Tascam 488 mkii to MacBook Pro

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Bartley

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I don't actually have a Tascam 8-track yet, but I'm thinking of getting one to experiment with. Has anybody tried to transfer from this to a computer? I don't need all the tracks separately on the computer, just a stereo mix. My best guess is that I would use a USB audio interface. But from the somewhat vague descriptions I've found on the internet, I can't tell what type of output there is on the back of the Tascam, or what USB audio interface would work. Does anybody have advice?

Thanks.

Also, it looks like many USB interfaces have built-in preamps. Wouldn't it be bad to put it through another preamp at that point?
 
It looks like the Tascam US-100 USB 2.0 Audio Interface might work. Can anybody confirm this?
 
Flip the switch on the back to LINE and plug into the 1/4" jack, or send a stereo output (from 2 separate track outputs) into the RCA inputs. It should work fine.
 
There are LINE OUTs on the 488 which is the stereo sum of the mixer, and the mixer can source inputs connected to the mixer or the tape tracks.

US-100 will work fine and it has both mic and line inputs. You would (as Mr. Runt said) just use the line input path rather than the mic inputs.
 
yes, i've done this very thing but with a US 122 and it works just fine!!!
 
You

You are going to have a good setup once you get it going. I know people sometimes fear splitting a cassette tape into 8 tracks, but i have heard many great sounding albums that were done on 8 track cassette. In fact, a couple of my favorite records were done on 8 track cassette and then edited in the cpu.
 
I know you mentioned that you don't need to get individual tracks out, but if you are interested in how to do this at some point with the 488mkII here's a link to another part of this very website: https://homerecording.com/tas488tips.html. Great tips on how to work around the output limitations of the 488mkII. Pretty much sold me on getting the unit, along with the on-board phantom power. Sound quality is really good with this unit considering the width of the tracks on the cassette.

To convert all 8 analog tracks to digital from the 488mkII at once, I have a different method than using an interface. I picked up a Tascam 2488 24-track digital recorder and patch the 488mkII outputs into it and dub the tracks. Then I can either remix/overdub more with the 2488, or burn a CD with the .wav files and dump those into my laptop DAW for mixing/overdubbing. I can also easily do this with may Tascam 246 if I'm just 4 trackin'. Lots of options doing it this way, but maybe too many for what you need. You can find these used for around $200.

For simple transfer of the line out stereo sum mix directly into the computer, I have a Cakewalk UA-1G USB interface that I use. Pretty nice unit with a variety of inputs (1/4" mic/line, R-L RCA inputs), and good digital encoding options too. The US-100 is limited to 16 bit/48kHz encoding, but I like to use 24 bit which the UA-1G will do (at switchable 44.1/48/96kHz). It's great for converting your vinyl too! Picked this up for around $85 new.

Good luck whichever way you decide to go!

Cheers!:drunk:
 
Awesome...thanks for the responses. Hopefully I will be getting both pieces of equipment soon.
 
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