i have tacam 2488 neo and would like to buy software to interface

[aj keller]

Hi...I'm a dummy i bought a 2488 a while back and i love it but would enjoy being able to interface with a polular software program. Our band does gigs, the neo works great for that, records everyone live.... but i would like the user friendliness of a software program.. Can I do that, recommendations...???

 

[grimtraveller]

Reaper. There's a user here called RAMI and hopefully he'll weigh in with some more detail. He does some great stuff. His stuff was pretty mighty when all he used was the 2488 (if I remember rightly, he has the version before the neo) but of late, he's been combining that with Reaper.

 

[CoolCat]

yes Rami had some great proof of the 2488 ability....and his speakers for sometime were not expenisve either , if I recall.... a great example of the possibility of HR sounding really good..

i had the 2488 and never figured out how to USB the tracks....hopefully someone can chime in.

i'm also very close to switching to Reaper....reading more of it today, sounds like an excellent setup.

 

[RAMI]

Thanx guys.....

I still use the 2488 to track, along with my Realistic reciever and my cheap Hitachi speakers.

To "interface" with my computer, I record everything in the 2488 (not Mark II or Neo), and then transfer all my tracks into the computer and mix with REAPER. Honestly, the only reason I go into the computer is because of all the free software effects I have access to (EQ's, compressors, etc....).......

But honestly, I don't even know if my recordings sound any better now than they did when I was mixing everything in the 2488. It's a great machine. The only thing I never did in the 2488 was "master". The 2488 doesn't have a "mastering" section, so I always brought my final mix into the computer to "master".

To bring your individual tracks into the computer, just go to MENU>USB EXPORT, and then click each track that you want to transfer. Once you've clicked all your tracks, press "YES", and wait for it to do it's thing. Once it's done, go into MENU>DISK>USB OPEN/CLOSE, and your tracks are now ready to import into whatever DAW you're using......and Bob's your uncle.

 

[RAMI]

Hehe....I said "honestly" twice in that post. Usually, when someone keeps saying "honestly", I know they're bullshitting. But I really was being honest. Honestly.

 

[CoolCat]

my son was just saying the older 2488 tracks sounded better than the current tracks. the tracking was a breeze with it...push a button.
speaking of tracking.... my brother has my ex2488.. he never integrated the pc, so I find that interesting how you combined both, the pc and 2488..with Reaper. Do you master on Reaper?

Your directions seem simple enough to upload the individual tracks, or I suppose you can upload the stereo version just to master it?


Does the monitor / speakers stay plugged into the 2488 while the computer "mastering etc.." playback is through the USB cable back to the 2488?? hows that work?

 

[RAMI]

my son was just saying the older 2488 tracks sounded better than the current tracks.

Does he mean my tracks? Your tracks? Or are you talking about the original 2488 compared to the Neo?

Do you master on Reaper?

Yes, once I finish mixing a song in REAPER, I render that and call it "(song name) Un-Mastered". Then I open a new REAPER project and "master" that. (I always put the word "master" in quotations because what I'm doing isn't really mastering. It's just limiting for volume).

I suppose you can upload the stereo version just to master it?

Yes, that's what I did when I was still doing all my mixing in the 2488.

Does the monitor / speakers stay plugged into the 2488 while the computer "mastering etc.." playback is through the USB cable back to the 2488?? hows that work?

Well, I'm just using a Realistic home stereo receiver. So, my 2488 goes into the AUX in's, and my computer goes into the CD in's. So, when I'm working with the 2488, I'm just monitoring from the AUX , and when I start working in the computer with REAPER, I monitor from the CD function. It's just a touch of a button to go from one to the other.

 

[CoolCat]

ok yes, thats a versatile monitoring setup...makes sense.

for mastering, thats all I've ever done, ...usually just swipe it in WaveLite or something to "normalize" bring the volume up.

i'm about ready to download Reaper , you seem to like it?

my son did some tracks and was playing them back and noticed he liked the tracks done on the 2488.
which i cant recall what equipment was in the chain as I'm constantly trading selling and returning stuff due to cars breaking down and bs...i might have had a VC1Q on the mic and he's hearing that too? idk...

thanks for sharing, i always refer to your stuff for great HR examples.. realistic and hitachi's...if it works, it works!

 

[RAMI]

ok yes, thats a versatile monitoring setup...makes sense.

for mastering, thats all I've ever done, ...usually just swipe it in WaveLite or something to "normalize" bring the volume up.

i'm about ready to download Reaper , you seem to like it?

my son did some tracks and was playing them back and noticed he liked the tracks done on the 2488.
which i cant recall what equipment was in the chain as I'm constantly trading selling and returning stuff due to cars breaking down and bs...i might have had a VC1Q on the mic and he's hearing that too? idk...

thanks for sharing, i always refer to your stuff for great HR examples.. realistic and hitachi's...if it works, it works!

Yes, I love REAPER. It's simple and works like a regular mixer to me. I'm not very computer or tech savvy, and I learned it and understood how it works very quickly. I think the majority of people here also use it and love it.

The Relaistic and Hitachi set up is not by choice. I'm always un-sure how good or bad my tunes sound until I post them here and get opinions from people with better ears and monitoring set-ups than me, like Greg. One day, I'll have the money for good speakers. For now, it's a combination of other people's ears, knowing my set up...and guess work.

 

[aj keller]

You guys are the best...I'll give 'er a whirl!

 

[waxdat]

I'm late on this but I just got reaper and I incorporate it with my Neo. I have the 8 outputs of my FireWire device going into a patchbay. Underneath I have the inputs going to the Neo. All my rack synths and drum machines and other outboard gear are also hooked into the patch bay. When I record I can use the use the effects from reaper or go dry on one track and effected on another. I keep the midi tight by sequencing outside of the computer with a drum machine synced to the neo. Afterwards I export the tracks back into reaper for additional effects and mixing.