The Tascam MidiStudio 688 dedicated thread

Yes, that's some of the stuff I have to learn. Thanks for your reply. I know this is not related to the 688 only but this will help me a lot! I get the most part of your reply, and re-reading the manual "Using effects" at the same time makes it quite obvious now.
I still don't understand why there are 4 EFFECT RTN returns knobs (blue ones one the top right) but only one AUX1 and one AUX2.. I feel like I'm akling a real noob question here, sorry for that haha

Thanks for the Parallel Compression Tip. I'll try that.

I don't get the Buss Compression workaround tip now, but I'm sure I'll figure it out when I'll try.

Thanks!

invhide wrote:I still don't understand why there are 4 EFFECT RTN returns knobs (blue ones one the top right) but only one AUX1 and one AUX2.. I feel like I'm akling a real noob question here, sorry for that haha

The sends are mono but the effect unit may return a stereo signal. If your effect unit only has a mono out, you connect it to the left return (it's also labeled "L (Mono)" if I recall correctly). Some units can be used as a single stereo or a dual mono unit.

invhide wrote:I don't get the Buss Compression workaround tip now, but I'm sure I'll figure it out when I'll try.

What you want to achieve is the compression of multiple signals. Let's say you have four channels: kick, snare, hi hat, cymbals. To give the whole drums more punch you want to compress all the drums together. In the DAW or on more complex mixing desks you send the four channels to one group and insert a compressor in this group. On the 688 are no inserts for the groups. That's where the workaround comes into play:

You pull the faders down so the original signal won't be in the mix.
By sending the channels pre-fader to the aux with the compressor, only the compressed signal will be in the mix.

invhide wrote:Have someone managed to record midi on track 8 and then record the midi signal to DAW? I really have no idea how to do it, and if it would be useful..

Never messed with the midi sync. One use case I have in mind is when you have more than 8 (or 7 in that case) signals you want to record on tape. So on the first recording run you have your drums on channels 1 to 5 and record it to the first track on tape. On the second run you have your other instruments on channels 1 to 6 and record it to the tape tracks 2 to 7.

invhide wrote:What level do you usually record at? I usually make a mix that will be just below the max level on the meters when recording, and the same for the mixdown.

Trust your ears. The 688 can sound very clean when you keep it around 0. The harder you push it, the nastier it sounds. Also note that a hot mixed signal sounds different to a hot recorded signal due to the tape saturation.

invhide wrote:I wonder how I could use the dual inputs. I don't really see the point of it. Might be useful for the SP metronome..

The duals are also another way to deal with the situation when you have more signals than you can record. So when you have 8 tracks recorded you can switch to a scene (don't know if there's a default scene for that) where the mains are fed by the tape and the duals from the input jacks. So in addition to the 8 tracks that are played back from tape you have 10 additional inputs during the mixdown. I guess this works especially good in conjunction with the midi sync to keep everything in time.



After all the writing I cannot wait to get home to dust off my 688. I'm sorry if my explanations are poorly written. I'm neither good at explaining things nor a native speaker

Hahaha. You got to go back home now!!

I'll try everything asap, but as I'm moving next week, it will probably take some time, but please feel free to drop some knowledge here if feel like it could be interesting for other people.

I'm on my iphone right now, so I'll recheck your answers later when I'll be home.
Thanks!

You're the man derMole, I learned a lot just reading your replies and the manual at the same time. All your explanations are great and I do understand your english very well. I'm not native english either

I'm now wondering how I'm gonna work with this, but I feel like the set-up you mentionned sounds good to me. I'll try it as soon as I can.
I would have liked to use parrallel compression, reverb an delay at the same time on different channels, but it seems I can't do that..maybe some effects can be added later, when playing back, dumping tracks for bus compression etc..

Can't the dual inputs be recorded as well? It could have been useful for other effect processing, like: direct out from insert>Effect processor>Back to dual... a kind of insert/aux hybrid. Just a thought...

Did you dust off your 688? Hope you'll enjoy using it again

invhide wrote:I would have liked to use parrallel compression, reverb an delay at the same time on different channels, but it seems I can't do that..maybe some effects can be added later, when playing back, dumping tracks for bus compression etc..

Well, after I dusted off my 688 and worked a bit with it I came up with another way to make parallel compression possible without using an aux. When you have all your tracks recorded on tape and you want to compress one (or multiple) tracks parallel you have to send those tracks to another group and connect the group out to the input of a free channel (you need a RCA to 1/4" cable for that) and insert the compressor on that channel.

Step by step:
1. Record everything as usual
2. Switch to the mixdown scene (factory scene 12)
3. Go to the "Assign Main" screen and assign the tracks you want to compress to group 1, 2 and 3
4. Go to the "Input" screen and switch channel 9 to line input
5. Connect group out 3 to the input of channel 9
6. Insert you compressor on channel 9
7. Pull up the group fader 3-4 to feed the compressor
8. Adjust the fader of channel 9 to the desired amount of the compressed signal.

For bus compression assign the tracks in step 3 just to the group 3.

invhide wrote:Can't the dual inputs be recorded as well? It could have been useful for other effect processing, like: direct out from insert>Effect processor>Back to dual... a kind of insert/aux hybrid. Just a thought...

Yes, the duals can also be recorded. I'm just not sure that I understood what you are trying to do.

Hello guys
In order not to open a new thread I want to ask a question
I can get a midistudio for cheap 150€ but the seller says that it has a problem with play function.
the exact words are " It has a problem with play function, maybe one locator is locked and I don't know how to unlock it. In good condition, fully functional."(except play)
I'm unable to check it.
Does it worth to get it or the fix, will be a pain in the ***?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Retro Styles,

There is a button to reset the locators, so the issue is probably a bit more complicated than that.
For 150€, the 688 is a great analog mixer. I would buy it, try to get the tape fixed, and if there is no way to fix it, just use it as a mixer.. if you want an analog mixer of course.

invhide wrote:Hi Retro Styles,

There is a button to reset the locators, so the issue is probably a bit more complicated than that.
For 150€, the 688 is a great analog mixer. I would buy it, try to get the tape fixed, and if there is no way to fix it, just use it as a mixer.. if you want an analog mixer of course.

Thanks for the reply!

Hey all,

Thinking about picking a 688 up but a bit unsure about striping the tape for midi sync - can you use an mpc to stripe the tape and has anyone got any experience of it? If the 688 is the master can the mpc recognise song position etc or is it purely a metronome/time keeping midi sync?
Cheers
Tom

TomStephens wrote:can you use an mpc to stripe the tape and has anyone got any experience of it?

Yes, that's possible. I have used it but not that often because I don't like to lose a track on the cassette for the sync signal.

TomStephens wrote:If the 688 is the master can the mpc recognise song position etc or is it purely a metronome/time keeping midi sync?

The midi clock (almost always) includes the song position pointer. So yes, the MPC will recognize the position, though if you skip around on the cassette the MPC may need a bar or so until it has the sync.

Oh wow, thanks for swift response that's really useful.

Am in the market for a mpc4000 and a 688 which will be the best part of a grand so this sort of advice really helps my decision making!

Thanks again.