Is the Tascam 688 Worth $500?

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jnegative

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I just have a quick question for any one out there that uses a 688. Currently there is one sitting at my local music store for 500$ and I am wondering if it is worth it? I can't seem to find any real info on the net, specs, reviews or otherwise. From what I gleened off of Ebay it seems decent for tape(I prefer analog anyways). I would just like to hear from some actual 688 users. Anyways thanks for your time.
 
:D :D :D Make sure you get the operations manual, theres some midi-ing you have to do, A lot of the knobs you expect on a mixer aren't there because those functions are in midi programing to access.
It gobbles up tape at 3 3/4" per sec.
A 60 min cassette is 15min of 8-track time.
You can pack a decent level of signal on the tape using built in DBX n/r.
Fairly clean/quiet in repro mode.
Decent mixer for a porta, good flexibility.
A LOT OF FUN TO USE!

Make sure the heads are in good condition, if you can ,try it out, they are expensive to repair.

Ilike mine alot,anything else, do a hey muttley on this thread in reference to this




da MUTT.
 
hey muttley

well....they let me rent if for a week...sounds great everything seems to work although it is a little confusing as there is no manual....I could really use one. I like what i see and hear so far, do you know if there is an online version of the manual?? one thing....why does it only seem to want to record to tracks 1 and 2 i tried some of the setups and this doesn't seem to change anything??
 
:cool: GOOD! renting is a wise way to check anything,No online at the Tascam website, when they quit building something, the online manual goes away after a few years. I could look it up, where are you? Would you be interested in me copying mine and mailing it to you?
I'll dig in mine and hopefully have an answer for you, tomorrow.
 
Muttley....

Well I can tell you this...I love what I hear so far and will probably keep it..So I would love a copy of your manual if you don't mind. I was wondering if you have any tips on putting this thing trough it's paces to see if all major features are working? As far as I can hear the tape mechanism is fine no flutter no disortion on the tape, though it is a little loud in fast foward and rewind. But I kinda figure that is expected on a deck that is over 10 yrs old...Are the play heads supposed to be engaged when using the shuttle? Oh ya and I figured out that recording thing..kind of..it must be a signal routing thing cause I found a couple of settings that record all 8 tracks.... Thanks Muttley......
 
hey muttley I am an idiot.....

I have a question for you as you seem to be the only one who knows anything about the 688....well I was moving it into my car, but i had to unlock the door first,so I set it on my trunk, I thought it was on there nice and stable and I turn around to grab it and it slides off my trunk and drops 3 ft to the ground. Now I still plan on getting this as it was my fault it fell...and everything seems to work as far as i can tell...records to all eight tracks fine and no flutter or wierd sounds nothing sounds loose..well except for the right side plastic panel and some scuffing. I was wondering if you knew how tough these are? and what I should look for in the near future for signs of internal damage? If I knew how to really use this thing it wouldn't be that much of a problem but....please help.....or maybe I should be asking god :)...thanks again muttley
 
:eek: OW!! They're a little more rugged than I thought. If it still functions as it did before, know problem I guess. Glad the meter bridge didn't break, thats one of the cool factors of the 688, visually!
I bet you found the scene that does all grps together, grps being the outs for the tape machine on the playback/mixing part.
The best scene is the one where it diagnals down from the upper left to the lower right.
The absulute test on the 688 is recording Rush's red barchette, spirit of radio, or something power chordy from CD, then play back the cd and tape off of 688 and see how close to each other they sound, I was impressed with mine.

Where are you on the planet,"address" , the copy place I use is 8 copies for a dollar, the manual is 64 pages, I think I can get a freebie envelope at work, it would be mailed flat, there's postage, what do you want to do?

Please advise

da MUTT
 
yeh...this thing is obviously built like a tank. I think the one thing that saved it was that it landed more on the right side end piece other than flat up or down...I've seen that happen to a four track before...they kind of explode. Did they ever make a case for these things?
 
Crosstalk

One more thing..i have noticed that I seem to be getting some crosstalk between channels when i record...i asume with the bandwith I have this is somewhat normal..i was wondering is this something an alignment could fix? and do you think that this is an after effect of dropping it? Could it be a tape issue as far as maybe I need a higher quility 60 min tape?
 
Crosstalk

One more thing..i have noticed that I seem to be getting some crosstalk between channels when i record...i asume with the bandwith I have this is somewhat normal..i was wondering is this something an alignment could fix? and do you think that this is an after effect of dropping it? Could it be a tape issue as far as maybe I need a higher quility 60 min tape?
 
:cool: Tascam never made cases for there porta's, a third party company did at one time, look in AMS, Musicians Friend, etc, they may have a generic case one can buy.

Another way is buy a used piece of luggage big enough to put the thing in and line/glue in styrophoam to make your own custom fit case fit the 688 exactly.

P/S I would be interested in some farm fresh eggs.
( don't try this, it gets real messy)



da MUTT

:D On cross talk, pull back a little on levels while recording, keep 'er back at 0 or -2 on the meters, also the tape used should be Chrome!!! TDK or MAXELL, no cheap brands!!! what so ever!!
The machine is opimized for chrome tape.

This is covered in the manual
 
Getting there

Well I seem to be getting used to this thing...sort of....btw I will be sending out those chickens soon...so get ready to start copying!!!!

But I have some quick questions until I get a hold of that manual...answer at you leisure....

1 what is the easiest and best way to sync this thing to a hardware seq? I have an MPC2k w/ SMPTE in/out do i just run this to track 8 and then run the out back to my MPC for the rest of the session?? have you had any exp w/ the MMC100?

2 why can't I hear the EQ unttil I go to scence 12? probably a dumb question but it would be nice to eq sometimes before mixing down...

3 Can you send say 8 inputs to track 1 or any combo there of or are there limits to this?

Thanks again Muttley...btw any relation to the cartoon dog of the same name? :)
 
:( 1 I've never sync'd the thing, because I always used it as a closed system. I'll dig the answer for ya', if it's easy I'll respond, If not This will be more encouragement to get manual.

:eek: 2 You should be able to hear EQ while tracking. Are you using ( I think?) scene 11? or the one that diaginal from top left to bott, right? I hope this wasn't why the thing was sold, but if you can hear on mix down I'm sure it's working. How are you monitoring your signals as you track? The EQ is not real powerful unless you get extreme on a setting, even then it's noticeable but not like on a high end mixer. I'll dig for this bone also, same as above.

:D 3 YES YES YES Thats the one beauty about this 688. You can mix and match till you're heart's content.

Be fore hitting 4, the more I think about sync'ing, I believe there's facility for striping track 8 for time code, the method you propose should work as long as the 688 is master, the digi- is the slave.

;) WOOF!


da MUTT
 
On the EQ thing...I am monitoring with group 1-2 on preset 11&10, and you are right I can hear it a little, but not like I can on preset 12 which I am guessing is a sort of mix down setting. I am impressed with the sound of the eq but just wish it was a strong as on that other preset...Oh well maybe it's something I can figure out when I get the manual...

I really don't think (knock on bbs) that there were any problems with this prior to me dropping it...still don't think that there are any other problems aside from some slight cosmetic issues. Daddy's (where I bought it) is pretty good about checking equipment before they sell it...

BTW you were completely right about the tape issuse...I picked up some Maxell Type II XL tape and it sounds great, no bleed even when I pushed some highly resonated drums though it...no distortion either on a sub-bass kick...
 
:D Try this:::: in monitoring while tracking, make sure the grp knob is turned up, as well as the master knob in the mon section, Don't monitor off the signal it's self, CHECK YOUR SETUP.

Example; mic going into( track-grp) 1 , turn up mon.1 . You should hear an EQ change as you adjust EQ.
DEF: the mon. section is the group of knobs upper mid section between the main mixer and tapeplayer.

according to the block diagram: inorder to get EQ in the input, it has to be programed in a (input mode) then when you play back for mixing reprogram to a mix mode, the tape outs will go through the input section again(EQ) as well.

Are you using headphones? If so you'll need an amp/nearfield type monitors. the 688 shines well through this type of monitoring.

ON sync'ing this thing loves it, it's rather detailed on how to do it, but striping time code is no problem, but you loose a track.

After using yukki tape, clean those heads, the 8 track configuration is delicate unto its self. gentle swabbing with head cleaner is a must, every 2-3 hrs or so.
 
Just like to throw in my praise for the 688. I bought one on eBay a few years ago and it came with a flight case. I absolutely love it...It sounds amazing, I've made some excellent sounding recordings on it. Viva la analog!

Just like to add a question...which monitors do you use, muttley?
 
:o ( cringe-cringe ) Yamaha ms-8's. There're cheapies w/ 8" woofer, 3" mid, 1" tweeter, I RTA'ed to the studio, and surprisingly the results come out real good on other systems. The 688 is a remote tracker, then dump in big mixer for mix, effects, etc.
The next pair I'm getting is the JBL's LSR 32's. They are not in your face, but several listeners can stand around to hear, and no need to be in sweet spot, the dispersion is real wide.

( or ns-8's, cant remember for sure, been too many years since purchased)



da MUTT
 
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