Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
Hi Folks,
Sort of new to the 388 and have a question about effects and inputs.
On my Tascam 4-track the effects send/return will go straight to tape when you hit record on any track for which you'd applied effects, which is awesome. You can hook any effect you want to the effects send, run a mic straight to the deck and drench it.
The Tascam 388 won't do this! The effects send will only go to tape when you mix down to two tracks through the main outs. I am not a fan of the effects send/return when it comes to putting effects on drums on the main outs. It seems to kind of dilute the sound of stereo drum tracks and the stereo mix in general. Hard to explain. I'd prefer to set my effects between the mic and the 388 so they go straight to tape, done. Being an analog rat I am thinking 1. drum mic to guitar pedal. 2. Guitar pedal to 388. I don't do crazy close mic-ing, just some overheads and maybe a kick mic (which can be dry).
I immediately realized, 1/4" inputs on the 388 are not powered. I'd need a rack pre-amp or something with multiple ins and outs, which I do not have, or some kind of powered sub-mixer, which I also don't have.
Can I simply purchase a some 1/4" to male xlr to get from the pedal to the 1/4" input on the 388 so I can get the tracks powered? Does it matter whether I use a balanced or unbalanced 1/4" tip? I'm guessing not since the pedal isn't balanced.
Can anyone give me an idea of another way to do what I want to do (effects on drum mics straight to tape on each track). Is there some secret way of bussing things within the 388 to do it? I don't get how some of that stuff works.
Oh let me add, what would be IDEAL is if I could record 4-5 mics to the 388 tracks 1-5, dry, then on playback, dial effects in via effects send/return, and have the effects to go tape when bouncing the tracks to tracks 7-8. Is this possible?
Thank you!!
Here is what I am thinking of purchasing - https://www.sfcable.com/6ft-xlr-male-to ... cable.html
Sort of new to the 388 and have a question about effects and inputs.
On my Tascam 4-track the effects send/return will go straight to tape when you hit record on any track for which you'd applied effects, which is awesome. You can hook any effect you want to the effects send, run a mic straight to the deck and drench it.
The Tascam 388 won't do this! The effects send will only go to tape when you mix down to two tracks through the main outs. I am not a fan of the effects send/return when it comes to putting effects on drums on the main outs. It seems to kind of dilute the sound of stereo drum tracks and the stereo mix in general. Hard to explain. I'd prefer to set my effects between the mic and the 388 so they go straight to tape, done. Being an analog rat I am thinking 1. drum mic to guitar pedal. 2. Guitar pedal to 388. I don't do crazy close mic-ing, just some overheads and maybe a kick mic (which can be dry).
I immediately realized, 1/4" inputs on the 388 are not powered. I'd need a rack pre-amp or something with multiple ins and outs, which I do not have, or some kind of powered sub-mixer, which I also don't have.
Can I simply purchase a some 1/4" to male xlr to get from the pedal to the 1/4" input on the 388 so I can get the tracks powered? Does it matter whether I use a balanced or unbalanced 1/4" tip? I'm guessing not since the pedal isn't balanced.
Can anyone give me an idea of another way to do what I want to do (effects on drum mics straight to tape on each track). Is there some secret way of bussing things within the 388 to do it? I don't get how some of that stuff works.
Oh let me add, what would be IDEAL is if I could record 4-5 mics to the 388 tracks 1-5, dry, then on playback, dial effects in via effects send/return, and have the effects to go tape when bouncing the tracks to tracks 7-8. Is this possible?
Thank you!!
Here is what I am thinking of purchasing - https://www.sfcable.com/6ft-xlr-male-to ... cable.html
Last edited by akpasta on Thu Feb 14, 2019 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
To my knowledge, using the fx send and returns will not record to tape in any mode.
You could use the inserts however and this would record.
Or you could use an external mixer and print the stereo mix of that to tape.
XLR to 1/4” cables I think will work fine, depends on the source...I have a couple unbalanced mics I’ve plugged in this way. With a guitar pedal it might be better to use a direct box (and still can find pretty cheap ones that work okay..), but it’s not always necessary. Probably doesn’t matter if it’s a TS or TRS end.
You could use the inserts however and this would record.
Or you could use an external mixer and print the stereo mix of that to tape.
XLR to 1/4” cables I think will work fine, depends on the source...I have a couple unbalanced mics I’ve plugged in this way. With a guitar pedal it might be better to use a direct box (and still can find pretty cheap ones that work okay..), but it’s not always necessary. Probably doesn’t matter if it’s a TS or TRS end.
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Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
Plug your mic into a channel. Plug a trs y cable (aka an insert cable) into the insert point on that channel. Plug your effect into the other ends of the insert cable. It’ll put the effect in line after the preamp stage (and before or after the eq depending on the mixer. I’m not sure about 388 implementation). Your effect will need a wet/dry blend control if it’s a reverb or delay other wise you get the 100% effected signal to tape.
However you do it thumbs up to printing the effects to tape. I do the same on my 488 ( and often in Pro Tools projects these days). Building mix decisions into your tracking is a huge thing.
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
Ok, so I'm totally new to "inserts." they are simultaneously both an "in" and an "out." So how do I get that one input to interface with effects, like, say, a guitar pedal? How does it go into the in and out of the out of the pedal? Here's the back of a 388 -A.David.MacKinnon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 10:50 amPlug your mic into a channel. Plug a trs y cable (aka an insert cable) into the insert point on that channel. Plug your effect into the other ends of the insert cable. It’ll put the effect in line after the preamp stage (and before or after the eq depending on the mixer. I’m not sure about 388 implementation). Your effect will need a wet/dry blend control if it’s a reverb or delay other wise you get the 100% effected signal to tape.
However you do it thumbs up to printing the effects to tape. I do the same on my 488 ( and often in Pro Tools projects these days). Building mix decisions into your tracking is a huge thing.
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
No, the 388 is not setup like the above poster suggested, some mixers are, but not the 388. The 388’s inserts are called access, you have send and receive per channel.
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Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
the new rules : there are no rules
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
for what?????joninc wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 3:15 pmYou need a Y cable liike this:
https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-Inch-Ma ... 6787&psc=1
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
That will work for my separate tracks!
Another question. I’ll have to try this for myself. But say I have 5 dry drum tracks (1-5) and I want to mix them down to 2 tracks (7-8) with effects could I pingpong/bounce 1-5 to 7-8 and run an effect through the send and return of 7, and 8 and get both the dry track and the effect on each track? My gut says no.
I wish there was a way to add effects when
You bounce! That would be so ideal!
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
You’ll just have to try it and experiment for the right hookup scenario, but you absolutely can add effects when you bounce...ive done this before...layering and reprocessing effects over and over... I think you just want to add your effects to the 7-8 channels and it should work, just like if you plugged a mic in.akpasta wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:15 pmThat will work for my separate tracks!
Another question. I’ll have to try this for myself. But say I have 5 dry drum tracks (1-5) and I want to mix them down to 2 tracks (7-8) with effects could I pingpong/bounce 1-5 to 7-8 and run an effect through the send and return of 7, and 8 and get both the dry track and the effect on each track? My gut says no.
I wish there was a way to add effects when
You bounce! That would be so ideal!
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
kslight, you've done this on a 388? I know for a fact that the effects send/return will not end up a track you bounce to, even if you are hearing the effects on that track as you are bouncing. That's the tricky thing I'm trying to figure.kslight wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:14 amYou’ll just have to try it and experiment for the right hookup scenario, but you absolutely can add effects when you bounce...ive done this before...layering and reprocessing effects over and over... I think you just want to add your effects to the 7-8 channels and it should work, just like if you plugged a mic in.akpasta wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:15 pmThat will work for my separate tracks!
Another question. I’ll have to try this for myself. But say I have 5 dry drum tracks (1-5) and I want to mix them down to 2 tracks (7-8) with effects could I pingpong/bounce 1-5 to 7-8 and run an effect through the send and return of 7, and 8 and get both the dry track and the effect on each track? My gut says no.
I wish there was a way to add effects when
You bounce! That would be so ideal!
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
Yes, using the access send and returns per channel. That’s what I thought we were talking about. Bounce 1-5 down to 7-8, while recording have your effects on the access send and returns of 7-8. I know I did it somehow because the track in question was even placed in a movie, so I’m not imagining things.akpasta wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:22 amkslight, you've done this on a 388? I know for a fact that the effects send/return will not end up a track you bounce to, even if you are hearing the effects on that track as you are bouncing. That's the tricky thing I'm trying to figure.kslight wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:14 amYou’ll just have to try it and experiment for the right hookup scenario, but you absolutely can add effects when you bounce...ive done this before...layering and reprocessing effects over and over... I think you just want to add your effects to the 7-8 channels and it should work, just like if you plugged a mic in.akpasta wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:15 pm
That will work for my separate tracks!
Another question. I’ll have to try this for myself. But say I have 5 dry drum tracks (1-5) and I want to mix them down to 2 tracks (7-8) with effects could I pingpong/bounce 1-5 to 7-8 and run an effect through the send and return of 7, and 8 and get both the dry track and the effect on each track? My gut says no.
I wish there was a way to add effects when
You bounce! That would be so ideal!
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
That sounds awesome. I wasn't questioning you, just clarifying! Thank you. I'll try it and report back.kslight wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:57 amYes, using the access send and returns per channel. That’s what I thought we were talking about. Bounce 1-5 down to 7-8, while recording have your effects on the access send and returns of 7-8. I know I did it somehow because the track in question was even placed in a movie, so I’m not imagining things.akpasta wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:22 amkslight, you've done this on a 388? I know for a fact that the effects send/return will not end up a track you bounce to, even if you are hearing the effects on that track as you are bouncing. That's the tricky thing I'm trying to figure.kslight wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:14 am
You’ll just have to try it and experiment for the right hookup scenario, but you absolutely can add effects when you bounce...ive done this before...layering and reprocessing effects over and over... I think you just want to add your effects to the 7-8 channels and it should work, just like if you plugged a mic in.
Re: Tascam 388 effects straight to tape tracks
If that doesn’t work, then here’s another way that should work:
Using the FX/aux sends, but return them down to the line inputs of one or two tracks, and buss THOSE tracks with the other tracks you want to submix down to two tracks. If you need two FX returns you’ll only be able to do 1-4 instead of 1-5, but I know this should work.
Using the FX/aux sends, but return them down to the line inputs of one or two tracks, and buss THOSE tracks with the other tracks you want to submix down to two tracks. If you need two FX returns you’ll only be able to do 1-4 instead of 1-5, but I know this should work.
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