Pre-amps in TASCAM consoles

[ofajen]

I would concur that you can do pretty much anything with the Tascam preamps. One thing to at least be aware of regarding preamps in compact, lower budget consoles is that often the low end response begins to droop at higher gain settings. There is a critical cap that generally isn't spec'ed big enough to avoid this due to both per unit cost and lack of internal space in compact, low-cost mixers. Again, though, it's a minor issue that isn't a barrier to making a quality recording. If you use ribbon or other passive, dynamic mikes at higher gain settings on quieter sources and actually want full low-end response, you might eventually want to get an outboard preamp, perhaps something like the DMP3.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[sweetbeats]

Otto, is that coupling cap that you are talking about? Like C7 in this attached partial schematic (470uF/16V non-polar cap)?

 

[AshokanKid]

Oooops.,

Well, why don't you sell them and buy more essential music gear.

Yeah., well I definitely HAVE to sell some stuff NOW~! I just bought a "matched pair" of Tascam M-3700 and M-3500 consoles from the same guy, "as is" although they are both "working, but noisy" for a grand total of $750. A deal that "I could not refuse". Ooops., Hmmm., my summer project?

 

[jjones1700]

Yeah., well I definitely HAVE to sell some stuff NOW~! I just bought a "matched pair" of Tascam M-3700 and M-3500 consoles from the same guy, "as is" although they are both "working, but noisy" for a grand total of $750. A deal that "I could not refuse". Ooops., Hmmm., my summer project?

Nice score man. There is a M-3700 for sale not too far from here for about $1k. A bit rich for my blood.

I've really gotten attached to my M-2516, as it does everything (and more!) than I ask it to do and I still haven't tapped into all of the capabilities of it yet (MIDI "scenes" anyone?). In reality, neither board would go if I obtained a M-520. My fiancee keeps threatening me if I add another piece of equipment to this room. Mysteriously, there seems to be things quietly popping up from time to time.

 

[AshokanKid]

Interesting Things Popping Up

Nice score man. There is a M-3700 for sale not too far from here for about $1k. A bit rich for my blood.

Apparently this is a good time to be looking for deals on this old analog gear. Or perhaps I should say, ANOTHER good time to be looking.

I've really gotten attached to my M-2516, as it does everything (and more!) than I ask it to do and I still haven't tapped into all of the capabilities of it yet (MIDI "scenes" anyone?). In reality, neither board would go if I obtained a M-520. My fiancee keeps threatening me if I add another piece of equipment to this room. Mysteriously, there seems to be things quietly popping up from time to time.

Quietly is the key, I suppose.

LOLOL. Still working on hatching a plan to slide two, 4 1/2 foot, by 3' and 155 pound Things That Pop Up, into my house QUIETLY (not to mention the extra credit charges to my account).

Gear sure is fun though, and heck, I am helping out the economy at a crisis time., keeping the money moving., doing my part, so to speak. Also, I may soon be able to choose consoles like mics.

~

 

[jjones1700]

Apparently this is a good time to be looking for deals on this old analog gear. Or perhaps I should say, ANOTHER good time to be looking.



Quietly is the key, I suppose.

LOLOL. Still working on hatching a plan to slide two, 4 1/2 foot, by 3' and 155 pound Things That Pop Up, into my house QUIETLY (not to mention the extra credit charges to my account).

Gear sure is fun though, and heck, I am helping out the economy at a crisis time., keeping the money moving., doing my part, so to speak. Also, I may soon be able to choose consoles like mics.

~

I've been lucky and a mass majority of my purchases have been cheap enough to pay with cash. Fortunately, my fiancee is perfectly fine with me cleaning out the garage and making it a full blown studio. So, I'll have my current room as my control room, and the garage for practice and mixing. I'll be sealing off the door and definitely have it climate controlled. That is where the current mixers would go, and the (future) M-520 would go in the control room.

The kicker is that I'm just starting to take guitar lessons, so I'm taking in ALOT at the moment: learning how to play guitar/bass, learning about recording and analog gear, studying up on my A+ exam, and studying up for my ham radio license. I think my brain is going to melt down!

 

[AshokanKid]

I think my brain is going to melt down!

I've been lucky and a mass majority of my purchases have been cheap enough to pay with cash. Fortunately, my fiancee is perfectly fine with me cleaning out the garage and making it a full blown studio.

Yeah, actually got me one of those Lucky Girlfriends myself. She is a flutist and a singer who just performed at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center last weekend with the Budapest Festival Symphony Orchestra.

They did Beethoven's Sixth and Ninth Symphonies and it was amazing (the GFs choir in the last part of the Ninth was excellent too). Even though she is into the studio thing, it's still nice to pay the mortgage. ;-)

., learning how to play guitar/bass, learning about recording and analog gear, studying up on my A+ exam, and studying up for my ham radio license. I think my brain is going to melt down!

DANG, Dude., that certainly is some serious commitment., or you may HAVE to be committed., one or the other. As they say, one bite at a time gets you through. All the best to you in your endeavors.

 

[witzendoz]

LOLOL. Still working on hatching a plan to slide two, 4 1/2 foot, by 3' and 155 pound Things That Pop Up, into my house QUIETLY (not to mention the extra credit charges to my account).

~

The trick is not to have the studio at home.

Cheers
Alan.

 

[AshokanKid]

Tascam M Series Console Preamps

The trick is not to have the studio at home.

Cheers
Alan.

Ohh, my yes. That DOES sound the way to go. Even if the Studio is in a detached garage, basement with indie entrance or a back building on property, that is something. Obviously better in another part of town., or another town all together.

Still curious about the various Preamps that Tascam has designed and used over the years in their more Prosumer and semi-pro consoles. Are they all about the same?

 

[jjones1700]

Ohh, my yes. That DOES sound the way to go. Even if the Studio is in a detached garage, basement with indie entrance or a back building on property, that is something. Obviously better in another part of town., or another town all together.

Still curious about the various Preamps that Tascam has designed and used over the years in their more Prosumer and semi-pro consoles. Are they all about the same?

I can't speak for the rest of them, but the M-2516 is pretty dang quiet until you start maxing out the trim. I don't know if anything has enough "oomph" to drive my SM-7b mic without an external pre though. I've got to run a Presonus Eureka in front of the board to get enough signal. Everything else is peachy.

 

[dementedchord]

Otto, is that coupling cap that you are talking about? Like C7 in this attached partial schematic (470uF/16V non-polar cap)?

dont think so... i came upon a similar idea while researching my soundcraft and the designer was talking about the last cap before the fader there... he said he had wanted to use a larger cap while designing but was limilted by physical size... we make them smaller now so not an issue...