Need Help: How To Create a Scene on Tascam 688 for Two-Track Recording?

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I have a 688 and the manual is not very clear. I know I need to read it again (and again). I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to create a scene. I'm wanting to record two tracks at a time. I may be missing something the manual is presenting but this machine is really confusing to me.

Also, in the middle of play back the transport will just stop. Any ideas on that? :(
 
as for making scenes, it's not as hard as it seems. Just read the manual carfully and try it step for step. I always go to scene 13 and do whatever I want with it. Just use the track assign buttons to choose the track and the channel you wanna work with. Read in the manual how to save a scene. Or, you could use scene 10 and just push the track buttons you want to record. After all, you only record on the selected tracks...

As far as a motor stopping while rewinding...not a good thing. Make sure you clean the insides with alcohol and rubber cleaner and use good tape (type II always). HOpe it works out..

ps. I had to read the manual for about 5 times carefully and recorded an album immediately. The 688 has few secrets for me now, although I have to learn about how to pan while bouncing...:o
 
1. Select a Scene number higher then 12 by using the 'up' and 'down' buttons next to the LCD display to find a blank scene.

2. On the left of the dipslay, in the far left column of buttons, press the top button INPUTS.

3. To chance the main inputs, select the desired button in the middle row of buttons, left of the LCD dipslay, either MIC, LINE, TAPE, POST.

4. If you pressed MIC, press number 1 on the number panels below the LCD display to assign channel 1 to MIC, press 2 to assign channel 2 to MIC, etc.

5. Now, if you want to assign the tracks on the tape, press ASSIGN MAIN, in the far left column of buttons left of the LCD display.

6. Use the number buttons again to change the configuration matrix in the LCD display.

7. To save all your changes, hold down the STORE/COPY button and press SCENE/MIDI CH button. Your scene has now been saved.

If pressing the number buttons does now change the matrix on the LCD display, try loading a different SCENE number, then go back to your scene number you are setting up, and press RECALL. Then try the number buttons again.
 
tascam 688 routing problems

hello,


I got two tascam 688's wich I used intensively over the last tree years.

Being allergic to computers and sick to death of the digital non-sound, the tascam 688 is perfect, except for the routing part, wich to me is already a computer:-)

Give me cables and knobs and I do fine, but menus and fictive routings and I go nuts.

I was never able to record more than two tracks simultanously, wich up to now was no problem since I played all instruments myself.(overdubbing each part seperately)

Now i want to record a drummer on several tracks simultanously, i got two 688 and a midiizer to sychronize them(another nightmare upcoming!:-).

i read ansewrs on the question how to record more tracks simultanoulsy, but somehow my machines do different(or is it me?:-)

i tried to get it done with scene 10.

but i never use the mic-inputs(also because i cannot figure them out but that is another matter), i use the dual inputs all the time.

I changed the scene so it took signal from dual instead of line/mike but it didn't work.

if i record 3 tracks at once, i have to pan the 1 and second hard left and hard right, and the thirth is always a sum of the 3 inputs?

before that i had a simple 4 track, no problem to record all tracks att once, what is the key to this cause i can't figure it out, i have a manual, does as it dictates, but it doesn't work?

What i need is a routing sceme that simply connects dual 1 to tape 1/dual 2 to tape two etc, for all 8 tracks, so i can record simultanously but have them on seperate tracks.

can someone help me out with this?
many thanks for time and effort,
i really apreciate you taking the time to help me out!
 
I'm sorry - I've never used the dual inputs for anything and I don't have two 688's synched up (I believe Bobby D does though), but I can explain setting up a scene that allows recording up to 8 tracks at once on one machine. It is pretty easy. The scene creation bothered me for the first few months I had mine, but it is mostly second nature now.

First, press INPUT in the far left column to the left of the scene creation screen. Are you using XLR inputs for mics or line level inputs with 1/4" plugs?...or both?

Let's assume there will be a mix of both.

Press MIC GROUP 1 in the ASSIGN MAIN column. The word "MIC" will be flashing on the screen. Now, simply press the number of any channel you want to have as a mic input (XLR) on the CHANNEL MAIN/DUAL section below. The gray box representing that channel will move to the mic row on the screen.

Once you've selected the ones that will be XLR inputs, then press ASSIGN MAIN in the far left column to left of the screen. Now the word "LINE" will be blinking on the screen. Now go back down to the CHANNEL MAIN/DUAL section and press those channels that you wish to have as line (1/4") inputs. The gray boxes for these channels will move to the "LINE" row on the screen.

You should now have gray boxes in either the MIC or LINE rows on the screen for every channel you'll be using.

Now, you need to assign each of these channels to a track.

Press ASSIGN MAIN to the far left of the screen. Start by pressing the MIC GROUP 1 button in the ASSIGN MAIN column. The word GRP 1 will be blinking on your screen. Now go back down to the CHANNEL MAIN/DUAL section and press the number of the track you want to assign that channel to. Typically, channel 1 goes to track one, 2 goes to 2 and so forth.

Repeat this process using the various GROUP 1 through GROUP 8 buttons assigning each channel to one track. If you assign them in matching numerical order, you should wind up with a diaginol line of gray boxes on the screen extending from upper left to lower right.

Now, save the scene by pressing the SCENE MIDI/CH button and the STORE/COPY button simultaneously. You have now saved the scene and can arm any or all of the tracks you just assigned.

You do not need to mess with the panning at all in this case. Just be sure to use an XLR input on the channels you assigned to MIC inputs and the 1/4" input for the ones assigned to LINE.

With this scene, you can record as many as 8 tracks separate, but simultaneously with one machine.

Ok, that sounds really brutal, but it isn't that hard. Just take it slowly step by step. Hope this helps.
 
Hello heatmisser,



Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to explain it all to me!I really apreciate it.



In the mean time I found out why I had so many trouble with this, because I used the dual channels wich are interconnected with the dual mastervolume, wich makes it impossible to record more than 2 tracks (seperately)at once.

I started using the mike-line inputs and suddenly the manual does make sense, it's quite easy indeed once you know it!



I guess like a lot of people who love analogue and tape I coud'nt really be bothered with the midi/digital side of it.

but since I now try to hook up two of these (with a midiizer), I have to learn, but that will be on another topic i guess, I coud use some help there but Booby D doesn't reply, maybe I'll have to try again.



I have one other question though, I hope it is possible in the same go...

I have a lot of hiss when I open up the stereo fader (1L/R) in mixdown (scene 12) mode, really a windtunnel, since the tape is not running it must be system noise. In cue mode there is no noise at all.

The even more strange thing is that when i open up any of the 1 to 10 sliders, the noise goes down!(I'm still talking with the machine not running)

It shoud be the other way around, not? No noise with no faders up and noise with faders up.

Since my two 688's behave exactly the same way, and they have been serviced recently by an official tascam repairsman, I must conclude that it is standard, but I just can't believe it! deadsilent taperecordings and then a windtunnel in the end(mixer) stage ruining it all.

Does your machine react the same?

Anyone else with the same problem? Solutions?



Many thanks for time and effort!!!

silenthedges
 
silenthedges said:
Hello heatmisser,



Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to explain it all to me!I really apreciate it.



In the mean time I found out why I had so many trouble with this, because I used the dual channels wich are interconnected with the dual mastervolume, wich makes it impossible to record more than 2 tracks (seperately)at once.

I started using the mike-line inputs and suddenly the manual does make sense, it's quite easy indeed once you know it!



I guess like a lot of people who love analogue and tape I coud'nt really be bothered with the midi/digital side of it.

but since I now try to hook up two of these (with a midiizer), I have to learn, but that will be on another topic i guess, I coud use some help there but Booby D doesn't reply, maybe I'll have to try again.



I have one other question though, I hope it is possible in the same go...

I have a lot of hiss when I open up the stereo fader (1L/R) in mixdown (scene 12) mode, really a windtunnel, since the tape is not running it must be system noise. In cue mode there is no noise at all.

The even more strange thing is that when i open up any of the 1 to 10 sliders, the noise goes down!(I'm still talking with the machine not running)

It shoud be the other way around, not? No noise with no faders up and noise with faders up.

Since my two 688's behave exactly the same way, and they have been serviced recently by an official tascam repairsman, I must conclude that it is standard, but I just can't believe it! deadsilent taperecordings and then a windtunnel in the end(mixer) stage ruining it all.

Does your machine react the same?

Anyone else with the same problem? Solutions?



Many thanks for time and effort!!!

silenthedges
Click to expand...

You are welcome. Wow...I forgot about this one. Guess I was in the mood to type that day :)! Sounds like you figured it out on your own, so not sure I was much help. I never use the dual channels personally.

I don't have 2 of these so can't help with the midizer process, sorry.

The whole wind tunnel thing is very strange. I don't have that happening at all with my machine. Have you modified scene 12 in some way? If not, do your mixes capture this sound, or is it just audible to you while monitoring the mix in real time? Really strange that the sound lessens when you turn up the other faders. There must be an explanation for this, but I at a loss.

Since both of your 688s produce the same sound, I doubt it is a defect, must be something about the way you have it configured? Double check all of your routing / connections again. If I think of anything I'll let you know.
 
688 hiss again

Hello, thanks again for your fast reply!!!
unfortunately the noise goes down to tape:-(
I have both machines reset with the factory presets and use stock scene 12 for mixdown.
Even if i disconnect everything exept for the headphone, the problem accurs.
And it is only with the faders connected to tape, the 1-8, if I open them up, the noise goes down, if I have them full up; silence.
It is like they "load" the stereofader?
I will have to take them to a service center again, I love these machines but they are fragile (and expensive to repair) in my opinion/expierence.
i just wanted to make shure I am the only one with this problem.
Is there anyone else that has this stereochannel hiss problem?

thanks
silenthedges
 
Tascam 688 Inquiry

I've recently purchased a vintage Tascam 688, everything seems to be in working order, but an out or the ordinary hiss and strange abrasive low beeping. But I was really just wondering on how to go about mixing each track separately after I use all 8 tracks live for drums...So I can EQ and mix each channel apart. Is it possible? Or do you have to get the perfect live mix. Thanks!
 
MadeOfWaterH20 said:
I've recently purchased a vintage Tascam 688, everything seems to be in working order, but an out or the ordinary hiss and strange abrasive low beeping. But I was really just wondering on how to go about mixing each track separately after I use all 8 tracks live for drums...So I can EQ and mix each channel apart. Is it possible? Or do you have to get the perfect live mix. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, you can definitely EQ each track separately after the fact. Do you have the manual? You have to change scenes to get to the mixdown mode (when you're in monitor mode you can only adjust pan and level), but once you do, the EQ on that thing is actually pretty good.
 
Hi i have a tascamm 688 just given to me, and was wondering if anyone knows if its possible to record drums from my DAW (Cubase 5) into the 688 and then back into cubase? also would it be possible to use it as a input mixer within cubase??
 
silenthedges said:
I have one other question though, I hope it is possible in the same go...

I have a lot of hiss when I open up the stereo fader (1L/R) in mixdown (scene 12) mode, really a windtunnel, since the tape is not running it must be system noise. In cue mode there is no noise at all.

The even more strange thing is that when i open up any of the 1 to 10 sliders, the noise goes down!(I'm still talking with the machine not running)

It shoud be the other way around, not? No noise with no faders up and noise with faders up.

Since my two 688's behave exactly the same way, and they have been serviced recently by an official tascam repairsman, I must conclude that it is standard, but I just can't believe it! deadsilent taperecordings and then a windtunnel in the end(mixer) stage ruining it all.

Does your machine react the same?

Anyone else with the same problem? Solutions?



Many thanks for time and effort!!!

silenthedges
Click to expand...
I am having the exact same problem with my 688, including the weird behaviour of hiss going down when pushing faders up. My 644 is quiet as it can be, but the 688's mixer is producing very audible noise/buzz. Has nothing to do with tape hiss and sounds pretty ugly (in contrast to tape hiss, which can be annoying but it sounds "better").
If anybody is still around and solved this problem, please let me know!

EDIT: I just noticed that a lot of the ugly buzzing noise goes away if I disconnect the cables from the GROUP1 outs! Huh? Everytime, I plug in cables into GROUP1 OUT or the MONITOR OUT or one of the TAPE OUTS (basically anywhere), the noise comes back... Weird...
 
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