Troubleshooting; Specifications - Tascam 488 PORTASTUDIO Owner's Manual

Troubleshooting

Playback sound poor in brightness
Playback level won't rise
No playback sound
Transport keys not effective
No tape motion
No recording
Wrong tracks recorded
Erratic playback pitch
Problem: Old tracks are always recorded along with new material.
Solution: Use the CUE section instead of the main mixer for monitoring previous tracks.
Problem: Recording are noisy.
Solution: Make sure all mixer channel ASSIGN switches are off except ones you are using. Also,
increase the volume faders of the instruments themselves — the 488 channel and master faders
should not have to be "full up" at any time.
Problem: Erratic tape sync.
Solution: Try to re-record the track through the 488 mixer; connect your sync tone generator to a
channel of the mixer, route that to Group 4, and press RECORD FUNCTION 8. This allows you to
use the mixer controls to adjust the track's recording level. The proper level should be between
-10 and 0 dB on the TRK 8 meter. Be sure to set both the SYNC and DBX NR switches to OFF.

Specifications

Mechanical Characteristics
Tape:
Track Format:
Head Configuration:
Motor:
Tape Speed:
Pitch Control:
Wow and Flutter:
Fast Winding Time:
Dimension (WxHxD):
Weight:
46
Problem
Compact Cassette (C-30 to 90), High-Bias (Type II, CrO2)
8-track/8-channel, single directional record/play
8-channel record/play (sendust) x 1
8-channel erase (ferrite) x 1
DC servo capstan motor x 1
DC reel motor x 1
DC ancillary motor x 1
9.5 cm/sec.(3-3/4 ips), ± 1%
± 12 % (approx.)
0.04% WRMS, ± 0.06 % W.Peak
80 sec. (approx.) with C-60
490 x 125 x 392 mm (19-5/16" x 4-15/16" x 15-7/16")
7 kg (15-7/16 lbs.)
Possible Cause
Dirty heads
Dirty heads
TAPE controls set to OFF
Power turned off, or tape not loaded
PAUSE pressed
Cassette tab broken, or RHSL engaged
PAN/ASSIGN improperly set
PITCH CONTROL set to a different
position than during recording