Problems with my Tascam 388?

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Kypes

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Alright guys I'm still new here so be easy on me.........I've got a couple problems with my Tascam 388, I'm just lookin for some help. For some reason channel 8 is always giving off a hiss when play something back, It's not the tape cause it happens on every recording..........Second, when I play things back through my monitors the Stereo Left channel works fine but the Stereo Right does not, I can hear if faintly almost distorted like.....So I usually have to crank the my volume on the mixer and then the Right channel kicks in........What the hell could this be


Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
 
Make sure the dbx defeat switch for track 8 on the back of the unit is not set to OFF. It turns off the noise reduction for that channel.

Are you talking about the single red master slider or the program masters? When you crank your slider does the sound suddenly kick in very loudly on the right side? Are you then able to bring it back down to the level where the left functions normally or do you have to leave it higher. Either way they may be very dirty or have oxidation on the contacts inside.

First try blowing it out with compressed air. If that doesn’t work get some tuner cleaner/lubricant from Radio Shack. I used that on every pot and slider on an M-208 mixer and it is now as good as new.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=64-4315

The can in the picture is outdated – it’s for a discontinued product, but the product number, 64-4315 is correct. The new can says “Contact/Control Cleaner & Lubricant” and has a smaller cap.

Use the cleaner sparingly and work the slider up and down through its full range a few times

If it’s not the slider it could be a flaky component in the right master circuit, such as a bad capacitor, transistor or op-amp.

-Tim
 
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THe Channel 8 DBX switch on the rear should be set to OFF to have the DBX ON. This is a DBX defeat switch. Its sort of counter-intuitive, but setting the switch to ON DEFEATS the DBX.
Soooooo....
Off is On
 
..and in case you're wondering WHY you'd want to turn of DBX for just one track like that, it's so you can put a timecode there. You can then use that to control a sequencer or run another compatible tape deck in sync with it.
 
technoplayer said:
THe Channel 8 DBX switch on the rear should be set to OFF to have the DBX ON. This is a DBX defeat switch. Its sort of counter-intuitive, but setting the switch to ON DEFEATS the DBX.
Soooooo....
Off is On
Click to expand...


That's what I thought also because it's labeled "dbx defeat." I did a quick check of the manual to refresh my memory, since I don't have access to a 388 any more. The manual says the following on page 34.

"This switch overrides dbx... It will turn off the dbx on track 8 (with the switch in the 'OFF' position) even if dbx 5-8 is on."

Maybe it's a typo. You guys that have a 388 would know.

UPDATE: Aha! Just looked at a pdf manual and it does indeed have different wording from my original 1985 hard copy. So yes, OFF is ON... unless that's a typo and my manual is the updated version. The part number of my manual is 5700070801. The part number for the pdf version is 5700070800... both copyright 1985 :confused:

Ok, all you 388 owners, weigh in! Did they just revise the manual or did they actually change the way the switch functions (God forbid) on later machines?

-Tim :)
 
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Do you think you could explain this a little more? Timecode and such?
 
Tim
Now IM befuddled. The manual I quoted is the PDF based one I keep here at work. I also have an original at the house, and I would not be surprised to find the wording different as you have. I have a couple 388's, and will run a tape on different machines to see if the switches do the same thing in the same positions. I suspect its just wording, not hardwire.

Kypes: Timecode (SMPTE/EBU) is for use with external controllers (for use in syncronizing two or more machines together...as necessary in video or film production.

To Quote: " The Studio 8 motors are under servo control so the SMPTE controllers can tell the transport to go directly to cue points and the transport can respond with a high degree of accuracy. The Accessory jack also outputs a tachometer signal whose frequency is interpreted by SMPTE/EBU controlloers so that it knows the position of the tape even in fast forwards and rewinds."

The 388 uses the channel 8 tape path to lay down the reference timecode, and dbx can interfere with this process. The defeat switch allows you to shut off dbx on this cannel alone to allow proper sync striping. Of course when you use the 388 in this manner, you now have a 7 track machine to work with.
 
WOOHOOO So I flicked the DBX DEFEAT and track 8 works clear as a a bell, finally I have an 8track machine again, not a seven..........Thanks so much guys
 
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