m-35 m-30 users. need help.

[bluesboy87]

man, iv been rackin my brain trying to figure out the differences between these two mixers.
iv done searches here and came up with an excellent m30 thread, but there dosent seem to be that much info on the m35.
i know the m35 is the m30's bigger brother and suposedly has better specifacations, but what are they? so far the m30 is looking more versital
i guess if i could just find some good clear pictures i could figure it out, at least a little. and someone has said the m35 is more like the m308 but i cant find enouf about it either.
could somone please help me under stand the differences. and mabey strengths and weakneses of these two beasts.
im going crazy. haha.
thanks

 

[A Reel Person]

I think,...

the best way to describe the differences would be that the M-30 is an inline console, and the M-35 is a split console.

Makes sense? Sure! Okay! Now you're ready!

 

[A Reel Person]

Nah,... kidding.

That does explain it, I suppose, but "inline" and "split" consoles are loaded terms.

The M-30, an "inline" design. It has an (8x2) Main Mix section, a (4x2) Monitor section, and an (8x2) Submix section. The Submix section is switchable, between PRE/POST/TAPE. The M-30 has 6-XLR inputs and 2-1/4" inputs, 4-ASSIGN busses, 2-Phono-preamp inputs. Each channel and each buss has an ACCESS-SND/RCV patch point. The M-30's EQ is 3-Band/2-Sweepable & 1-Fixed EQ. The Submix section, being 3-way switchable, is the section you'd typically use for CUE mix. There is no "global" EFF-SND/RCV's, (8x1 or 8x2 EFF-outputs), but the patch points ACCESS-SND/RCV more than makes up for it. The M-30's a layout and design that almost dictates that the (8x2) Submix section would be your "traffic center" of the board. Main Mix and Tape Rtn channels would route "inline" through the Submix, for cue, and even for final mixdown, if you wish,... with a switch of the button.

The "Split" nature of the layout of the M-35, on the other hand, is significantly different than the M-30. The M-35 was also more of a modular desk, where the channel modules are individual, and the M-30 was a one-piece design, of the mixer top-deck. The M-35 does NOT have a "Submix" section, like the M-30, but it has a dedicated (8x2) TAPE RTN section, (as does the 300 Series of mixers). The M-35 also has an (8x1) CHANNEL CUE MIX, and an (8x1) EFF-OUT mix, and a dedicated (8x2) TAPE CUE mix. The M-35 has an (8x2) MONITOR section, SWITCHABLE between BUSS/OFF/TAPE. The M-35 also has an ACCESS-SND/RCV on each channel [BUT NOT ON EACH BUSS, like the M-30]. The M-35 has 4-ASSIGN buttons, a SOLO button and a DIRECT assign button. [The M-30 has 4-ASSIGN buttons and a MUTE button]. The EQ on the M-35 is 2-Band Sweepable EQ, with the sweep range bands switchable, (this is a must-see feature). The M-35 has 8-XLR Inputs, and no 1/4" inputs. The M-35 has a modular talkback module.

That's a lot of technical description, that may or may not explain a lot. The differences between the M-30 and M-35 are many. They are just two totally different boards, with completely different layout and signal routing. The M-35, being the more complex board, would probably give you more settings and flexibility, but the M-30 is a tight & functional little board. They both sound topnotch, in the channels & busses. The M-35 was the precursor of the 300 Series mixers, and the M-30 had no successor, directly. It probably has influenced other "inline" mixers that Tascam designed later, and I have not covered in this discussion. The M-35's signal routing is somewhat "opposite" of the M-30's, on the features you'd likely compare. The M-35 is also larger than the M-30, roughly on par with the M-308, it's closest neighbor.

 

[A Reel Person]

The Tascam M-35

The module furthest right would be the TALKBACK SECTION, with talkback mic built right into the board!...........

 

[A Reel Person]

M-35, back

This M-35 back panel is missing two of the ACCESS SEND>RCV jumper plugs!................

 

[A Reel Person]

The M-35's Master Buss fader section, switchable between MON & PGM.

NOTICE the OL (Overload) LEDs on Channel 8/7,... [etc,... >1]...............

 

[A Reel Person]

The M-35's INPUT, CH. CUE, EFF-SND, and EQ section,...

each EQ being Sweepable AND switchable, between High and Low (sub)bands.

 

[A Reel Person]

The M-35's ASSIGN section, with SOLO, DIRECT and PAN,...

Also shows LOW SWEEPABLE/SWITCHABLE EQ!...................

 

[bluesboy87]

wow

whew, that really helps.
nice pics are those your boards?
thats some great info, and a load off my mind.
thanks a load.
im guessing youve used um one or twice havnt you.haha
thanks.

 

[bluesboy87]

ha you posted another pic while i was righting the last reply.
cool, very informative.
dont stop thanks

 

[A Reel Person]

I'm trying to post more, of the M-30 now.

but I posted one above the M-35 and deleted the post, and now I can't upload the same image. Stand by a few minutes for more great pix!!

 

[bluesboy87]

cool! im here

 

[A Reel Person]

The Tascam M-30

had to find an alternate pic, here.

 

[A Reel Person]

Back on track, here!

The Tascam M-30's Input & EQ section.

 

[A Reel Person]

Tascam M-30's back panel.

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

 

[A Reel Person]

The Tascam M-30's Monitor and Submix sections.

There is also a "Submix Master" pot, not shown!....................

 

[A Reel Person]

The Tascam M-30's Assign, Mute and Channel Fader section, with Pan.

NOTICE, also, the OL (Overload) LEDs on each channel 1-8!!

 

[A Reel Person]

That's all I have, for now.

I don't have a detailed pic of the M-35's Tape Cue and Monitor section, but I'll work on that, at some future time. TAPE CUE [8-Green Knobs] and MONITOR [8-Yellow knobs] sections can be seen in the overall M-35 picture, located ABOVE THE 4-BUSS FADERS. See above.

The M35 has 5 meters and the M30 has 4. The 4 VU meters on the M30 are switchable between BUSS, MON and SUBMIX. The 4 VU meters on the M-35 are for BUSS, and the 5th VU Meter is for MASTER/PGM.

The M-30 and M-35 are quite different boards, both highly utilitarian and highly underrated boards,... "sleeper" deals, if you will. I scored an M-35 for $93, and I've scored the M-30 for about $100, but I've seen M-30's go for as little as $65.

Get an eyeful, do more research, and make your best Ebay deal,... price, condition & availability varies by the day.

 

[edge59]

I just saw these great pics, Reel Person!

Beautiful indeed! I see there is a M-35 on ebay now, but its not moving yet. I recently scored a M-30, and at first the headphones were noisy (more hiss) on one side, and the pots a little scatchy, channel 3 fades in and out by touching the buss select switches, but not by more than a slight tap, maybe solder joints, maybe dirty connections, I will use some good contact cleaner when I get a chance. The more I play with the knobs the better the scrathiness leaves. I really like the sound quality! A question since I am new with this machine...? The (Orange colored) pan pots on the main mixing section, above the sliders (levels?), they don't work like other mixers pans on other machines, but maybe they aren't supposed to. I was playing around with the 4x2? monitor section, patching 2 effects units on 3 and 4 (send/recieve) section in the back very top left 1234. I believe this is for the 4x2 monitor section? Anyway I patched an Alesis microverb in 4 (send/recieve) and a Lexicon LXP-5 in 3 (send/recieve).

Ok, I ran my Ensoniqe SD-1 L/R outs into the 2 1/4" inputs on channel 7 (left) and 8 (right). setup the EQ, levels etc. Now I find that the Pan on each channel does not do anything for the left/right thing that I normally have seen on a mixer. Ok now I am going into the monitor section, assigning the 1 buss for ch.-7, and assign buss 2 for ch.-8, and adjust the left/right panning at the monitor pan pots. Ok, with the effects I mentioned above, being patched in send/recieve on 3 and 4. and selecting 3 on ch.-7 and 4 on ch.-8 of the 4 buss switches, I can now mix in effects, the level, pan the effect left or right, and now the pan pot on the main mix section is a effect level control!

Is this the right way of mixing the effects, or just one of the ways? I did get a overall mix on the Submix section by using the submix out/in jacks, which gives an overall mix on the Submix, but the only way to adjust the effects, on the effects units themself. So at this time, if I am doing it right, the Monitor section seems best for mixing the dry/wet and panning of the effects, and the pan on the main section is for the actual amount/send/return? Thats how it is working anyway. I hope I am doing this right, there are so many jacks and patching capability with this unit.

I am checking out a M-1508 that, and as Reel Person and Herm mentioned, the 1508 has some cool easily accessable patching and effects send on each channel etc, more modern. The sound is warm and fat, but I am really liking the sounds coming from the M-30. It takes more time to look in the back till I get it all memorized by feel, but it is a very solidly built, and great sounding board so far. Other than the few noise issues that it had right when I first plugged it in, it seems now that its been on and off a lot the last few days, its noise in the headphones has pretty much disapeared! Maybe there was some moisture or something and it needed to be on for some time, its strange. Now the only real problem is channel 3 is very touchy, you touch very so slightly any of the switches, not even depressing them, the channel short in and out. I need to probably get in there with some good contact cleaner and it should be good to go. My G&L guitar was doing that, switching between the pickups til I sprayed some contact spew in there and worked it awhile. So far so good. Any additional info, I do appreciate!
thanks guys!
Ed

 

[A Reel Person]

Sure!

You're welcome to have at the M-35 on Ebay. I'd love to have a crack at it, but I'm at a point where I can't (shouldn't) buy any more gear,... and I already have an M-35. It's heavy, alright.

The M-30 is a nice sounding board, that I've always enjoyed using. The Pan pots are to pan between the Assign-busses.

(To the best of my recollection), if you select only one buss, the Pan acts kind of as a level pot, with full level to one side and zero level to the other side.

Another funny thing about the M-30 is the Assign-busses, and how they break out. You pan between (L) and (R) busses, when selected, but it's not a straight odd/even split like on so many other consoles.

Select ANY two busses, and Pan works from Left to Right between those busses. It doesn't matter which two busses you select, it will always be one left and one right. But, select 3- or more busses, and the Pan splits between busses 1/2 (Left) and 3/4 (Right).

F/I, select any two:
1 & 2: 1(L) - 2(R)
1 & 3: 1(L) - 3(R)
1 & 4: 1(L) - 4(R)
2 & 3: 2(L) - 3(R)
2 & 4: 2(L) - 4(R)
3 & 4: 3(L) - 4(R)
but, select 3 busses:
1, 2 & 3: 1/2(L) - 3(R)
1, 2 & 4: 1/2(L) - 4(R)
1, 3 & 4: 1(L) - 3/4(R)
2, 3 & 4: 2(L) - 3/4(R)
then select all 4 busses:
1, 2, 3 & 4: 1/2(L) - 3/4(R)

Anyway, I'm sure you noticed that idiosyncracy of the M30.