Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!pacbell.com!pacbell!rtech!ingres!bonobo
From: bonobo@ingres.com (David Bonobo)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: Tascam 488 Portastudio
Keywords: portastudio
Message-ID: <1991Feb22.014059.27264@ingres.Ingres.COM>
Date: 22 Feb 91 01:40:58 GMT
References: <59586@aurs01.UUCP>
Reply-To: bonobo@Ingres.COM (David Borgman)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501
Lines: 31

In article <59586@aurs01.UUCP> whitcomb@aurs01.uucp (Jonathan Whitcomb) writes:
>Has anyone checked out or read a review of the new Tascam
>488 portastudio?  I have been interested in the 688 

>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?

>Jonathan Whitcomb                    UUCP: <...!mcnc!aurgate!whitcomb>

I too was very interested in the 688 when I was looking around for an 8-track
setup.  Since I trigger so much MIDI crap from a sequencer (just what the 688
was designed for), I figured the only problem would be the sound quality for
vocals and acoustic (you know, manual ;-) instruments.  The other choices
for tape transports included their beefy open-reel TSR-8, and the Fostex 
8-track stuff.  I listened to everything out there (except Otari, out of my
price range), and I have to say, there is many a day when I wished I bought
a 688.  The sound quality was quite nice, and so many handy things are built
into that unit (you know more than I do about the 488 features).

There are a few things you should consider.  For one thing, when you move to
a larger format tape (such as open reel), you not only get better fidelity,
but you are no longer depending on the transport mechanism of the cassette
in any way (thought Tascam claims to have solved that problem).  If there
are imprefections in the tape itself, they are masked by the faster tape 
speed (usually 15ips, as opposed to 1 3/4 ips).  Of course, these big reels
of tape are not cheap, and I know personally that they tend to discourage
quick changes of reels (from  a "production" reel to a "demo" reel, for example).
That's where cassette format and the scene memorization come in really handy 
with the 688; lightning-fast setups!  Just some thoughts...

-David


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