VF80 or Tascam 788? Please weigh in...

  • Thread starter Thread starter billisa
  • Start date Start date
B

billisa

New member
Ok, I have the VF80, and it seems built like a tank, although I notice some play in surrounding buttons when only one is pushed. Anyway, I have an opportunity to get a Tascam 788 with CDR for the same price as the Fostex VF80CDR... So, while I can still return the VF 80, which would you choose in terms of BUILD QUALITY, EASE OF USE, SOUND QUALITY? I am relying on your honesty, and expertise (assuming some first-hand knowledge of these units).

The Tascam can record at 24 bit resolution, but of course that gets dithered down to 16 bit when CD's are burned...

Thanks for your insights.
 
Hmmmmmmmmmm. My choice for about the same price came down to the 788 and VF160CDR. I chose the VF-160CDR. You talk about a tank? The 160 is all steel except the sides. LOL.

I would download the Manual for the 788 if I were you. 788 = 7.5 Gig Hard Drive. At 24 bit, that ain't much space, Bro. But I'll tell ya this much, the 788 is a nice machine. You can record up to 6 Tracks at once with it. It's pretty easy to use.

If it came down to your two choices, I might go with the 788.

CR ><>
 
I have the VF-80CDR. A friend of mine has the Tascam 788. At the time he bought his, Fostex had not yet entered the domain of manufacturing/marketing DAWs. He has heard both and does not believe the built-in fx of his Tascam are superior to those in the Fostex. So it's a tie on that basis.
The CD burner with the Tascam is external and requires a SCSI connection. That could be a plus or a minus depending. It's a plus in that if the CD burner dies, it is a lot easier to replace than the CDR in the Fostex. On the minus side, it means another cable and two more external connections, and the more external connections in the chain, the more potential for problems.
The owner's manual for the VF-80 was, in my friend's opinion, more user friendly and more helpful than the owner's manual for the Tascam.

The bottom line is, both are excellent machines. Both have plusses and minuses. Both are capable of providing excellent results, depending upon the skills of the user. Basically, you will have to choose between one or the other. Whichever one draws out your best in the recording process will be the best one for you. Personally though [and I would probably get a lot of argument here from those in the TASCAM forum], I think the community in this forum are more helpful and accessible than those in the TASCAM forum.
 
I'm staying with the FOSTEX VF80...

I've already developed an affinity for it, plus a few other things... I took a 788 home (demo) and along with the whirring of the HD there was a craaaank-craaaank noise coming from the machine when it played it's "factory" song. I thought the unit must be defective and brought it back, but when I called TASCAM, the tech said the sound could be normal. Well fine, but the VF80 is MUCH quieter.

Then I read a review where the 788's output amps went out during the review... The reviewer liked the unit, but questioned the build quality. Plus a salesperson told me that FOSTEX tends to use VERY high quality parts all around. So, while I'm sure the TASCAM can make great recordings (as can about 50 other units), I am staying with the VF80.

The TASCAM doesn't have 48v phantom, so to use it I got a Behringer 2 channel UltragainPro Mic2200 pre-amp. It's funny, because I may keep it with the VF80, because it's SO QUIET... It's supposedly a tube amp (though some feel this is debateable), but it is VERY CLEAN AND QUIET. Any thoughts?
 
I'm in a similar situation. I wanna get a 788 from belgium where my grandma lives. I'm in the Philippines. If she thinks that the 788 is too expensive then I'll go for the vf-80. are the virtual tracks on the vf-80 the same as the 788? are all the 16 tracks obtainable on every playback track or is it just 2 virtual tracks per fader?
 
My recommendation is to sit down with a recorder that is capable of recording to both a depth of 16 bits and 24 bits and compare the final results. The fact that the project eventually gets dithered down to 16 bits on the final CD is totally irrelevant. The difference in sound quality is very audible between 16 and 24 bit even on the final 16 bit CD. There are lots of people who will argue the point but the only way that you can decide is to listen for yourself and make the comparison.

Good Luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top