Recomendations: Tascam 2488

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gcormier04401

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I am putting together a small studio in my home to do some solo work. I have been looking at the Tascam 2488/2488MKII/NEO.

Can anyone chime in on their thoughts on these units. I've been seeing mixed reviews.

Thanks!
 
I have had the original 2488 for some years now, and I am happy with what it does for the money.

Since I come from a tape background, I didn't want to sit in front of a PC to record, so this unit suits me fine in terms of ergonomics.

It is a convenient, versatile "24-track" (some tracks coupled in stereo pairs) machine in a plastic box.

Treat it gently. There are stories in particular, about bass/drum or heat in live recording situations that have screwed up the harddrive, but hey, it's not meant for that. At home, with adequate ventilation underneath, you shouldn't have a problem.

For me, it was about tracking and editing, not so much the built-in effects or MIDI. I record digital piano, Fender Bass, acoustic guitar, drum machine and voice. I use the reverb; that's about it.

It is great for stacking tracks and editing them (the edit interface I find very good and easy.)

You can choose to work with the built-in pre-amps or get yourself some outboard ones. The on-board ones are usable, but not that great. I got outboard ones, for improved signal-to-noise and better sound.

The machine runs quietly; I have had no hd noise issues even when I was near the machine with a mic.

The display is one of the sore points. It is small and somewhat dim. I am used to it, but it is certainly not ideal. See if you think that is a dealbreaker.

I hear there have been QC issues with the machines; personally I have never had a problem with mine.

I would say the machine is good value for the money, if you want to go the 'in the box' route. It is quick and easy for daily tracking and once you learn the editing and punch-in functions, you can do a lot right there.
You can always export to a PC for mastering if you wish.

If you have questions, please ask :)

C.
 
I've had an original 2488 for a couple of years now, and it continues to serve me quite well in my home studio. I use it stand-alone, with no DAW, outboard preamps or signal processors, although I will likely add some kind of signal processing.

The issue with using these things live is, I think, one of vibration. Being hard-drive based, they simply do not like to be knocked about so if you're wanting a unit for recording live performances at smoky dives, the 2488 probably isn't the best unit. In a more protected home environment they're just fine.

Anyhow, at the price point they're hard to beat and you can get very good recordings from them.
 
Thanks, C... I'm researching some units and attempting to weigh cost/value. It's a little daunting with all of the units out there. I too am from the "tape" world. My Tascam 464 is on eBay right now... sadly. It has been a great unit. I'm currently designing the room and am shocked at how prices have come down over the past 10 years... again, thanks.
 
I've just started working with the 2488MKII

I bought it for a great price on ebay. So far so good, however, my only piece of advice would be to order the DVD tutorial from Amazon. Tascam's owners manuals are not the greatest and the DVD can get you started very quickly. They are put out by Mind Media.
 
2488 works well for basic recording

I've been using a 2488 (original version) for a couple of years now. Got it used on eBay, and haven't had any trouble with it. As others have mentioned, the little display is awfully dim, but its content is good and easy to work with.

I started out with a Korg D12, then got the Tascam for the additional tracks. I had hoped with the Tascam name to get more tracking/routing/mastering facilities, and found the opposite. There are a number of things I could do easily on the D12 that I just can't do easily on the 2488 (like time-shifting a track to line up the downbeat with another track.) And, as has also been mentioned in this thread, I don't count on the internal effects processor. I was spoiled with the D12, but of course Korg is renowned for quality effects boxes. In any case I have several good versatile signal processors (e.g. Behringer and Lexicon.)
 
Good for the price

I've had my 2488 MKII for a year now and am very pleased with my purchase. My only other studio-in-a-box is a Fostex MR-8HD/CD. I bought the Tascam to increase my simultaneous inputs (for tracking my band).

The learning curve isn't too bad, and it seems that every time I think "wouldn't it be cool if this thing could...." I find out that it can. There are a lot of features I never even understood the point behind, until I started tracking lots of inputs.

In other words: A lot of thought has gone into providing you with all of the functionality you will need to produce your recordings.



While I think it's a great product for the money, it is worth mentioning that it's not a perfect unit. Here are some of my gripes:

It's very plastic, which sometimes makes it feel breakable, and sometimes just feels cheap. The cheapest feeling part is the jog wheel (which you will use a lot), but even just pressing the buttons, they feel 'cheap'.

Titling is a cool feature, where you can basically give names to each track, sections of the songs, song names, saved settings, etc... They did make it a bit easier by adding selectable words (a list which you can customized) which beats picking each letter with the jog wheel.... but you can't enter multiple words, so if you want to have one track called "Warren Guitar" and another track titled "Tim Guitar", the best you can do is pick the words "Warren" and "Tim" and then manually use the jog wheel to insert the "Guitar" letter by letter.

Part Editing is very nice, with all the possible combinations of editing techniques you should need. It is nice when I can take a couple measure from later in the track to cover up a mistake earlier in the track. But be aware that there is a minimum length that the part you want to edit must be. (don't know the length off the top of my head). So while you can take a couple second part and silence it (e.g. silencing vocal tracks when the artist isn't singing) you cannot silence the 0.2 second 'click' in between the singer's words when he accidentally bumped the mic stand.


Bottom line: All of my gripes are things that are easy enough to work around, mostly requiring only a little extra patience. And for the price, the features you get are excellent. If you want a recorder that can take you from tracking to mastering, this one will not disappoint you.

As far as I know (haven't looked into it much) the only big difference between the MKII and the NEO is the addition of some mastering effects. If that's true, you might be happy enough getting the MKII instead of the NEO. But I would suggest looking into all of the new features of the NEO and deciding for yourself if the extra money is worth it. I would imagine the NEO has driven down the price of the MKII a bit.

Also, FWIW, I saw on the back page of my new American Musical Supply catalog, TASCAM has a $100 rebate on NEOs. You might want to look up some info on that, and weigh that option as well.
 
I got one of the first neo's made and haven't had any trouble with it.

I was actually in the market last September for an MKII. A local music store had one that I got but it didn't work out of the box so we ordered a new and found they don't make them anymore. While waiting for it I searched the net about them and found they didn't have a good track record so I was kinda glad I got a neo instead.

Since alot of folks don't have any problems with their MKII's, just make sure if you get one it has a warranty.
 
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I agree

I've had several "all in one" recording units including Boss BR series, Fostex, Zoom and a Korg D1200 but the Tascam is my favorite unit. I can do everything on the unit that I need to do, mix it down to a stero file, make the stereo file into a FAT WAVE and transfer it to my computer. From there I can polish it up to make it sound brighter and fuller then either burn it from the computer or send it back into the Tascam. And the neat thing is, IT'S SIMPLE TO DO :-) this unit is not a hard unit to learn and operate and after having it for the past two years I have had no problems at all with it.

Its a tough decision when you want to buy a product because everyone has a "gripe" about something. Good luck in your quest!!

Danny
 
HBM said:
So while you can take a couple second part and silence it (e.g. silencing vocal tracks when the artist isn't singing) you cannot silence the 0.2 second 'click' in between the singer's words when he accidentally bumped the mic stand.
Click to expand...

That's not true. You can silence as short a piece of music as you like. You just can't MOVE or COPY anything under 1/2 a second (15 sub-frames).
 
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i have a the MKI. it's an awesome machine. i have never had any problems with it that i didn't cause myself or from accidental power loss due to power outages. i've even had the thing on stage with me, (though without a drummer). it can do an awful lot for the price. i have been looking at the neo. it's the same as the MKI and II except for more features and a bigger hard drive than the MKI. apparently the neo is an awesome little machine. and still not pricey. they were like 650 at guitar center in detroit.

as far as the learning curve goes, they are dead simple to operate compared to machines of equal or greater ability. the manual is simple to read and understand, even for an idiot like me. and though i sometimes wonder, gee, can i do that? after a bit of time thinking about it, or checking the manual, i usually find that there is a way. :)
 
SOS--SOS--Is Teac releasing duds or is this propaganda ??

Hi all,
I've lost a lot of sleep this past week, reading & re-reading about
the 2488's:MKII & the neo. I found a site 2 hrs ago that WARNS anyone to reconsider ever buying a 2488 after all the issues people have been having, along w parts & buttons breaking.
That site is:

http://www.geocities.com/tascam_2488/

So if I've learned anything, it is to forsake any & all "net-deals"
& buy from a brick & motar store & pay all the extra charges for extended warrantees and then go to church, light candles & pray each & every time I bootup this UNpredictable machine. :confused::eek::eek::eek:
Now what ?? Life is too short to have to live w/ paying SUV prices for a Yugo. All I'm asking is for Prius milage ON a U.S.A.
VEHICLE. Am i dreaming ???
I just missed out on a $100 rebate-it ran out Friday the 15th of May. called tascam in Ca. & was nicely told-it's over but they may do MORE in the future w/ ONLINE stores.
That's no deal-maker. I want to deal w a live person not Fed-X delivery times back & forth.
kindly help me folks--I need sleep & will not rest till I get some real answers concerning the recent Tascam 2488MKII & neo's RELIABILITY.
I can't thank you all enough for reading me.
regards, Don.
 
The 2488MKII, the core of all your complaints above, is no longer manufactured.
 
Like any piece of mass produced electronics you will find examples of faulty units. But you will also find many satisfied customers - check out the unofficial Tascam Forums www.tascam2488.com for advice and testimonials.

I've had a MKI for 3 years with no issues (20 full songs recorded and numerous demos). I've also had a MKII for the last 6 months and again had no problems. I'd say if anything it's quite a predictable machine!
 
day1:TASCAM neo 2...NaySayers 0

Hi, Well i am thrilled to have gotten 2 people to answer me ESPECIALLY, my having been pursuing an MKII from a distant Sam Ash store SOME 4 HRS DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MY HOME. i apologize 4 the caps. So r there others who will admit the MKII is a YUGO in a multitrack's clothing ? If that's the case, it's a good thing I'm listening to my wife's 6th sence as she said "WAIT." Tho, 500bucks leaves me w/ just enough $ to get a kick-ass condenser mic. Yet, saving what I would, I'd be paying for it w/ all the Italian Ah-gada I'd experience & all the $$ spent on Pepto Bismol. :(
***OK, would anyone care to share an ONLINE store they r comfortable w/making such a large purchase ??
I'm resigning myself to selling flowers off an exit ramp to if that's what it takes to help raise the Xtra capital needed to circumvent my CCard.
All I'm looking for is a "golden 2 4" tracks to make the music that's in my heart & soul b-4 my eyes burn out from reading manuals & tech-tips & b-4 I become fertilizer. I've had many happy moments w my T688 MidiStudio-tho, she's been in mothballs for 3 years now & I'm going to return to my home in Fl. and have to dig out all the crap that's being stored in my big studio. Sure, 8 tracks is better than 4..especially when they are P.I.F. PAID IN FULL !!
Butt, as the late jackie Gleason would've said..."How sweet it is" to have 24 !!! i mean if it works as advertised isn't that Musical Nervana w/o having to have bought an Otari ? Remember those '70-80 dream machines I could have bought for the price of a house or at least his & her Ford Pintos ??!!
24 tracks---24 tracks ! 8 simul. then more & more. Am i dreaming when i think I could become the "DonTaylor Philharmonic"? Then , w/ my magic USB 2.0 I can load it all into my Sound Forge, BBE it, maybe even make it 5.1 then burn it as a "BED" & add video using Pinnacle 12.
It's got endless possibilities that when teamed up w/ my Slimfast & Nutmeg...OMG. I gotta run...my nurse Kratchet is calling-med-time. :p ;) I look forward to more of your candid answers. Sincerely, Don :o
 
This is based on what proven criteria ???

NYMorningstar said:
The 2488MKII, the core of all your complaints above, is no longer manufactured.
Click to expand...

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Where is this factoid written NYMorningStar ???
Thanks, Don:)
 
Not sure where it's written but I tried ordering one from Tascam and that is what I was told. I could only order a neo(the upgrade) which I'm extremely pleased with.
 
Thanks...Ive been thinking of this peice...I dont like the computer based recording...and this equipment is the sort of thing I can serve clients live recording needs with too.

And HBM...Every live record had lead vocals overdubbed except one..."The Song Remains the Same" Robert Plant refused to go back into the studio...that is why vocals tend to stand out nicely on live records above everything else.
 
My humble thoughts & a song to share

10:30AM Wed may 20,09
Good morning All, I was hoping I'd get a few more responces about some of your personal views having "lived" w/your 2488s & all. I hope I haven't come across as some TD (total dummy) asking my questions. after all the worst ones r the ones never asked.
I'm sure buying a condenser mic is , perhaps, a lot like buying a car. Personal taste & especially hearing the results yourself will be the final factor. I was curious if you veterans of many all your time spent w/ your 2488, might have come onto an industry secret, or 2 or 3, whereas the high-priced spread isn't always the best.
Earlier this year, I came across Utube & hastily put together a couple of my flashback songs I recorded on my beloved 688 during what seems now like a lifetime ago. I say hastily because, having givrnup on my musical life, I was looking for an outlet to promote my hobby, videotography. My music & video became a little more intertwined than expected. As we all have dreams of sharing our created music, our 'covers', our "Musical Magic", I thought my Utube venture would be short lived. To my surprise, my contributions r still there due to health issues these past 8+ months, I haven't really tried anything new, yet, recently my recuperation has rejuvinated me in all aspects of my life...especially my once dormant MUSIC creations.
Rome wasn't built in a day & neither will my home studio reconstruction be done in a week. My wife will testify I've promissed her to "get to" that studio mess some 6+ years ago.
Finding this group, YOUR 688 MidiStudio forum, & rereading your opinioms & listening to many of your musical shares has renewed my vigor to get back onto MIX & HAVE FUN doing it. Life is too damn short.
May I invite you all to listen to a little of my music, it may be OLD, but it was fun to track it all & even perform these homemade tracks, on stage, while playing & singing along during 1 of my gigs...back in the day. I never use a sequencer, no patience to learn how. lol
Enjoy, Regards, Don
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-kxAMatdY&feature=channel_page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyUll9IURw4&feature=channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDQK40igeTg&feature=channel

I wonder just how much "cleaner" my music would sound on a digital 2488 w/a condenser mic ??? Thanks 4 reading me.
 
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