Tascam M-30, M-35, M-208 question?

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studiodrum

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Hey everyone!
Can someone briefly explain the advantages, and disadvantages, and main features between the Tascam M-208, M-35, M-30. . .

Which board is the simplest to operate with the most features.

Thanks guys, . .!
 
They are all pretty simple to use once you get the hang of the way tascam sets up their gear.
The M35 is the best out of the 3 in every way,then the m30, and last the m-208.
I have both the 30 and 35 and like both of them.
 
Advantages?

The main advantages of the M30 and M35 is that they are;

1 - Old.

This means they are built better, sound better and are dirt cheap on the used market.

Cheers! :)
 
Basically,... ditto what Herm & GFM say.

There is no brief comparison of the M30, M35 and M208.

EQ:
M30 = 3-Band, w/2-Sweepable and 1-Fixed EQ
M35 = 2-Band Sweepable, each band Hi-Low Switchable
M208 = 3-Band, w/2-Fixed and 1-Sweepable

INPUTS:
M30 = 6-XLR's + 2-1/4" Hi-Z, w/3-Way MIC-ATT
M35 = 8-XLR's, w/3-Way MIC-ATT + TRIM
M208= 8-XLR's, w/PAD + TRIM

OUTPUTS:
M30 = 4/pairs UNbalanced
M35 = 4/pairs UNbalanced
M208= 4/pairs UNbalanced & 4-Balanced, + 2-BALANCED MASTER Outputs

VU METERS:
M30 = 4, switchable BUSS/MON/SUB
M35 = 5, 4-Buss & 1-Master
M208= 4, switchable PGM/MASTER

OVERLOAD LED'S:
M30 = 12
M35 = 12
M208= 4

ASSIGN:
M30 = 4-discrete, 4-total
M35 = 4-discrete, 4-total
M208= 2-pairs, 4-total

FADERS:
M30 = 8-Channel + 1-Master
M35 = 8-Channel + 4-Buss + 1-Master
M208= 8-Channel + 4-Buss + 2-Master (L/R)

CUE:
M30 = "Submix", switchable Pre/Post/Tape
M35 = Dedicated CUE mix
M208= NONE

TAPE RETURN:
M30 = "Submix", switchable Pre/Post/Tape
M35 = Dedicated Tape Return section
M208 = Dual-function LINE-IN/TAPE RETURN, (either/or, switchable)

EFFECTS:
M30 = 12-AUX_SND/RCV's
M35 = 8-AUX_SND/RCV's, + DEDICATED 8x1 EFFECTS SEND/RTN SECTION
M208= 8-INSERTS

MONITOR:
M30 = Dedicated 4x2 BUSS Monitor
M35 = 4x2 MON/PGM Monitor, (switchable)
M208= 4x2 ...?

SOLO:
M30 = NONE
M35 = 8-SOLO
M208= NONE

DIRECT:
M30 = 8-DIRECT, hardwired
M35 = 8-DIRECT, switchable
M208= NONE

MUTE:
M30 = 8-MUTE
M35 = NONE
M208= NONE

TALKBACK:
M30 = NONE
M35 = OPTIONAL
M208= NONE

CONSTRUCTION:
M30 = Mid-sized, one-piece
M35 = Large-sized, MODULAR
M208= Mid-sized, one-piece

---------------

That's about all I could come up with, off the top of my head.

I have the M30 & M35, but not the M208.

The M35 is the most feature-loaded and flexible of the three, with the M30 being second, and the M208 pulling third.

Not having the M208 myself,... if any of my M208 data is incorrect, will someone please correct the record? Thanx. :eek:
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you. . .!

I appreciate the help guys. . .
 
Alright.....I know absolutely nothing about mixers. But these M-30/M-35 are sounding like cheap, rugged, effective options.

But one question -- I don't quite get all this technical stuff.

Would I be able to record 8 tracks at the same time through one of these boards to a DA-88?

Satch
 
satchmo said:
Would I be able to record 8 tracks at the same time through one of these boards to a DA-88?

Satch
Click to expand...

On the M30 and M35 yes; through the direct outs. Otherwise, these are standard 4 buss mixers.

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks Ghost --- that's fantastic! A low budget solution for my mixing needs :)

Satch
 
A Reel Person said:
Not having the M208 myself,... if any of my M208 data is incorrect, will someone please correct the record? Thanx. :eek:
Click to expand...

Just a few correctons for ARP's list..

OVERLOAD LED'S

The M-208 has 12 of them, one OL LED for each channel strip, and one PEAK LED for each VU meter.


CUE

The M-208 has an 8x1 dedicated CUE mix called FLB (Foldback), which is switchable between the mic/line inputs and the tape returns on each channel, and the whole channel strip is switchable as well, so as an example, it is possible to use 6 channel's FLB controls as tape return monitors for already recorded tracks, while using all 8 channel strips as active inputs to record your next track or tracks. FLB monitoring is MONO.


EFFECTS

The M-208 has an insert point on each input channel, as well as an 8x1 dedicated effects mix, along with 2 pan-able mono effects returns, because they are pan-able, they may be used together as a single stereo effects return, or when in the mixdown stage and the FLB mix is no longer needed, you can use the FLB mix and the effects mix as 2 seperate effects sends.

The 8 insert points on the input channels should be usable as unbalanced direct outs, I haven't used them this way, but it should be do-able.


SOLO

The M-208 has a PFL solo switch on each input channel, along with a dedicated solo volume control.


MONITOR

The M-208's monitor output is switchable between the STEREO, FLB, and EFFECTS mixes.



The single most important thing the M-208 lacks is a dedicated L/R assign switch for each input channel, the stereo mix must go thru a pair of output busses in order to get to the stereo bus, so in order to use all 4 of the output busses at the same time you have to monitor in mono using the FLB mix, IMO this is the biggest drawback to this mixer, and switchable Phantom Power would have been nice on at least 2 of the input channels as well.

:)
 
That's quite a bit,...

that doesnt' meet the eye.

Thanx, much!! ;)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
Originally Posted by satchmo
Would I be able to record 8 tracks at the same time through one of these boards to a DA-88? Satch. . . .

On the M30 and M35 yes; through the direct outs. Otherwise, these are standard 4 buss mixers.

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...

Okay,. . .I'm just slighly unclear about the DIrect outs, and the 4 buss mixer, . can you explain what the diffrence between using the direct OUTs, and the 4 BUSS MIXER, using an 8 track recorder. . .
 
That's easy. Direct outs are used to send ONE channel to ONE track, whilst Busses are use to send TWO OR MORE channels to ONE or TWO tracks. :)
 
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, . .!

Okay, . I got it, . .brief 'brain-fart there for a momet. . . Thanks Mark
 
Hey

I just got the tascam M-30 pretty cheap and I wanted to know what kind of program would be good to record it with. Right now I am just trying to do a straight direct mix out of the mixer into my computer. This is my first time trying to record more than one thing at once and it would be great if someone could give me some info about it. Thanks.
 
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