Problems hooking up an M-30 Mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rickson Gracie
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Rickson Gracie

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I hope everyone is having a good New Years.

I cant seem to get this Tascam M-30 mixer to work. I connected the 8 outputs of the TSR-8 to the 'tape ins' of the mixer and then I connected the "monitor out' to my powered monitors and I cant get the individual channels to work.

I could get the 'submix' section to work but not the 'monitor' section. I know theres also a 'submix out' as well but the monitors are definitely hooked up to the 'monitor out.'

I hit every switch nothing works. Let me know if I am overlooking something obvious. Thanks:)

I got this mixer very cheap but its in perfect cosmetic condition so i really hope its not broken lol
 
Tried the other types of inputs? Main outs? Does it register signal anywhere?
 
....

The Monitor Outs section is (Buss Monitor). You must assign an Input channel to Buss 1~4 using the Assign buttons.:eek:;)

Just as an aside, first make sure each Channel and Buss has the 2p-Jumper plugs installed on the Access-Snd/Rcv jacks. To have the plugs removed would create a breakpoint in the signal chain.

Happy Vintage Analog New Year:eek:
 
A Reel Person said:
The Monitor Outs section is (Buss Monitor). You must assign an Input channel to Buss 1~4 using the Assign buttons.:eek:;)

Just as an aside, first make sure each Channel and Buss has the 2p-Jumper plugs installed on the Access-Snd/Rcv jacks. To have the plugs removed would create a breakpoint in the signal chain.

Happy Vintage Analog New Year:eek:
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hmmm i dont see any jumpers on the back at all. this is probably my problem lol can i use a regular rca cable temporarily? would i have to modify the RCA cable for this? does anyone have a picture of an M30 rear with the proper jumpers connected? also where would i connect the compressors for each individual channels (tip/ring?) THANKS:)
 
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no i dont have a manual.

i just need a basic setup.

tape outs into each individual channel. a way to hook up compressors to each individual channel (inserts?). a stereo spring reverb on all the channels and everything going out to my monitors/mixdown deck.

i dont plan on using the internal mic pres. i just need a mixer to mixdown my mixes.

i had an m-308 before this and it was pretty easy to hook up like this without jumper cables or anything.

any help is appreciated:)
 
Rickson Gracie said:
hmmm i dont see any jumpers on the back at all. this is probably my problem lol can i use a regular rca cable temporarily? would i have to modify the RCA cable for this? does anyone have a picture of an M30 rear with the proper jumpers connected?
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M-30r.jpg


The Access Send/Receive points across the top should have jumpers. You can use short RCA cables just as well without modification.

Access Send/Receive is also where you would insert a compressor or other effects for a single channel.
 
Rickson Gracie said:
no i dont have a manual.

i just need a basic setup.

tape outs into each individual channel. a way to hook up compressors to each individual channel (inserts?). a stereo spring reverb on all the channels and everything going out to my monitors/mixdown deck.

i dont plan on using the internal mic pres. i just need a mixer to mixdown my mixes.

i had an m-308 before this and it was pretty easy to hook up like this without jumper cables or anything.

any help is appreciated:)
Click to expand...


You can connect your machine returns in through the rcv jacks of each input to do what you want but you will not be able to use the snd jack on any channel thus used. Otherwise, jumper snd/rcv together with an rca cable - the shorter the better.
 
OK guys. With your awesome help I figured it out:)

One more thing. With a normal mix I would just use the 1st and 2nd assign buttons with the 1st and 2nd monitor knobs panned hard left and right...right? but i guess i could use the 3rd and 4th assigns for effects such as reverb?

Also what would be a good use for the sub mixer?

This mixer is in pristine condition except some one decided to attach a small patchbay on top with really strong two way tape. Does anyone have any tips for removing it?
 
Okay.

The Submix section (IMO) is best utilized as the Cue function , as when overdubbing you can listen simultaneously to Tape Inputs and Mic/Line inputs, while keeping the Inputs and Buss/Assign on the top panel (Main) section completely isolated from the Tape Rtns in the Submix section,... which is pretty important in concept.:eek:;)

You can do Tape Cue functions for overdubbing somewhat with the Monitor section, using Buss Assign and selective settings, but the Submix section is way more flexible and properly suited to this purpose.

The main point is you need to keep Inputs and Assigns completely separated form Tape Cue tracks while overdubbing. This is easiest and best achieved with the Submix section. Use the Main channel section for Inputs and the Submix section to mix the Input channels and Tape tracks for listen-back.

Sorry if that's redundant, but it's a very important point that people don't seem to readily understand. No offense personally, but it's common.

Cjacek could point you to a downloadable manual for the M30, if you search his posts back thru this board. Good luck./DA
 
A Reel Person said:
The Submix section (IMO) is best utilized as the Cue function , as when overdubbing you can listen simultaneously to Tape Inputs and Mic/Line inputs, while keeping the Inputs and Buss/Assign on the top panel (Main) section completely isolated from the Tape Rtns in the Submix section,... which is pretty important in concept.:eek:;)

You can do Tape Cue functions for overdubbing somewhat with the Monitor section, using Buss Assign and selective settings, but the Submix section is way more flexible and properly suited to this purpose.

The main point is you need to keep Inputs and Assigns completely separated form Tape Cue tracks while overdubbing. This is easiest and best achieved with the Submix section. Use the Main channel section for Inputs and the Submix section to mix the Input channels and Tape tracks for listen-back.

Sorry if that's redundant, but it's a very important point that people don't seem to readily understand. No offense personally, but it's common.

Cjacek could point you to a downloadable manual for the M30, if you search his posts back thru this board. Good luck./DA
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Thanks Reel.

If I do not plan on using the mic pres on the M30 and just plan on plugging my external mic pres directly into the tape machine would this still be used? I know with the M308 I did it this way and it worked fine. I just monitored everything through headphones while tracking..Im just wondering if the M30 is different in this respect.
 
You should be fine with that.

..............:eek:;)
 
I love watching this forum work like this...its awesome.

Try iso alcohol to see if you can break down that tape adhesive holding on the patchbay...I've that, almost without exception so far, that the alcohol won't damage painted metal, but with some elbow grease it will get rid of the adhesive. You can pretty safely speed up your work by using a non-marring scraper like a plastic spoon to work the adhesive off once the solvent starts to get it gummy...try it.

On another note, what external preamp are you using, and are you getting good levels to tape? Every mic pre I've ever encountered doesn't have enough gain at the head amp stage to get a nice level to tape...needs a secondary line amp gain stage for that.
 
sweetbeats said:
I love watching this forum work like this...its awesome.

Try iso alcohol to see if you can break down that tape adhesive holding on the patchbay...I've that, almost without exception so far, that the alcohol won't damage painted metal, but with some elbow grease it will get rid of the adhesive. You can pretty safely speed up your work by using a non-marring scraper like a plastic spoon to work the adhesive off once the solvent starts to get it gummy...try it.

On another note, what external preamp are you using, and are you getting good levels to tape? Every mic pre I've ever encountered doesn't have enough gain at the head amp stage to get a nice level to tape...needs a secondary line amp gain stage for that.
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yes this forum was super helpful. i really thought this thing was broken last night lol

thanks for the manual. i dont know it just seems greek to me. i am much better off when someone shows me where to put the plugs and then i understand stuff from there on but I am going to spend some time trying to read through it.

i am going to try alcohol tonight to remove the adhesive. thanks.

I am using an UA audio LA-610 and also a Sebatron 2000e two channel tube mic pre. Ive have had pretty good success running directly into tape. Whats great is i dont have to go back and pull out the plug into the line input after every take. This has really helped my work flow. They both have good onboard EQing too that I can use as well.
 
Part of my last point and on previous posts,....

The Tape-Outs from the R/R should be plugged into the Tape-Rtns (or Tape-Ins) on the M30, as it's dedicated tape return. They should not conflict with the M30's Line-In jacks at all, so if properly configured there's no repatching required. The M30's really so sophisticated that part of it's genius is in it's simplicity.

"Standard" configuration is detailed in the manual, but there's no law that you have to do things the standard way. However, by configuring and using the M30 in it's "standard" intended way, there are obvious advantages in use. YMMV.

I'll not beat a dead horse now.:eek:;)
 
sweetbeats said:
I love watching this forum work like this...its awesome.

Try iso alcohol to see if you can break down that tape adhesive holding on the patchbay...I've that, almost without exception so far, that the alcohol won't damage painted metal, but with some elbow grease it will get rid of the adhesive. You can pretty safely speed up your work by using a non-marring scraper like a plastic spoon to work the adhesive off once the solvent starts to get it gummy...try it.

On another note, what external preamp are you using, and are you getting good levels to tape? Every mic pre I've ever encountered doesn't have enough gain at the head amp stage to get a nice level to tape...needs a secondary line amp gain stage for that.
Click to expand...

I don't know how benign it is on plastic surfaces but WD40 is a great adhesive gunk remover. Put a little on a rage and apply to the gunk.

Every external preamp I have will deliver enough signal to drive a tape machine input. What units do you have that won't?
 
A Reel Person said:
The Tape-Outs from the R/R should be plugged into the Tape-Rtns (or Tape-Ins) on the M30, as it's dedicated tape return. They should not conflict with the M30's Line-In jacks at all, so if properly configured there's no repatching required. The M30's really so sophisticated that part of it's genius is in it's simplicity.

"Standard" configuration is detailed in the manual, but there's no law that you have to do things the standard way. However, by configuring and using the M30 in it's "standard" intended way, there are obvious advantages in use. YMMV.

I'll not beat a dead horse now.:eek:;)
Click to expand...

thats interesting reel. i noticed on the M308 i always needed to pull out the 'line in' plug in order to listen back to the track. is this different on the M30? It was most likely something i was doing wrong:)

One more question: Will more assigns make the track sound 'fuller' or is it just that its getting louder?

Also...I am working on a song that I was originally mixing on the m308 and the song sounded bigger and warmer on the m308 compared to the m30. the maybe Im just not mixing it as well on the m30 yet :(
 
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Okay...maybe I'm nuts.

They'll drive it, but not in a way that takes advantage of the headroom of the medium...fine for digital, but limiting for analog IMHO.

  • Yamaha i88x
  • Presonus Digimax FS
  • Tascam M-520 (when using the ACCESS SEND jack)
  • Tascam MX-80
  • Allen & Heath GL-3300
 
sweetbeats said:
Okay...maybe I'm nuts.

They'll drive it, but not in a way that takes advantage of the headroom of the medium....
Click to expand...

I have no idea what you mean by this. Are you saying that it won't let you print hot enough? If so, what levels do you deem hot enough?
 
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