tascam m216 i have no clue

[wombwarp]

hi, i just bought an m-216 mixer. apart from this and a G3 computer, i've got nothing else. my goal is to be able to use it to record onto a 16 track reel recorder and then onto my mac computer. is this possible with and only 8 tape ins?
and what are the 16 'inserts' for?
what are pgm outs?
sub in?
any free user manual downloads?

i have a bad feeling that this was a bad spontaneous purchase.

what can i do with this thing?
any help is fab.

 

[A Reel Person]

Well, first, congratulations, and don't panic.

The M216 is a respectable 16 channel, 4-subgroup mixer that can indeed be used to effectively support a 16 track tape machine. It may have been an impulsive purchase, and believe me, I've been there, but since you're apparently a recording "Newbie", just remember it might take a little time to come up to speed.

The mixer can do what you want it to, in a basic sense, as you've described, but one of the fundamental things you need to make that happen, is familiarity with the board.

Tascam Parts sells manuals, and they're available by phone order, so just call (323) 727-4840, and order the M200 Series manual, which covers the M216. You'll be a lot better off having the manual, right from the start, and I suggest getting one, asap.

I was wondering if you already have a 16 track tape machine, or if it was a planned purchase?

Ok, there's only 8 TAPE INs, on the M216, but the other 8 LINE INs, on mixer channels 9-16, could be used for additional tape ins, [9-16 from the reel-16]. You'll need an RCA to 1/4" Mono plug adapter, qty 8.

PGM OUTs are the outputs from your 4 subgroups. Channels are assigned to subgroups by a combination of PAN, and depressing either 1-2 and/or 3-4, the white buttons just above each PAN knob.

SUB IN would likely be your L/R Stereo In.

INSERTs are specialized 1/4" stereo jacks, which have both a SND and RCV in the same jack. INSERT requires a special Y-patch cord, but with INSERT, you can patch an effects device inline into each individual channel.

There's really a lot more detail about the specific features of the M216, which would be lengthy to describe. Your best bet is to get the manual, read it, and try to understand the features. It's when you understand the features of your mixer, that you will be able to understand how to apply the mixer to your application.

But, pls, don't panic. IMO, it was a good purchase, that can be adapted to do what you want it to. Tascam boards such as the M216 are very open architectures, and possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

If someone were to come to me, and exclaim the M216 couldn't support a 16-track reel-to-reel, I'd tell him he had not thought it through enough.

 

[A Reel Person]

BTW, 'subgroups' are often called 'busses', or 'program busses'.

So, the M216 is a 4 BUSS mixer, with 4 PGM BUSSes, and each PGM BUSS has a PGM IN and a PGM OUT. Each PGM BUSS has a corresponding VU meter. [Isn't that cool?]

The M216 is also known as a 16x4x2 mixer. That's 16 channels/4 busses/stereo monitor.

When using the M216 with a tape recorder, I'd recommend using the 4 program busses [PGM OUTs] to route the source [MIC/LINE] signals to the tape recorder's INPUTS. IMO, that's what the PGM BUSSes are for.

In your case, the M216's 4 PGM BUSS OUTs would be supporting 16 tape recorder INPUTs, so you'd have a patch bay, and repatch as necessary, when recording tracks.

Get the manual and study it. Do some hands on experimentation with it. Find out how to route and mix signals. Read the book, try to understand it, and use your common sense & imagination.

If you have more specific questions, just ask.

 

[JR#97]

nice explaination Reel....

Just wanted to add that if you're going with 16 tracks of tape and want to get all 16 tracks into your Mac , you'll want an audio interface for your Mac that either has at least 16 inputs. Multiple passes from a tape transport will wander a bit and your tracks on the DAW will be out of sync. Another option is to sync your Mac to the tape via time-code... but that's a whole topic in itself. If you're just mixing down to your Mac, ignore me. My wife and kids do!

 

[A Reel Person]

Thanx JR. Let me add:

As JR said, if you want all 16 discrete tape tracks dumped directly into the computer, in discrete 16 track [DAW] format, you'll definitely need a multi-input soundcard that can handle 16 inputs.

On the other hand, as I read it, womb want's to multitrack on the 16 track reel-to-reel, then mixdown onto the computer and burn a CD, which is quite a different scenario.

The scenario JR detailed would require a mult-input soundcard, and the scenario I'm talking about could be recorded & mixed on the 16 track reel & M216, external to the computer, and recorded to the computer in simple stereo, in which case, a normal stereo soundcard would do the trick.

Thx