tascam 488 question

[martynspark]

Hello there.

I got a tascam 488 recently and I have to say its a fantastic piece of equipment, I prefer the sound of lo-fi recording so it is fantastic for just that.

However, I have been meaning to get my recordings off the tascam and into my mac, what's the best way to go about this? I put a cable from the monitor output to the line in on my mac, and tried to record the signal into logic, but I lost my panning I had done on the tracks, I thought by using a stereo lead I wouldn't have this problem?

I'm still quite new to this I guess, I went from a tascam 4 track to Logic express and now back to the 488, so I might have missed some valuable lessons along the way! If anyone can help that would be useful.

Should I not use Logic to record the signal? Is there better software?

Cheers

 

[nate_dennis]

I put a cable from the monitor output to the line in on my mac, and tried to record the signal into logic, but I lost my panning I had done on the tracks, I thought by using a stereo lead I wouldn't have this problem?

First off, welcome to the forums. I love my 488 as well (though mine is a mark2.)

The 488 has several different output sections. You have two different busses (or output groups.) These are what you use to assign your tracks durring tracking, but you'll also use them for mixdown. I don't have my manual in front of me and I haven't recorded in a while so I'm trying to recall all of the details. but basically you want to use one set of stereo outputs for your monitors and the other for your MAIN OUT to your computer. You will need to use two cables for each buss, using ONE stereo (or TRS cable) will not get the results you want.

Also, I highly reccomend you use an audio interface between the 488 and your computer. I personally use the Tascam US122 but there are a ton of options and many for less than $100.

I wish I had my manual so that I could be more specific. I hope it helps though. Maybe we can get a MOD to move this to the analog section cause they are all really good about helping out.

 

[martynspark]

cheers for that man, I will look into it some more, my 488 is also a mk2! But I hear the only difference was the midi so I didn't mention it.

I do have an audio interface, but I thought that it would give me the problem I ended up with anyway. So I will use that now too. Thanks alot for the help!

EDIT: Yeah if a moderator could move this to the analogue section that would be great!

 

[nate_dennis]

How is the project coming? Were you able to sort out how to get your signal where you wanted it?

 

[martynspark]

I recently purchased a behringer u-control uca202 usb interface, thinking i could now take a phono cable from the line out of the 8 track to the interface, and then get it on to my mac that way, but the signal i am getting is heavily distorted. I hope I am just doing this wrong and not wasting money! Can anyone help?

 

[haymedic]

oh how i miss my portastudio 4 track. seriously... if i could get that back... just for a bit.


how can you be losing the panning? sounds like you're going into a mono source? make sure your line in is stereo? should work just fine.

i mix stems into my computer as well and never came across the problem of tracks going mono.