Got me a Tascam 244....

[whyseye]

....and I'll probably be using it mostly as a mixer to record to digital, at least to start.....any tips, tricks, pitfalls or stuff that I need to know about?
I'm a little confused about the signal chain, as well...
I'll probably be routing micx2>DMP3>244>0404USB>PC for recording VO and bass DI....is it as simple as that? And take out the 0404 to record to tape on the 244?
What about other outboard effects if I want to use them?
Where in the signal chain do I monitor on phones? Just before it goes out to PC? What about regular monitors?
If I'm using digital effects in "real time" in the box, will I hear them monitoring on the 0404USB? Can I hear them if I monitor from the 244, with it's dual headphone jacks? Will it sound substantially different where in the chain I'm monitoring?
.....shoulda put this one in the newbs section.....
But I'm as giddy as a ....well....you get the idea....

 

[A Reel Person]

I'd plug the mic directly into the 244 & skip the external preamp.

The 244 already has decent preamps, and tho there are OL LEDs (which greatly minimize risk), the inherent risk is of burning out the input/preamp stage of the 244. That's my 2¢ of what to watch out for.

Effects would be patched either thru the Access-Send/Rcv patch points, or via the stereo Aux-Outs to the Sub-Ins. The stereo Cue monitor outs can also be used as Effex-Sends, if necessary.

Note the Access-Send/Rcvs should be jumpered together when not used for efx patching.

Not much to it.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Yvonne,

It sounds like you're going to be only really using the 244 as an equalizer and processor loop for a compressor or noise gate perhaps? It almost seems not worth the effort unless you need to sub-mix multiple sources to a singular input on your computer.

Though the twin sweep parametric eq is a nice feature to have in the analog realm, many computer based eq programs do a decent enough job and won't add any phase abnormalities or noise to your signal chain.

The 244 was really designed for the person who wanted a more one stop shopping experience to produce their musical ideas with in that it has a 4 track recorder, mixer and decent cue system for assembling more humble productions.

How did the 244 become part of your production idea?

Cheers!

 

[whyseye]

I was originally planning to use it as a glorified patch bay, but I can see where I might at some point want to try playing bass and laying down vocals at the same time, or try tracking with a dynamic and condenser simultaneously, or mix multiple mics for VO dialogue or group reads....
....it wasn't originally part of the plan, but..it had gone unsold on craigslist for a while, and.....for what I paid, if it's a decent sketchpad, that's okay, and if it will work as a mixer, bonus, if the preamps are good by themselves, even better...
...plus there that whole cool analog vibe, with the little bank of VUs, colored knobs and fat faders.....I'm an old-school nerd of sorts....

Thanks for the tips Reel and Ghost!

 

[whyseye]

Just a little follow-up - got the original instruction book, and full-product line catalogue from when this unit was new....
....whoever wrote those instructions has given me a clearer, more concise knowledge of basic electronics and recording in general that I have ever seen presented in an instruction book, let alone the specific instructions for the unit itself.....
If I never even use the deck, the education is worth the price of admission...
....the beauty is that I get to use it, too....

 

[A Reel Person]

I think the 244 is a fine machine that makes fine recordings.

....................

 

[cjacek]

Yup, the manuals produced by TASCAM, in their golden age of analog, were trully first rate. They're more like good and informative recording books.

 

[whyseye]

I spent years selling 35mm and medium-format camera gear (after teaching myself photography from well-written manuals), and I've seen completely incoherent ones....these are by far the best I've ever had the pleasure to have seen....kudos to whomever!