Using Preamps with the 2488

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
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Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
I've been happy with the 2488's on-board preamps, but if I wanted to use a high-quality analog pre, how would I do that? Just keep the 2488 input channel pad level zeroed and let the pre do the amplification?
 
That'll work. It will minimize the effect of the Tascam's pres. I've done it a lot with a Roland VS1824, which isn't that different. It would be better to send it a signal that is already digital, which will bypass the Tascam's pres completely. I do this with a Joemeek twinQ, which is a better pre *and* a better A-D convertor than the 1824. The Tascam does have S/PDIF I/O, so it's very doable.-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
That'll work. It will minimize the effect of the Tascam's pres. I've done it a lot with a Roland VS1824, which isn't that different. It would be better to send it a signal that is already digital, which will bypass the Tascam's pres completely. I do this with a Joemeek twinQ, which is a better pre *and* a better A-D convertor than the 1824. The Tascam does have S/PDIF I/O, so it's very doable.-Richie
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Thanks, Richie. :)
 
Hey did it work this pramp stuff for 2488?

I have had a 2488 for the last 3 yrs. and have really struggled to get a good drum sound( usually weak, thin and sounding like it has no punch) I also have an analog casette tascam 488mk2 which only has 8 tracks but the drum sound I can get from it is more real and heavy sounding to me, I bought the 2488 for the tracks and the portability and would love to get it to work like I hoped it would when I bought it. Maybe using analog preamps would help, or what about going through the 488mk2's preamps?
 
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Zaphod B said:
I've been happy with the 2488's on-board preamps, but if I wanted to use a high-quality analog pre, how would I do that? Just keep the 2488 input channel pad level zeroed and let the pre do the amplification?
Click to expand...

The process I generally use is to zero the preamps out to 'line' and use outboards pres going to a comprossor for subtle compression, then to the 2488. I only use the onboard pres for rare field recording. It's a huge diffference.

With the batch of stuff I'm working on now I'm taking the tracks and running them off the 2488 for fine tuning, muting, fades, bringing up the volume, and trimming peaks. It's tedeous but the mix is worth it. Originally I was normalizing the individual tracks and though they sounded great on their own, it really muddied things up in a mix.
 
kingvolcano7 said:
I have had a 2488 for the last 3 yrs. and have really struggled to get a good drum sound( usually weak, thin and sounding like it has no punch) I also have an analog casette tascam 488mk2 which only has 8 tracks but the drum sound I can get from it is more real and heavy sounding to me, I bought the 2488 for the tracks and the portability and would love to get it to work like I hoped it would when I bought it. Maybe using analog preamps would help, or what about going through the 488mk2's preamps?
Click to expand...

Check my other post....outboard preamps and especially for drums, a compressor/gate will get you the punch you're looking for.
 
Yup, I just zero the 2488's trim pots and plug the output of my pre-amp straight into the input.

I've never had a problem with my drums sounding weak or thin. But, then again, my drums don't sound weak or thin.
 
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