Why I won't buy the Tascam 2488

[BMWerks]

There's nothing to fear but fear it's self Daniel.

 

[A Reel Person]

Y'know,...

Now, If I could only get Reel Dave to spring for a 2488.....I think it's the only thing holding him back. It would be that final piece of gear to put him over the edge. And at that point, he will have finally "made it".

Love you guys and everything you do.

Well, of all the "what the heck" purchases I've ever made, and my track record, I'm not ruling out scoring the 2488 completely. I've agreed many times over already, that despite what I percieve as some shortcomings, the 2488 does bring a lot to the table (-top), and it's surely best value in it's class, based on my own heavy duty analysis of it's features & capabilities. While some people might think I have cracked values, I percieve myself as having high standards.

However, there is no truly "final" piece of gear. In retrospect, the main point of this thread for me, is that gear is not the answer, and lack of gear is certainly not holding me back. On the upside, due to my personal satisfaction level in home recording, & the unwavering support and fandom of a tiny handful of devoted friends & fans, I feel I've already "made it". Thanx, all the same.

Now, IMO the 2488 would certainly be a fabulous "new toy",... if you wanna put it in that light. It may not suit me best as a basic foundational piece of gear, but each piece of gear has it's strengths, weaknesses and individual charms. (788 too, fwiw, is okay in my book).

The tools should be as transparent, highly functional and easy to use as possible,... and the rest lies in personal effort.

Thanx so much, again! All!

 

[BMWerks]

Make a valid statement W/your music

Daniel, Hang in there Daniel and never loose sight of your objectivity, your purpose or your passion for music. I'm sure you'll chose the correct medium for your material. It really doesn't mater what it is. Maybe you like the ukelali. But be sure if you don't intend to be stuck in the basement with your music for the rest of your life that you make a statement with your art and craft. One that will make your family proud.

 

[BMWerks]

Reel Dave, "2488 does bring a lot to the table"

24 tracks, 24bit res, on a 24"X24" footprint. Think about it Dave. If everyone on these here threads bought one, we could all be in the same band together! How cool would that be? Wejust share CD pre-masters and partials and, and, and....

 

[A Reel Person]

Great thought,... & I'll always keep that in mind.

It would be very cool, for sure. Something like that idea raises the utility of something like the 2488, even further. Thanx for a terrific suggestion.

(Next stop: Guitar Center!!!) Heh.

Great fonts, too!

 

[CoolCat]

sharing- co-writing???

Reel Dave, "2488 does bring a lot to the table"

24 tracks, 24bit res, on a 24"X24" footprint. Think about it Dave. If everyone on these here threads bought one, we could all be in the same band together! How cool would that be? Wejust share CD pre-masters and partials and, and, and....

but you can't "upload" from the 2488 CD-R? as i understand it.

so how would that work...interesting..
so if i sent a CD-R with wav. files for say 10 tracks/wav.files
....how would the second party add to it or upload it??

 

[cjacek]

Daniel, Hang in there Daniel and never loose sight of your objectivity, your purpose or your passion for music. I'm sure you'll chose the correct medium for your material. It really doesn't mater what it is. Maybe you like the ukelali. But be sure if you don't intend to be stuck in the basement with your music for the rest of your life that you make a statement with your art and craft. One that will make your family proud.

Advice taken. Thank you very much.

~Daniel

 

[A Reel Person]

Thanx for making me feel welcome to this forum Dave I know how hard you've been working with your music. Your threads show it. Was that a list of all the recording gear you have I saw at your post, 3/23/05? What will you be doing with all that inventory may I ask? Awesome!

I'd just like to say irrespective of my previous posts, that results are the most important thing when it comes to making music. To me, results are when someone else besides yourself really gets off and digs your stuff.

For the "record" how you get it, (results) is as individual as snowflakes. you're "on your oun" in achieving results less you've lost sight of your artistic goals. Which, it appears you have not.

All the tools and knowlege we have. All we really need is heart.

Love, Peter

{some day I'll show you my tony award}

After hitting a little speed bump at the start, I realize I like you a lot. We think alike!

Love, all!

 

[BMWerks]

Everything secure?

After hitting a little speed bump at the start, I realize I like you a lot. We think alike!

Love, all!

Me too Dave. Hope nothing got lost on the back of our truck when we hit that speed bump! Please bear with me, I'm still trying to find my way around in this forum and everything. I really value your experience and understanding.

I can't tell you how much fun I'm having.

You're the coolest.

Love, BM

 

[philboyd studge]

but you can't "upload" from the 2488 CD-R? as i understand it.

so how would that work...interesting..
so if i sent a CD-R with wav. files for say 10 tracks/wav.files
....how would the second party add to it or upload it??

Best place to ask is here:
http://www.tascamforums.com/

 

[BMWerks]

but you can't "upload" from the 2488 CD-R? as i understand it.

so how would that work...interesting..
so if i sent a CD-R with wav. files for say 10 tracks/wav.files
....how would the second party add to it or upload it??

Correct Dave. No uploads, no downloads. Please remember how vulnerable intelectual property can be. you cannot send wave files. However, there are two ways material gets to the CD burner. Backup files and mastered (final mixed). Though data can't be transmitted via email, unfinished data can be stored to disk and later retrieved and/or sent to all corners of the globe for additions, edits, or whatever. You send me your (unfinished (W/O keyboard stuff) material, I do my thing on the disk, I then send it to KoolCat, etc.etc. until the piece is ready to be mixed, mastered and finalized. You can always make backup copies of the backup files. CDrs are cheap and it gives you hard copy so as never to lose it in the ethereal world. (Cyberspace)

Love, BM

 

[A Reel Person]

Well,...

It's a good idea, and I'm glad you understand all the ins & outs like that, & can explain it so the average non-user can comprehend.

One thing, regardless of all the other tech we've covered,... mailing around a CDr is way better (less expensive & safer) than mailing around a 1" reel of tape,... which as you know, weighs nearly a ton, and can be damaged easily.

Thanx again for the followup!!

Good on'ya!

Peace!

 

[philboyd studge]

Correct Dave. No uploads, no downloads. Please remember how vulnerable intelectual property can be. you cannot send wave files. However, there are two ways material gets to the CD burner. Backup files and mastered (final mixed). Though data can't be transmitted via email, unfinished data can be stored to disk and later retrieved and/or sent to all corners of the globe for additions, edits, or whatever. You send me your (unfinished (W/O keyboard stuff) material, I do my thing on the disk, I then send it to KoolCat, etc.etc. until the piece is ready to be mixed, mastered and finalized. You can always make backup copies of the backup files. CDrs are cheap and it gives you hard copy so as never to lose it in the ethereal world. (Cyberspace)

Love, BM

Do you actually master and finalize on the 2488? I find it impossible not to do it on the computer.

 

[BMWerks]

Do you actually master and finalize on the 2488? I find it impossible not to do it on the computer.

Yes. You actually 1, pre-master, 2, master and finalize to CDr and get to keep the work on board the 2488 up to about 20 songs @ 24 tracks ea. @ about 5-10 minutes each. Store your files to CDr for rework/edit later on etc to make room on the hard drive for more stuff.

 

[A Reel Person]

You rule the school, Werks!

Thanx again, & riff on without me, while I just watch!

All you guys are great contributors to this thread, IMO. I've learned a lot!

 

[philboyd studge]

Yes. You actually 1, pre-master, 2, master and finalize to CDr and get to keep the work on board the 2488 up to about 20 songs @ 24 tracks ea. @ about 5-10 minutes each. Store your files to CDr for rework/edit later on etc to make room on the hard drive for more stuff.

I just use it as a sort of way station. When I've got the stereo mix I want it's run unto sound forge and fool around with it some there then make 16bit wav. files for cd's. Though I try to have good product going in and minimize processing, I can't work in the same detail on the 2488, even if it had a color monitor.

As to storage, I'm pretty lazy. If I like the songs and I want to save them, I keep them on the hard drive. When it fills up, I put a new one in. My 788 has 3 hard drives and it's easier and faster than uploading from disc. So far there's plenty of room left on the 2488.

 

[A Reel Person]

See, 'studge,... I'd never want to record, mix or produce in any way on the 'puter.

However, I am, through the course of this thread, warming up to the 2488 & 788, too.

The 2488's a heck of a lot of bang for your buck & small package, and the 788's just downright cute.

Still, I will stick with the idea, that in my own case, I just need to produce something with what I already have. Speaking strictly for myself,... that's where my goals & best value lies.

Thanx for kickin' into the discussion some very good points, on & on.

Riff on, my bruthas!

 

[philboyd studge]

However, I am, through the course of this thread, warming up to the 2488 & 788, too.

The 2488's a heck of a lot of bang for your buck & small package, and the 788's just downright cute.

Still, I will stick with the idea, that in my own case, I just need to produce something with what I already have. Speaking strictly for myself,... that's where my goals & best value lies.

Thanx for kickin' into the discussion some very good points, on & on.

Riff on, my bruthas!

Tascam is pretty faithful to their logic in the way things are laid out, so if you came from the 144 4 track cassette days like I did, the daw's don't seem all that hard to figure out. Plus, after running several multi tracking programs, I could never warm up to the computer for recording. Editing is another matter.

I've gotta agree that it's almost always better to 'run what you brung'....to borrow from my drag racing days. Like guitars or golf clubs, there's always something better out there, but the fit is more important.

 

[A Reel Person]

So true, so true.

Thanx again!

 

[BMWerks]

Tascam is pretty faithful to their logic in the way things are laid out, so if you came from the 144 4 track cassette days like I did, the daw's don't seem all that hard to figure out. Plus, after running several multi tracking programs, I could never warm up to the computer for recording. Editing is another matter.

I've gotta agree that it's almost always better to 'run what you brung'....to borrow from my drag racing days. Like guitars or golf clubs, there's always something better out there, but the fit is more important.

Right! philboyd, couldn't have said it clearer! Well put!

Why spend dollars after dollars for gear just to keep up with the technologies? Don't you need to get really, really good with that ukulele? I mean, know the thing inside and out, up and down before you "graduate" on to bigger and better things like a six string guitar? I mean, please correct me if I'm wrong here, the idea of "technology" IS relative. Is it not? I mean, unless you've totally "exhausted" every last ounce of creativity and inspiration you can get out of your ukulele, isn't it rather frivolous to go and make Tascam, Yamaha, Roland, and every other music tech. Co. rich? I mean, when is "enough, enough"? The Japanese need to take some respopnsibility for causing us poor musicians to keep chasing after the proverbial "carrot". Pisses me off.

That's why it took me so long to graduate from my T-1 Korg. I just refused to keep throwing money after money down the technology tube. I realized that, that was exactly what those tech companies, Sam Ash, and everbody else wanted me for. They could give a rat's ass about the actual music I was creating. Why do you think there's so little support when things go wrong? They're not invested in your musical success. They'll just tell you what you want to hear so long as you "make the purchase".

Sounds rough eh?

Well, graduate I did. After doing my homework pre-purchase this time around, after exausting every last bit of inspiration out of my M-2516 mixer, my T-SR8 1/2 in. reel to reel 8 trk and my Korg T-1, I fell for the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88, the Rolland XV-2020 voices, the Yamaha QY100 sequencer and a new pair of AKG m240s cans. That's it. I'm done. I'm dragin' my lazy ass on the ground and refusing to chases the carrot anymore.

Good news though, It's about time I upgraded. My music has never sounded better. Sure there's learning curves. Yes I get a little frustrated at times. But the reading is good and I'm finding all kinds of sonic surprises with the 2488. Which by the way is the center of my home studio universe.

Thanks for being there guys. Have to go to the MIDI section of our forum to mine some knowlege and wisdom from there concerning my QY100.

Love you guys!