Tascam 388 Story...

  • Thread starter Thread starter sweetbeats
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re: the Tascam 388

Just wanted to let you all know of a cool page dedicated to the Tascam 388, on Facebook. Just look up "Tascam 388 Studio 8".
 
Hello, I posted a couple questions a couple years ago, and to update, my 388 got all fixed up, and has ran perfectly for a couple years now.....until now. I must apologize for not being a very good member of the forum and only posting when stuff breaks, but I'm in a bit of a bind. Started on some work last night, and I have new problem, and I just cannot pinpoint it. Let me preface this with, I clean the heads regularly(was the first thing I checked), and the heads are in fantastic shape (I haven't changed out the fuses yet, but will tonight). I'll try explain it briefly. So all line ins functioning properly, all mic ins functioning properly, VU meters all showing signal, all tracks playing back existing recordings perfectly. Now when I record something new, it's playing back distant, barely audible and distorted . Sounds like a capacitor is shot. But I can't figure out which card it's in. It's all tracks, sent through any channel. First thought would be rec/play pcb assy. But there are four of those, no way did all four blow capacitors at same time. Than I thought it could be the Bios pcb. There are two of those, so that would seem weird as well. Play back is totally fine on existing recordings. All the VU meters are showing the signal coming in when recording. I've been going through the schematics (I'm not super skilled, just learning over the years), but I'm trying to follow the record portion of the head signal flow, to pinpoint the problem. The power supply? It had been reworked and re-capped a couple years ago, but maybe that's where the problem is. Again, I just can't pinpoint an area that could the problem. Any ideas? Again, I will be replacing the fuses tonight, but it would seem weird that a blown fuse would cause, one really localized problem like only the record function. If I knew which pcb went to all 8 channels and to all 8 tracks on the head, I could probably fix it, by swapping things out on the board, I'm able to fix simple things, but far from advanced, but I can replace capacitors(I was able to swap out all the lamps in the vu meters with new ones) Trying to avoid a costly/time consuming repair. I'm gonna be really embarrassed if it's something as simple as all I need to do de-mag, which I haven't done in a while.
 
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What tape are you recording on? You haven't tried to record on video tape have you? It won't work well....
 
Man, I was wondering why I couldn't get a vhs tape to fit in there:) Quantegy 457 and the RGMI equivalent, which it's been calibrated to. It's actually both the rec portion of the rec/playback head and the erase seems to not be working. Playback works though. I should probably create a new post for this, instead of using this old thread.
 
Yeah a new thread will get you more help I think. Especially getting that VHS cassette into your machine :facepalm:

edit: Id look at the erase/record bias oscillator circuitry myself. I dont know about the 388 but other multitrack Tascams use a master oscillator that drives a slave for each channel.
 
Yes. Good suggestion. There are two bias cards on the cardbay of the 388, 4 bias amps on each card for tr 8 tracks, and one of the cards has the master oscillator on it.

Go to the section in your manual for how to set the bias level. On the 388 this is done by measuring the voltage output of the bias amps. The manual will guide you to find the test points on one of the bias cards. I believe the standard calibration level is 150mV AC for 457 tape. So get out your multimeter and follow the instructions for where to probe. If you get nuthin then that is a good clue as to where to go next.

And do start a new thread so there's more specific visibility for your issue.
 
Cool, I will give that a try, and if I am unable to get anywhere, I'll throw up a new post. Really appreciate the advise. Sweetbeats, you have no idea how much I've learned from following your "story" posts" over the years. Super cool stuff! I bought my 388 about a week before you posted you were going to sell the one you reworked on this post, I only wish I would have held off a minute (although it's not been that bad) with all the quality working you did on it, would have been awesome to get my hands on that one (I live in the NW too). All well, I've had to learn a ton more with the one I have! THANK YOU!
 
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Well, the issue is definitely in the bios pcb 1, which is the one that has the bios osc module. There just so happened to be a 388 bios pcb, with the osc module on ebay for $25 (supposedly fully functioning). I'll have it Monday, swap it out, and cross my fingers. If it works, I'll crack a beer, sit back and admire my masterful skills, of doing virtually nothing myself :) Than I'll go through the bios calibration. Update coming soon. Will post new threads for future issues :)
 
Works! Bios PCB1, with the master oscillator, popped the new card in, all tracks record! Thanks for the input, totally dead on!
 
Hello Sweetbeats. If you find time please read my thread in the Tascam section concerning a not responding
TRK8 on the Tascam 388 recordersection. It maybe has something to do with a damaged Fader.
I got the Fatboy open right now so i could look for other possible causes.

Thanks
 
688 said:
Hello Sweetbeats. If you find time please read my thread in the Tascam section concerning a not responding
TRK8 on the Tascam 388 recordersection. It maybe has something to do with a damaged Fader.
I got the Fatboy open right now so i could look for other possible causes.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Just replied.
 
hello

i'm new on this forum and sorry for my english but i need help for my tascam 388...

i have buy a tascam 388 used and, ispirated from this forum, i have disassembly and clean all parts of the tascam. it's like new and the sound is very very amazing but i have a recording problem...


if i connect on the pgm in and push light red in the right (rec function) all the track record ok

but if i connect the mic channel or line input ad assign 1-2 channel 1 2 3-4 channel 3-4 etc etc the record start and the result is always "shshshshshshshshshsh" ( sorry for the example but the sound is this... :cursing: ) and in another cases i can hear the recording in very low volume.

when i use mic or line input the vu meter don't move on every channel

in playback the vu meter is ok


is normal?

another question:

for hear the pgm in i must push the rec fuction or i i can't hear nothing

when i have disassembly all part i look for every caps and every thing but all parts is in great condition...

please help me.


thank you

wtgley
 
"sweetbeats"Please tell me that you are still selling the 388. I know it was several years ago but i have been looking for a long time and haven't had any luck.
 
hey this is extremely helpful. thank you very much for posting all this.
you are light years ahead of me as far as setting up tension,exc but I am pretty smart when it comes to the electric side of things, also the magnetic.
but just your diagrams alone are amazing and helpful.
I got one of these for free. someone called me and said you can have it but bring 2 people. I couldn't understand why until I realized..it's an 80lbs machine.

by the way, can anyone direct me to where I can buy the 1/4 tape ?

thanks
 
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