i'm deciding between a mackie 24.8 and a mint tascam m520. i'll be running 6 hardware synths (12 outputs) into the board. my live tracking is only 4 tracks max simultaneously (vocals or vox and guitar or 2 background vox). i'll record, mix and automate in the computer, maybe add some more software synth sounds, and run signal back thru the board to sum the mix. i average about 18 tracks for most songs.
sorry for my newbie board questions, but:
1. on the m520, can my synths plug directly into the tape return section for monitoring AND sending to the computer for recording? if so, that would leave me all 20 channels for the output from my DAW, correct?
2. on the m520, is the tape return section the tracks numbered 1-8 on the right side? does this become 16 trk return with the flip of a switch?
3. what's the access>patch thing all about?
4. most to the point, how does the sound compare to a mackie in terms of clarity and hi fidelity? i will be writing for tv broadcast and want to be sure the m520 isn't muddy sounding. warm is ok, but not muddy or too dark.
thank you in advance for your opinions.
sorry for my newbie board questions, but:
1. on the m520, can my synths plug directly into the tape return section for monitoring AND sending to the computer for recording? if so, that would leave me all 20 channels for the output from my DAW, correct?
2. on the m520, is the tape return section the tracks numbered 1-8 on the right side? does this become 16 trk return with the flip of a switch?
3. what's the access>patch thing all about?
4. most to the point, how does the sound compare to a mackie in terms of clarity and hi fidelity? i will be writing for tv broadcast and want to be sure the m520 isn't muddy sounding. warm is ok, but not muddy or too dark.
thank you in advance for your opinions.