Really fun track. Would have loved to see you run some effects, as that's always a little tricky and here are many ways to do it. Also curious: why record bass after the drums? I've always done a rough of the guitar and vocal after the drum machine and then built out from there.
Thanks very much for checking out the video and great to hear you think the track was fun! I’m planning to do a couple more videos with the 688 so will definitely run some effects on one of those. I often do a scratch vocal/guitar 2nd too, but thought it’d make a more gradual build up for the video with drums, bass etc first.
People often claim this is not good quality recorder as the width is so small but that’s where I usually stop them, as they spent lots of money on development of this to sound decent, mixing/recording techniques are what really matter imho.
Really great seeing you use this machine, the result is great, the vocal is so clear. Maybe do add those fx! (I hope those little issues at the end turn out to be minor fixes.)
Thanks man, it’s so good to have a working 688 again and I appreciate the kind words! The aux sends did strange things when I first tried them and I’ve been to apprehensive to try them again. 😅 Hopefully they’ll be fine and I can iron out the other minor issues myself though. 🤞🏻
Hi, i have a 644 and repaired it myself. The crackaling is just a bit of contact spray and that should do it. Same with the counter. This fixed my issue and its working great now. Great video and a very cool machine. Keep it up!!
Hi, that’s good that you managed to sort out similar issues on your 644 with contact cleaner. I was just considering getting some Deoxit, so will give that a go. Many thanks for the encouraging words too! 🙏
Nice video. My brother and I had a 688 in the early 90’s. Use to lay Midi Time Code on track 8 and sync it up to an Atari STE 1040, running the Creator sequence software. Used to use the TDK MA metal tapes in the machine if my memory serves me right, but used to dub the mix downs onto the same SA chrome tapes you used in this video. Now I use a Mac running Cubase 13 Pro, with one hardware synth and a ton of plugins. It’s great but not quite as much fun.
Cheers and that sounds like an amazing setup for the early 90’s! I kinda fancy getting an Atari STE at some point if I can find a working one for a reasonable amount of money. I think it could make an interesting retro music production video (or I’d enjoy playing with it if not 😅).
Yeah, I’m so pleased they were able to fit a replacement screen. It was actually from a 644 but he managed to unsolder the screen and reattach it to the board from my 688. A couple of the faders are really hard to move now, and it looks like it hasn’t been rebuilt quite correctly. I think they might be catching on something internally? The aux sends appear to be doing odd things too, but that might be down to user error on my part. 😅
I put some posts out on a couple of facebook book groups, and someone came to the rescue (they had a donor unit). Tascam Ninja sometimes has used parts for 688’s though. Good luck 🤞🏻
Yeah there are people out there that can fix these things. If you’re in the UK Tetrakan Monobloc (thats his TH-cam handle) should be able to help you out.
@@rosalinosanchez5568 you could try Jack at Recursive Delete Audio/Visual. He’s in Huntsville, AL, but seems to do work in other parts of the US too. recdel.com/
Ooow, that’s a tricky question! Sound wise there’s not much in it, but i prefer the bigger mixer and meterbridge on the 688, and like that you can record 8 tracks simultaneously. The MT8XII is easier to use from a routing perspective and has phantom power built in. On balance the 688 has the edge for me. 🙂
@@nameless2340 yes I’ve given that a go occasionally. I recently got a Revox A77 reel to reel which makes a good mixdown device. Need to use it a bit more though….
...why is there a need of working with this low fi equipment, has it sense? klark techknik chinese copy of pultec, focusrite low end channel strip, behringer compressor maybe.....cassette multitrack?! wouldn't it be simpler getting a millennia stt1, apollo 8p and logic? why wasting precious time with stuff that in the 80s no one would use it professionally if there was at time pro tools or logic or performer....never encountered someone in 80s or 90s prefering a tascam 8 track cassette recorder instead of a multitrack digital recorder like mitsubishi or sony, simply they were out of budget for 99% of people...so musicians had no choice from getting a tascam 4 track or sansui but that's the soley reason. this is something I will never understand (the reason why today people is attracted by this analog prosumer stuff
That slide guitar sounds so good!
Great to hear you like the slide guitar, I love playing that old thing!
This is very entertaining. And I like your setup
Great to hear you enjoyed the video and many thanks for the positive feedback! 👍
Really fun track. Would have loved to see you run some effects, as that's always a little tricky and here are many ways to do it.
Also curious: why record bass after the drums? I've always done a rough of the guitar and vocal after the drum machine and then built out from there.
Thanks very much for checking out the video and great to hear you think the track was fun! I’m planning to do a couple more videos with the 688 so will definitely run some effects on one of those.
I often do a scratch vocal/guitar 2nd too, but thought it’d make a more gradual build up for the video with drums, bass etc first.
that dobro sounds great
Thanks very much! 🙌
Thank you for this great tutorial!
Glad you liked it and many thanks for checking it out!
This was so awesome! The 688 is a beast! Holy cow. It all sounded so good.
Thanks very much man, yeah this thing’s a bit of a cassette monster 👹 😅! Glad you liked the sound of my demo.
People often claim this is not good quality recorder as the width is so small but that’s where I usually stop them, as they spent lots of money on development of this to sound decent, mixing/recording techniques are what really matter imho.
Facing to see and hear the process of making a song 🏆
Thanks for watching a glad you enjoyed the process!
Love the studio!
Cheers, it’s a fun little space to work in!
Thanks a ton for shareing this moment
Cheers for watching and the positive vibes! 🙌
Sounds fantastic
Thanks very much, glad you liked it!
Really great seeing you use this machine, the result is great, the vocal is so clear. Maybe do add those fx! (I hope those little issues at the end turn out to be minor fixes.)
Thanks man, it’s so good to have a working 688 again and I appreciate the kind words! The aux sends did strange things when I first tried them and I’ve been to apprehensive to try them again. 😅 Hopefully they’ll be fine and I can iron out the other minor issues myself though. 🤞🏻
Hi, i have a 644 and repaired it myself. The crackaling is just a bit of contact spray and that should do it. Same with the counter. This fixed my issue and its working great now. Great video and a very cool machine. Keep it up!!
Hi, that’s good that you managed to sort out similar issues on your 644 with contact cleaner. I was just considering getting some Deoxit, so will give that a go. Many thanks for the encouraging words too! 🙏
@@wehappyfewmusic good luck!
Nice video. My brother and I had a 688 in the early 90’s. Use to lay Midi Time Code on track 8 and sync it up to an Atari STE 1040, running the Creator sequence software. Used to use the TDK MA metal tapes in the machine if my memory serves me right, but used to dub the mix downs onto the same SA chrome tapes you used in this video. Now I use a Mac running Cubase 13 Pro, with one hardware synth and a ton of plugins. It’s great but not quite as much fun.
Cheers and that sounds like an amazing setup for the early 90’s! I kinda fancy getting an Atari STE at some point if I can find a working one for a reasonable amount of money. I think it could make an interesting retro music production video (or I’d enjoy playing with it if not 😅).
@@wehappyfewmusic Yup. That would definitely be fun to watch😀
That slide guitar sounds so good...
🙌👍
Great to see that old blotchy LCD off into the trash heap. Any other issues you found working with it? I def want one now. Sounds great as usual!
Yeah, I’m so pleased they were able to fit a replacement screen. It was actually from a 644 but he managed to unsolder the screen and reattach it to the board from my 688. A couple of the faders are really hard to move now, and it looks like it hasn’t been rebuilt quite correctly. I think they might be catching on something internally? The aux sends appear to be doing odd things too, but that might be down to user error on my part. 😅
Mike D would use the Akai MPC for beats but the king Adrock was the Benihana chef on the SP1200
I love the sounds those guys made, would also be awesome to have a go on a SP1200.
Chido! Greetings from mexico
Many thanks and greetings from the UK!
After doing the mix down what do you use to connect the tascam to what device?
For this video I just took the main output into my zoom R16 multi track recorder.
Did you source a new lcd from a parts unit, or do you happen to have a link for it??
I put some posts out on a couple of facebook book groups, and someone came to the rescue (they had a donor unit). Tascam Ninja sometimes has used parts for 688’s though. Good luck 🤞🏻
@@wehappyfewmusic gotcha gotcha! Luckily not in need, but always wondered! Thanks for the tip
Oooh what did they gouge you at the service centre?
It wasn’t cheap but it was a tricky job by the sounds of things. 😅
@@wehappyfewmusic It's never cheap with this sort of stuff. They have a license to print money really.
sick can you see what The Beatles would of did if they had the 688 wow? nice vid ty for the share it sounds epic.
Oh yeah, the Beatles would have done amazing things with a 688! 👌🙏
how would you describe the eq and overall sound difference between the allen heath and the tascam?
It’s pretty subtle but the Allen and Heath eq is a bit cleaner sounding and the 688 is a touch warmer.
@@wehappyfewmusic Thanks for your answer, helps finding the right desk. Also, thanks for showing a nice track and mix while doing so :)
@@fmoll8748 you’re welcome and many thanks 🙏
Every recording I've heard through this sounds great! Drums especially
The 688 does add a nice bit of tape mojo to stuff, and thanks for checking out the video. 👍
I have a tascam 688 but the cassette plays slow, the pitch nob doesn’t work, can anyone fix this? Please let me know I really want help for this.
Yeah there are people out there that can fix these things. If you’re in the UK Tetrakan Monobloc (thats his TH-cam handle) should be able to help you out.
@@wehappyfewmusic I’m in the US
@@rosalinosanchez5568 you could try Jack at Recursive Delete Audio/Visual. He’s in Huntsville, AL, but seems to do work in other parts of the US too.
recdel.com/
Hi, can you share the service contact? I’d like to restore mine!
Hi I used Electrofix in Wales, UK. Good luck with the restoration and I hope you get yours fixed!
@@wehappyfewmusic He wants the number or contact for the service centre. Not the manual.
@@oinkooink Sorry, I misread the original comment. It’s Electrofix in Wales, UK. 👍
@@wehappyfewmusic Yep, I'm sure he'll come back and see that.
Does this beat your Yamaha Mt8xii?
Ooow, that’s a tricky question! Sound wise there’s not much in it, but i prefer the bigger mixer and meterbridge on the 688, and like that you can record 8 tracks simultaneously. The MT8XII is easier to use from a routing perspective and has phantom power built in.
On balance the 688 has the edge for me. 🙂
@@wehappyfewmusic I see:) have you considered recording on an electronic mixer and then to reel to reel? Some reel to reels aren’t expensive
@@nameless2340 yes I’ve given that a go occasionally. I recently got a Revox A77 reel to reel which makes a good mixdown device. Need to use it a bit more though….
0:51 did you just-
Turn on the MPC?
...why is there a need of working with this low fi equipment, has it sense? klark techknik chinese copy of pultec, focusrite low end channel strip, behringer compressor maybe.....cassette multitrack?!
wouldn't it be simpler getting a millennia stt1, apollo 8p and logic? why wasting precious time with stuff that in the 80s no one would use it professionally if there was at time pro tools or logic or performer....never encountered someone in 80s or 90s prefering a tascam 8 track cassette recorder instead of a multitrack digital recorder like mitsubishi or sony, simply they were out of budget for 99% of people...so musicians had no choice from getting a tascam 4 track or sansui but that's the soley reason.
this is something I will never understand (the reason why today people is attracted by this analog prosumer stuff
Some interesting points and it’d certainly be easier to use the setup up you mentioned. I like experimenting the sound of this old tape gear though.