New Tascam 488 8 Track analog portastudio user

[werenotdeep]

I initially posted this in the "Recording Techniques" forum, but I guess it would be much better suited over here, so here goes:

I am now the proud owner of this beauty. This is the first portastudio I've ever owned, and I was lucky enough to score this little bundle of analog bliss for only $350 on ebay. For those of you who paid $1500 for them when they were still in production, sucks to be you. But guess what, you have gloating rights because unlike me, you probably know how to operate the damn thing. A friend of mine and I sat around and fiddle farted around with it and got 4 tracks recorded, but after he left and I went to record a vocal track (so as not to embarass myself by singing in his presence), I could not seem to get the right combination of knobs and buttons and switches turned such that any of my crooning got on tape, save for about ten seconds, but then I got all 4 of the other previously recorded tracks plus my singing all on the same track. That wasn't what I wanted, and I can't even seem to duplicate that mistake.

Okay, so how do I record ONE track? that's all I want to know. Feel free to ridicule my stupidity, I just want to use this thing. I suppose I should add that no manual was included when I purchased this. Maybe it would be worth the extra $650 for the manual? Hmm...nah.

 

[A Reel Person]

It depends,

on whether you've got a 488 (std) or 488 mkII. They're slightly different.

Sorry, I can't comment directly on the 488, but the 424 is similar architecture, and based on the 424mkII, you should use the EFFECT2/CUE switched to the CUE position, for tape-cue. Do not bring your cue tracks back into the MAIN mix. CUE mix and MAIN mix are SEPARATE.

Assign of input channels to tape tracks is usually done with an assign button, and a group button, being that the 488 can only record max 4 tracks simultaneously. The group button usually switches between 1-4 and 5-8, and the assign buttons are used in conjunction with the pan pot, with all the odd tracks (1,3, 5,7), being assigned with pan LEFT, and all the even tracks (2,4,6,8), being assigned with pan RIGHT. That's in general.

Without owning one, or scrutinizing the 488 manual, I can't be any more help than that, except to say, that Tascam Parts may have the manual. They have many service manuals, and some user's manuals. Tascam Parts is @ (323) 727-4840.

Also, go to www.tascam.com and go to SUPPORT>Online Forums> Portastudios... for the Portastudio forum. Someone there may help you better.

 

[dtb]

same as reel

I with reel. I am using a 424mkIII. I would think the steps are the same as the 488s. one thing I do when recording live( as to having the guys sitting around playing) is to use the direct setting on the 424. I don't know if the 488s have this but it works great for my stuff. As to recording my own stuff I normally record rythum and drum machine on track 1 and then go back and overdub on tracks 2, 3, 4 depending on what I need. Sometimes I mix tracks 1, 2, 3 down to track 4 and then add more on 1, 2, 3 if I need more stuff. I am still learning how to use my gear and seem to find out something new and different every time I use it or have found ideas on this forum. It's a great hobby. Hope this helps. The experts on this site have been very helpful to me and will normally send you in the correct direction. Just ask and you will recieve.

dtb

 

[werenotdeep]

Hmmmm....

Okay, I've taken all the advice, and might I add that a lot of it was far too overly-technical for me at this stage, and answered questions that I didn't ask but eh, I guess I'll be glad later. Problem: I don't see how I've left out one detail of all the tips and instructions I've been given. Strangely enough, I'm still getting bizarre and non-desired results. I'm still just get my voice in the new track as very faint and muffled. All the new instructions make perfect sense (and no, it's not that I have a bad microphone, this is the same one that I used before that got everything recorded fine, but I can't figure out how to duplicate my previous results, and it's not because the microphone has since broken, because I've tried other mics), and they did get me somewhere, but not far enough. If you still don't know what to tell me...well, then I'll figure it out, find the manual somehow. Again, ALL I want to do at this stage is record on ONE track and ONE track only, and I need to be able to hear the tracks I previously recorded during recording without recording on top of them or having them dump into the new track. I don't care about mixing down or anything like that at this point. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks, though for the advice so far, and the patience.

-Chris