Tascam PORTASTUDIO 488mkII Manual
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488 MKII PORTASTUDIO page 1 of 4 When 4 Tracks Are Not Enough You’ve got an 8-track mind. You need the perfect creative tool – TASCAM’s 488 MKII Portastudio – it works like a giant electronic notebook. It not only offers capacity, this new Portastudio provides versa- tile capability and intuitive operation for easy captur- ing and manipulating of your ideas. The 488 MKII has incredible performance and features, that only a few years ago was only found in much higher-priced equipment. It’s what any serious musician or upcom- ing producer/engineer always dreams of – quality recording and great sound. With the 488 MKII, you get all this and more. The Portastudio is the culmination of an extremely progressive line of high-performance 8-track cas- sette multitrack machines. This next-generation Portastudio gives you more tracks, easy operation and enhanced recording and mixing features. Whether recording acoustic or electronic instruments or vocals, the 488 MKII offers maximum creative freedom to produce your best work. Of course it comes with TASCAM quality and reliability – the company that invented the first 8-track cassette. It’s built tough, “It always works”– it’s what musicians have come to rely on from TASCAM. Powered by the Finest Transport in its Class It’s because of what you do with the Portastudio 488 MKII, that this equipment isn’t superseded by an ever larger and growing studio. You’ll come to depend on it as a creative tool and use it for a long time, so you’ll want to carefully consider those aspects that only become visible after you use something for a while! At the heart of the 488 MKII is a high-performance Hysteresis Tension Servo Controlled (HTSC) tape transport. The 488 MKII is the only 8-track cassette that offers a servo controlled transport complete with electronic braking. HTSC maintains precise and consistent tape tension from the beginning until the end of the tape. It actually dynamically adjusts the back tension on the tape as it moves from one end to the other, allowing precise locating capability. That’s how the 488 MKII offers the best audio quality, a direct result of the lowest Wow and Flutter of any 8-track cassette. Plus, this reduces tape slippage 20 13/16 (528.4 mm)5 1/16 (128 mm) 17 3/16 (437 mm)17 1/8 (434.7 mm)
and provides extreme reliability, even in the most hostile environments. The Functionality of a Pro Studio The 488 MKII comes standard with a wide variety of advanced features that give you uncommon flexibility. For example, you’ll appreciate its three band equali- zation, complete with sweepable mids on each of the eight main input channels for precision response shaping that results in a great musical sound. Inputs A Plenty – Including XLR with Phantom Power The 488 MKII is designed to easily accommodate virtually any type of input including line level devices, 488 MKII PORTASTUDIO page 2 of 4 guitar, keyboards, stereo inputs and low impedance, XLR-type microphones. It also includes phantom power for use with high-quality condenser microphones. The built-in mixer features low-noise circuitry, with 12 inputs and 2 group busses. There’s a separate input for your stereo master recorder. Plus a unique Multi-Mix mode with the capability of handling up to 20 inputs at mixdown. Get Started in Minutes Set up is no problem with the 488 MKII. The MIC and line inputs are right on the sloped back panel. Plug in your instrument and choose the tracks you wish to record with the REC Function toggle switches. Use the group ASSIGN switches to mix multiple instruments to Top Panel-488 MKII NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM PUSH OPEN dbx REW F FWD STOP PLAY PAUSE RECORD –+ 4 83 72 61 5 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII MIC/ LINEMULTI MIXINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPEMIC/ LINEMULTI MIX TAPE IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII INPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII INPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIINPUT ASSIGN 109876543210 109876543210 109876543210 12 1 1 1212 34 MIC/LINE INPUTS TRIM TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN MIC/LINE INPUTS EFFECT SENDS 56 789/MONO 11/MONO LINE INPUTS STEREO OUTPUTS LRLINE OUTPUTLRCUE OUTPUT MONITOR OUTPUTLR2TR INPUTLR10 12 SUB INPUT –+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 2TRIM TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 3TRIM TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 4TRIM TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 5 TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 6 TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 7 TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECT PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 2 8 234 5 6 7 8 1/L-2/RMASTERS 3-4LEVEL LEVEL TAPE CUE EQ HIGH MID LOW EFFECTEFFECT SEND MASTERS TAPE CUE MASTERMONITOR ASSIGN ASSIGN GRP 1-2 GRP 3-41/L-2/R 3-4 1/L-2/R 3-4 TAPE CUE ST 9-10 ST 11-12 2TR IN LEVEL PAN ASSIGN–+ –+ –+ 250 5k LR 1/L-2/R 3-4 1 21 2RTZ LOC 1 LOC 2 MEMO IN REPEAT CHECK REHEARSAL GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4RECORD FUNCTIONCLEAR AUTO IN/OUTCOUNTER PRESET PITCH CONTROLPORTASTUDIO 488 MKII
record the tone to tape. After striping the tape with FSK or Song Position Pointer information, all your MIDI instruments will faithfully follow the tape during playback and recording, even if you slow or speed the tape using PITCH control. The big benefit is that your MIDI tracks don’t actually have to be recorded until final mixdown, giving you more unused tracks to record on! Comprehensive Equalization for Sweetening Your Sound. The 488 MKII didn’t cut corners when it comes to EQ. Each of the 8 main input channels includes individual 3-band equalizers. You not only get HI and LOW shelving EQs, you also get a semi-parametric sweep- able midrange EQ, and that’s where all the action is. It’s easy to brighten keyboards and guitars, make the bass pulse and throb and liven up drum tracks or give the vocals the edge they need. A Transportable Power Studio The 488 MKII is as good on the road as it is in the studio. It’s sleek, compact design and rugged case means it can go wherever your guitar, drums, key- boards and other instruments go. Many Pro musi- cians constantly keep this creative capability with them using the 488 MKII to write and develop while they’re on the road. What you do with it and when you do it is up to you. one group, which is linked to one master fader. On each mono input, set your optimum levels with the TRIM controls. Push RECORD and PLAY and the tape is rolling. The bright, easy-to-read fluorescent meter display con- sists of 10 bar-type segment display meters (8 tracks and L/R). It also contains information displays for Rehearsal, Auto Punch, In and Out Points and Tape Position. Recording Features Make for Quick and Easy Operation The 488 MKII is packed with features that make a musician’s life easier. Such as an automatic Punch In/Out complete with a rehearsal function, enabling you to practice before committing to tape. You get two independent Auxiliary sends with stereo returns so you can bring in multiple effects and signal processing equipment. The stereo returns can also be used as two additional stereo input channels. MIDI Musicians Take Note If you’ve got MIDI keyboards, drum machines and sound modules in your set-up, you can exploit the power of “virtual tracking” with the TASCAM 488 MKII. You can use a MIDI synchronizer (such as the MTS- 30 MIDI-Tape Synchronizer) to record (stripe) a code onto track 8. Just turn SYNC mode on with the back panel switch, connect to and from the SYNC unit, and 488 MKII PORTASTUDIO page 3 of 4 Rear Panel-488 MKII POWER OUT INSYNC PHANTOM POWER +48VDBX NR OFF ON ON OFFON OFF INSERT 1 INSERT 2 PHONESREMOTE PUNCH IN/OUT Front Panel-488 MKII
S/N Ratio (Mic): 65 dB (Line): 76 dB Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.05% Channel Separation: Better than 55 dB RECORDER SECTION Tape: Compact Cassette, 70m, Hi-bias Type II) Track Format: 8-track, 8-channel Tape Speed: 9.5 cm/sec Pitch Control:±12% Fast Wind Time: Approx. 80 sec for C-60 Wow and Flutter: 0.04% Frequency Response: 40 Hz-14 kHz, ±3dB (dbx NR out) S/N Ratio: Better than 95 dB (IHF “A” WTD, dbx NR in) Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 1.3% (400 Hz, 0 dB) Channel Separation: 70 dB (1 kHz, 0 dB, dbx NR in) Erasure: 85 dB (1 kHz, +10 dB) GENERAL Power Consumption: 39 W Dimensions (W x H x D): 528.4 x 128 x 437 mm Weight: 7.1 kg Specifications and features subject to change without notice or obligation. Flexible, Versatile and High-Performance • TASCAM 8-track format (fully compatible with 238, 488 and 688) • Double Tape Speed (9.6 cm/sec) • dbx noise reduction for extended dynamic range and superior audio quality •±12% Pitch Control • Simultaneous Recording of 4-tracks • 2 Auto Locate Points plus Return to Zero (RTZ) • Repeat between Locate 1 and Locate 2 • Monitor Output with Independent Level Control • CUE Master Level Control • MONO Switch • Monitor Select Switch from Group 1-2, Group 3-4, Tape CUE, stereo input 9-10, stereo input 11-12, and 2-track IN • Sync In/Out jacks allow track 8 to be connected to an external MIDI synchronizer (i.e. TASCAM MTS-30) SPECIFICATIONS MIXER SECTION Mic/Line Input (1/4): 5.8 kohms /-50 dBv – -10 dBv Mic/Line Input (XLR): 2.8 kohms /-60 dBv – - 20 dBv Line Input: 50 kohms /-10 dBv Stereo Input: 10 kohms /-10 dBv Insert Input: 10 kohms /-10 dBv Insert Output: 10 kohms /-10 dBv 2TR Input: 47 kohms /-10 dBv Sub Input: 47 kohms /-10 dBv Line Output: 100 ohms /-10 dBv Effect Sends: 100 ohms /-10 dBv Monitor Output: 100 ohms /-10 dBv Cue Output: 100 ohms /-10 dBv Headphone Output: 100 mW + 100 mW max. Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 22 kHz, +1/-2 dB 488 MKII PORTASTUDIO page 4 of 4 For more information about other TASCAM FAXBACK literature, call 1-800-827-2268. ©1997 TEAC America, Inc. All rights reserved. 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, CA 90640 (213) 726-0303 TEAC Canada Ltd ., 5939 Wallace Street, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1Z8 Canada (905) 890-8008 TEAC Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Priva de Colina #18, Colonia del Carmen, Coyoacan, Mexico, D.F. 04100 (525) 658-1943 FAXBACK Index# 1770 2/97