Tascam 644..........

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jjones1700

jjones1700

Learning, always learning
..........locally for $100. Is it worth it? I've got a 424mkII that I love. What does a 644 offer over my 424mkII?
 
Yeah, it's a good deal.

Make sure it includes the power supply module, or it's not a good deal at all! Don't buy a 644 without the power module.

The 644's mixer is much more elaborate & it has a built in MTS, which is an advanced feature that not e'one would need or use, but it's a premium feature nonetheless.

If the manual is included it would benefit you a lot in learning the workings of the 644, which is a bit more complex than the 424mkII.:eek:;)

Here's a good description I lifted from eBay:
A 4-track recorder with MIDI sync facilities so you can record vocals and acoustic instrumental and sync with your computer MIDI sequencer. Also sync with video tape and multitrack analogue recorders and drum machines. 2 balanced XLR mic level inputs, 10-input mixer and dedicated 16x2 configuration at mixdown. Inserts on all channels. Electronic routing matrix.
 

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Midistudio

Whoa, it is a bit different than what I was expecting. I've been tossing around the idea of tinkering with MIDI, but don't know much about it. That thing looks like it would take a bit of getting used to. Looks like something from the space shuttle control panel.:eek:

Thanks for the info Reel. I'll have to think this over. It must be considerably bigger than a 424 as well. I'm running out of space.:eek:

Actually, I was looking for an 8 tracker. What are the model numbers of the 8 tracks? What does the number represent? I.E: 424 = 4 track 2 head 4 channel (mixer) ????????
 
The 644's bigger than the 424mkII, but not by much.

It's the 644's LCD "digital patchbay" routing matrix that the real heart of the 644, which is totally different than any "manual routed" Porta like the 424mkII. It's also why the 644 is harder to learn to operate & why having the manual is of the utmost importance. Likewise for the 688. Everything from the mic assignments, cue and mixdown from tape is set up in a "scene" of patches in the LCD display, and more.

The cassette 8-trackers from Tascam were the 488, 488mkII, 688 Portastudios and 238 Syncaset (rackmount).

Yamaha popped off it's own "me-too" cassette 8-trackers, the MT8X and MT8XmkII, which [IMO] are basically 488mkII clones, but hold their own as the most high end Yamaha multitrackers usually did. I'd usually stick with Tascam, but Yamaha is out there if you want it.

Fostex never entered the 8-track cassette arena. [IMO] Fostex cassette 4-trackers were usually low-end Tascam clones, which paled in comparison to their Tascam counterparts that they were patterned after.:eek::eek:;)

$100 for a 644 in good condition with power supply and manual is an excellent deal, for a unit that regularly sells at or above $200 on fleaBay.:eek::eek:;)
 
A Reel Person said:
It's the 644's LCD "digital patchbay" routing matrix that the real heart of the 644, which is totally different than any "manual routed" Porta like the 424mkII. It's also why the 644 is harder to learn to operate & why having the manual is of the utmost importance. Likewise for the 688. Everything from the mic assignments, cue and mixdown from tape is set up in a "scene" of patches in the LCD display, and more.

The cassette 8-trackers from Tascam were the 488, 488mkII, 688 Portastudios and 238 Syncaset (rackmount).

Yamaha popped off it's own "me-too" cassette 8-trackers, the MT8X and MT8XmkII, which [IMO] are basically 488mkII clones, but hold their own as the most high end Yamaha multitrackers usually did. I'd usually stick with Tascam, but Yamaha is out there if you want it.

Fostex never entered the 8-track cassette arena. [IMO] Fostex cassette 4-trackers were usually low-end Tascam clones, which paled in comparison to their Tascam counterparts that they were patterned after.:eek::eek:;)

$100 for a 644 in good condition with power supply and manual is an excellent deal, for a unit that regularly sells at or above $200 on fleaBay.:eek::eek:;)
Click to expand...

I never was really sure about Fostex stuff. I've heard okay and mediocre stuff about them.

The more I look at that, the more intimidated I am by it. If I do decide to snap it up, it would be something I set aside until I really had time to play with it, vs. a regular portastudio that is pretty much "plug and play".

Okay, next question: what's the difference between a 488 and 688? Sorry for all of the questions and thanks for posting up the great info. I'll try to see if I can find manuals on those two in the meantime, if I'm lucky.
 
Yeah, it's intimidating at first, but it's actually quicker & easier to change patchs

thru the 644/688's LCD scene display, once you get used to it.

The difference between the 488 and 688 is the same difference as the 424mkII compared to the 644.

The 688 has way more inputs (20), XLRs (10), inserts (10), aux's (4) and routing (8-buss) than the 488, plus it records up to 8-tracks simultaneously. The 488 is 12-inputs/4-buss and records up to 4-tracks simultaneously. The 688 is bigger and a lot heavier than the 488.

The 688 had more patches and routing in the LCD than the 644, so they brought the meters up top on a big LED meter bridge.:eek:;)
 

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wow. Cool. Forgive the ignorant question, but when you say changing patches...........do you mean changing which channel is recorded to which track? So instead of physically unplugging the inputs and plugging them into another channel, you can just do it through the LCD display?

However, the 644 is just 4 track record, not 8 right? That would be the kicker.
 
jjones1700 said:
However, the 644 is just 4 track record, not 8 right? That would be the kicker.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the 644 is a 4 track machine. But if you don't actually need 8 tracks, you should get a greater fidelity from a 4 track due to the larger track width.
 
A Reel Person said:
It's the 644's LCD "digital patchbay" routing matrix that the real heart of the 644, which is totally different than any "manual routed" Porta like the 424mkII. It's also why the 644 is harder to learn to operate & why having the manual is of the utmost importance. Likewise for the 688. Everything from the mic assignments, cue and mixdown from tape is set up in a "scene" of patches in the LCD display, and more.

The cassette 8-trackers from Tascam were the 488, 488mkII, 688 Portastudios and 238 Syncaset (rackmount).

Yamaha popped off it's own "me-too" cassette 8-trackers, the MT8X and MT8XmkII, which [IMO] are basically 488mkII clones, but hold their own as the most high end Yamaha multitrackers usually did. I'd usually stick with Tascam, but Yamaha is out there if you want it.

Fostex never entered the 8-track cassette arena. [IMO] Fostex cassette 4-trackers were usually low-end Tascam clones, which paled in comparison to their Tascam counterparts that they were patterned after.:eek::eek:;)

$100 for a 644 in good condition with power supply and manual is an excellent deal, for a unit that regularly sells at or above $200 on fleaBay.:eek::eek:;)
Click to expand...

I wish I could find a decent 644 w/power supply and manual for around $100!

I've been looking for one for weeks, and the pickings are very slim. Either that, or I'm looking for stuff in all the wrong places. ;)
 
...

I got a nice one about 3 years ago for about $220, in like-new condition including manual and power supply!...........:eek:;)
 
A Reel Person said:
I got a nice one about 3 years ago for about $220, in like-new condition including manual and power supply!...........:eek:;)
Click to expand...

Are you selling it? May I send you a PM to discuss? :)

If you're selling one, I'd rather get it from you, quite frankly, because I have confidence that you wont sell me a "lemon".
 
jjones1700 said:
..........locally for $100. Is it worth it? I've got a 424mkII that I love. What does a 644 offer over my 424mkII?
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good deal if it includes powersupply.

The 238 Syncaset (rackmount)version actualy outperforms the 644 in the audio and transport department. Both use staggered heads, that is they have 2 four track heads out of alignment to get the 8 tracks.

Whith your old 4 track recorded tapes you could add a few more tracks whith the 644.:D
 
TinNedd said:
Sounds like a good deal if it includes powersupply.

The 238 Syncaset (rackmount)version actualy outperforms the 644 in the audio and transport department. Both use staggered heads, that is they have 2 four track heads out of alignment to get the 8 tracks.

Whith your old 4 track recorded tapes you could add a few more tracks whith the 644.:D
Click to expand...

Ironically, there is a 238 for sale locally for $100. Decisions, decisions............ The bad thing about the 238 is that I don't have a mixer. I could always buy it and keep it aside for when I do get one, but who knows how long that will be.:(
 
TinNedd said:
Sounds like a good deal if it includes powersupply.

The 238 Syncaset (rackmount)version actualy outperforms the 644 in the audio and transport department. Both use staggered heads, that is they have 2 four track heads out of alignment to get the 8 tracks.

Whith your old 4 track recorded tapes you could add a few more tracks whith the 644.:D
Click to expand...

The 644 is a 4-track, so you're probably thinking of the 688. For the record, (heh: pun), the 644 requires the PS-M1 power module and the 688 has an attached AC power cord.

On the concept of taking a 4-track master cassette and popping it into the 488, 238 or 688 for overdubs,... it would work in the basic sense, but there are inherent phasing problems you'll get on the spread of the original tracks 1-4, which may be a noticeable problem or show stopper in certain cases.

Tracks 1-2 from the original 4-track master would play back on tracks 1-2 of the 488/688/238, and the original tracks 3-4 would play back on tracks 7-8 on the 688(etc). Unfortunately, on the 488/688/238 the heads (group) 1-4 are out of phase with heads (group) 5-8, being a split-head configuration.

By doing this, if you can tolerate the phase anomaly between the tracks, to either use it for an effect, or your maybe tracks (compositionally) wouldn't reveal the problem as much,... of course you could record extra tracks onto a basic 4-track cassette master using an 8-track cassette Porta. The tracks could be laid onto tape. No telling if what you end up with would be usable though, so YMMV.

For myself, in general, I deem the idea of putting a 4-track master cassette into an 8-track cassette multitrack for overdubs not a legitimate or useful recording technique & is a dubious concept at best, due to what I consider a noticeable phase problem that destroys the integrity of the original 4-tracks. I've tried it, & it doesn't work for me, but again, YMMV!;) :eek:
 
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