TASCAM DM-3200

Production Gadgets we love here @ Tracktune.net. Today our spotlight is on TASCAM DM-3200

More channels. More inputs. The new TASCAM DM-3200 has more of everything that made the DM-24 a pedigreed studio workhorse, plus an improved physical interface with per-channel multi-function LED ring encoders, more comprehensive DAW control, vastly improved routing flexibility, easier and robust data backup/ restore, greatly expanded mix storage using compact flash media and much more. With the DM-3200, TASCAM brings the functionality of a big console to the world of DAWs. You can't go wrong with the DM-3200!

TASCAM DM-3200 At-a-Glance:

• Music Tracking
• Post Production and Game Production
• Live Sound and House of Worship
• Project Studio Recording

Music Tracking

When you're tracking a band in your studio, there are certain features that musicians and producers demand from a recording console. The DM-3200 gives you eight aux sends so that you can give individual cue mixes to each musician and have some left over to buss to the two built-in effects. It has a professional control room section with talkback mic and slate functions as well as three playback source selection switches.

For recording large ensembles you get 16 microphone preamps, each with analog insert, phantom power (selectable in groups of four) and a -20dB pad switch. Four assignable analog inputs are provided, for inserting your favourite tube compressor on a console channel, or you can use the 4-band EQ and dynamics found on every channel.

When the sound is dialled in, send that channel to its own track with the direct button or combine inputs to the 16 busses. There are plenty of digital and analog I/O options to combine stand-alone hard disk recorders (like the TASCAM X-48), analog tape recorders or computer-based DAW recorders. The affordable DM-3200 handles all of the routing and bussing you need in a professional studio, allowing you to concentrate on running your session.

Post Production and Game Production

Mixing inside of a computer is difficult enough in stereo, and when you start working on surround projects, managing and monitoring all of the ins and outs becomes more like air traffic control. The DM-3200 becomes your control center for mixing large projects with dozens of channels. It can mix your tracks with one snapshot, and with two button presses you're ready to transfer them to a dubber or video deck.

Just connect your DAW interface, like Digidesign's 192 Digital I/O for Pro Tools, to one of the digital connections on the rear panel (or use our optional IF-FW/DM FireWire interface card). The DM-3200 even acts as a HUI controller for Pro Tools, allowing you to mix some channels in the DAW and others in the console.

The DM-3200 is an outstanding choice for mixing in surround, with 5.1 and even 6.1 automated panning. The 16 busses become two surround busses in surround mode, allowing you to buss channels to discrete stems. The optional IF-SM/DM Surround Monitoring card provides down mixing to stereo, individual output solo/mute and bass management features to the console.

Live Sound and House of Worship

Like the DM-24, the DM-3200 makes a reliable choice for sound reinforcement. Its 16 mic inputs give you plenty of channels for performances or services, and more mic inputs can be added as needed using external rackmount preamps with digital outputs. Each of the 32 channels features four-band parametric EQ, gating and compression processing. Two built-in effects processors can access a variety of great-sounding effects processors, including a reverb processor by TC Works.

If you're the one installing the DM-3200 into a facility, you can program a variety of settings and back up your programs to a Compact Flash card. Recalling snapshots is done using dedicated buttons on the front panel, so loading a mixer setting is as simple as changing channels on a TV remote. The rear panel of the DM-3200 is well-stocked with balanced and digital I/O, allowing ample connectivity to crossovers, as well as CD and cassette recorders such as our popular CC-222 mkII.

Project Studio Recording

Add the optional IF-FW/DM interface card to the DM-3200, and it becomes the ultimate computer interface and mixing surface for your workstation software. The IF-FW/DM allows a single FireWire cable to transmit 32 channels from your computer to the DM-3200 and another 16 channels back to the computer for recording. Using this expansion card, no other interface or hardware is needed for recording to a computer.

The DM-3200 has a fader layer, labelled 'Remote', that's dedicated to controlling the mixing facilities in your DAW software. There are two modes of control: Mackie Control and Mackie HUI emulation. The DM-3200's solid transport keys can be mapped to your software in any fader layer, and adjustments to your software mixer is a fader layer away. The DM-3200 + IF-FW/DM combination gives you the best of both worlds: computer recording and DAW control with world-class mixing, automation and monitoring features.

Tascam DM-3200 Features:

• 32 channels and 16 auxiliary returns for 48 total inputs
• 16 busses
• 8 Aux Sends
• 16 analog mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser mics and analog inserts
• 24 channels of TDIF and 8 channels of ADAT built in
• 2 expansion card slots support optional FireWire, ADAT, AES/EBU, Analog & TDIF cards
• Dedicated cascade port supports cascade of two DM-3200s
• Per channel LED ring encoders for pan, aux sends and EQ
• Built-in DAW control
• All inputs, effects and processing are available at 96k -- no features are sacrificed at full sampling rate
• Transport controls
• Powerful automation with touch-sensitive motorized faders
• EQ and compression on each channel
• Two built-in effects processors at 44.1/48k or 88.2/96k
• Flexible routing
• Offload data to convenient Compact Flash media using built-in CF slot
• Optional MU-1000 meter bridge
• Stylish, professional design with rear panel I/O connections
• TASCAM Mixer Companion software