R
Rod
New member
Hi! Does anyone know where I can buy a NEW 488 mkII? I cannot locate one anywhere... Thanks a lot, Rod
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo Rod:
Don't waste your time looking for a 488 MKII new or used. [I have one in my catacombs.]
You might consider the Yam MD8. The first time you push the return to beginning button and, ZZZZZZZIP, you're ready to record the next track, you'll be happy you bought a minidisc digital box rather than the tape 488.
The MD8 is "close" to CD quality. Maybe a newest model is even closer. I have an MD8 hooked up in my studio. However, I'm also using the DAW Yam 2816 which has "marvelous" sound.
Althought the 2816 is complicated, it has many moves quite similar to the MD8 which is easy to use right out of the box.
You'll be using OLD technology if you buy a 488.
Get a demo and see what I mean.
Green Hornet
Don't waste your time looking for a 488 MKII new or used. [I have one in my catacombs.]
You might consider the Yam MD8. The first time you push the return to beginning button and, ZZZZZZZIP, you're ready to record the next track, you'll be happy you bought a minidisc digital box rather than the tape 488.
The MD8 is "close" to CD quality. Maybe a newest model is even closer. I have an MD8 hooked up in my studio. However, I'm also using the DAW Yam 2816 which has "marvelous" sound.
Althought the 2816 is complicated, it has many moves quite similar to the MD8 which is easy to use right out of the box.
You'll be using OLD technology if you buy a 488.
Get a demo and see what I mean.
Green Hornet
H
h7er6
New member
You cannot recommend a machine to someone without knowing it's intended application. Listening to live drums recorded on an MD8 makes me choke. It's so sterile, missing the grit I love so much. And digital distortion is one of the most irritating sounds I've ever heard, I quite like when I hit my 488's tape real hard and it distorts. Quite pleasing.
Then again, I don't think tape hiss would go over well on a Britney Spears song.
The 488 MKII isn't made anymore. I had a hell of a time finding one about a year ago, and finally came across a private seller with a new one on hand. Go used. And hit the tape hard.
Then again, I don't think tape hiss would go over well on a Britney Spears song.
The 488 MKII isn't made anymore. I had a hell of a time finding one about a year ago, and finally came across a private seller with a new one on hand. Go used. And hit the tape hard.
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo H7er6 and a few more:
You are very lost in the past. Check the boards here and learn.
By the way, it's = it is ..... its = possessive form.
Wrong grammar really screws up your message.
But, if you like tape, hey, man, buy lots of it.
Green Hornet
You are very lost in the past. Check the boards here and learn.
By the way, it's = it is ..... its = possessive form.
Wrong grammar really screws up your message.
But, if you like tape, hey, man, buy lots of it.
Green Hornet
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo Again:
PS
If you want to buy my "pristine" 488, it's 399.95 plus shipping.
And, it works because its mechanisms have never been abused.
Green Hornet
PS
If you want to buy my "pristine" 488, it's 399.95 plus shipping.
And, it works because its mechanisms have never been abused.
Green Hornet
FZfile
New member
i have a 488mkII
First, to H7er6, I dont post a lot but I read a lot of these posts and Green Hornet can pretty much recommend whatever he wants. He usually has informative and sensible replies and you could learn a lot, I have.
Hitting tape hard, however is NOT what you want to do with the 488MKII. It will bleed like a very small virgin.
...and while mine(which I do love much) is perhaps not perfectly aligned,track bleed is the biggest drawback to the 488.
You simply CANNOT get much headroom by squeazing 8 tracks onto 1/8" of tape. It will bleed and you can waste a good deal of energy just getting track bleed under control.
The mixer and EQ on the 488 is good and versitile and definitly a BIG plus for the unit.
Then again....the mixer on the Yamaha is very good too.
If you want to go tape I might suggest trying to find a 644.
Only 4 tracks but good mixer and I think the sound is pretty damn good.(my jamming buddy owned one and we had a lot of good sound down)
Finding one that is in good condition will be harder than fing a new488MKII though, and Green Hornet's offer ain't bad.
My 2cents.
-mike
First, to H7er6, I dont post a lot but I read a lot of these posts and Green Hornet can pretty much recommend whatever he wants. He usually has informative and sensible replies and you could learn a lot, I have.
Hitting tape hard, however is NOT what you want to do with the 488MKII. It will bleed like a very small virgin.
...and while mine(which I do love much) is perhaps not perfectly aligned,track bleed is the biggest drawback to the 488.
You simply CANNOT get much headroom by squeazing 8 tracks onto 1/8" of tape. It will bleed and you can waste a good deal of energy just getting track bleed under control.
The mixer and EQ on the 488 is good and versitile and definitly a BIG plus for the unit.
Then again....the mixer on the Yamaha is very good too.
If you want to go tape I might suggest trying to find a 644.
Only 4 tracks but good mixer and I think the sound is pretty damn good.(my jamming buddy owned one and we had a lot of good sound down)
Finding one that is in good condition will be harder than fing a new488MKII though, and Green Hornet's offer ain't bad.
My 2cents.
-mike
H
h7er6
New member
All I was saying was that you choose your equipment based on what it will be used for. You can't possibly think that there is ONE recorder that would be good to record ALL types of music. What if I don't want a recording that's "CD quality" (whatever that means)? And if not recording on a sterile sounding, digitally-compressed minidisc recorder means being "lost in the past", then I'm glad to be.
And hitting the tape hard IS what I want to do with my 488. Bleed has never been much of a problem and if it does bleed a bit, so be it. A worthy sacrifice for good sound. Again, it's (Look! I got it!) application-based.
Yo, Green Hornet, thanks much for the grammar lesson. While you were in english class, I must have been rehearsing with my band.
And hitting the tape hard IS what I want to do with my 488. Bleed has never been much of a problem and if it does bleed a bit, so be it. A worthy sacrifice for good sound. Again, it's (Look! I got it!) application-based.
Yo, Green Hornet, thanks much for the grammar lesson. While you were in english class, I must have been rehearsing with my band.
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo H7 plus a few more numbers:
Sorry about the grammar buzz -- I did it for so long I guess I had a relapse.
I enjoyed my 488 while I had it, and I still have it but it is in the catacombs which is my used gear storage area.
What I found to be hard to control with that unit was the tape hiss. Record one track and get hiss; record the 2nd track and you get hiss on top of hiss, etc.
I know that the MD8 compresses but I got some pretty good stuff out of that unit which is still hooked up in my studio because I'm learning the Yam 2816.
I have a session with a singer using the 2816 for the first time this weekend. I have already loaded the music for her which was taken from a "cassette." When I played it back, it sounded crystal clear. The 2816 does not compress. It is complicated but the MD8 experience, as well as the 488 experience, was a great asset.
Whatever your ears like, then it's enjoyable. Have fun.
Green Hornet
Sorry about the grammar buzz -- I did it for so long I guess I had a relapse.
I enjoyed my 488 while I had it, and I still have it but it is in the catacombs which is my used gear storage area.
What I found to be hard to control with that unit was the tape hiss. Record one track and get hiss; record the 2nd track and you get hiss on top of hiss, etc.
I know that the MD8 compresses but I got some pretty good stuff out of that unit which is still hooked up in my studio because I'm learning the Yam 2816.
I have a session with a singer using the 2816 for the first time this weekend. I have already loaded the music for her which was taken from a "cassette." When I played it back, it sounded crystal clear. The 2816 does not compress. It is complicated but the MD8 experience, as well as the 488 experience, was a great asset.
Whatever your ears like, then it's enjoyable. Have fun.
Green Hornet
F
fmkeim
New member
488 Mk II
Rod:
It is difficult to find a new 488 MKII. Often if you keep your eyes open you can find a factory reconditioned one on one of the music sites on line. There is currently a 488 MKII on EBAY ITEM#1505607037. The highest bid is like $200. Grab it. Most folks get rid of the 488 before they figure out how to really get the most out of it. Usually they are in good shape. A cleaning and a demagnetizing puts them right.
I've been using my machine for many years. I've tracked some incredible sounding stuff on it. There are quicker, easier ways to record these days, but I like the way the 488 sounds...but that's what I'm used to I guess. I'm also not a rich man so I stuck with what I had.
Good Luck...Let me know if you have problems when you get one. This machine I know...it can make some incredible sounding stuff if you screw around long enough to figure out how to get it done. Take Care.
Rod:
It is difficult to find a new 488 MKII. Often if you keep your eyes open you can find a factory reconditioned one on one of the music sites on line. There is currently a 488 MKII on EBAY ITEM#1505607037. The highest bid is like $200. Grab it. Most folks get rid of the 488 before they figure out how to really get the most out of it. Usually they are in good shape. A cleaning and a demagnetizing puts them right.
I've been using my machine for many years. I've tracked some incredible sounding stuff on it. There are quicker, easier ways to record these days, but I like the way the 488 sounds...but that's what I'm used to I guess. I'm also not a rich man so I stuck with what I had.
Good Luck...Let me know if you have problems when you get one. This machine I know...it can make some incredible sounding stuff if you screw around long enough to figure out how to get it done. Take Care.
F
Frog
New member
I can only speak for myself, but i scored a ' like brand new' 488 MKII on E-Bay last year for $300 and have been very happy with it....... sure theres some noize and bleed here and there...... but personally i go after the ' That's a great song dude' comments over the ' you need to cut 2db @5k bro' comments........... if the songs are good, and you do a little planing, the 488 works just fine............ just my 2 cents........
Frog
Frog
S
silverstrings
New member
My 2 cents
If I had to make a choice between an MD and an 8 track cassette
Ill take the cassette any time. But its a good thing I dont have to make that choice.
If I had to make a choice between an MD and an 8 track cassette
Ill take the cassette any time. But its a good thing I dont have to make that choice.