TDM-1000 questions concerning TDIF.

[Tim Brown]

Hi,

I just recorded and mixed some material that is going to be released.
I was using a Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro.
For going into the recorders, it was fine-coming out of the recorders on the other hand,...I just felt like the mixer was a bit noisy....i.e., the board added more noise than I am now willing to accept.;p

So here's what I curently have:

1 Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro
2 DA-38's (I LOVE these!)
1 DA-302 Dual Well DAT Machine.
1 350 Mhz. PC with 128 Megs of RAM, and about 22 Gigs of HD space and a CD burner.

It seems to me I have two options:

I can buy a pair of TDIF cards and go out of the DA-38's directly into the PC, and get a SP/DIF card so that I can put my mixes to be Mastered on the DAT machine.
I would also need some kind of multitrack recording software.

The Drawbacks:

I'm not too keen on mixing in the PC.
I have DSL and this Machine has almost No Resources left in it-I have so many parts in it that it's really like two PC's in one case for all intents and purposes.
*It's Prone to Crashing*

My Other Option, is to get a pair of TDM-1000's so that I can use TDIF for each DA-38, then I can SP/DIF out to the DA-302, and get a SP/DIF card for the PC, and replace the soundcard with that, allowing me to get in and out of the PC for editing the stereo tracks, and making reference CD's.

So, my question is:

Can this second scenario be done?

And Why two TDM-1000's instead of one?

Because I want to keep my Output in Digital. I'm fine with what's going INTO the Recorders...it' the noise that this mixer is adding afterward that I don't like....it was never eally a problem before...or rather I just didn't care, but I was recording some Jazz this week, and it was really bothering me. Normally, I'm doing Hard Rock, and Metal-so I guess I just hadn't really tried doing anything with alot of dynamics to it.

Plus, $1,000 isn't much for getting a digital mixing setup. (actually, it would probably be more like $1,500 with TDIF cards, and cables.)

Thanks,

Tim

[SPINSTERWUN]

The second scenario does sound like a great idea (plus, it will work).

Or you could purchase 1 tmd-1000, then purchase the optional expander that will give you an additional 8 TDIF.

But, before you come to a conclusion, you should go to the Tascam Forum to ask some more questions.

HTTP://WWW.TASCAMBBS.COM

peace...

spin

[Tim Brown]

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
The second scenario does sound like a great idea (plus, it will work).

Or you could purchase 1 tmd-1000, then purchase the optional expander that will give you an additional 8 TDIF.

But, before you come to a conclusion, you should go to the Tascam Forum to ask some more questions.

HTTP://WWW.TASCAMBBS.COM

peace...

spin

Yep, I found that out last night.
I thought that these Mixers could only have 1 8-channel TDIF in each.
I've already priced the thing.
With the extra TDIF as well as the second Effects card-I can get it for UNDER $1000!

So, I know what I'm going to be buying next!
That will be killer-because I'll be able to stay digital from the moment My signals go onto the DA-38's.

Thanks,
Tim

[SPINSTERWUN]

Well, I'm happy that you come to an happy conclusion.

Happy recording.

peace...

spin

[frederic]

The beauty of the TMD1000 (and other digital mixers) is you can cascade them. Connect s/pdif out to s/pdif in, set the mixer to accept the digital in as "aux", and set all the aux controls to "0" gain. Then, route the "Aux" to the L/R buss only. Now, you have a larger console, where all the L/R busses are interconnected.

With this method, items on mixer one, can be recorded on TDIF 1 (first recorder), second mixer goes to second recorder, etc, but the idea is as you find these mixers on the cheap, you can put together a basic, inexpensive digital console that has more than eight analog inputs.

We did that here for a while until we acquired a pair of TMD-4000's. We still use two TMD-1000's as midi sub mixers, and use the TDIF in port on one to connect to a left-over IF-TAD which in turn, collects the output of a Korg Triton Rack module.

They are neat little mixers.

Originally posted by Tim Brown


Yep, I found that out last night.
I thought that these Mixers could only have 1 8-channel TDIF in each.
I've already priced the thing.
With the extra TDIF as well as the second Effects card-I can get it for UNDER $1000!

So, I know what I'm going to be buying next!
That will be killer-because I'll be able to stay digital from the moment My signals go onto the DA-38's.

Thanks,
Tim

[SPINSTERWUN]

Thanks frederic, I didn't think about configuring them like that.

spin

[frederic]

In my eternal quest for more channels (I like faders and hate patch bays), I ended up with a few too many of these (and sold four to a friend, who also seeks more channels).

S/pdif out on the first mixer, to s/pdif on the second mixer, and so on. Use video-quality 75 ohm RCA to RCA cables, and you'll have no problem. Just remember to set the wordclock to "digital A In" on each mixer (except the first one, of course). Then, whatever you attach to the TDIF port, you connect the mixer's wordclock out to the wordclock the recorder that's connect to it. Works well. Works very well.

Eight mixers give you simultanious connections to 64 digital channels (like 8 ADATs for example), and 64 mics, synths, drum machines, etc.

Most people I've described this too (and showed) laughed because the tascams are only 4-bus mixers, and less if you use external effects. But remember this - you can record direct from channels 1-8, out the TDIF port to the recorder. Then mix back to channels 9-16 in "Mix" mode. These mixers were being blown out for about 500 bucks, and 350-450 is not uncommon on ebay.com or Digibid.com.

When you mix back from the recorders, aren't you mixing to stereo anyway? Then 4-busses is not a limitation. Use the stereo L/R to make the master recording whether it be to CD or soundcard or cassette.

I sold off a bunch of them to upgrade to the TMD-4000 (32 channels in, 8 buss out) in order to facilitate 5.1 surround projects.

Anyway, hope I didn't bore anyone.

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
Thanks frederic, I didn't think about configuring them like that.

spin

[SPINSTERWUN]

frederic, I think I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more.

[frederic]

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
frederic, I think I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more.

Before you do, make sure what I suggested will work for you. Cascading the TMD-1000's only cascades the stereo L/R bus, which may be enough for you. It was for me because I generally mix my midi gear to stereo, record it on two tracks, then use the rest of the tracks for overdubbing lead instruments and vocals, one at a time. For me, this was a perfect, and very inexpensive solution to my "lack of channels" issue.

Anyway, if you need help setting it up, hollar

[SPINSTERWUN]

Huuuuummmmm Let me think about that for a minute.

I need to get some rest first (I've been up all night, and it is imperative for me to get "a little" rest.

I will post you back later on today.

ED

[frederic]

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
Huuuuummmmm Let me think about that for a minute.

I need to get some rest first (I've been up all night, and it is imperative for me to get "a little" rest.

I will post you back later on today.

ED

You're also welcomed to email me directly, if you want a faster answer. midiguy732@hotmail.com. Just put "TMD100o" or something like that in the subject line, so I don't accidentally delete it with my daily slew of undesirable Brittney Spears porn ads that seemingly won't go away.

[SPINSTERWUN]

Well frederic....

It's now 1:51 pm Central Time, AND I still haven't been to sleep yet.

I'm having a hard time trying to formulate my question to you, so I'm going to wait until tonight to post my question to you.

Good night...

npsi