Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!samsung!uunet!aurs01!whitcomb
From: whitcomb@aurs01.uucp (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Tascam 488 Portastudio
Message-ID: <59586@aurs01.UUCP>
Date: 18 Feb 91 21:26:05 GMT
Sender: news@aurs01.UUCP
Distribution: usa
Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC
Lines: 48

Has anyone checked out or read a review of the new Tascam
488 portastudio?  I have been interested in the 688 
Midi studio for a while, but if the 488 is a decent
unit, I may spring for it instead.

From what I could gather, it has the following features:

-8 track cassette tape: same heads and transport as the 688.

-8 mono mixer inputs and 2 stereo inputs.  The first two 
   channels have a trim adjustment, and the first channel 
   may be exempted from noise reduction for use as a synch 
   track.

-Dolby C noise reduction.

-Only 4 tracks may be recorded at a time.

-Line inputs only (no balanced inputs).

-2 stage EQ per channel (vs. 3 for the 688).

-2 mutually exclusive effects sends per channel.

-No MIDI scenes.

-List price $1599.00.

Most of this information is from phone conversations with music
dealers, and the only literature I've seen is the Ad in this
month's EM, which is mostly hype, few details.  None of the local
music dealers have them in stock, so some feedback and local prices
would be very useful!  I'd also like to hear what 688 owners think
about their machines.  The 688 costs more than twice as much...
is it worth it?

Thanks.







**********************************************************************
Jonathan Whitcomb                    UUCP: <...!mcnc!aurgate!whitcomb>
(919) 850-6231                       I'm not a software engineer,
Raleigh, NC                          but I play one on TV.