You can direct the MONITOR OUTPUT to Stereo Tracks. They cal this "premastering". I'd call it "mixdown".

I downloaded the "Quick Start Manual" from the Tascam website to find this info.

Their searchable forum at http://209.216.16.19/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=13&submit=Go is also a wealth of info.

I'm close too, but very interested in what experiences others have had with the 788 and it's rivals.

Mastering Tracks - There are not separate mastering tracks, you must use two of the 128 tracks available per song. The catch is you can't play back and record on V tracks played on the same fader, so you have to comp a stereo pair to make room for the mastering tracks. That's why the 1880 has 18 tracks; the extra two are for mastering, but can be used as regular tracks, too. You can mixdown all eight (or four stereo pairs of comped and effected submixes) to DAT, then import that back onto two tracks and master those. Now, once you have your mastered tracks, you can create a CD image right on the 890 including track numbers and space between tracks. Save the CD image and you can burn as many CDs as you want from it (one at a time, of course).

Compression - There are a number of compression schemes to choose from as well as sampling rates. As long as you choose 44.1Khz as your rate, you can master to CD. The greater the compression rate, the longer the recording time. I don't notice any difference in sound using compression.

CD compatibility - There are a number of SCSI CD burners approved for use with the Roland recorders and there are regularly ones on eBay for about $200 - $250. I have a Plextor Plexwriter 4/2/20 which cost $225 and it works perfectly (if a little slowly).

Effects - All the standard stuff like reverb, chorus and delay is great, but the mic modeling effect is worth the cost of admission by itself. Plug in a 57/58 and run it through one of the studio condenser mic algorithms and you won't believe the sweet sound that comes out of that stage cardiod mic. For vocals and acoustic guitars it's unbelievable. The guitar amp models are good, too, but I much prefer to get the sound I want with an amp and stick a 57 right in the sweet spot. You can't really duplicate the sound of moving air.

Connectors - The 890 has only unbalanced inputs (6 1/4") and I prefer to run a mic through an external tube pre-amp (just the cheap ART with a good tube in it) for more control over level. The mic pre's on the Roland sound good, but thier level control is kind of touchy and the external amp provides smoother level control. Also, there are no balanced XLR ins (have to go to 1880 for that). Digital connectors include both in and out on S/PDIF optical and co-ax (though only one at a time) and, of course, the built in SCSI bus to the CD burner.

Rounding things off, I believe that 7.5 GB is good for about 3 hours of 8 track 16 bit recording. (This depends on several things, so this is a general number.) So even with a 16 GB drive, that amounts to a lot of 3 minute hit singles.

I also believe at this time that a machine that has a cost increase of around $300 for an internal propietary CD writer is a big burn as well, especially because most of the new machines have an optical output for CD as standard.

Long term I still have my eye on the Roland machines that hook up to a VGA monitor and use a mouse.

I would never dog onanyone for researching a big new equipment purchase, but in my mind overthought is death, and eventually you gotta stop wanking and make a decision(which is what you both did!).

Remember the golden rule! "Garbage in.......Garbage out!!!!!" Apologize in advance to the wife and the boss, cause you are both gonna have a blast spending TOO much time w/ your new machines!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

There's an excellent 788 User Forum at www.tascam.com . I found searching that far more helpful than the manuals.

In about a week or so I'll post a new track on my meek little website from the BR8.

tp