Tascam DA-88

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jimmy_LD

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Sorry for the explination type question...

What exactly is this unit?
It looks as though it takes some kind of tape...

And you can chain 6 of them together with the remote???
WOW: Someone please explain to me what this is!
 
It is an 8 track digital tape recorder (DTRS) and uses the Hi8 digital video cassette format.

I think you can have a chain of 16 machines for a total of 128 tracks.

You can get a remote unit to control 4 of those units at a time (I think 4 is the max on the big remote unit).

Do you know what an ADAT is? Same thing basically, with a different tape format. And better, IMHO. TASCAM uses the Hi8 format instead of VHS. Uses TDIF instead of Lightpipe.

You can record 8 channels of analog into this thing with 8 separate cables - or do all 8 channels at once, digitally, with the TDIF ports (TASCAM Digital Interface).


It does some other neat stuff, but that is it in a nutshell.


Brad
 
i read somewhere...

Hey Brad, I keep reading that the DA-88 is the "Industry Standard" in digital recording. But then again ADAT is a lot cheaper...

What's with this? I see a lot more ADATs on ebay than I do these expensive puppies. Which is the better medium and machine, in your opinion?
 
I prefer the TASCAM - but I have limited experience with ADATs, so I wouldn't be the best judge. I just plain don't care for a lot of Alesis' gear.

DA-88's were the standard in most post-production houses. I don't know if they ever got the "industry standard" tag in most recording studios - but I know they were popular in the post-production environment because of their syncability (hey, did I just make a new word?) with each other and to external sources (i.e. video, film). Many other reasons, I am sure.

I think now, you will still find a lot of them in studios and post-production houses because they are workhorses and have a reputation. I think "industry standard" is changing to the new technology (hard disk systems). I can speak for one post house that I know of that has a whole new hard disk system, but they held on to their wall of 88's just in case.


For the record, I use the 88's little brother - I have a pair of DA-38's. Same thing basically, with some improvements in some areas, and not so many bells & whistles.

TASCAM also has newer versions based on the ol' 88. The DA-78 and I think a DA-98 as well.
 
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