Porta 02/488 compatibility

[DamienC]

I have a Porta 02 and I've just purchased a 488 Portastudio (won't be here for a while though, I hate UPS).
I've read that the Porta 02 records at regular speed and the 488 records at a higher speed to improve sound quality or something... anyway, my question is, will my old recordings from the Porta 02 sound the same on the 488 or will I have to re-record everything because of the recording speed difference?

 

[chipper]

DamienC;
I'm happy to tell you that the two machines can be used together. You are correct that the 488 records & plays at double-speed, so its tapes cannot be used in the Porta (unless you are making a "Chipmunks" song!). You can, however, transfer tracks from one to the other by plugging the output of one into the input of the other. This would allow you to make a rough demo on the Porta and expand it on the 488 or you could use the Porta as a transfer vehicle to bounce tracks (of course, you lose a bit of fidelity each time you transfer). I hope that this has been of help to you.

Chipper

P.S. - If I may add a personal note, I have a 488 MkII and I have found it to be a great machine!