So I'm not gonna let this thread just die already, because I have yet another question. Ebay is so funny sometimes.....but my question:

Can you sync together two 388's with smpte? If so, has anyone here done this, and what do I need to do it?


If anyone's curious as to how I got in this scenario, I'll be happy to type it out.

unarmedman wrote:So I'm not gonna let this thread just die already, because I have yet another question. Ebay is so funny sometimes.....but my question:

Can you sync together two 388's with smpte? If so, has anyone here done this, and what do I need to do it?


If anyone's curious as to how I got in this scenario, I'll be happy to type it out.

I have never done it, even though I owned 2 of them at one time. But you can sync them, they actually have a tascam sync cable that connects them. That would be cool!

Are you still looking for the manual? Sorry but I still haven't talked to the guy. i've been busy trying to move. I will still ask him though if you still need it.

I have never done it, even though I owned 2 of them at one time. But you can sync them, they actually have a tascam sync cable that connects them. That would be cool!

Are you still looking for the manual? Sorry but I still haven't talked to the guy. i've been busy trying to move. I will still ask him though if you still need it.

Hey - I ordered the manual through tascam (thank you Hiwatt for the suggestion!)

Unfortunately, it's on backorder, so I have to wait a few weeks. No biggie.

Do you know what cable type connects the two 388's?

hmm, not sure off the top of my head. Certainly it will say in the manual though. Good luck with this. I'd like to see a picture of the two, side by side in action, wow, what a beast that will be! awesome.

hey guys - recording a bit last night and the day before and a problem came up:


Track 1 is getting signal to tape, but nothing on playback - I degaussed the heads, but to no effect.

If I remember correctly, on saturday (while recording a pop-punk band), the signal was just way lower than I recorded it, and yesterday, it was just completely gone, or at least under -20VU, which is well below my noise floor.

Lucky for the dudes yesterday (an avant garde jazz trio), the kick drum came out nicely from the m-s pair, but for the pop punk guys, if that punchy kick is gone, they'll wring my neck.

I will take the following troubleshooting measures today after work:
1. try a different tape.
2. flip the tape over and see if the signal never made it to tape, or the #1 playback just isnt reading it.

Any insights? Im using GP-9. I've never had the heads checked out or aligned. This problem happened when I first got the machine, but it went away after I degaussed it for the first time.

I'd ask on the Tascam forums if they didnt disappear.

Thanks!

wiggins wrote:hey guys - recording a bit last night and the day before and a problem came up:


Track 1 is getting signal to tape, but nothing on playback - I degaussed the heads, but to no effect.

If I remember correctly, on saturday (while recording a pop-punk band), the signal was just way lower than I recorded it, and yesterday, it was just completely gone, or at least under -20VU, which is well below my noise floor.

Lucky for the dudes yesterday (an avant garde jazz trio), the kick drum came out nicely from the m-s pair, but for the pop punk guys, if that punchy kick is gone, they'll wring my neck.

I will take the following troubleshooting measures today after work:
1. try a different tape.
2. flip the tape over and see if the signal never made it to tape, or the #1 playback just isnt reading it.

Any insights? Im using GP-9. I've never had the heads checked out or aligned. This problem happened when I first got the machine, but it went away after I degaussed it for the first time.

I'd ask on the Tascam forums if they didnt disappear.

Thanks!

Okay, its definetly the record head, or something between the record head and the first channel.

The playback is fine for stuff I recorded before this happened, but nothing will print to track 1. Channel 1 on the mixer is getting signal.

I'm really fucked if I can't figure this out - if anyone can show me anything to help - a repair shop, place to find a record head, something... I got to record 3 bands between now and this time next week....


8 tracks was pretty limiting, now I only have 7. awesome.

Okay, its definetly the record head, or something between the record head and the first channel.

The playback is fine for stuff I recorded before this happened, but nothing will print to track 1. Channel 1 on the mixer is getting signal.

I'm really fucked if I can't figure this out - if anyone can show me anything to help - a repair shop, place to find a record head, something... I got to record 3 bands between now and this time next week....


8 tracks was pretty limiting, now I only have 7. awesome.

Hey wiggins - I was looking around for some info on this problem and came to the homerecording.com bbs. Someone there was having similar problems with track 8 on his machine, and someone suggested that it could need an alignment....

Or maybe a relapping. Let's hope it's not that.

I'm assuming you've already cleaned the tape path, correct? If not, I would try that first.

To find an authorized Tascam service center in your area, call 1-800-447-8322. It's an automated service, but I found something in the Orlando area through it. Good luck, and keep us updated here in the 388 club!

An update:

I had the holidays off and came back just yesterday to finish up one of the projects I still had going.

This time, track 8 had no playback. In a panic, I messed with the alignment to see if that was the problem - someone had suggested this. After that failed and I set the head back where it was, I turned the machine off and opened up the top flap and took a look at all the PCB's on the left side.

I "jiggled" them. I made sure they were secure in their sockets. I checked the fuses on the right. Everything fine. I blew into it to clear some dust.

The track 8 playback magically works now, and my problem with track 1 not printing was also solved.

This machine is a hoss! I'm going to have to look around for a service manual, though, 'cause one of these days somethings going to break and "jiggling" isnt going to fix it.

Also, I've started using the dbx NR pretty much all the time now. The noise was just too much, and I dont think it hurts the quality any more than any other piece in the chain before the signal hits tape.

So, in review, when something breaks, try "jiggling" first.

How's everyone else's 388's?

-Wiggins

Hey! Mine has a very odd (or at least odd to me) problem. RTZ will not, in fact, actually return to zero. It typically falls about 40 seconds short of zero. Also, sometimes (but not every time) when I record, the counter won't move.

Neither of these problems renders the machine unusable, but I figure I'm probably wasting a lot of tape, leaving room for uncertainty and all. So, I plan on taking it in this week to have it looked at.

Any ideas on what that might be?

Update:

I spoke to someone today in Tampa (1-1/2 hrs from where I'm at), and they said it was likely a belt issue. However, they charge $40/hr service, plus $30 per belt. Some preliminary research I've found online is that these belts really only cost a few bucks apiece.

Can anyone confirm this? Should I try taking this on myself, or am I just asking for trouble?