2488 and in general midi for dummies

[Jaysensor]

I have owned a 2488 tascam recorder for quite a while. I am able to access and use the drums machine function. And that is great. But I recently bought a 2488 neo recorder and I am completely confused about the midi functions and how I create a song or add to my songs with this function. What , do I have to start a song completely from scratch with the midi functions so I could use a time code? And are the sounds that I’m looking for as far as maybe strings or saxophone or bass inside my 2488 and the midi keyboard would actually give me the ability to unlock it and access the sounds to record on my other 2488? I’m sorry but I am so behind in all this and I understand if it’s too much trouble for somebody to try and explain this to me. Even if somebody was kind enough to guide me to a video that explains all this stuff for a dummy like me. But thank you for taking the time to read my very involved and what seems to me like a endless question. Every time I try to go backwards to look at old things and how Midi used to work I see nothing but videos of people using midi keyboards with interfaces and computers which I don’t want no part of. I have 2 2488 recorders. One is a neo. Also a sonus interface. If I bought a small cheap midi keyboard and the correct patch cables to connect at all how would I say lay out something over a drum bed that I have created on my first 2488?

 

[Mark Richards]

An older thread, but since it's gone unanswered, check the 2488/DP-24/32/SD Forum's stickies.

Both of these sticky threads have informational posts about interfacing MIDI with the portastudios:
https://www.tascamforums.com/threads/dp24-32-equipment-related-tips.5817/

https://www.tascamforums.com/threads/tutorial-and-informational-videos-for-dp-32-24-32sd-24sd.7912/

I would think there's not much difference, if any at all, between the 2488 and DP series MIDI implementations.

A search on MIDI in the 2488/DP-24/32/SD forum also turned up ten pages in the "Site Results" tab of MIDI related threads and posts. Perhaps some of those might be helpful too.
https://www.tascamforums.com/search/17904849/?_params=Array&q=MIDI&o=date&c[node]=7