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Originally Posted by Otis  I'm assuming you weren't using the dbx noise reduction when hitting the tape hard. I've heard that if you're going for tape saturation effects, you must have it disabled or else it overloads the machine. Is the noise reduction ever worth using?
Glad to hear that the pres are usable. I don't have much in the way of outboard at this point (I'm fairly new to the world of recording) but will certainly be looking to acquire some quality mics and pres in the near future. As the center piece of the studio, the 388 seems like a great option that is well within my budget. Now I just have to track one down. |
the noise reduction can be tricky, but in a good way. for instance, if you track with it on and then mix with it off, it yields a very interesting sound, but the whole mechanics of it are gonna take you a while to master, as you'll have to hit the recorder differently than if you'd record with it off and mixed with it off as well, or recorded and mixed with it on all the time.
this technique is also used in portastudios (the ones where you can actually turn it on/off - for instance, you can't do that on the tascam 244).
don't fret about the noise reduction, most things you'll hear about is made up crap and urban myths from ppl that should never have gotten this recorder. without the noise reduction, there will be some hiss. the noise reduction is actually very good at keeping things a bit less hissy and still sounding good.
if you don't have a 388 in sight yet, i'd advise you to get a tascam 246 if you can find one for cheap. the routing/assigning/etc is basically a miniature 388, and there's switchable noise reduction that will let you perfect that technique if you wish to do so. if you get a good grip of a 246, you'll know a 388 by heart.
in fact, if you're not very experienced in recording but want to leap straight to an interesting sound, i'd really advise you to get a 246 first. not to discourage you or anything, but for as easy as the 388 is to use (which it is), you're in for a bit of frustration cause it really takes a bit to master and take out of it everything that it can actually give.
spend some time with a tascam 246 (it's the closest thing to it you'll find) and get used to the way you have to hit the tape, the routing, etc. even in terms of sound, these 2 machines are not worlds apart.