Just picked up a Tascam 488 MKII

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fred s.

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I saw this listing locally and couldn't pass it up :)

I'm actually pretty impressed with the quality, sound and controls so far, really much better than the 424 MKIII that I have lying around.

Was wondering if anyone has any experience in recording/mixing with this? I know the basic controls, but since it didn't come with the manual there's a lot of
buttons and jacks that I'm not sure what to do with.

Any links to a .pdf of the manual?

If nothing else at least the 488 got me posting here again.

Thanks.
 
I haven't got a manual, but I do have experience with them. Let me know what quesstions you have and I can try to help, and I'm sure others will chime in. If you are familiar with your 424mkIII then you already know the transport and autolocator functions, yes?
 
ok...

Thanks here are some questions-

1.what is the use/purpose of the "2TR In"?

2. How come the tracks that I assign to "3-4" do not appear in a mixdown?
I was mixing down some guitar stuff onto my Tascam 22-2 and while the machine was playing you could hear everything, in the headphones-however the only audio that actually leaves the RCA outs was from the "1/L-2/R" assigned strip. Is that normal? Whats the point of having both Master faders if only one of them actually works during a mixdown?

Also not clear on how to use the following functions:
"Check", "Repeat", "Auto In/Out", "Rehearsal".

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!
 
488mkII...

The "2Tr In" is a stereo input for return of your 2-track mixdown deck audio to the Monitor section. It avails you of a push-button quick way to check the quality of the 2-track mixdown "return" signal off your 2-track mixdown deck,... a "confidence check" if you will.

[blip!]

The other functions you refer to are memory locate points and autopunch function buttons, a bit too complicated to explain in a short paragraph, but better if you refer to the manual.:eek:;)


488mkII Manual
 
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Thanks so much for the info and the manual link (downloading it as i type this).

I'm still trying to understand though, where are the "outs" for the 3-4 strip? I can only hear that through headphones, but when I mixdown only the 1/L-2/R assigned track actually leave the 488 to the mixdown deck...

Just wanted make sure this isn't an error/defect?
 
Fred,

There aren't dedicated outs for the 3-4 strip.

Look on page 6 of the manual. There you will see that the 3-4 strip can either feed the recorder section (tape), or you can monitor the 3-4 strip by selecting that in the monitor select bank of latching switches above the 3-4 strip. That is then present at the L/R monitor out jacks as well as the headphone jack, but no dedicated output jacks for the 3-4 strip.
 
fred s., welcome back BTW.

My Adobe Reader is giving me problems. Could you please verify the 488mkII manual DL unzips and opens properly in Acrobat? I want to verify I didn't just post a corrupt pdf file! Thanx!

[edited]

Pls forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I'll verify that on the unit or in the manual, asap.

Thanx!!:eek:;)
 
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Aaaaggghhh!!!!

Hey, my bad! Sweetbeats gave the answer I was looking for! It forced me to find a flashlight and go check the 488mkII, which is laid out in the studio under a dust cover. My pdf copy of the manual wouldn't open.:eek:;)

Sorry for posting misinformation. I try not to do that! (Edited). Guess my memory's slipping a bit!

At this point I can't remember which Porta I was thinking of with the 4-Group Outs, but not the 488mkII. :eek::eek:;)

Aaagghh, so many Porta's and so little time!:eek::eek:;)
 
A Reel Person,

I had no problems opening the manual using izarc and Adobe Reader 8.1.2.

I'm not in front of a 488 either, but I just refreshed my memory via the manual, and as I recalled, ironically, the 488mkII does not have group outs whereas the 424mkII does as direct outs for the 4 tape tracks. No group or direct outs on a 488. There is a way to get all 8 tracks out simultaneously from the tape, but as far as direct outs for the 3-4 mixer group strip there aren't any. You can do this in a faux fashion though because your 1-2 master fader natively feeds the line output jacks, and if you are only monitoring the 3-4 group (i.e. the only switch latched in the monitor select section above the group 3-4 fader is group 3-4), then the 3-4 fader will be the only signal feeding the monitor out jacks which are also RCA jacks with the same output and load impedance and operating level as the line output jacks so there wouldn't be any problem there. The biggest problem would be monitoring, because if you wanted to be able to isolate the group 3-4 channel to a dedicated set of output jacks, that would be the monitor out jacks, then you won't be able to monitor what is being fed to the line out jacks. The only thing your going to be able to hear in the headsphones is the group 3-4 channel because that's all that is selected to monitor in order to get the 3-4 group on its own outputs. If you wanted to be able to monitor the 4 groups, you would need to send the line outs and monitor outs to a simple submixer.

What exactly do you want to accomplish?
 
You-da-man!...........:eek:;) I would have known that if I had my head screwed on straight!:eek:;) (My Acrobat wouldn't open. Darn 'puters!)

I've known of the technique for milking 8 individual outs from the 488mkII, as there's a good write up on it on this site. However, I've never had the need or opportunity to apply this info. (Got a 688 & 238 if the need ever arises).:eek:;)

I like the 488mkII a lot. I wanna rock!!!

488mkII Demo 1 08/16/07

488mkII Demo 2 11/14/07

488mkII Demo 3 01/23/08
 

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Hey,...

It's the 644 with the 16-input mixer and 4-Group Outs, [1/L, 2/R, 3, 4], & not the 488mkII. Also, the 246 has 4-Pgm Outs from the mixer section, & I was recently using that.

My mistake, I had them confused in my mind for a minute. Was too lazy to check first, of course:eek:;)
 
Thanks for all the info guys, and yeah I had no problem w/the pdf.

Thanks again! :)
 
Need a copy of 488mk2 manual

Hello folks.

Wow.... first post. Cool board!

I checked out the link for the pdf file, but it would not download the manual.

Is there another place where I could get this, or is there someone who could e-mail me a copy. I would be so so grateful.

Ok, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Grant.
 
I'm presently uploading it to my ftp site for anyone...I'm uploading at 10mbit though :eek: using my phone as a USB modem...on the road presently.

I'll post when it is uploaded with a link...less than an hour I'm sure
 
Okay...you should be able to access it...

here.

Let me know if you have any problems.
 
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