Fw-1804

[rnms]

Before I buy this I would appreciate any comments from users, I'm cosidering also M-audio products but they seem to be problematical, from comments I've read elsewhere, many thanks.

[pikingrin]

I bought an FW-1804 about a year ago, and the only complaint I ever had was TASCAM/TEAC's customer support because I didn't know how to get it working (due to complete lack of computer savvy...) I use it with Cubase SL3.0, and other than the first day of trying to get it to work with my system, it really does well. It has all the perks of zero latency monitoring, plus all the ins and outs you will ever need...(4 mic/line, 4 line ins, ADAT, SPDIF, etc...) unless you are going to do more than personal recording... The firewire helps out with latency issues for the most part and it's front panel is VERY easy to figure out. Just a bunch of trim knobs. IMO, it's a good interface and it has worked flawlessly. Can't beat it with a stick for only $500.00...

[deepwater]

I'm using a FW-1884 w/ Sonar 4 and it works fine.

[corso]

1884 with Logic. Love it.

[rnms]

Thanks for your replies, I'm off to buy a tascam 1804, I think it will suit my needs, I love the simplicity of the thing, Rob.

[sloom]

Hey Rob, would you post a comment after you get friendly with it? Thanks- I'm also in the market for I/O.

[deepwater]

Might want to find a used FW-1884 for about the price of the FW1084

[rnms]

No, I want a rack mount jobbie to put my laptop on , much more compact, I don't want all the sliders and transport comtrols, nice thought though.

[BRITinDETROIT]

I've just bought one of these and although I haven't hooked everything up yet, it does seem simplicity itself to use.

A word of warning though, you're supposed to leave one rack-space empty immediately above it to facilitate cooling. I only have 6 spaces in my desk and 4 of them were already taken, so I'm a little worried what happens if it overheats or starts affecting the sound modules above it.

Steve.

[sloom]

Maybe you need to find a bigger box? Or put it on top of the box- or at least put it in the top space. But I don't bet you want it overheating.

This answer must get classified as "unnecessary"!

[pikingrin]

Originally Posted by BRITinDETROIT

I've just bought one of these and although I haven't hooked everything up yet, it does seem simplicity itself to use.

A word of warning though, you're supposed to leave one rack-space empty immediately above it to facilitate cooling. I only have 6 spaces in my desk and 4 of them were already taken, so I'm a little worried what happens if it overheats or starts affecting the sound modules above it.

Steve.

YMMV, but I put mine at the top of my rack (in the studioRTA creation station) and even though there is a shelf directly above it, there has not been any issues with heat buildup, etc...

[rnms]

Well I bought one ( FW-1804) early results are very good ( although the included firewire cable is crap, very dodgy connection, but with a different cable all is fine), I made a wooden rack case with plenty of room and my laptop sits on top, I will give it some more stick today, but so far I'm very pleased.

[sloom]

Originally Posted by rnms

Well I bought one ( FW-1804) early results are very good ( although the included firewire cable is crap, very dodgy connection, but with a different cable all is fine), I made a wooden rack case with plenty of room and my laptop sits on top, I will give it some more stick today, but so far I'm very pleased.

How are the jacks? Plastic, like the US-428- or something sturdier? Would a patch-bay (or other permanent connection) be a good idea?

[brandrum]

does anyone know if it can be daisy chained with other 1804's, and possibly a fw-1082?

[BRITinDETROIT]

Originally Posted by pikingrin

YMMV, but I put mine at the top of my rack (in the studioRTA creation station) and even though there is a shelf directly above it, there has not been any issues with heat buildup, etc...

Yeah I suppose your right, better safe than sorry. In my StudioRTA Mix-Station I currently have a Samsom power strip (with light) in the top space, then a Proteus 2000, an Orbit-3, a Virtuosso 2000 and the 1084 at the bottom. I was working on the principal that the light is best at the top (to illuminate everything below) and with my Radium 61 keyboard on the desk top the bottom 2 spaces are a not that accessible, making it ideal for the 1804 which you don't need to touch that much compared to the 3 E-Mu sound modules.

Anyway, perhaps I'll put it in the top space with the strip & light below it - if I don't need to touch it that much then I don't really need to see it either do I?

[BRITinDETROIT]

Originally Posted by brandrum

does anyone know if it can be daisy chained with other 1804's, and possibly a fw-1082?

Although it has 2 firewire ports, the manual strongly recommends you only use one at a time and do not connect the other to other equipment. I did wonder "then why fit two?"

Another thing that puzzles me about the firewire connection: The manual says that some computers are fitted with 4 pin firewire connectors (Sony i-link), and that the 2 'missing' pins supply power to the connected device. Then it says clearly that the 1804 cannot be powered through the firewire cable and you must use the separate power supply. OK, but then it strongly recommends that you only use the 1804 with a computer that has a 6 pin firewire connector. So, faced with the dilema...replace Toshiba Qosmio G10 Laptop ($2000+) or buy a 6-pin to 4-pin firewire cable ($5), guess what I did?

[rnms]

Originally Posted by sloom

How are the jacks? Plastic, like the US-428- or something sturdier? Would a patch-bay (or other permanent connection) be a good idea?

The jacks are plastic as are the combo sockets on the mic channels, all are balanced so you would need a balanced patchbay to keep this feature, might be a good idea but i don't think I'll bother

[sloom]

Well, maybe it won't mean anything if you keep you cable-runs/connections short.

[rnms]

So, faced with the dilema...replace Toshiba Qosmio G10 Laptop ($2000+) or buy a 6-pin to 4-pin firewire cable ($5), guess what I did? [/QUOTE]

I emailed customer services about this and was told to only use a 6 pin port, I too am confused by this, no-one has yet given me a good reason not to use an 6 pin to 4 pin lead as the FW-1804 doesn't need power from this port, are there any other differences, I am currently using a pcmcia card but my laptop has a 4 pin port with a TI chipset, it seems stupid not to use it, but customer services said it could damage the FW, Rob.

[BRITinDETROIT]

I emailed customer services about this and was told to only use a 6 pin port, I too am confused by this, no-one has yet given me a good reason not to use an 6 pin to 4 pin lead as the FW-1804 doesn't need power from this port, are there any other differences, I am currently using a pcmcia card but my laptop has a 4 pin port with a TI chipset, it seems stupid not to use it, but customer services said it could damage the FW, Rob.[/QUOTE]

You've lost me here (but it's easily done so don't worry about it )...so how is your laptop connected with the FW-1804 if not via the firewire connection?

[rnms]

You've lost me here (but it's easily done so don't worry about it )...so how is your laptop connected with the FW-1804 if not via the firewire connection? [/QUOTE]

I use pcmcia firewire card with 6 pin connections

[cmyhre]

I use a 6 pin to 4 pin cable with my laptop and 1884 with no problems so far, I din't see a warning not to do that but didn't read the manual all that well. Anyone experienced problems doing that?