Why I won't buy the Tascam 2488

[CoolCat]

Reel

I don't leave the house much.

I've decided the 2488 is too complicated for me.

REEL..with all that gear why would you leave home?
i never could find out what pre-amp chips were in the 2488?
did you ever hear or have a guess? just gearhead curious.

c'mon REEL..too difficult???
i'll bet $5,000Virtual fake dollars,
you'd have a tune on NWR off the 2488 in less than a week,
maybe a day. (test drives are free!!! 30day full refund)

The B-Maestro..
i hear it...look forward to your inputs each day.
this is like a "live" training course on the 2488.....
with fun homework.

on the CD-r's you use silver or blue back? just wonderin.

anyway,back to the homework..
i been getting more accustomed to
"dry- non-flabbered-boosted EQing" tracking....
its new, strange being dry but playback is better translation and
easier, but yet kinda unfinished.

Mixing skills man, i played a little (and got side tracked).. but
maybe i'm missin' somethin obvious, i try panning and stuff and
just can't seem to get the bass and other things in there without
the MUD. Each player/instrument sounds fine on its own????
this physics sound stuff is crazy.

dropping things in and out (mute) is something i've never done
alot of...

it's Friday... class time at the 2488..whoohooo!
.
2488- doesn't have metal plugs. recommend a patch bay thing/or permanent
cable to prevent messing up the XLR/TRS jacks on the unit... (kinda goes for any piece i guess?
.

 

[Beck]

Now,... to record something! That's always the hard part! Buying stuff is easy!

You can say that again.

 

[CoolCat]

2488 driving along...Backing-up

So B, what is it I'm missing?

my understanding is the 2488 requires USB to backup
a song keeping the raw-tracks in seperate form?
(Raw Tracks= Track 1= Vocal, Track 2= guitar etc..)
Then I could reload and finish it up at another time, or add to
it, say add a harmonica track later.

On my old MD8 for example, I would have 8-Tracks (1=vocal, 2=guitar..etc..)
when I pulled out the minidisc, it was still in "raw" form.

Maybe terminology confusion?
Tascam first goes to = CREATE A SONG
but then Tascam calls the group of mastered songs= Tracks
(like on a consumer store bought CD...SONG 1= TRACK 1..you can
download or backup TRACKS but its actually a Mastered/2track version?)

I hope saving the recording in "raw track" form can be done without a
computer/USB.

SONG,TRACKS, MASTERED,PREMASTERED,CHANNELS,2TRACK,RAWTRACK,

green eggs and ham?

.

 

[CoolCat]

recording is a fun hell

You can say that again.

sometimes all i want is to plug in a mic and hit play/rec.
i don't want to fhkng determine the acoustic fledge of the mic's
polar consortium frequency graph....

i been doing alot of Vox and Acoustic only lately...it's simple and fun.

no effects, no falnging, no chorusingechoverberatiosn...

you ever listened to some of the new bluegrass sht, it's clean, simple,
no flangingwirly,sonic trickery and the recordings are just "crisp"....
yeah I listen to Slipknot too
and its awesome, but they must have a monster-recording chain
to get all the stuff & effects, loops, sonic tricks to sound that clear and pumped.



.

 

[BMWerks]

Kiss

Mixing skills man, i played a little (and got side tracked).. but
maybe i'm missin' somethin obvious, i try panning and stuff and
just can't seem to get the bass and other things in there without
the MUD. Each player/instrument sounds fine on its own????
this physics sound stuff is crazy

OK Cool, this one's easy.

Listen carefully. Make one track, mono or stereo, what ever you record on it, the performance. (remember?) Make the track, the whole track and nothing but the track, so help you Cool, the greatest perforance there ever was known to mankind.

Then, when you're completely (from top to bottom) satisfied with the "perfoarmance", Put another guy in there to accompany (support) the main guy. Remember, it's NOT about the gear. It's all about the performance. No mater how high tech we get, it's always going to boil down to the performance.

So, Forget everything you've ever learned about gear and instruments and technology and studio outboard gear and all that crap. How do you document your preformances? Don't let the tail wag the dog!

Step back and start from scratch with a brand new attitude!

If the bass player has a great grove and is saying something really fine, give him the wheel. Let the bass player "perform". Then craft the other guys around him. Who ever it is, really saying something, give her the ranes. There is always a time when the term "support" when accomodating another player can be invoked.

To me, it sounds like some of the cats in the band aren't respecting oneanother. STOP THE REHERSAL!!! Tweeking, adjusting knobs, panning, EQing, adding reverb, FX, compression, limiters, and all the desk technique in the world won't produce a "performance". You gotta support the cats really making the performance. And the masking issues normally dissapear.

So. bite the bullet. You have the gear. Tools. Equipment. Thrust your passion into your music (don't sweat the small stuff. The technical shit with take care of it's self when you're trully imersed.) and stop complaining about the "gear". Are you an artist or, are you a grease monkey gearhead? The gear can't possibly make the music. But, the music most definately makes the gear.

With these tips in mind, you should be noticing some of that "Muddiness" go away. Remember this too. "KISS". (keep it simple stupid) Always worked for me.

That's the lesson for the day Cool. KISS.

 

[CoolCat]

greasy monkey business

greasey monkey gearhead? doh!

love it man. agree with it all. i'd add to it..but you said it all.

made me laugh for some reason... greasy monkey..hahahaaa

 

[BMWerks]

greasey monkey gearhead? doh!

love it man. agree with it all. i'd add to it..but you said it all.

made me laugh for some reason... greasy monkey..hahahaaa

Hope I didn't offend anybody out there.

 

[CoolCat]

Keep it stupid simple

not me... i truly loved the post, one of the best.

the wording had me laughing so much I called my brother long distance
and we both laughed..and then discussed recording...and breaking our
old bad habits.

i spent some time trying to learn about downloading/uploading.

i wound up taking a "mastered 2488" CD, then taking it to the
pc, then converting the "song/track1" to MP3 (pain in the ass)...
then I thought I'd re-download GoldWave and level it
and bring up the volume...but oh,no....

it was download after download to get the free trial bllsht software,
then it was new to learn, then after i started getting the hang of
the GoldWave..it started getting a "pop-up" that wouldn't
let me proceed anymore!! unless I paid like a toll-charge or buy the
software???

and then in the end i thought, "oh well made some good progress..
downloaded a 2488 to a MP3!!..."

but the MP3 was locked out in the GoldWave free trial...

I recommend just going to a store buying a Hard CD of WAV to MP3etc..
Converter...thats what I'll be doing... leaving right now actually.

I have to take the tollway to get there tho.

 

[BMWerks]

Download/upload/crossload MP3s? What?

I don't get it Cool. Just keep laughing tho. We think that's a good sign.

Use the cheapest CD-Rs, as long as they're factory packaged and are a known brand and don't have labels on them.

Have you found a way to backup your 2488 tracks W/out using a USB connection yet Cool? Or are you still trying to cross pollenate?

Oh! I get it now. You're trying to make MP3 files from your 2488 backups to send via internet. Am I close?

 

[A Reel Person]

Did'ya see my new toy??

Think this M-520 would make a good front end to the MF-P01 or 124AV?
................

 

[BMWerks]

Free 4 track cassette recorder!!!!

Hey Dave, I'm pretty sure the M-520 has a built-in MF P-01. If you look in the back, you'll find a blank plate W/ four screws. Take the plate off and inside you'll find it. It's small and pulls out on drawer slides. They also give you two blank 90 min.cassetts.

Unless ofcourse, you bought the earlier model M-520 that didn't come with it.
Don't feel bad though, my 2488 was one of the first ones off the assembly line and won't upgrade the download software they're saying can be done.

 

[CoolCat]

REEL PartV:the gearheads that wouldn't leave the party

I don't get it Cool. Just keep laughing tho. We think that's a good sign.

Use the cheapest CD-Rs, as long as they're factory packaged and are a known brand and don't have labels on them.

Have you found a way to backup your 2488 tracks W/out using a USB connection yet Cool? Or are you still trying to cross pollenate?

Oh! I get it now. You're trying to make MP3 files from your 2488 backups to send via internet. Am I close?

yeah, i been away, just got back
..had zero time to do anything fun (in recording anyway).

I haven't got the "backup- homework" done yet.
i don't really know why i do somethings, the MP3?

i'm still confused.. and reading the manual didn't get me the
direction i needed for the backup of individual instrument tracks.
maybe tonight, tomorrow.. top of the list.

hands on training, you make it sound easy- .
.

 

[BMWerks]

Single track or fullblown

Welcome back Cool!!

"i'm still confused.."
"I haven't got the "backup- homework" done yet."

Like everything else in this world, It's only easy when you know how.
Please allow me to help you out here a little.
Providing you have successfully "mastered" some program material to your song screen, you may backup your files. IE., tracks, whole songs, guitar licks, vocals, farts or whatever. Remember, I can edit everything on my 2488 that you backup on these files when you send me the CDs. How cool is that?!? A?

From the 2488 main screen;

1. Press the menu button.
2. Use the wheel or cursor to jog to the right, highlite "data backup".
3. Press enter/yes button.
4. Highlite "CD Backup".
5. Press enter/yes button.
6. Put a blank CD in the drawer, wait for the screen to change then press yes/enter button.

Whatever the last song you were working on was, will be highlited. However, you can chose any individual "song" on the song list you want to be backed up. All data on that song will be written "backed up" to CD as a backup file whether it's a single track only or a full-blown orchestration.

7. Press enter/yes button. (A window appears telling you how many CDs it will take to backup the song data).
8. Press the yes/enter button for the last time and the data starts loading to the first CD.

Be patient here. It takes a long time to backup files. The drawer will open when complete. You CANNOT play these CDs on a regular CD player. They are only for storage, future tracking and editing.

The 2488 is not just a digital recorder. It's a whole freakin studio with a tiny footprint. Be patient. Learn. Have fun!

Hope this has been of some help Cool.
You'll never come away from this alive.

 

[A Reel Person]

Aaaaaaagggghhhhh! Too complicated!!!

I'll await your smash album, "Tascam Comes Alive!"

 

[CoolCat]

2488...

The 2488 is not just a digital recorder. It's a whole freakin studio with a tiny footprint. Be patient. Learn. Have fun!

Hope this has been of some help Cool.
You'll never come away from this alive.

thanks for taking the time, great thread again. great help.

i understand now that the unit can do this..very sweet function.
so "back-ups" is individual tracks...very,very happy about this.
a CD-R much cheaper than more hard-drive space.

i'm not a ME so it's not like i have huge memory storage needs anyway.
but it's common to work maybe two or three tunes/ideas at the same time
to prevent burn out on one of course. Simple Back-up is peace of mind too.

yes, I've seen the Back-up Icon just never went there yet.
soo coolllll.... thanks for the info.


.

 

[BMWerks]

Too Complicated.

I'll await your smash album, "Tascam Comes Alive!"

wuzup Reel?

I would bet your guitar licks are more complicated that the 10-15 steps necessary to execute a project on the 2488.

 

[CoolCat]

The REEL 2488 thread

I'll await your smash album, "Tascam Comes Alive!"

Analoging is smooth...

but REEL ..........

I'll bet you could Track all over this baby without a
problem. it's so simple.

24track/24bit.... plug in and go... red light/green light.

it'd be great to have your inputs and findings here too.

30day returns? hmm? yes?? nothing lost nothing gained....
what the hell!!! REEL's 30-day Testdrive (with true comparison to Analog 24track recording...It'd be Awesome!!

 

[A Reel Person]

Testdrive of the 2488 with true comparison to Analog 24track recording...It'd be Awesome!!

Yeah, that probably would be awesome. Some other day, maybe.

 

[BMWerks]

Tooooo Complicccccacacatededed!!!!

Yeah, that probably would be awesome. Some other day, maybe.

Dave. Dave? DAVE!

Set up a museum. An analog museum. Charge an admission. Say, $3 or $4 to get in. Be the curator and explain how in the olden days what a pain in the ass it used to be to track, mix and master client's recordings while they were all the time asking the producer and engineer; "What the hell's taking so long you guys between takes"?

When clarity and definition no longer become important to me when I'm recording, I will switch back to analog for all the "warm and fuzzy" (distortion) that was impossible to control. Why couldn't I get my levels up and have my masters sound loud? Because every time I "cranked" the levels I would hear more and more distortion. And, so would everybody else.

For me, It was give it all up or, tune in to what technology had to offer me to find solutions to these problems. But, that's just me.

Cool, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

 

[cjacek]

Analog and Digital are COMPLETELY different tools to get a job of recording music done. To get there, I prefer the Analog route, BY FAR! However, I feel getting one's point accross is fine but I think it a futile attempt to try to convert someone to Analog or Digital if that someone is not open to the idea. In my mind, it just wastes time and energy.

See you at the Analog Only forum then ....

~Daniel