Monitor output on a Tascam 488

[Zec]

Hi,

I just grabbed a Tascam 488 (NOT the mkII, but the very first version). It seems that this thing has only a headphones jack as an output for monitoring the recorded material. How can I hook up some external monitors (speakers) to the unit? Or are headphones the only way for monitoring on the 488?
Thx for your help.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Zec:

I had a couple of 488's. As I remember, there are two RCA stereo out jacks on the back of the unit. Take a look and see if you have them on your model?

If they are there, you have a couple of options.

You can run the RCA stereo outs into an integrated amplifier, like a home stereo amp, and that should get your music to your speakers so you can monitor the mix before you record it to "whatever."

As I mull it over, there must be stereo outs on your unit.

You could also run the RCA stereo outs to speakers using converting jacks or into smaller speakers as is.

Hope this works.

Green Hornet

 

[Zec]

Hi Hornet,
unfortunately you remember wrong - my 488 has no stereo outs, I`m afraid. What it does have is:
1. Headphones out jack on the front
2. Punch in/out jack for remote on the front
3 Stereo IN on the back
4. SYNC in/out on the back
5. Effects send 1 and 2, on the back, plus a number of group outs which, according to the manual, can NOT be used for monitoring.

I was able to hook my computer stereo speakers (yes, those tiny little suckers that sound like crap anyway) via adapter cable and sound card LINE IN to the phones out jack, but it sounded like shit, and I only got music on one channel. Am I doing anything wrong here? Or is it really that I just have to live with it?

Any suggestions would be really appreciated

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Zec:

I can't believe that you do not have stereo outs? That would mean that your particular 488 cannot mix down to ANYTHING!


If it is a stereo recorder, it has to have outs so you can set up your recorded tracks, add the reverb, [cut hi/lows, if you have the dials] and send your signal OUT TO SOMETHING.

I'm going down into my catacombs of storage and take a look at my old 488 and I'll get back to you.

Green Hornet

PS You certainly do NOT have to mix from your headphone plug as that is a "stereo" plug I think. Look at the plug on your cans; if it has two black circles on the stem, it's stereo.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo ZEC:

Heh, heh.... I forgot the set-up on the 488 but a quick look quickly brought it back.

Your MONITOR OUTS are on top of your recorder. There are or should be about 4 sets of RCA outs/ins up there.

Your monitor outs should be the second set starting from your left as you look at the box.

You're right about the sync outs in the BACK of the unit. I never synced anything so I never used them. My Yamaha 2816 has its sets of outs on the back of the unit so I got confused for a second. I haven't used the 488 for 3/4 years so I had to pull it out of the original box and check it out. I know there had to be outs so you can mix down to something.

I didn't look in the manual but I'm sure when you plug a dual RCA patch cord in there and run the other ends into an stereo input or tape input, you will be able to mix down your stuff.

Let me know if this works -- it has got to work.

Green Hornet

 

[Zec]

Hi Hornet,

well, believe it or not, my 488 can mix down to something ;-) Seriously, the "stereo outs" you`re talking about are called "Group Outs" on my 488, and the manual says to use them for mixdown. BUT the manual also says that they CANNOT be used to hook up monitoring equipment, e.g. speakers and stuff, because they`re not wired to the monitoring section of the 488.

There must be SOME way to hook this damned thing to some external speakers? If going headphones is the only way, I´ll dump it- no use monitoring a mix using headphones, in my opinion.

BTW, would it be possible to use those "Group Outs" to go into a stereo tape deck, which in turn is hooked up to external speakers? Or is that a dead end also, because the Tascam`s monitoring signal never reaches the "Group Out"-Jacks?

On the 488 MkII they fixed that - is has dedicated stereo out jacks that can also be used for monitoring.


Anyway, thank you very much for your help.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Zec:

Well, you sure do have a "strange" unit.

Last resort: Contact Tascam on their site and ask a techie what's what.

But, I'd try all of those RCA outs on the top of your unit. Run RCA plugs into a stereo amp and see if the signal comes through.

If not, I guess you'll have to post Tascam.

Good Luck and glad to help.

Green Hornet

 

[Zec]

I finally found out

Hi Hornet,
just in case you`re curious - I finally got an answer from Tascam`s support division, and, believe it or not, on the original 488 there is NO possibility to monitor recorded tracks via external speakers. They say it`s a design flaw that has been corrected with the release of the 488 MkII.
Doesn`t that suck?

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Zec:

You know, I don't know what model I had but I could monitor through my speakers.

What if you ran the signal into your stereo amp's AUX RCA's?

If you can send a recordable signal to a tape deck with your unit, you must be sending a signal.

I don't know if you have an integrated amp but I have one and my speakers are hooked into it. So, besides running my two tape decks via this amp, "all" signals go to it. For example, if I put the amp's switch to AUX, I can record that signal as well as hear it via the speakers. So, give it a try and see what happens. Strange box though according to the Tascam techies.

Maybe it will and maybe it won't but I can't imagine being able to send a signal and not hear it some way.

Green Hornet