Herr Joachim said:
If i'm not mistaken the akai has pan controls, so that an external mixer
wouldn't be necessary. And the "exclusive low noise crystal ferrite super GX
multi-track heads" sound magic. Tape speed and track tape width is the same.
Spare parts might be an issue with the akai.
Which would you choose?
Have a nice time.
Both machines are of the all-in-one mixer/recorder approach.
At one time I would have been happy to snatch up an Akai MG1212 or 1214. A rare find could still come along, but the Akai unit is not supported by the manufacturer and, as Jeff said, tapes are a big hurdle.
Support for the 388 is quite extensive. Many of the transport parts are the same as used in the TEAC X-Series machines, so spares are abundant. The reel motors, drive motors, brakes, reel tables and guides are the same. The heads for the 388 are discontinued, but in almost every other way the 388 is a safer buy. Be sure of the heads… that they have not seen too much use or at least have a couple relaps to go.
Twelve tracks are certainly attractive but if the transport isn’t working and you can’t find tape there is no advantage over 8 working tracks on a 388.
In the final analysis it depends on the particular machine you’re looking at and not the pros and cons of the models in general. There are still some little-used specimens of either model being found under beds, in attics, basements, churches, etc. So, just get a good one of whatever it is. Finding tape is still usually a deal killer for the Akai.