Description: Tascam 688 MIDIStudio – Vintage & Rare in This Condition! This machine is seller refurbished. I am in the business of refurbishing these machines; I do it very well and have successfully done many. For those looking for the means to bring back that highly sought-after vintage tape sound in their productions; THIS MACHINE IS IT. It’s a complete, compact 20 x 8, 8 track tape, music production studio all in one sleek package! Just patch in your favorite outboard effects and processors (2 EFX sends/returns and 10 channel strip EFX inserts) and you’re good to go! This analog “way-back machine” is simply awesome! People looking at this know exactly what it is and what it’s worth. I’ve priced this unit competitively considering actually finding one anywhere near this condition is extremely rare. Most all 688s you see listed are either in need of major repairs, nonfunctional-for parts only, or simply being sold as junk. Sure, you can buy one claimed as "working" for the average price of $700 - $1,000, but I can guarantee you won't be happy with it; NOT AT ALL. This is because ALL these machines are now over 30 years old and in NEED of major servicing and/or repair. No way around that. As you can conclude from my Electronics testing report below, I know this machine like the back of my hand; every function, feature and application. I am a lifelong electronics technician and music producer with 12+ years experience using and servicing this machine. When you purchase a machine like this today, it's pretty much a craps shoot with what you're going to get because most sellers don't actually know how to thoroughly test it. I do, and did, so there's no guessing here. Notes About Cleaning Faders: This is not a simple task of just spraying cleaner into them, which actually makes them much worse. To do it correctly, each fader must be unsoldered from its printed circuit board (PCB), disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, properly re-lubricated, reassembled, re-soldered to the PCB and tested. Additionally, access to the faders requires the complete disassembly of the mixer section, which is a huge undertaking. All the knobs and PCBs must come out; over 100 knobs, 70+ screws, 20 TRS jack shims, Bus PCB, 10 main channel strip PCBs, and 3 fader PCBs. Debris found inside the faders include much dust accumulated at each end, hair and dust intertwined with the wipers, there are 10 inside each potentiometer. This amounts to many hours of tedious, highly detailed work, which I have performed in order to confidently guarantee in this listing, that the cleaning/rejuvenation of all 14 faders has been done, and done properly. The faders now operate as they did from the factory, very smooth and without any noise or intermittencies. Physical Condition: Cosmetically, there is some minor wear from use over the years as reflected in the photos. For its age there are the usual blemishes, but nothing serious; some scuffs, small gouges, and fading in the finish on various surfaces. Look closely at all the photos. All knobs are in great condition, no rubber decomposition. Electronics: I properly, thoroughly cleaned all the faders, heads, pitch switch & pot (runs at stable speed), and installed a drive motor to replace the old, noisy one. Removed (unsoldered) dead backup battery, and replaced with new socket and fresh battery, so now the backup battery is user serviceable. The new battery should last about 20 years. All pots and faders on every channel have been tested; they are all clean and operate as they did from the factory. Performed complete mixer test and it’s all functioning as it originally did from the factory. Performed recording and playback tests on each track, and it is all functioning as it originally did from the factory. All scene and patching buttons are working as they should. I replaced the Rewind, Fast Forward, Stop & Play micro-switches, as they were all faulty. All transport buttons now work normally. DBX LEDs and transport LEDs are all functional. LCD displays for transport counter and patching are all functional. Metering: All LED segment meters on bridge, OL LEDs near gain pads are in perfect working order. Monitoring: The monitor section operates as it should. All the pots in the cue monitor section (gain & pan) are clean and operate quietly as they should. All monitor section switches function as designed. Dual Channels: All 10 dual channels (gain & pan pots) and their master bus gain are clean and operate quietly as they should. All aux sends and return pots are clean and operate quietly as they should. MIDI: All MIDI functions tested and are operational. Mechanical: The tape transport is extremely clean, well lubricated and operates as smooth as when it shipped from the factory. Overall Assessment: This machine is excellent electronic/operational condition and very good cosmetic condition. Who am I? I have been a die-hard Tascam Portastudio user-enthusiast since 1981 when I got my hands on their first, the 4 track 144. I then graduated to their 246, then to their 388 1/4” R to R Portastudio and then landed the 688 when it first debuted in the early 1990s retailing for $4,995. What made all these machines so special is the built in DBX II Noise Reduction system that actually effects some dynamics while reducing noise resulting in the most professional quality, sounding analog recordings. In the Studio: Back in the 1990s with my 688, I ran all my MIDI synths, drum modules and controllers through a JL Cooper MSB+ Rev 2, 8x8 MIDI patch bay (still use it today with my DAW) along with the 688's MIDI I/O. I was doing my sequencing on the Alesis MMT8 (with their DataDisk storage system). Basically you stripe (record) track 8 with MIDI clock signal (from the MMT8 or any sequencer, even a DAW) and then wherever you go on the tape, all your MIDI gear follows via Song Position Pointer (SPP), but you sacrifice your 8th. track in this process. The dual channel configuration of the 688’s mixer is also very nice because all the stereo audio coming from my MIDI modules just plugged right in via 1/4" TS phone jacks without having to sacrifice any of the main 10 channel strips with XLR mic pres or fool around with converting 1/4" to XLR via line transformers. Live tracking: I once did a live concert multi-track recording with the 688 using the cue monitor section to mix the FOH mains while recording every instrument and voice to each of the 8 tracks, thereby enabling me to do some awesome post production work that resulted in an album quality product. These productions can be heard in the Audio Gallery on my website under the Western Music genre (more details below). Rediscovery: I stopped rolling tape around year 2002, graduating to the Tascam DM24 (with a Cakewalk Sonar Producer PC DAW), then the DM4800 which is where I'm at now in the digital realm. I sold off my original 688 long ago, but ended up buying another in 2011 after discovering many old multi-track Portastudio tapes in my attic that I thought were long gone. So, I took on the huge restoration project of getting all my old, multi-track recordings into the digital realm in 24 bit @ 96KHz, which resulted in much new post production work, new remixing and mastering using the Izotope Music Production suite. Many of my found tapes were 4 track cassettes from my 144 & 246 days in the early ‘80s. I loaded them into the 688 and was able to successfully capture EVERYTHING in digital using the 8 RCA direct tape outputs. It worked flawlessly. The only issue was that there is a difference in head/track staggering from the Tascam cassette 4 track to their 8 track, but it was no problem because once in the DAW, I just dragged the tracks over to line them all up. Conclusion: This 688 MIDIStudio is great for enthusiasts of vintage analog gear and professionals alike. The amazing thing about the quality of recordings this machine produces is that it's on par with much more expensive, wider tape machines with more bandwidth, and running at faster speeds. I can honestly say that it's sonic quality is on par with the wider 1/4" 8 track Tascam 388 running @ 7.5 inches per second (IPS). This 688 MIDIStudio records and plays 8 tracks via a regular 1/8” cassette tape running at 3.75 IPS, twice that of normal cassette tape speed. I (also Tascam) highly recommend using only chrome cassette tapes for best results, in fact, the results are unreal! This 688 is a serious, all-in-one piece of analogue multi-track mixing and tape recording gear that will produce album quality recordings. In the vintage, analog tape world it is considered “The Holy Grail of Portastudios.” Specifications and Features: 20-channel mixer via 10 main channel strips and 10 duals: 10 XLR mic pres with full channel strips, and 10 Dual channels (Dual inputs, gain and pan only) via 1/4” TS phone jack. 2 effects aux sends 4 effects aux returns Full DBX II noise reduction, grouped on/off for tracks 1-4 and 5-8 10 channel inserts (TRS 1/4" jacks) on the 10 main channel strips 8 direct RCA tape outputs EQ: Low, Mid (parametric) and High on the 10 channel strips Built in 8 track cue monitoring section; gain and pan Large 10-LED built in meter bridge 100 user-savable routing/mixing "scene" settings; main assign, inputs, tracks, effects and mutes that can be controlled via MIDI events Large routing/mixing configuration LCD display screen Large transport counter LCD display Variable tape speed control, or “pitch.” Transport shuttle control Two headphone outputs Punch-in and punch-out (manual and auto) jacks Full MIDI implementation Live Demonstration: If you would like to view and listen to this actual, wonderful machine in action, please see the youtube video I posted on my listing with the more specialized music equipment platform, you know the name. The track I use in the demo is from 1994!, the Burgess project. Listen to the final mix of this Burgess track with added MIDI drums and strings in the Audio Galley on my website. warpdriveprod is my commercial domain. The song is entitled "I Long For You" by Dave Burgess and is in the first genre labeled ROCK. Many of the recordings in my Audio Gallery were produced with the Tascam 688! Look for songs that date from 1990 through 2002, there are MANY! Although some dates don't fit in that time span, all the Western music was done on my 688. Here is your chance to finally own and utilize a vintage, compact, all-in-one analog multi-track recording machine that’s gushing with features and functionality. Don’t let this one slip away because I know somebody is going to take it. Please understand that the total price of this MIDI Studio is determined by several factors: 1. Excellent Electronics 2. Condition 3. Scarcity 4. Inflation 5. Increased shipping costs 6. Sales and transaction fees Will only ship within the main 48 United States. Shipping: This vintage tape dream machine will be professionally packed and insured so it gets to you in the same condition it was in before shipping. Weight 41 lbs., packed weight 46 lbs. Package dimensions 32” x 24” x 10” Not original box. Local pickup is welcomed Those who wish to arrange for local pickup may do so only after payment including shipping is received through eBay. The full shipping cost will then be refunded to you when you pick the machine up. Please note, all communications, negotiations and purchase associated with this Tascam 688 will only be done on the eBay platform using the available electronic payment method, NO CASH SALE. Messages asking to communicate outside of eBay will be ignored. Sending your email address in a message will likely get you suspended from the platform. Please do not purchase this item unless you intend to pay for it. Payment is due immediately after purchase. Violators of these policies will be reported to eBay. Thank you. While we welcome offers, please be realistic. Low-ball offers will not be considered. Thank you. Will ship only within the main 48 United States. We have more pro-audio items for sale, see our other listings! Thanks for looking!
Price: 3195 USD
Location: Aliso Viejo, California
End Time: 2025-01-05T21:19:05.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: TASCAM
Number of Mic Inputs: 10
Form Factor: Console/Tabletop
Type: Analog Recorder
Input/Output Ports: Analog In, Analog Out, Analog RCA/Coaxial In, Analog RCA/Coaxial Out, Analog XLR In, Headphone TRS 1/4" Out, MIDI (DIN) Interface, MIDI I/O, TS 1/4" In, TS 1/4" Out, XLR In
Features: 3-Band Equalizer, 8 Tracks, Cassette, Direct Monitoring, Fader-Type Control, Headphone Cue, Matrix Mixer, Pitch Control, Send/Return, Time Code
Number of Line Inputs: 10
