TASCAM 1641 now discontinued at $245 and counting down

  • Thread starter Thread starter CoolCat
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CoolCat

CoolCat

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I got one of these in tonight. Out of the box it was impressive .
Noticed the little extras like the power supply inside the unit, no wal-wart.a USB cable and even the little rack mount screws with protective washers, cool.
A setup CD and a Cubase LE 5 cd...and a printed manual...no scrimping there.

Discontinued prices seem to be dropping, until they're gone the sales guy said.
$245 +tax, free shipping. It came with a return label.:cool:

INSTALLATION: 5 minutes I swear..
SETUP:
The installation honestly took 5 minutes, and I had sound going!
I didnt have to do anything but put in a Stevie ray Vaughn cd.

INTERFACING with the Recording Software:
Next was to see if it is going to work with the software. This is where I find the work begins.

The recording software I have is Kristal Audio Engine, a free 16 track mono, or 32-stereo, very simple DAW; The 1641 came with Cubase LE 5. (which I'll try later)
Kristal simply required going to >> Preference> Audio Setup> 1641> all i had to do was put check-marks besides the other 14 inputs and viola!!! sweeetness...


First Impressions:
Simple unit- very analog like-- It takes inputs and ships it to the pc is about it. I like that. I'd recently posted on a Pro 40, a bit higher end unit. And it is still higher end for a more demanding user. ($460). I've been using a 122 ($50) 2x2.

I'll stick my neck out and predict there will be no issues, even on my old 2005 pc. This 1641 was designed back then, Its like NOS.

a very enjoyable setup...maybe the best(easiest) setups I've ever encountered.

It almost screams for some analog preamps and various mics to be slapped into it.
I wonder if GC will get pissed if I go pick that ISA One preamp and take her home ....again, maybe to stay this time...? I saved $200 on this interface, so thats like $200 off the ISA One..right? ahaha :D
 
oops...1800 replaces it exactly except for the color layout, the 1641 has no wal wart, the 1800 does.

one is blue and chrome the other black-ish...

price is approx $50 difference. anyone have lower price deals let me know...I'm on 30day testdrive and can always use $credit...
 

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I bought a 2nd hand 1641 late last year. It looked like new and the guy still had the box and all the paperwork/software/cables/etc. The ONLY problem I have had out of it is that it is a touch finicky with Win7 (64 bit). I downloaded the most recent drivers from Tascam, and all was good to go. I had the issue again later on, but on a different system. Again, drivers needed to be updated.

I love mine. I just wish A) the knobs were a little more "solid" instead of the delicate feeling plastic ones, and B) would be nice to have 8 outputs vs. 4, but that is more of a feature request.

I give it a thumbs up for sure.
 
a few posters dont like the cosmetics, i will assume the 1800model is the same with different colored knobs, a little shorter profile maybe per the pictures.

what do you use the outputs for?
monitoring or headphone outs? speakers?
 
Somewhere in the Tascam section here, I and another person posted up the differences between the 1800 and 1641. I've forgotten now. I know there are 3 LEDs per channel as some sort of faux "bridge".

I'd like my 1641 to double as a preamp for my reel to reel, so it would be nice to have the 8 channels of output. Like I said, no big issue, just a want.
 
thanks..I was curious about the outputs, wouldnt have guessed that application.

I assumed 1,2,3,4 are the same output as the Monitor Outs, without volume control... no big deal.
 
The monitor outs are same as headphone out-only line level. Mix knob (Direct/Computer) applies to those outputs.
 
i didnt know that, so 1,2 & 3,4 will change with the turning of the knob (computer/direct)? I'll have to check that out. thx
 
No, there are a total of six outputs on the 1641/1800. Monitor L, R, 1, 2, 3 and 4. 1,2,3,4 are independent of the Mix knob and assignable by the DAW. Monitor output is a mix of 1 and 2 and direct interface inputs.
 
ok, my DAW doesnt have output controls/assigning.. and I havent loaded up Cubasele5...good info.
 
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