T
tooloud61
New member
I have an 2I4 audio interface but want To get more pre's to record drums. The tascam 1800 unit is pretty cheap right now is the 18I20 worth the extra $300.
BroKen_H
Re-member
Depends on what you need. The Tascam is 16x4 the 18i20 is 18x20. Better comparison would be to the 18i8 (which still has more i/o). I honestly don't have a need for more than 2 sets of speakers, so the 1800 does what I need. If you envision needing more than four outs you might consider other options.
People rave about Scarlett pres...they get more money for them...supply and demand. Maybe they are better, but I've never compared.
The Tascam (or Behri's UMC1820) is the cheapest way to get 8 pre amps.
People rave about Scarlett pres...they get more money for them...supply and demand. Maybe they are better, but I've never compared.
The Tascam (or Behri's UMC1820) is the cheapest way to get 8 pre amps.
DM60
Well-known member
Here is what I am discovering with the 1800, and it is only when needing all 16. You get 10 inputs that you can control gain. If you add a SPDIF interface (I added an Art pre-amp with SPDIF out, gives you 12. The other 4 inputs will require some sort of "gained" input. My only issue with the 1800 is, if you want 16 and you are going to use microphones, you need 16 pre-amps.
Right now and this is on the cheap, I spent 270 for the until. 60 for a preamp and then looks like another 100 for one more preamp (A cheap Nady is what I am looking at). So, 430, plus three rack spaces. This gives the ability to use all 16 inputs at once with microphones.
I used the 1800 a couple of days back, full band tracking on a low powered laptop and had no issues (this computer is just for recording). I was not concerned with latency as the monitoring was done live. I had no drop outs, everything recorded just fine.
Hope this helps.
Right now and this is on the cheap, I spent 270 for the until. 60 for a preamp and then looks like another 100 for one more preamp (A cheap Nady is what I am looking at). So, 430, plus three rack spaces. This gives the ability to use all 16 inputs at once with microphones.
I used the 1800 a couple of days back, full band tracking on a low powered laptop and had no issues (this computer is just for recording). I was not concerned with latency as the monitoring was done live. I had no drop outs, everything recorded just fine.
Hope this helps.
BroKen_H
Re-member
And the price right now is $199 and some places I've seen $179, so adding pres if you need more than 8 becomes affordable...