Quick question: Tascam M-224
- Thread starter regebro
- Start date
The Ghost of FM
Banned
I used to own an M208 and then latter on, an M216 for a short time before I got my M312B's that i am very pleased with.
The M200 series of boards were highly functional but lacking in a few niceties like 100mm faders and phantom power for the microphones. Otherwise, they were half decently clean and easy to operate and route with.
If the main criteria is the cheapness of the price, they should do the trick and do it with better finesse then a Beringer.
Cheers!
The M200 series of boards were highly functional but lacking in a few niceties like 100mm faders and phantom power for the microphones. Otherwise, they were half decently clean and easy to operate and route with.
If the main criteria is the cheapness of the price, they should do the trick and do it with better finesse then a Beringer.
Cheers!
B
Beck
Guest
As is the case with a lot of Tascam stuff from the old days, the M-200 series under promised and over delivered. They were pitched as a “budget” do-all for the small studio or band. It turns out they were built rather well and by today’s inferior standards would hardly be considered budget sound wise. They now have an almost cult following in the hack & mod community.
They sound just fine right out of the box, but really purr when the stock JRC4560 op-amps are replaced with Burr-Brown 2604’s.
I own both the M-208 and M-216. I’ve tricked out the 208 with Burr-Brown OPA2604’s and Analog OP275’s on each channel strip. I plan to do the M-216, but haven’t had the time yet. Sound wise it runs circles around many newer pricier boards, including some of its bigger Tascam brothers. It was touted as having generous headroom and it delivers. It generally epitomizes that elusive “warm, clean sound” everyone is trying to resurrect these days.
The M-200 series could have used another effects send and stereo return. The mid-freq sweepable eq is taking up more space than it should because its not stacked, but has separate knobs for level and freq. The low freq is set at 100 Hz. I wish that was sweepable as well.
On the other hand they didn’t jam the panel so full of knobs that you can’t lay your fingers on the board without inadvertently fat-fingering an unintended setting. I would describe it as a small board with a big board feel – not like the pea-size knobs made for elfin fingers like today.
All in all I’ve never felt lacking in anyway while using these as my main mixers. There are always trade-offs no matter what you choose. I’m so pleased with the sound of these boards the absence of a convenience here or feature there isn’t an issue.
Well, another of my secret weapons revealed – the M-200 series mixers.
Tim
They sound just fine right out of the box, but really purr when the stock JRC4560 op-amps are replaced with Burr-Brown 2604’s.
I own both the M-208 and M-216. I’ve tricked out the 208 with Burr-Brown OPA2604’s and Analog OP275’s on each channel strip. I plan to do the M-216, but haven’t had the time yet. Sound wise it runs circles around many newer pricier boards, including some of its bigger Tascam brothers. It was touted as having generous headroom and it delivers. It generally epitomizes that elusive “warm, clean sound” everyone is trying to resurrect these days.
The M-200 series could have used another effects send and stereo return. The mid-freq sweepable eq is taking up more space than it should because its not stacked, but has separate knobs for level and freq. The low freq is set at 100 Hz. I wish that was sweepable as well.
On the other hand they didn’t jam the panel so full of knobs that you can’t lay your fingers on the board without inadvertently fat-fingering an unintended setting. I would describe it as a small board with a big board feel – not like the pea-size knobs made for elfin fingers like today.
All in all I’ve never felt lacking in anyway while using these as my main mixers. There are always trade-offs no matter what you choose. I’m so pleased with the sound of these boards the absence of a convenience here or feature there isn’t an issue.
Well, another of my secret weapons revealed – the M-200 series mixers.
Tim
BillyFurnett
New member
Wow!
"Under promised and over delivered."
In a nutshell that's what good "Vintage" Tascam gear is all about isn't it?
"Under promised and over delivered."
In a nutshell that's what good "Vintage" Tascam gear is all about isn't it?
The Ghost of FM
Banned
Tim doesn't post often but when he does, he is pure gold!
Well said, Mr. Beck. The 200 series were indeed great little boards and probably TASCAM's last quality compact mixer design that held onto much of their design ideals from the 80's which was their true golden era of innovation in the analog field of accessible (affordable) equipment.
Cheers!
Well said, Mr. Beck. The 200 series were indeed great little boards and probably TASCAM's last quality compact mixer design that held onto much of their design ideals from the 80's which was their true golden era of innovation in the analog field of accessible (affordable) equipment.
Cheers!