Tascam 688: Tape mechanism randomly stops during record/playback

[Leroy Pimpdaddy]

I have recently purchased a Tascam 688, studied the manual and begun to make some simple recordings on it. It's a fantastic machine and I am really pleased with it.

However, I am having a recurring problem with it. The tape mechanism randomly stops during record or playback, which is infuriating. I have to repeatedly depress the play (or play and record) button(s) until eventually it begins to play/record.

Does anybody know how to solve this problem? Is there anything that I can tweak to prevent this from happening? What causes this? Can it be repaired?


Also, re DBX, can somebody explain how to use this? The manual doesn't explain very clearly.

Presumably, I should set the DBX switches to 'In' when recording, correct? But should I leave them set to 'In' when I am doing a mixdown? The sound is very dull in playback, but when I set the DBX switches to 'Out', the sound brightens up considerably. When set to 'In', it sounds like the tracks are heavily compressed.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


LP.

 

[muttley]

AAAWWW 688's, The stopping problem could be from using poor quality tape, always use TDK chrome or Maxell chrome, never any cheap stuff: also the main drive belt may need to be replaced, this is common in cassette decks that are over 10 yrs old, they stretch and/or dry out over a period of time.......


Next: Always record in DBX, and playback in DBX, This helps to increase the dynamic range of 8 trks on a little cassette, also reduces the noise floor considerably, keep your peaks at 0 or +2 at the most and everything will be fine.

An exellent machine and fantastic capabilities to boot......


da MUTT

 

[Leroy Pimpdaddy]

drive belt

Thanks for the information.

I was using TDK SA-X 60 min Type II cassettes. It's actually difficult to find good cassettes now.

Any suggestions as to how to replace the drive belt? Do I need to go back to Tascam?

I agree, it's an excellent machine. I was using it as a mixer and recorder for a small gig on Sat night. The band wanted to record a few numbers, but I only got 3 in their entirety :-(

Could the machine be sensitive to vibrations? I only realised @ the last minute that we had placed the 688 on top of the bass amp (doh! I know) which might explain why it was stopping so often. There was nowhere else to put it but damn, I wish we had tried!!



Thanks again.

 

[muttley]

Try using it again on a solid surface, if this doesn't help, then a trip to a " certified Tascam service center " is in order.
Ask them to check/replace belt, then have them do the following: " Bring this machine up to factory specs ". What this will do is have them go over your 688 witha fine toothed comb and check every detail out so that its up to fact. specs. They will fix/replace anything thats wrong.
In my book its worth it because these were very good portas. ( one of the very best ever made on the market. )

I would not recommend doing it yourself/these are very complicated to reassemble back together


da MUTT

 

[Leroy Pimpdaddy]

Roland VSR-880

Thanks Mutt.

I will arrange a service as soon as possible.


Tell me, can the 688 be used to control another recorder? For example, I'm toying with the idea of purchasing a digital hard disk recorder, something like the Roland VSR-880, which has 8 digital tracks and 128 virtual tracks. There is no mixer attached - it's a recorder only and it's inputs are 8 RCAs, just like the 688's outputs.

Here's a link to some about it:

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/107AES/Roland/VSR-880.html

Is it possible to connect the two machines via the interfaces and activate the 880 from the 688?

Presumably, it will be possible to connect the mixer on the 688 to the inputs of the 880, and record directly to the hard-disk?


Regards,
Seán.

 

[muttley]

On your first question, I would read the Operations manual for the Roland unit to see what it requires before purchasing it, also see what the manual says for the 688.....
Roland products tend to be " system exclusive " and are not always friendly towards another system, Do your homework before plunking down hard earned cash.......

YES !! on using mixer section only to feed the outboard 8trk,Use the group/aux section as the level control to each output, there is a scene for this, also you will discover that you may want to premix lets say 10 inputs from mixer to go out 1-4, then maybe the next bunch may be 6 ins going out 5-8, there is a scene that lets you do this, use tracksheets to keep track of what you're doing.

I can tell by your questions you are grasping the capabilities that the 688 posesses.....
Keep digging, ther's more treasures to be had!!



da MUTT

 

[Leroy Pimpdaddy]

Treasures

Feel free to share some!!


I've been investigating the midiizer. It seems to do what I've been referring to, ie syncing two machines together without losing any tracks for the striping. Interesting concept. I'd almost buy another 688 if I could lay my hands on a midiizer!!!

Have you used the midiizer before? Would you recommend it? Can it drive other brands of analog machine? A buddy of mine has a Fostex machine. He's gone off to see if it has a serial port. If so, we could be in business.

I will leave a posting on the Roland forums to see if anybody has driven a VSR-880 from such a machine or a PC even.


Any further tips would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
LP.


p.s. Tascam in Europe have put me on to my nearest Tascam service centre

 

[muttley]

I have never used a MIDIizer before, they are a problem solver providing the 2 syncee's are able to read the codes.
The 688 does have some type of sync, I don't remember at this time, I've never used it....

A treasure: I use my 688 for remote live tracking, then dump the contents out the 8 rca's in my main mixer at my studio for final mix,effects, etc.

Another one: do the same as above, but let the mixer be the live mixer for the band mons. and FOH mix. This is for small groups and works real well in coffee house type venues, the band does have to keep each set at 15 min or shorter to accommadate the time limitation of the tape. ( 60min=15min in 688).

Keep prodding me I'll remember more........



da MUTT