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From: bierman@davidsys.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.music
Subject: Re: Tascam 238 8-track cassette
Message-ID: <12062@davidsys.com>
Date: 6 Apr 91 23:58:38 GMT
References: <11925@davidsys.com> <1991Apr6.065301.10704@bradley.bradley.edu>
Organization: DAVID Systems Inc, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 63

In article <1991Apr6.065301.10704@bradley.bradley.edu>, engineer@buhub.bradley.edu (Aslan) writes:
> bierman@davidsys.com writes:
> 
> 
>>Does anyone out there have any experience using the Tascam 238
>>8-track cassette recorder?  I'm thinking of buying one, and
>>I can't find any reviews on it...
> 
> I've heard that putting anything more on a standard cassette than 
> four tracks isn't good.....It leaves too little space between tracks,
> doesn't allow enough space for each tracks info, and you might
> experience "bleeding" between tracks....You might want to think about
> reel or DAT if you're going for the 8-track.....
> 
> :-)
> tim

I've just finished reading all the responses I received on the Tascam 238,
(thanks to everyone who replied!) and crosstalk was not a major concern.
( > 70 dB when the DBX is used). I think the 238 uses a technique called
"Skewed Azimuth Recording" (?) to improve channel separation,
which requires that the heads be in very good alignment at all times.

Summary of replies:
There was some question as to how well the 238 stayed in alignment,
and how easy it was to align yourself (you need a dual-trace
scope, etc.), but most people loved the 238 they bought. It seems
to work real well with the Alesis 1622 mixer (4 replies) and as part
of the Tascam 688 console (same deck).

Major pluses:
    * clean sound
    * no crosstalk
    * cheap tape ($5 cassette vs. about $35 for 1/2" tape)
    * capable of being controlled by time-code generator (Midi-izer)
    * having 4 more tracks is better than 'twice as good'
      (than a 4 track deck). The extra tracks allow you to give
       more instruments post-processing, and control mix-downs better.
      (Using dual 24-tracks would have the same effect :-)  )

But I still have a couple of questions before being totally sold.
(I'm almost sold.)

1) How well do tapes recorded on one deck play back on a different one?

2) Can the deck be controlled by a management module/software OTHER
   than the Tascam Midi-izer (i.e. does Tascam publish the protocol) ?

I have an Alesis 1622, and will probably buy one of these decks, for
the same reason I bought the mixer--I can't justify (or afford)
spending $3000 - $5000 for a pro deck. I'm putting together a
portable 8-track studio in a shock-mounted rack, and I don't
even have room for a reel-to-reel. (I think the 238 is 4U)
I want the deck in the same rack as the mixer and the patchbays.

So there's just one last question...

Where's a good place to buy one of these (music store, catalog,etc.) ?

thanks for all your help,

--andy;
bierman@davidsys.com