In case you needed another piece of rare retro gear to lust after, Rhett Shull shared this look at the story behind his rare Tascam 388 ‘mega Portastudio’.
The Tascam 388 Studio 8 is a ‘mid-fi’ reel-to-reel recorder/mixer that represents Tascam’s full-on quarter-inch take on the Portastudio concept.
It features a quarter-inch reel-to-reel multitrack tape machine, integrated with an 8-channel mixer. So, you can just add monitors to create a complete 8-track recording system.
“The Tascam 388 has a cult following, thanks mostly to the musicians that have used that unique piece of recording gear to make some incredible albums,” notes Shull. “After owning a 388 for a year, I decided to share my thoughts on what makes this unit so memorable, and why I love it so much. I understand the hype!”
“The Tascam 388 Studio 8 represents a bold attempt to create an integrated, user-friendly unit in the ‘Portastudio’ tradition, but employing more sophisticated elements,” noted Dave Lockwood in his 1986 SOS review. “It is able to offer some worthwhile advantages in terms of ease of use, particularly for the less technically minded, without seriously compromising the possibilities available to the more adventurous operator.”
Check it out and let us know what you think of the Tascam 388 in the comments!
Oh yes !
Had one back in the days and used it heavily. Serious upgrade from the cassette versions.
It had to go cause i needed the space in my bedroom for a16 channel TAC 8 Bus desk… ?
Inspiring video. I have always used Tascam Porta/Pocket studios to capture my ideas. I currently own a DP-24 with aspirations to eventually get a MODEL 12. But after seeing this 388 that I had no idea even existed, I am quiet with awe. Definitely the slickest piece of kit that slipped past my radar. Being the knobs and fader type of guy that I am has kept me based in the hardware and legacyware spectrum. I do have a DAW set up but hardware is my passion. I’m an older dude who creates urban based music and this 388 seems to fit into that space at a glance. Hopefully I can find one to experiment with and possibly make a video speaking of my 1st year using it. Thanks for such an informative video! Hopefully you revisit us with a future update.
If I had the means, and the patience, I would have one. I’ll settle for my little 424 MK II Portastudio when the tape urge strikes.
I just wished that people would remember the First rule of Fight Club! That’s all that I`m saying!
fantastic machine! live mine 🙂
https://youtu.be/TSuIRZVyVJU?si=kXHOgNIn7HGqNB8u
Very cool. I have the Midistudio 688, which is another quirky machine with a cult following. It manages to squeeze 8 tracks out of the same cassette tape as the 4-track portastudios. It’s big and heavy and not portable at all, though.
Very cool. I have the Midistudio 688, which is another quirky machine with a cult following. It manages to squeeze 8 tracks out of the same cassette tapes that the 4-track portastudios use. It’s big and heavy and not portable at all, though.
Had it, sold it. It’s cool, but unless you specifically want the 388 sound, it’s more space and trouble and money than it’s worth. There are other cheaper tape machines and mixers that sound just as good.
I have put in a request at behringer. 🙂
Very fun and usable machine. Made a good few records with it. It’s not magical, sound wise, but it all does seem to “just work” and a pretty concise package.
Thought about trying to get one of these when my 424mkiii started to sound bad for some reason but then discovered the Model 12. I would have liked to stay analog, but my 424 issues would cost more to fix so why not?