Why I LOVE The Tascam 388
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- My name is Matthew Melton and I LOVE the Tascam 388. It was introduced by Tascam in 1985 and was the world's first 8 track 1/4" multitrack TAPE recorder and mixer combination. I have been using this machine to make records for over a decade and I wouldn't use anything else! If you are looking to get into analog tape recording, then this is a great machine to get. Thanks for checking out the video!
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#tascam388
I don't know anything about music recording, but I love these comfy chats
Pond may love having one of these
great sentence
its all they want for Christmas
I really hope Santa finally delivered
this is the year! Santa will fulfill their wish this year
It's such a good sounding machine, and it just shines with good songwriting like yours!
you’re like a cool version of uncle rico and your music sounds wonderful. i’d love to have one of these. i’m happy with my 414 right now, but i think working with thicker tape and more tracks would open a lot of creative possibilities. you have my subscription
I used to work with a Tascam M-308 into a Pioneer RT-707 1/4" 4-track reel to reel back in the early 90s so I know "that sound" very well. I recorded everything from heavy metal, rock, blues, jazz, and country projects on that gear and loved every second of it. The thought processes that went into using the gear to get the most out of it was a welcome challenge. Rock on Matthew and thanks for the video!
My Tascam 388 sets basically idle as of today. I purchased mine back in mid 80’s. Used for radio commercial demos…..A very interesting machine…..I always loved the DBX….Noise reduction…..It has a sound of its own……..Thanks for the great videos. You manage the machine well.
i've recorded a good bit on a 388, a few albums worth of material. i've found that while it can sound surprisingly good, its form factor makes it incredibly cumbersome, moreso than just having a separate machine and a mixer. i've also found it incredibly difficult to perform repairs on for this reason, compared to something like an otari mx5050. theres loads of hype around it, as there is with tape in general, and while some of that hype is justified for what is a fun and quirky machine, i still believe the only reason it is popular is because a lot of great diy records were made on it, records that would have been great no matter what machine it was done on. just my 2¢.
what would you say were the best DIY records done on it?
@@davidbothwell9669 another one by Mac DeMarco.
It does sound lovely how the channels blend together on tape.
I bought my first tascam 388 because of this video. It is in mint condition but does not work because the control board eprom is dead. I have to wait until this eprom or a whole control board pops up somewhere. Since the mixer is working I made a necessary mod to it: Connecting the line-ins with the mic-ins internally. This way I can adjust the line-in levels with the mic-in potentiometers.
I need the line-ins because my music is mainly sequencer based 70s and 80s electronic music. Btw the price of this machine was 800 euros. Keep up the good work. Love your music and sound.
Yay! It’s great to see YOU! Awesome video! It was really interesting to learn about some of the challenges that become opportunities for more creativity. I think you are absolutely right about that and I agree. It’s fascinating how creativity can come from limitation. It’s hard to find that kind of sound anymore with new albums. I dig it I think it’s really cool and sounds more authentic. Nice to see ya again and hope to see more videos and can’t wait for your new album! Best wishes and prayers on making it happen. DREAM MACHINE!!!🤙🏻😇🎉
Hey Matthew! Glad I found you! I bought mine used in 1993 loved it, recorded 100's of projects, sold it around 1995,check this out, the guy that I sold it to called me up and said if I wanted it to come get it no charge! Well you know I'm happy! Where can I get parts for it? He said it played back fine, but needed a recording head. Thanks Matthew
all those records sound dope man
"Tape Monitoring Striping tracks" Not sure what this is called but instead of recording onto tape, rewinding, playing the tape back into your DAW for further mastering, you can just PLay your DAW into your tape machine, set your tape machine monitor to monitor the "tape" instead of the input, this allows you to simultaneously have your DAW recording and will essentially "analog-ize" those previously digitally recorded tracks. Also saves you a ton of tape if you just record digitally - fix everything - sum to tape, or just drums, or just vocal - using the monitor from tape option. Of course there is usually about a 300-400ms delay on the recorded track so you would have to adjust accordingly. But this method is amazing if you want to have 32 analog tracks but only have an 8 track machine. Or if you just want to save on tape costs. Also you can experiment quicker with tape sounds, degraded tape, lofi effects etc...
I don't know how I got here but i'm glad I found your channel! Dope AF!
Awesome sound and music! Your philosophy is also very well explained. Thank you for the video. The Ableton in the back of this tape recorder makes cool postmodern look for all this.
Please make some kind of workflow masterclass, it so interesting to see how you integrating this recorder in your working process.
I was just talking about the 388 with my wife this morning, then you upload this video. IT's LIkE yOuR rEaDinG My mInD mAN!!!!!!!
I just came here because I have been wanting one of these for a minute but I got a bonus of hearing great music! Nice tunes!
I love my 388 but it still kind of mystifies me. Understanding the divide between the tracks and monitoring situation, how the headphone out effects the master out, the difference of routing with the red LR buttons vs the track select buttons only etc. I've read the manual, but I don't know why it still confuses me.
I loved using the 388 on my last record. I’m using it for my 3rd album too.
Awesome video man!
Absolutely right about having unlimited tracks, and plugins at your disposal, as with DAWS...It's so easy to go overboard, and smother what otherwise would be a much truer sound. 8 track is a great medium, especially from a creative aspect. I'll never leave analog 100%, and if I could find one of these beauties, I'd snap it up on a second.
Thanks for the great video, and love you guys!👍👍👍
Great stuff, I want a 388 so bad, thanks! 💀🔥🎙️
You gotta get one, so worth it
Wish they still made these. I think I'd like 1/4" tape, seems like a good medium in between cassette and full size pro reels.
All i want for Christmas is a tascam 388
Its worth having a look up "Brothers Nylon" and their 388 recordings. If theres one genre that was made for this beast, its what their playing. Theres a definate sound to these things, and its a good sound, organic, and warm with a pleasingly crunchy saturation when you redline it. This thing is the opposite of digital, and sometimes thats exactly what you need. And yeah, the tape workflow is awesome for getting shit done. Theres no room for endless DAW noodling, you need to be your best self and commit. The end result is goddam worth it.
edit! YES , a youtube-jesus endorsement. I love that guy, way more fun than his space counterpart.
Coming across your channel regarding the Tascam 388 (and subscribing) is great; however, each video reminds me how sorry I am I sold my 388 only two years after buying it in 1985 or early 1986. I happened to be at the music store when they received their first one and had just set it out. I bought it and had it loaded in my car before I believe any other customer or even some of the store workers got a peek at it. An even way bigger blunder was my failure to purchase a 388 I saw listed on Reverb a couple years ago. It was even located in the city where I live and was a steal of a price. I was just afraid of (1) possible wrath from my wife for more equipment purchased; and, (2) going back down that enticing rabbit hole of recording, knowing the 388 would just be the beginning; next would come more mics, compressors, etc etc; and then spending all my spare time recording. Man, I sure wish I’d have bought it. So glad your helping keep analog recording alive on such a great piece of equipment.
Cool story! Wow, that would have been something to behold. I've made many albums/ recorded many albums with the Tascam 388 and swear by it. Fun and forgiving machine! My early records (bare wires + warm soda) I had no idea what I was doing but they still came out alright! Just picked up a Tascam 42 to master down onto
(Btw, only reason I parted with the 388 is because software for home studio recording was coming out and I didn’t think anyone would continue paying me to record demos when they could do them themselves at home on their PC).
Warm Soda....totally dig that tune. I love the old school fuzz to the sound if that is a good word to use. great mix and i want one of these Tascam 388! Great videos sir.
All I want for Christmas is a Tascam 388.
Honestly, I know nothing about recording. But I love the sound of the Dream Machine music. I especially love the texture of the vocals. Are the vocals the result of the Tascam 388 ?
Very cool looking machine. I have a TOA MRT8. And I've been using that for nearly 10 years. Sounds pretty good too.
Dude Tascam is so good and your music is so awesome
Dude ! Your making awesome music with this thing ! Keep it up !
Hi Guys - I enjoy your videos very much, especially the Tascam 388 tips. I just purchased a Tascam 388 and your vides have been a tremendous help. Also appreciate your recommendation of the Yamaha HS5 monitors. Keep up the good work, and please share any more tidbits of the Tascam 388 for us "new" users. Thanks!
love the eq on this machine.
the album public strain by women was recorded on one of these
The promo by Jesus Christ at the end is my favorite part about this video. I definitely don't want to go to Hell.
I want one so badly it actually hurts ; )
I know the feeling I just moved to Europe and I've been able to get my American machine to work.
I know it’s unrelated but I love everything about you
Beautiful Demonstration and Music!! Well done, I kinda want one now lol
Your material sounds good.
That music sounds amazing
Love em. I have 2. One in my home studio, and the other under my bed.
would you be willing to part with one of em? haha
I know nothing about before clicking the link, And now I want one!
My only connection to one of these is having been in a band that recorded on one in 1991... But I've always thought it was a cool machine. The samples of stuff you've recorded sounded great. I mean, sonically, for about as much as you could exploit the 388, but the music itself was really good.
You're 100% correct. The TONE that your mixes have is super cool.
Do you have the ability to midi control another separate Tascam tape machine? If so, you could use more tracks to get a little more lo-mid's from the drums. Then you would still have the sweet spot from your guitar, bass, and vocals.
Also, can you bypass the mixer channels and use independent mix preamp? If yes, this would allow you to use tube preamp and some other preamp topologies (to help broaden the colors you attain). Even at that, do you have the ability patch in separate signal chains to access either EQ's or Compressors? Man this would be incredible! You could maximize the versatility available to you.
But another way to access those signal chain varieties and signal flow is to buy a Tascam 38 or a Tascam MS-16. Then you still have the fundamental sweet spot for the Tascam tape tones (similar to the Tascam 388), but you have complete versatility in using any combinations of signal chain going into the tape machine "record heads" (from mic to the preamp and to the record tape head). Then also a different signal chain coming from the playback head and providing frequency fidelity for mixes that still have the hallmark sweet tone (in your examples in this video). But the drums and any transient based signals will have punch and more fidelity (e.g., lo-fi). It's an option, I'm not saying it's better, I'm saying that if your production techniques are designed around the artifacts of the hallmark Tascam medium, when you use more of the same medium (or more of the same material), the characteristics of the "medium" become more "pronounced" or evidential in the mixes.
I really like your personality and the way that you are able to describe your attraction to this tape medium and explain your hypothesis of the "what happens during the process". My man, "all I know is it's only rock-n-roll, but I like it".
I "liked" this video and I subscribed to your channel. I will stay in touch.
hey, really love what you do! Quick question. Do you run incoming signal through any compressors/equalizers/other hardware before the 388? Or just straight in? thanks!
I'm OLD GREEEEEEEG
Kimball McGary noooo hahaha
Very good
Man i love your style.
I had the Tascam Studio 8 for several years and loved it. However the mic pre's and EQ on it are on the budget line and when I started using API and Neve, both the pre's and EQs on the Tascam I didn't use anymore. Not to mention the difficulty buying good tape for it and the concern of the tape heads wear which would affect the quality of sound overtime.
So I sold it to Sam Ash and used the credit for some higher end mics. If you use it once in a while for nostalgic purposes it's fine
Still got my Tascam 388 from our first Album in 1986, remastering for Spotify right now. Martin Eley & Human Traveller
Cool!
this video is soothing
I'm really digging those vintage Brit sounds man!
Nice!!!
Love your music man!
i love how i'm the 555th like, and i'm sitting here in front of my 555 after just under a year of learning it
I have one but the motors stopped working😭 such a beautiful machine!
It might just be a old capstan belt. A cheap fix and you can replace it yourself - maybe $10 off ebay. Just flip it upside down, take all the screws out, remove the metal base plate and check the capstan out.
Call teac directly they can advise you where to get the motors fixed I had mine serviced a couple years by teac technicians not that it needed anything serious it's a great machine I've had mine for over 20 years closer to 30
Hey could you do a video outlining how the internal routing works and your specific workflow? I get confused between the L R and Monitor sections with the auto internal routing
Over the past few days I’ve become a huge fan of not only your channel but also your band. Just realized you recorded my buddy julians band!! What are the friggin odds. Is that you on the right in this cover?
Cool, what band was it?
Hi Mathew, thanks so much for making these videos. I just bough a Tascam 388 as I've been looking to bring more character to my recordings. I've always used digital interfaces into protools but I miss the character that vintage equipment has. I'd love to talk to you about how you incorporate the 388 into modern recording, I'm guessing you still transfer to digital at some point?
I'm feeling excited and for some reason kinda nervous about this new recording endeavor so any tips would be much appreciated. Thank you
cool
I see you're using Ableton here, but Logic in the newer vids, did you switch DAWs for any reason?
I reckon Guided By Voices must have had one of these things!🤘🏽
Could you make a video of a tracking session and demonstrate your workflow? I would love to see someone utilize the collapse function
You guys are sooooooo good! Probably the wrong place to ask but I’ll do it anyway. Do you guys tour? We would love to have you rock out in State College Pa. (Penn State) I’ll stop being lazy and look at your website or something. ok I’m babbling. Damn me. I got my 388 for $350. I win!!
How do you recommend mastering off of a 388? I just purchased one recently and I'm looking for advice!
Shit I just watched the end, I'm going to hell but I will listen to you guys there. Rock On !
Hey man love the channel. Love the idea of getting away from screens for music production… have my eye on a 388. Possible to produce everything on the 388 and just send LR to the computer for mastering? I hate the idea of sending all 8 channels, tweaking in the box and then mastering. Would appreciate any feedback. BRAD
This device is so good pond wrote a song about it
What song is that?
@@fuzzcityrecords432 All I want for Christmas - Pond
Hi can you tell me about that light blue audio rack in the back of some of your videos... It's very 1960s computer lab. Is it metal?
I stayed for the Ariel Pink reference
Check back for our Ariel Pink interview in a couple days
I own a 388 as well, done some cool stuff with it, but need to go deeper!
KILLER!
sounds cool, wish I had one. I use the KORG D32XD, digital of course but still cool.
What tape formulation? I am going to be acquiring a 388 this week and I am not sure which formulation of tape to get. If you could please advise. Thank you for the great videos on this amazing machine.
I've always sworn by the SM468 formula
www.ebay.com/itm/393237414767?hash=item5b8ec6c36f:g:nOsAAOSw19dcgC8I
LPR35 also works and you can get 1800' on a 7" reel, so more recording time www.ebay.com/itm/392889064291?hash=item5b7a035b63:g:CbkAAOSw6JhcWIlv
is it hard to find 1/4 inch tape? Also how many minutes is on a reel? Thanks!
No, thay will build! All ober the world people Work with Tape! (I also) from pro 2" 16 or 24 Track to Home recording from 1/4“ tabe 4 or 8 Track! Tapes we're build and can you buy new, cassettes also! And you can Press self lp's (Vinyl) but at 500 pices ! Or more! ...Hope that helps :) ...have fun with analog recording!
Loving your music! I have a Tascam 688 Midistudio which records 8 tracks to cassette tape. I love it and I use it because it helps me stay creative with the limitations of it. Do you have any tips on this particular machine? Thanks again and you guys are amazing.
Thanks for these interesting videos on the 388.
How have you found the upkeep on it overall?
Are there maintenance issues you run into?
Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This. What are the tape speed options?
7.5 ips but if you crank the pitch control you can get to 9 ips or thereabouts
Also, I had 2 of these synced together to give 16 tracks (minus 2 for the sync)
Whoa thats awesome!!!
You ever get crackling on the master buss? I love my 388 it's special, but aggh gotta get the repair guy to exorcise out that crackle! ;P
Yeah for sure, my 388 is having all sorts of tiny annoying issues and I have just been dealing with it. Time to go in for a checkup
Thank you Jesus. 👍😎🇨🇦
7 min without blinking!!! Love your channel though...
I just got one pretty cheap because they didn’t know if it was broken or not. Nothing happens when I hit play, but fast forward and rewind and all lights seems to work. Not sure what it is cause I don’t know anything about a 388 yet. How can I incorporate the 388 with Logic Pro x? Any advice on a interface? M-Audio just released the 8x4M which is thunderbolt but I haven’t seen any reviews yet on it
Hi Matt. 👍😎🇨🇦
What do you think of the preamps on the 388? Do you use outboard preamps when you record?
Love this Maschine! But i Love high end and Tube Tape maschines Alls! All is Important, from 100% analog to digital! ...Love, 1" 8track studer or ampex as Well! Btw my tascam MS 16 ist a dream Maschine to record, and Love to master about a 60s professionell Tube Tape Recorder (Not a cheep consumer Decks! )
Thoughts on a tascam 38 1/2 inch machine vs a tascam 388 1/4 inch machine?
Came for the hairstyle and moustache, stayed for the tape sound.
Nice sound! Do you record bands? Where are you?
I liked too much the three songs here in the video. So please, let me know how or where can I get them!! May be in Spotify??
Hi, What kind of reel tape would you recommend using with the 388 ?
have you recorded live takes with this? i.e. guitar, bass, drums, all at the same time
Where can i found the testing tape for it? it will be really helpful
I have one I want to sell in RI. . . I don't need it since I have a 1" reel to reel. Sounds like 1985 totally!
how much you looking to get?
@@fuzzcityrecords432 maybe about 1k. I'm going to retest function next week
First track (at 1:27) needs more cowbell!
The problem is when the motors start adding wow and fluttering issues tascam doesn't have any replacement parts so you would have to pay $2000 for another machine. You might have to record on an echoplex tape machine using the sound on sound mode modified by a tech to make the echoplex more like a tascam 388. Hendrix echoplex was modified so you can speed it up really fast and really slow which you can hear the first track on electric lady land. I think they changed the motor and added a varispeed control but anyway I would love tascam to come out with a new 388 model because tape has a certain compression. They make guitar pedals that have an audio transformers like the jensen transformers used in studio gear which adds more even harmonics and compression. If you put multiple audio transformers in series this adds more compression and even harmonics which all 60's thru 80's used. Lightning boy audio makes them check out the video czcams.com/video/cvu2h8OVaP8/video.html
Were the first two sample tracks with DBX on, and the third with DBX off?
All dbx off
I just recently switched to recording with DBX off because I realized it kills the tone, still struggling to manage all the extra tape hiss though, especially on quieter stuff. Might have to download one of those fancy FBI surveillance static removers like Izotope RX, but looking for a cheaper alternative.
@@christopherlute6365 I love DBX off but it only works for rock or not as quiet music. There is a $70 device at guitar center that reduces hum and electronic interference from your power source that is a big help
hey this video is wicked, thank you. I'm looking at one much should I be looking to spend? where do you get the tapes? and HOW do you get it to the final stage (vinyl, mp3, computer) THANKS... your songs and production just sold me on this
WHOA, I just found your rabbit hole of information! thank you. I guess my ONLY question then is how much I should expect to pay for one of these ? thanks a lot
@@dannygorman6164 hello hommie i have a tascam 388 studio 8 if you need it
@@drillbit748 how much are you looking for and where abouts are you? thanks
@@dannygorman6164 im from morocco and the prix is 1200 $
ah thanks anyways but I don't do overseas buying.
I love the EQ on my 388 but it only works in 'stereo out' when dumping to a computer. Is there any way to use the 8 channels out when transferring to digital and still have the EQ affect the sound???
Pgm outs
Hi Matthew, I have a project that I'm scared to tackle because of the unknowns and my lack of understanding of the Tascam 388. so here's the project... My Dad has recorded an album on it, he recently passed away, he had the opportunity to open up for Shakira, but he chose to stop writing music when his wife said "pick either the music or the family." It's a heart break story indeed, but now I have inherited the tascam 388 and have his reels and want to preserve them by transferring them into digital world and try and make them come to life as much as possible. I'm not sure how to do this transfer with keeping the highest quality possible. Any ideas?
Oh and I do have Protools X , and a lynx aurora 16 converter, and a shelford channel neve preamp and a few other goodies that I've been purchasing over the years... so i'm pretty sure i have all of the equipment i need, but just need to know how to do it... and the scariest part is how not to ruin his reels in the process... or how to help make sure they can stay preserved, or protected in the process...
Think you might be interested in lending me a hand?
@@skyluna_music wow what an amazing Tascam 388 story! Send me an e-mail at:
Fuzzcityrecords@gmail.com
I can help you out.
Matthew
@@fuzzcityrecords432 Awe wow you are freaking awesome thank you so much, I will shoot you an email now