2 TM-D1000's vs. 1 DM-24

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thedude400

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Ok. Here's the deal. I have about 800-900 dollars readily available to spent on digital mixing. As that is not much money in proportion to how much these units cost new, I want to buy used. Obviously the used DM-24 is gonna be over a grand so I was looking at the TM-1000. Is it possible to connect 2 for 32 channels? Anyone have a similar setup?

Coming from someone who has used both, Is saving an extra couple hundred dollars for a DM-24 going to be worth my while?
 
Well the TMD is actually 8 in/8 out so two would be 16in/16out.

I would go with the DM24, lots of i/o already there(3 tdifs). With the TMD you will need TDIF cards or IF/TADs plus adat cards.

I love my TMD but if it was between the DM24 or the TMD, the choice is obvious
 
altitude909 said:
Well the TMD is actually 8 in/8 out so two would be 16in/16out.

I would go with the DM24, lots of i/o already there(3 tdifs). With the TMD you will need TDIF cards or IF/TADs plus adat cards.

I love my TMD but if it was between the DM24 or the TMD, the choice is obvious
Click to expand...

The tm d1000 is expandable(cheaply) to 16 channels.

They sync together for 32 channels nicely.

I have one tmd right now but I just bought a new soundcard(RME 9652) and I'm thinking about adding a second.
 
16 channels.
Click to expand...

Except there are only 8 inputs on the mixer :( so techinically you are not really adding inputs , just bussing more TDIF ports into it at the expense of the anlog inputs for which you will need another interface.
 
altitude909 said:
Except there are only 8 inputs on the mixer :( so techinically you are not really adding inputs , just bussing more TDIF ports into it at the expense of the anlog inputs for which you will need another interface.
Click to expand...

Unless you only need 8 analog inputs at one time, like myself.

I record acoustic drums into the tm-d1000, then send each track into Logic. Then I do the guitar tracks, bass tracks, vocals, etc.

The 16 digital channels benefits me, but I'll never need more than 8 analog at a time.
 
So I would like to be able to record up to 8 tracks at once and I would like to be able to have 24-32 channels at my fingertips when mixing down.

So in layman's terms, the DM-24 does everything a computer can do? All I will need with the DM-24 is something to take the digital stereo mixdown and run it into some sort of mastering media?

But if I choose the TM-D1000 route I will need 2 mixers, numerous other interface/ADATcards, and a mastering to cd media?

If I choose a setup like this will I no longer have a need for programs such as Sonar, Cubase, or Digital Performer? If I would like to still use a program like this, how will it benefit me since these mixers do so much on their own?
 
thedude400 said:
But if I choose the TM-D1000 route I will need 2 mixers, numerous other interface/ADATcards, and a mastering to cd media??
Click to expand...
No, if you choose the tm-d1000 option, you will need to have 2 tm-d's and 1 interface/card like the RME Hammerfall hdsp 9652.

I don't own a DM-24, but I don't believe that it has the editing ability that a program such as Cubase or Sonar. Unless it just serves the purpose of an external digital mixer that needs to be linked to a computer with an interface/card, which is what the tm-d1000 does.
 
Go with the newer technology. The TM-D1000 tops out at a sampling rate of 48KHz, which will become a bottleneck in the future.

Recording 16 channels is doable with 2 TM-D1000s (I know, that's what I have in my setup) but you have only 8 phantom power mic inputs between two mixers (unless you luck into finding the optional 8-mic add-on, long out of production). The alternative is to patch mic preamps into channels 5-8, but that gets a little pricey, even if you can find decent stereo pres for $200 (4 X $200 = $800).
Another drawback is that you are limited to the TDIF digital I/O (but you can get a box to convert to ADAT fiberoptic, which is what I did).

That said, I really like the TM-D1000s, maybe due to my familiarity with the menu and routing systems. I also like being able to rack mount them (you can't buy the factory rackears any more, but I had 2 pairs fabricated for $30).

Finally, you won't get the 32 tracks at mixdown you want, very easily, with the TM-D1000s. They are limited to 8 separate digital playback channels via the TDIF, so two mixers would give you 16...but you'd go crazy reconfiguring everything when you went from recording to mixing.
 
Thanks guys. I'll only really need 2 phantom powered mics as of now for my drum overheads and the TM-D comes with those four . Not to mention I have an Art MPA gold 2-channel pre with phantom and I'll be picking up an RNC in the future. I should be ok as far as pre's and phantom power is concerned. As far as having more than 24 channels for mixdown, I will have to just settle with the Tascam's 8 for now. After all I can can edit with my computer program, create stems (or busses), and send them to the tascam for mixdown can't I?

So I think with my money I'm going to try to pick up a TM-D1000, an RME Hammerfall card, and either Sonar 5 producer or Cubase. One last question, I have an aardvark Q10 and I want to sell it if possible. I won't really need it anymore right?
 
lpdeluxe said:
They are limited to 8 separate digital playback channels via the TDIF, so two mixers would give you 16...but you'd go crazy reconfiguring everything when you went from recording to mixing.
Click to expand...

Actually the tm d1000 can be fitted with an optional expansion card that adds eight more channels of TDIF plus four channels of AES/EBU or S/PDIF. I have one of those on my mixer so I have 16 channels of digital ins/outs.

Two mixers configured like that can give you 32 digital channels in and out.
 
Just to give my $0.02 on the matter:

I have the DM24. I also have the firewire card that gives me 24 tracks direct to my computer. I do not need an audio card in my computer this way.

I will say that I am not a huge fan of tascam pres. They are OK, but not great. I do know that you can get the pres on the DM24 upgraded for about $200, which is a nice path to have available. That said, I use outboard pres (in fact, I also use outboard convertors, but I don't really have to).

I use Sonar 5 Producer and Cubase 3.

It is a digital mixer, not a workstation or DAW, so it does not provide editing capabilities. You still need to do the work on your computer DAW.

Another thing that the DM24 gives you (aside from the obvious more channels) is much more flexible routing.

I do think you would be better off going the dm24 route.
 
the tm d1000 can be fitted with an optional expansion card

e_zwillis, that's true, but as I noted in my earlier post, the expansion kit is hard to find. I have seen just one on eBay, and that at a price I thought was too much for what it offers.

The only thing that Tascam offers for the TM-D1000 that I know about is the PS-1000 power supply.

Otherwise I'd stock up on the expanders, including the digital I/O they offered that had a second TDIF port....
 
Ez_willis and altitude, I just read your responses to thepost on the lightpipe stuff. The HDSP 9652 looks right up my alley. The "Bob Katz" K system sounds pretty cool, the 9652 comes with Totalmix and the K system right?

Also what are some examples of DM ASIO Applications and non DM asio applications?
 
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