... love that thing. so simple and quick to put ideas on.How do you get by on the 488s without a gain LED thingy...I've seen the red needles on some portastudios, is there any sort of attachment you use, like a pre amp sort of thing? Or is it just trial and error?!
Hey! There's a citi mastercard offer on top of my post! How cool!
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Peck
Guest
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Peck
Guest
will25, use searchallcraigs.com (or something similar) to broaden your "local" search. I love doing that and it's kind of addictive, because you start finding all of these random pieces of tape gear in weird places.
VESSEL2020
Somewhere in Space
Although it's not cassette based,
I waited 4 years to finally find a pristine 388 locally. (Well not very local,..but worth the drive)
Much better to be able to inspect the unit before handing over the cash.
Most people do not know how to properly pack & ship these beautiful pieces of history,..and tend to cut corners to save money & time.
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Peck
Guest
Fo Real. And it's a bitch, because I've packed a few myself. Not fun packing an old reel to reel... seems almost ridiculous, if you don't spend a lot of time and money doing it regularly and you're really good at it.
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Will25
New member
Ok...I think I'll try the 488 - thanks for the craiglist reference, never knew it existed! this is an exaple of the album that was recorded on an "8 track cassette portastudio": dyou reckon it would have been the 488? or could I at least get that sound from it?
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
Have a listen to the song in this link. It was recorded by one of the members here on a 488 some years ago.Wrote this one eons ago and tracked in the living room of a buddy's house on a Tascam 488 Cassette Portastudio.All Hail Cassette Portastudios!
Conditionally Blue
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Will25
New member
Thanks, thats a great sound...just missed another on ebay!!! Went for £165 ish 
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Will25
New member
Actually...would I be at a disadvantage with only 2 XLR inputs? I'm thinking that I'm going to need a couple of mics for drums and the bass which I'd be recording simultaneously. Is there a way round this or should I look at getting something else? S: