Do NOT bid on this TASCAM 388

[A Reel Person]

I'm happy for your new score!

$550/shipped with low hours, pedal & manual is a good deal.

 

[superbeatballer]

One other thing. The ad says you can plug your instrument directly in. While that may be true, there is no d.i. capability on this machine, unless I'm mistaken.

 

[A Reel Person]

The 388 has 1/4" jacks for Line-In on each channel.

Often times I've used a 1/4"(f)-to-XLR(M) adapter to plug my 1/4" instrument lines directly into the XLR-MIC/preamp stage (on the 388),... and used TRIM for boost, accordingly.

Either way you slice it, you may plug your 1/4" instrument lines directly into the 388, and it handles it quite well, with no ill effects.

 

[themaddog]

Often times I've used a 1/4"(f)-to-XLR(M) adapter to plug my 1/4" instrument lines directly into the XLR-MIC/preamp stage (on the 388),... and used TRIM for boost, accordingly.

Either way you slice it, you may plug your 1/4" instrument lines directly into the 388, and it handles it quite well, with no ill effects.

I think that you can use the trim control even when using the line input. I'm not completely certain on this, because I can't remember for sure, but I definitely know you can do this with the Tascam 2516 mixing console.

-MD

 

[A Reel Person]

I'm afraid on the 388, the Trim is active on the XLR-Mic inputs only!

The 388's Line-Ins bypass the Trim control,... which prompted me to use 1/4"-XLR adapters to route the 1/4" line source thru the XLRs.

Other higher end Tascam mixers have a separate Trim control on the Line and Mic inputs. I know my M-520 does,... but I'd not be sure about the M-312 without checking it first. The 2516 apparently also has a Trim control on the Line inputs.

 

[beyond_therapy]

ok i won't.

 

[GemSmith]

$550/shipped with low hours, pedal & manual is a good deal.

I was a happy camper to have found such a nice one at a fair price in such a short amount of time. Thank you again for your help and advice on this very topic Dave!

On a side note, I believe the Line Inputs bypass the preamps on the 388 altogether, right? I was actually hoping that was the case, given that it's nice to be able to bypass preamps to use extrnal preamps for different flavors/colors... And for when needing to use a preamp with phantom power for condensor mics.

 

[pbergo]

So, does the 388 line up evenly with a M320?

Front to rear and height dimensions?

 

[A Reel Person]

Yes:...

the Line-Ins on the 388 bypass the preamp stage.

No:... The 388 and 300 Series mixers don't line up exactly in dimensions. The 300 Series is a little "deeper" from front-to-back, than the 388. It's close though,... about a 2~3" difference.

 

[pbergo]

That might still look cool.

 

[GemSmith]

So, does the 388 line up evenly with a M320?

Front to rear and height dimensions?

Thinking about the 320 as a source of phantom power and external preamps? I'm envious... my phantom power/external preamp options are presently limited to a couple of cheap PreSonus TubePRE's (which have a 12ax7 in them mostly for aesthetic marketing purposes, but it's not a terrible preamp for a different flavor), and the XDR preamps on my Mackie 1402vlz... certainly nothing to write home about.

My order of 456 tape showed up last night though, so tonight it'll be time for some fun!

 

[pbergo]

My 320 doesn't have phantom power, and come to think of it, I've never even used the mic pre's in it. I have strictly used it for mixing from the recorder outputs.

UA has a new series of pre's out, and I'm saving up. They are the 'solo' series, under a grand and real UA pre's. Might be worth a look!