mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
I have seen some decent prices (under $2500) recently on this 32*8 board with meter bridge...any opinions?
Track Rat
Just Your Average Sized Member
I know a guy in town who has one and it's pretty nice. They look impressive, that's for sure.
G
gilchrease
New member
intigration
ok, I fell in love with the 3500... and Im tired of using my computer DAW (cubase) fader knobs using a mouse pad!! its just not the same!,,, Its late and maybe im just brain dead right now.. but if I aquire a 3500 , can I still use cubase and my mac with it???
how would I hook it up?
ok, I fell in love with the 3500... and Im tired of using my computer DAW (cubase) fader knobs using a mouse pad!! its just not the same!,,, Its late and maybe im just brain dead right now.. but if I aquire a 3500 , can I still use cubase and my mac with it???
how would I hook it up?
timkroeger
Custom Title User
Almost the 10th anniversary for this thread 
I have an M-3500, and depending on what you mean by "use it with cubase and mac", I'd either say yes, you can or no you can't. You can not control your DAW's faders and knobs with the console. What do you want to do with it? Do you still want to mix inside cubase? Then you can use the M-3500 as input stage in front of your interface. The console has 32 balanced mic inputs but almost everything else except the 2-bus out is unbalanced. If you want to mix on the console and use cubase only for tracking, you'd need to route all your channels to the console, so you need an interface with as many inputs/outputs as you have channels.
If you want to just control your DAW you might want to look at a controller like the Tascam US-2400 instead. It's not manufactured anymore but you should be able to get one for less than 1,000 bucks.
Cheers
Tim
I have an M-3500, and depending on what you mean by "use it with cubase and mac", I'd either say yes, you can or no you can't. You can not control your DAW's faders and knobs with the console. What do you want to do with it? Do you still want to mix inside cubase? Then you can use the M-3500 as input stage in front of your interface. The console has 32 balanced mic inputs but almost everything else except the 2-bus out is unbalanced. If you want to mix on the console and use cubase only for tracking, you'd need to route all your channels to the console, so you need an interface with as many inputs/outputs as you have channels.
If you want to just control your DAW you might want to look at a controller like the Tascam US-2400 instead. It's not manufactured anymore but you should be able to get one for less than 1,000 bucks.
Cheers
Tim
G
gilchrease
New member
Thanks Tim, there is something for feeling faders instead of using a mouse for mixing down and mastering. so a controller sounds like the way I need to go
G
gilchrease
New member
right now this is my set up...
using 2 acer 24" monitors
Mac book pro , cubase 4
Mackie 824 monitors
tascam us-122 interface
If not for the 2400, which I will look into getting... if I wanted to use the 3500 for mix down, what would I need?
would I be able to use the effects built into cubase with the faders?
I would prop be better off getting a 16 track machine to use with the 3500..
just as a reference point.. what would be the typical home studio set up using the 3500??
Thanks
using 2 acer 24" monitors
Mac book pro , cubase 4
Mackie 824 monitors
tascam us-122 interface
If not for the 2400, which I will look into getting... if I wanted to use the 3500 for mix down, what would I need?
would I be able to use the effects built into cubase with the faders?
I would prop be better off getting a 16 track machine to use with the 3500..
just as a reference point.. what would be the typical home studio set up using the 3500??
Thanks
timkroeger
Custom Title User
I don't think there is such a thing as a typical home studio setup. You just use the gear in a way that works for you.
Having said that, you are asking the wrong questions. You shouldn't ask how can I make it work with the 3500. You should ask yourself what do you want to achieve, or what do you want to change and what are the tools that can help me with it.
The M-3500 is a nice console but it is BIG and I really don't see how it would fit into your work process. It mixes audio, it does NOT send fader positioning information to your DAW. As I wrote earlier, if you want to mix with the console, you'd need one or a few audio interfaces with basically as much channels as you have tracks. Then you can mix with the console. Every channel needs to be connected from the console to the computer for tracking and from the computer to the console back. Depending on your tracks that might be a lot of cabling but the M-3500 can do that because it's an inline console. But honestly, I don't see how you're going to integrate that into your setup. I think you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Ride faders, then go with the interface and it will cost you 1000 bucks tops.
If you buy a console, then you also need to buy a few multichannel audio interfaces (e.g. 8 channel interfaces from MOTU, Presonus or M-Audio, Tascam) if you want to track to your PC. Then on mixdown you can use the inserts on those cubase channels for effects (e.g. EQ, compression) and use the console for mixing and panning. But you need some outboard gear for bus fx or main fx or you need to go into your pc again (more channels and interface cards, one per fx channel) and you loose quality every time you do the analog-digital-analog conversion. That way you'd put more stress on your PC just because you're using it as an effects processor in addition to tracking. Finally you need to record the mixed signal either with a standalone recorder or into your PC again. I think with the console, interfaces, mediocre outboard gear for e.g. compression, reverb, limiting, you're looking at about 5.000 to 15.000 bucks already for a 16 channel setup. I don't think it's feasible. Apart from that, the console is not brand new so it might need to be fixed or maintained. It's ok if you can do that yourself but otherwise you're going to pay top dollar for that, too. I'd just buy some fader interface and the US-2400 is a nice unit. It all depends on what you want to do. What's your budget anyway?
Cheers
Tim
Having said that, you are asking the wrong questions. You shouldn't ask how can I make it work with the 3500. You should ask yourself what do you want to achieve, or what do you want to change and what are the tools that can help me with it.
The M-3500 is a nice console but it is BIG and I really don't see how it would fit into your work process. It mixes audio, it does NOT send fader positioning information to your DAW. As I wrote earlier, if you want to mix with the console, you'd need one or a few audio interfaces with basically as much channels as you have tracks. Then you can mix with the console. Every channel needs to be connected from the console to the computer for tracking and from the computer to the console back. Depending on your tracks that might be a lot of cabling but the M-3500 can do that because it's an inline console. But honestly, I don't see how you're going to integrate that into your setup. I think you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Ride faders, then go with the interface and it will cost you 1000 bucks tops.
If you buy a console, then you also need to buy a few multichannel audio interfaces (e.g. 8 channel interfaces from MOTU, Presonus or M-Audio, Tascam) if you want to track to your PC. Then on mixdown you can use the inserts on those cubase channels for effects (e.g. EQ, compression) and use the console for mixing and panning. But you need some outboard gear for bus fx or main fx or you need to go into your pc again (more channels and interface cards, one per fx channel) and you loose quality every time you do the analog-digital-analog conversion. That way you'd put more stress on your PC just because you're using it as an effects processor in addition to tracking. Finally you need to record the mixed signal either with a standalone recorder or into your PC again. I think with the console, interfaces, mediocre outboard gear for e.g. compression, reverb, limiting, you're looking at about 5.000 to 15.000 bucks already for a 16 channel setup. I don't think it's feasible. Apart from that, the console is not brand new so it might need to be fixed or maintained. It's ok if you can do that yourself but otherwise you're going to pay top dollar for that, too. I'd just buy some fader interface and the US-2400 is a nice unit. It all depends on what you want to do. What's your budget anyway?
Cheers
Tim
witzendoz
Senior Member
If you can, buy a M3700, has automation (simple but it works), better earthing, and I have read somewhere that a guy turned it into a simple drew controller for volume and mute automation via the midi out on the console.
Also look for one with a full meter bridge, looks a lot nicer and is easier to use.
Cheers
Alan.
Also look for one with a full meter bridge, looks a lot nicer and is easier to use.
Cheers
Alan.
G
gilchrease
New member
thanks Tim, your info is very useful.. My use would be to mix and then master, I dont really do a lot of band setups, mostly one instrument at a time, now the mix is a different story, I have been known to use as many as 20 to 25 tracks per song.
believe me if I had the bucks, I would mostly go analog, in the right hands there is nothing better to me. You lose such feeling in DAW applications, and I think your right a controller for now is the way to go.... I have a chance to pick up a 3500 for under 500,00 bucks, working on it, if needed would be no problem for me. But the more I think about it, if I was going with it (3500) i might as well you stand alone effects and a couple of 16 track tape machines, which hopefull someday I can... thanks!!
believe me if I had the bucks, I would mostly go analog, in the right hands there is nothing better to me. You lose such feeling in DAW applications, and I think your right a controller for now is the way to go.... I have a chance to pick up a 3500 for under 500,00 bucks, working on it, if needed would be no problem for me. But the more I think about it, if I was going with it (3500) i might as well you stand alone effects and a couple of 16 track tape machines, which hopefull someday I can... thanks!!
F
fafel
New member
Hello All,
I have a Tascam M3700 and man I love that console! Here are my 2 cents..
I'm running Protools LE with a 002R and I can either mix in the box or on the console.
Only have 18 inputs and outputs (8 analog, 8 Adat, 2 Spdif) on the 002.
From the Tascam I go from the D-Outs to the Inputs on the 002, 8-16 go to the Adat as lightpipe then to 002, (they go through a patchbay though). And back from the 002 Outs to the Tape In on the board. Also have another computer running M-Power or Sonar that I can sync thru midi to my main manchine, I use that one for soft synths and effects but i could track to it in case i need more channels at the same time (ONLY has happened once), or I could patch it to the Auxs on the board and use it as "outboard"...There are many posibilities with a set up like this. Depending on what i'm tracking or mixing, i can go all in the box or to the board. Everthing goes to the p-bays so I can route the signals anyway i want to! I had the US2400 controller and it is sweet, but had to be reset a little more than I wanted to. Specially when I had clients...but it wasn't that much of a hassle. I almost bought it back a few months ago for $550USD. but decided not to. Bought a focusrite preamp instead. But it all boils down to what you need....Good luck
I have a Tascam M3700 and man I love that console! Here are my 2 cents..
I'm running Protools LE with a 002R and I can either mix in the box or on the console.
Only have 18 inputs and outputs (8 analog, 8 Adat, 2 Spdif) on the 002.
From the Tascam I go from the D-Outs to the Inputs on the 002, 8-16 go to the Adat as lightpipe then to 002, (they go through a patchbay though). And back from the 002 Outs to the Tape In on the board. Also have another computer running M-Power or Sonar that I can sync thru midi to my main manchine, I use that one for soft synths and effects but i could track to it in case i need more channels at the same time (ONLY has happened once), or I could patch it to the Auxs on the board and use it as "outboard"...There are many posibilities with a set up like this. Depending on what i'm tracking or mixing, i can go all in the box or to the board. Everthing goes to the p-bays so I can route the signals anyway i want to! I had the US2400 controller and it is sweet, but had to be reset a little more than I wanted to. Specially when I had clients...but it wasn't that much of a hassle. I almost bought it back a few months ago for $550USD. but decided not to. Bought a focusrite preamp instead. But it all boils down to what you need....Good luck
Z
zogzog
New member
Hi, same here!
I bought a patchbay as my homestudio needed more flexibility
(just started really - still learning)
then realised a 32x8 mixer was what i really needed and bought one that has recorded a few top uk albums i'm told.
+ agree - the permutations on offer are mad
In the box out the box i am the box
At a price that me thinks can't be beat by anything today - this thing cost the price of an average house when it came it!
I still don't have enough cables to wire it all up!
Have the midi working with ableton tho.
http://soundcloud.com/hsd