Recording a song on the Tascam 488

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
  • This is not a tutorial! More just a document of me attempting to record a demo of a new song on the Tascam 488. There is already an amazing tutorial on UA-cam by Tetrakan.
    Here it is:
    • Tascam 488 Mixer MEGA ...
    I would also recommend ‪@Govier‬ 's channel for some great 488 videos.
    And finally some links from me:
    / jasonelambeth
    jasonelambeth.com/
    redred.bandcamp.com/
    / jasonelambeth
    0:00 Intro
    1:48 The plan begins
    2:52 Acoustic set up
    3:44 Recording the acoustic
    4:21 Time of vocals
    5:15 oops. Drums are done
    6:03 Shaker & mysteries
    6:35 Tracks 5-8
    7:31 Montage of bass, Casio and lead guitar
    8:05 Tragedy strikes!
    9:22 Overcoming the tragedy
    10:03 Full song

КОМЕНТАРІ • 83

  • @jasonelambeth
    @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +2

    Download the demo here (no paywall!):
    www.patreon.com/posts/get-lost-7-track-98455066

  • @guillaumealtamira7115
    @guillaumealtamira7115 5 місяців тому +1

    Really nice song and it s nice to watch all the process, how it s fun and not easy! Thanks 🎉

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      Thanks Guil! Definitely not easy!! 😭😂😭

  • @MB-uz2zu
    @MB-uz2zu 2 місяці тому +1

    great stuff! love it

  • @SamuelPijcke-lu2vz
    @SamuelPijcke-lu2vz 4 місяці тому +1

    such a nice video, I hah a gréât time watching you session !

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому

      Thanks so much, appreciate you watching!

  • @wehappyfewmusic
    @wehappyfewmusic 4 місяці тому +1

    Nice track and it was fun to see your recording process!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому +1

      Thanks so much! Big fan of your channel!

    • @wehappyfewmusic
      @wehappyfewmusic 4 місяці тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth Thanks very much! 🙏

  • @aidanbraito1992
    @aidanbraito1992 5 місяців тому +3

    The mix slowly descending in the Timelapse was pretty funny ngl. But this is a really nice track!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      Hahaha That was my favorite part of the video! And thank you!!

  • @deerfeeder2076
    @deerfeeder2076 5 місяців тому +1

    Memories of the BR-600. Love this video. Song is catchy.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Thanks so much, it's definitely a work in progress. I had never even heard of the BR-600. Looks like a fun machine!

  • @jimmyfrombrooklyn8550
    @jimmyfrombrooklyn8550 4 місяці тому +1

    I just had mine refurbished to work on old projects. I used to stripe tk 8 with a sempte code which then drove my sequencer that drove my drum and keys via midi patch bay. I never printed drums or keys on the 488, then mixed the printed audio and the synced digital through a sub mixer to a stereo deck. Now I’m dumping all the printed audio into pro tools and adding drums/ keys through p/t and plug ins. Quite the adventure

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому

      Wow, that does sound like quite the adventure! 🤯🤯🤯

  • @YellowJelloMusic
    @YellowJelloMusic 5 місяців тому +1

    I've been looking forward to this ever since you mentioned it in the Discord. More tracks is a nice thing but it can be too much at the same time. I liked the result nevertheless, great job on this song!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      Thanks man! Yeah, especially on my demos, I like to keep it 4-8 tracks. So, I thought this would be perfect. Still have a lot of work to do to get better with it!

    • @YellowJelloMusic
      @YellowJelloMusic 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth it's all about practice and getting comfy with the machine

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      @@YellowJelloMusic you're right, you're right!

  • @druidavey
    @druidavey 5 місяців тому +1

    Had one of these in the day. Used to sequence synths on an Atari 1080STE then drop those on tracks 1+2 and use the remaining tracks for guitars and vocals this has been a trip down memory lane for me.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      That’s sounds like some good times!

  • @trashfuzzaudio
    @trashfuzzaudio 5 місяців тому +4

    Dont forget, all of these tracks operate as a sub mixer essentially. So you can throw in room mics or any kind of craziness across any of the 8 channels and assign them to a single track to record to. Or you can keep instruments connected independently to their own line in, and just assign as you go so you don't need to plug in to 5 to record to 5 etc. It's a fun machine! but.. (im glad I switched to a different one) The tracks just feel smoother on a 4 track.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Okay, yes, I need to try the assigning thing! Thanks for that tip, because I did totally forget about it!

    • @stevebeye1585
      @stevebeye1585 4 місяці тому +1

      I was gonna mention the same thing! Thanks!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому

      @@stevebeye1585 gotta try this method next time I break out the machine!

    • @stevebeye1585
      @stevebeye1585 4 місяці тому +1

      And the Tascam 8 tracks split each signal on the head resulting in less fidelity per track, compared to a 4-track. Just something to think about, between the 8 and 4. The 8 doesn’t ‘sound’ better, it just allows you to not bounce so much/keep more separated tracks.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому +1

      @@stevebeye1585 yeah, it’s kinda insane to think about that tiny tape being spilt into 8 tracks.

  • @bucksmoonlightrevival
    @bucksmoonlightrevival 4 місяці тому +2

    Awesome vid as always! We recorded our whole self-titled album on this machine and loved it :) I think the issue you ran into had something to do with how you recorded the first 4 tracks with the "input assign" switch perhaps? I always just set that switch to "mix" whenever recording. I've never set it to group 1, 2, etc. I just set it to "mix" and the panning you did for tracks 5 forward. It's an odd design but once you use it lots it becomes easy

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому

      I will definitely give the input assign switch a shot! Thanks so much.
      Definitely a fan of your channel!!

  • @AndyMac27
    @AndyMac27 5 місяців тому +1

    Ah this brings back the memories of messing about with my 464 once upon a time. :)

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      I hope it’s nothing but good memories!

  • @MikeFoerster
    @MikeFoerster 5 місяців тому +1

    Cool! The 488 came out a year after I bought my 646. I was tempted to buy it but I just didn't have the money for it. Hope it works out well for you. I have a 388 (which is pretty much the same thing only without the mixing console), I need to find someone to work on it because the speed is off.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Unfortunately I don’t feel like it’s going to revolutionize my recording set up the way that I thought it would. I’m not giving up hope on it and maybe I just need more time to get used to it.

  • @helluvakhai
    @helluvakhai 5 місяців тому +3

    i am very afraid of stumbling into a 688 and leaving my 488 collecting dust because i love it.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      That’s kinda how I’m feeling about my 424. I gave it some love this week though and recorded on it.

    • @helluvakhai
      @helluvakhai 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth haha i am still looking for ways to include the 424 in everything

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      @@helluvakhai haha it’s the best!

  • @lundsweden
    @lundsweden 3 місяці тому +1

    Hey even a couple of big albums were recorded on cassette multitask back in the 80s/90s. Bruce Springsteen's Nevraska and REM's Monster come to mind

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  3 місяці тому

      Oh yeah, definitely familiar with Nebraska. Didn’t realize a Tascam was used to record Monster. Big REM fan and never knew! Also big fan of Guided by Voices when they were recording on 4tracks. Definitely a big inspiration to keep the Tascams around.

    • @lundsweden
      @lundsweden 3 місяці тому

      @@jasonelambeth There's a documentary that shows the making of Monster. They're seen tracking to a Tascam 8 track cassette, if memory serves me right, they were still using a big professional mixing desk with it (maybe for eq, compression, sub-mixes?). I wouldn't be surprised if they finished off the album in a studio with pro gear. But you didn't see that in the doco.

  • @ephraimwarrior6766
    @ephraimwarrior6766 5 місяців тому +2

    i dont know the unit butt can y d0 like 3 tracks 0r 4 tracks then bounce it 0ver t0 8 things like that? i think if i heard once that this unit is 8 case it splits each track t0 come up with 8 tracks ?

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Typically you can record up to individual 8 tracks on these. Mine is broken though and I can only record up to 7.

    • @stevebeye1585
      @stevebeye1585 4 місяці тому +1

      You are correct. The recording head, divides a regular 4-track head into 8, therefore, the fidelity per each of the 8 tracks is a little drop in quality per track, compared to a 4-track recording head.

  • @BrianOboylemusic
    @BrianOboylemusic 5 місяців тому +1

    Have a 488 for the last two months …love it .. recently it stopped being able to play cassettes that I’ve recorded over a few times. I’m wondering if it’s some sort of protection from ruining the tape entirely as a degrades?

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Oh man, I have no idea! When I first got mine I tried using an old mixtape that was made on a type 2 tape. I erased what was on there and started from scratch, but it sounded awful. So, I put in a brand new tape and it worked much better. Might have just been my tape, but now I wonder if it was because it had been recorded on a few times as well.

    • @BrianOboylemusic
      @BrianOboylemusic 4 місяці тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth at any rate thanks for getting back to me. I bought a bunch of brand new tapes and still no luck so I guess my journey continues. I’m not really a mechanically inclined person so I’m hoping it’s nothing crazy to fix but thanks again

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому +1

      @@BrianOboylemusic Bummer that it wasn’t a simple fix for you. I’m not mechanically inclined either, so I get it. I hope you figure it out!

    • @BrianOboylemusic
      @BrianOboylemusic 4 місяці тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth thanks dude !

  • @NorthAnchor
    @NorthAnchor 5 місяців тому +1

    Awesome Jason! Now I gotta find a 488😂 Thomas

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      Hahaha let me know when you get one and we can commiserate over how much of a pain they are. 😂

    • @NorthAnchor
      @NorthAnchor 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambethDefinitely I will! I saw that! You’re a trooper!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      @@NorthAnchor I’m trying my friend! 😆

  • @masterofreality230
    @masterofreality230 5 місяців тому +1

    I like the idea of running the Bows into this unit, some good ole germanium grit into real tape.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      Heck yeah! That is probably my favorite pedal ever. It’s my secret sauce.

    • @masterofreality230
      @masterofreality230 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth Yea, its a really simple pedal, finding a good germanium transistor for it is the only hard part. I might build one.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      @@masterofreality230 I live in fear of mine dying on me. They were so cheap when I bought mine and now they are crazy expensive.

    • @masterofreality230
      @masterofreality230 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth Yea, that exact Transistor is hard to find and expensive because its well known, but you can probably find another with the same specs and build it for $30. They also have a bunch of clones on Reverb. Having the original can be nice though.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      @@masterofreality230 wow, I had no idea. Thanks for the knowledge!!

  • @20YearsofTascam-rc1he
    @20YearsofTascam-rc1he 5 місяців тому +1

    👍

  • @Markleford
    @Markleford 5 місяців тому +1

    If I remember correctly, if you engage SMPTE time stripe for sync to MIDI then it gets printed to Channel 8.
    However, I may not remember correctly! Got rid of mine 20 years ago.
    (Also, I cannot recall that it interfered with Channel 4, but it would make sense if it was the "twin" channel on the other side of the tape.)

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      Ohhhh I might have actually turned that off instead of engaging it. I will take a look and give it another shot soon. Thanks so much!!

    • @Markleford
      @Markleford 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth You'd want it off, if you don't have it connected to a MIDI interface that will take smpte code input. I had mine synced to a sequencer for synths!

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +1

      @@Markleford Oh, okay. I definitely had it turned off. Such a weird little snafu, but it's not the end of the world. Thanks for clarifying!

  • @hjk2920
    @hjk2920 2 місяці тому +1

    Hello, I recently got into cassette culture, so here I am. Currently I have a Tascam 488 and it is an MK1. I'm curious about how to transfer a project I created in DAW to TASCAM 488. In other words, it is as if the tape recorded on the Tascam 488 was mixed down by the DAW (the opposite of this). I am an Ableton and Logic user. I'm curious about how to transfer a sound source or project created in daw to Tascam 488, or if it is possible. Can anyone give me an answer?

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  2 місяці тому

      I’m not an expert or anything, but I think if you have an interface you could send the audio from the monitor outputs into a couple tracks on the 488. Or maybe you could just go out of a headphone jack from your computer to the 488.
      I would recommend asking the 424 Recording Discord. They are much more knowledgeable than I am. Check it out here: discord.gg/kgJryN7x

    • @hjk2920
      @hjk2920 2 місяці тому +1

      @@jasonelambeth thanks !

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  2 місяці тому

      @@hjk2920 you’re welcome!

  • @serious_about_men
    @serious_about_men 5 місяців тому +2

    i did not register there was a green screen behind you. i thought it was a big ass tascam.

  • @100chuckjones
    @100chuckjones 4 місяці тому +1

    Try not to record click tracks too loud. Turn down the trim. Use fader volume for better monitoring.
    Click tracks are prone to burn into tape, remanence, traces will be left behind. This is simply a downfall of recording on cassette. The tape is only 1/8th wide. High frequencies saturate the tape.

    • @100chuckjones
      @100chuckjones 4 місяці тому +1

      I had both versions of the 488 (the MKII as well). i still have the MKII. I think there is a slide switch on the back of the machine for grouping tracks. Also might be a sync track slide switch. Do some test.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому +1

      @@100chuckjones Thanks for all the tips! I am prone recording things too loudly and burn up the tape as you noted. I will work on it! I'm excited to get down to the basement and do some more experimenting with this machine. Thanks again!

  • @goodtimefolkrock
    @goodtimefolkrock 5 місяців тому +1

    You need a 688 midi studio you will never use the 488 again

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому

      I always forget about the 688. It looks like such a cool machine.

  • @DavidSusiloUnscripted
    @DavidSusiloUnscripted 5 місяців тому +1

    So? People have been working using tapes since about 50 years ago. It’s not difficult at all if you have the skill and talent. DAW simply makes people lazy and have the ability to turn lack of skills to thrive.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  5 місяців тому +3

      I think recording in general is a fun hobby. DAW, tape, it doesn’t matter to me. I like the limitations of these old machines though and I like the sound of them too. Anyway, have a great day!

    • @NorthAnchor
      @NorthAnchor 5 місяців тому +1

      @@jasonelambethexactly!

    • @TheHonestPeanut
      @TheHonestPeanut 4 місяці тому +1

      So it's interesting. Calm down.

    • @jasonelambeth
      @jasonelambeth  4 місяці тому +1

      @@TheHonestPeanut thanks Peanut!