What do I do with a Tascam M-1508?

[Baird6869]

Hey folks,

A friend just gave me a Tascam M-1508 audio mixer and I am not sure if I can put it to good use for either recording or a cheap PA.

What would you use it for if you only had 2 mics (the unit does not have phantom power though) and a bunch of different bass cabinets and heads?

I could buy speakers, a recording unit of some kind or whatever, but I am just wondering if it is worth keeping this unit and adding gear to it or buy something more current.

It cost me nothing as it was a gift.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and below is the specs of the unit.

Specs:

* 8 input channels - each with: XLR mic, line and tape input; TRS insert; direct out; trim pot, high, parametric mid, low EQ; 1 pre/post aux out and 2 post/dual aux out; 2 channel dual out with stereo pan; PFL assign; channel assign; stereo pan and long throw fader.

* 4 sub group outputs; 3 master aux out; 2 mono and 2 stereo aux returns; dual out master; PFL master; headphone master out and monitor source selection switches.
The dual out feature allows you to have a totally separate stereo mix out, perfect for a stereo recording out during a live performance or for allowing more control over auxiliary stereo effect equipment.

 

[Count Bassie]

Hey folks,

A friend just gave me a Tascam M-1508 audio mixer and I am not sure if I can put it to good use for either recording or a cheap PA.

What would you use it for if you only had 2 mics (the unit does not have phantom power though) and a bunch of different bass cabinets and heads?

I could buy speakers, a recording unit of some kind or whatever, but I am just wondering if it is worth keeping this unit and adding gear to it or buy something more current.

It cost me nothing as it was a gift.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and below is the specs of the unit.

Specs:

* 8 input channels - each with: XLR mic, line and tape input; TRS insert; direct out; trim pot, high, parametric mid, low EQ; 1 pre/post aux out and 2 post/dual aux out; 2 channel dual out with stereo pan; PFL assign; channel assign; stereo pan and long throw fader.

* 4 sub group outputs; 3 master aux out; 2 mono and 2 stereo aux returns; dual out master; PFL master; headphone master out and monitor source selection switches.
The dual out feature allows you to have a totally separate stereo mix out, perfect for a stereo recording out during a live performance or for allowing more control over auxiliary stereo effect equipment.

What mics do you have? Do you have any other recording gear? This would make a nice front-end for a digital (or any) recording set-up. Any stand-alone recorder without a mixing section would be the thing to put this in front of.

Get an old Tascam 234 4-track deck (I have a 788, nice box), an ART phantom-power module (accomodates 2 condenser mics into your mixer), and you're all set. You might scrape around for some dynamics while you're at it. Mics> (Phantom power>) Mixer> Recorder... then...

(scene 1) Record some stuff through your signal chain described at the end of the paragraph above. Then go to your buddy's house, learn to use his Cakewalk (or whatever) software, and import the tracks from your recorder (bring the recorder to his house). Send the tracks out the Outs of the recorder to his PC's soundcard, into the software mixing/editing software, and mix your record.

(scene 2) Honestly, you don't need a software prog. If you have another deck- a simple 2-track thing, or a standalone CD burner, you can re-route your cables to go from Mixer> Recorder (recording your tracks) to Recorder> Mixer (mixing your tracks). Now, run the tracks from the recorder through the Mixer, and send the Mixer Outs to the 2-track or CD burner. Set you levels, pans, eq... and mix-down to stereo live from the Mixer.

This is a nice, simple system that should last you about forever. Man, I like this more than the Cakewalk idea. Software is fine if you're into VSTi's, extensive editing, etc. But for running tunes, getting your band onto disc, this is very cool.

There's a bunch of signal-flow to learn, though... find the book How to Make a Demo-Quality Recording in your Bedroom by Peter Lawrence Alexander. There's a lot of digital/computer stuff in there, but it lays out signal-flow for any format (it's the same for any format- he makes this clear).

Do it! Sounds like the start of a great system.

 

[Baird6869]

Thanks, man! Appriciate the info.

What mics do you have? Do you have any other recording gear? This would make a nice front-end for a digital (or any) recording set-up. Any stand-alone recorder without a mixing section would be the thing to put this in front of.

Get an old Tascam 234 4-track deck (I have a 788, nice box), an ART phantom-power module (accomodates 2 condenser mics into your mixer), and you're all set. You might scrape around for some dynamics while you're at it. Mics> (Phantom power>) Mixer> Recorder... then...

(scene 1) Record some stuff through your signal chain described at the end of the paragraph above. Then go to your buddy's house, learn to use his Cakewalk (or whatever) software, and import the tracks from your recorder (bring the recorder to his house). Send the tracks out the Outs of the recorder to his PC's soundcard, into the software mixing/editing software, and mix your record.

(scene 2) Honestly, you don't need a software prog. If you have another deck- a simple 2-track thing, or a standalone CD burner, you can re-route your cables to go from Mixer> Recorder (recording your tracks) to Recorder> Mixer (mixing your tracks). Now, run the tracks from the recorder through the Mixer, and send the Mixer Outs to the 2-track or CD burner. Set you levels, pans, eq... and mix-down to stereo live from the Mixer.

This is a nice, simple system that should last you about forever. Man, I like this more than the Cakewalk idea. Software is fine if you're into VSTi's, extensive editing, etc. But for running tunes, getting your band onto disc, this is very cool.

There's a bunch of signal-flow to learn, though... find the book How to Make a Demo-Quality Recording in your Bedroom by Peter Lawrence Alexander. There's a lot of digital/computer stuff in there, but it lays out signal-flow for any format (it's the same for any format- he makes this clear).

Do it! Sounds like the start of a great system.

 

[Count Bassie]

P.S. You're going to need decent speakers to monitor your mix with. But... I got a boom-box from Salvation Army for $12, and it is as much a part of my jig as the Fostex PM 0.5 powered "near-field monitors" I bought when I started a few years ago. In fact, although the Fostex are great for getting 'inside' the space the instruments/voices are in, the boom-box is the final word.

Go figure- you'll hear you music through a boom-box more often than a hi-fi home stereo, I'll bet. Make sure you get one with L and R RCA ins... "CD, Aux in", whatever. Get a good-sounding one- one that sounds 'solid', has a good balance of all the frequencies you hear. Bring a tape you know and audition a few. A good boom-box is a real good tool.

After you get your act together a bit, go shopping for monitors. Ebay is your friend...

Have some fun, mang! I'll leave you alone now... Peace.