What's Inside? | 90s Digital Multitrack Recorder Tascam DA-88 Teardown
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- Опубликовано: 22 дек 2022
- The Tascam DA-88 is a legend in the history of multitrack audio recording. At the professional level, these machines were everywhere, and had unique features that gained them a huge following in the sound for film world. This DTRS deck was at one time the top selling product from TASCAM, with over 60k of these units selling in the 1990's. The pro-audio, pro-video and digital production worlds were forever changed by these machines and the technology Tascam created here. Storing digital data on inexpensive Hi-8 tapes, allowing complex multitrack recording and playback in mobile environments, it was all new and very exciting at the time.
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These machines used to break down all the time in the studio. I don’t miss them.
You're not kidding. Many of my memories with DAT and ADAT machines are of driving them to and from the repair shop. The best one near me in the 90s was almost an hour away, but next door to the best music and sound shop in the area, so it was always a good excuse to stop in for a visit and at least buy more tapes.
Amazing to see the incredible amount of engineering that went into the modular and serviceable design of this unit. Sadly very rare to see nowadays.
Absolutely, it's always interesting to see how much repairability was a priority in older designs like this.
genial... tengo uno practicamente nuevo, lamentablemente en desuso... felicitaciones por el video... saludos.-
This is the first 'tape' machine I ever used and is what I learned on. I remember doing a line by line and sometimes syllable by syllable vocal comp on one. My teacher and mentor wouldn't let us use pro tools for two semesters.
I think that's a great experience more folks should get... do you think it has helped or changed how you approach work now?
It's amazing how clean the pcb was designed. All the components are clearly in line with their channel. Would have been great to troubleshoot back in the day. I've never seen a more dense rack unit piece of equipment.
Couldn't agree more!
Do you still have the DSP board? I have two non working DA-88s here, I've recapped the RF amp and PB/REC amp, and have narrowed the problems down to the DSP board. The electrolytic caps on these 3 boards leak and the electrolyte from them eats the board beneath. When this happens, you don't just re-cap it since some of the foils on the boards have been eaten away. The DSP board appears to be multi layer, as in more than two layers. I think Tascam was planning on selling a lot of replacement parts to keep these in service (and to keep them in business). The development cost must have been very high when looking at the complexity of this machine. It was "built like a tank", but it wasn't built to last, the leaky SMT electrolytic caps were the reason. If you need a nice high current 5 volt supply, it is good for that!
Hey Francis, thanks for the message. Someone locally was able to take the whole machine not too long after this video went up. I hope you can track one down soon though. Thanks for the message.
@@DcSoundOp Thanks for the response. I'll set them aside and keep an eye out for a DSP board. I think I can make at least one of them play. There appear to be at least 4 revisions of that board. There is a partial service manual in many places on the web, but it is only a supplement and not a complete manual. It contains a schematic for the latest version of the DSP board, but is quite different from the boards I have. Oh, well, I guess I got some nice heavy doorstops. :)
I was using an 8 track 1/2 inch Otari Reel to Reel in the 90s... Man I do not miss that at all..
Yeah, the charm of working with tape wears a bit when you're the one dealing with it and paying for it all. I'd love to get an Otari Radar system in for a video at some point, they cost is still up there though. Thanks for the message!
@@DcSoundOp iZ Technology out of Vancouver actually made the RADAR.. Otari was just a distributor for about 5 years 95-2000.. then IZ took back over
@@DcSoundOp The maintence on tape, and the ease of nonlinear editing make tape a no go for me.. Especially for my actually paid work, which is TV post audio.
Thanks for the info, those show up in the used listings pretty often & I'd certainly take either if there was a good deal going!
@@DcSoundOp The converters are highly praised. Ive never worked with them, but ive seen a lot of people seem to really like them
What a beast! Nice teardown.
Value engineering - I don't know if there is a more offensive term these days when it comes to electronics :/
Thanks for the message! Thankfully Tascam still makes some quality hardware, like the DA-6400, which is around the same price as this was originally and does 64 tracks in a single rack space. Mind blowing how far things have come so fast really. Sony has a few pro video decks that are similarly accessible for repairs and swapping parts, but it is exceedingly rare for less than a $10k price tag these days.
@@DcSoundOp 64 tracks in one RU? Wow!
Hello, nice video !
My DA-88 has a stuck tape with the message S-Err 1, do you know how I could get it out ? And how to repair the device ? Cheers !
So S-Err 01 says 'Mechanical problem, -tape path, guide, drum,
motor, etc.' - getting it out would involve opening the case and getting a closer look at how it is stuck, if the tape itself is engaged or tangled or what is going on. The cause could just be dirt, a lack of lubrication or something broken, but getting a look at how it is stuck would be my first step.
I bought a tascam 88 and the tape is stuck inside I used a new Sony DTRS tape and got a 68 error code or 79 it seems to look in newer condition. Can you help me?
I'm not sure what an error 79 would be, but the 68 error is listed as "In Play mode, the reels do not start to drive, or do not lock for more than 1.5 seconds." - that could be something that comes good with cleaning & lubrication, or it could be a damaged or defective part. Have you opened it up? You'd be surprised how much better these run after proper maintenance.
I recently bought one in a condition marked as working, but it would need a new pinch roller ...then I realised for some reason no one makes those in Europe! Terry's Rubber Pinch Rollers in Michigan seems to be the only way for me at the moment. I might give it a try...
It would be great to know what your experience was like if you do give Terry's a try. Thanks for the message & good luck getting your machine back up and running!
It may not be the pinch roller. Have a close look at the supply tension regulator, they tend to freeze up. When they do, you have insufficient back tension and you will see the tape bunch up at the pinch roller. It is a small arm near the left supply spindle. It should swing forward when the tape loads. My guess is that it is stuck in place. To fix, loosen the plastic retainer, gently pull the arm up, apply some cleaner such as alcohol using a cotton swab, apply some light oil to that shaft, work the arm so it's loose, put the plastic retainer back in place.
@@fflynnful Thank you very much for the enlightening information. I will transfer it to the technician who is now responsible to fix this fantastic piece of machinery, because I don't do repairs, I just had the ambition to plug it and write some music...
immediately...
but unfortunatelly it has been more than a year that the DA-88 is sitting there musicless...and it's kinda sad..
Nevertheless I love this video, it is so satisfying to watch and learn!
@@jiosi I have two of them here that I am trying to bring back to life. I've given up asking why am I doing that, the question now is why not? They have a lot of, 30 or more, surface mount electrolytic caps that have leaked their guts and basically destroyed parts of the circuit board beneath them, so it's more than just replacing the caps, now it's bridging the corroded foils on the board and then replace the caps. Lots of hours have gone into it. I don't like to give up on things, but I might.
Thank you for the suggestion@@fflynnful
Saludos, podrías venderme la tarjeta SY-88? Gracias, tengo una pero es una versión anterior.
Lo sentimos, alguien local ya tomó las partes desde que se subió este video. ¡Gracias por mirar y suscribirte! Mis mejores deseos.
Ok. Gracias por responder...
Mine looks different. It has three holes in the front and is fully white
Interesting, what do you mean by three holes in the front? Do they serve a purpose? Thanks for the message!
@@DcSoundOp I just ordered it and only had one picture. The front plate is missing.😁
@@DcSoundOp Please help me. The sticker on the case states 120V. Can I plug it to 230V or do I need a converter?
@@neindochoohh7955 can you send me a photo of the back panel? email is in the about tab. If it says 120V I would NOT just give it 230...there may be a switch though, but I'd have to see to tell you.
@@DcSoundOp Thank you, I made some photos but there is no email visible
I'd like to have the whole Machine, I have a yamaha 02a, with the digital interface FIR this Machine. I'm a tech. Please
Where are you located?
@@DcSoundOp San Rafael CA
You almost couldn't be further away unfortunately. To get a whole machine shipped to you would cost a min. of $125 going off a UPS quote & that doesn't include the box and packing material that I don't have to keep something this heavy from destroying itself in transit.
Is it worth to buy one on eBay for $170 plus shipping they say it works like it should.
That is a tough call. I've bought a few digital tape machines over the years online & they are never as 'working condition' as ppl claim. 'Working' doesn't mean it won't eat tapes, or run at the correct speed, or that it has ever been lubed or cleaned etc. Shipping on these is also pretty risky as the weight is concentrated in one corner and they can be tough to secure inside a box properly. If you're willing to spend that kind of money, I'd do a hard search for something within driving distance before going with eBay. Good luck! Let us know how it works out if you do get it!
@@DcSoundOp WOW I just bought one I hope it's ok. The seller says it's a store model. Thanks bro.
Hey Edward, just wanted to see if you got a hold of the one your ordered yet & how it turned out. Hoping you got a good one & are enjoying your tapes again without issue. All the best!
@@DcSoundOp had to cancel my order because the buyer was delaying the shipping. I thought I was getting scammed.