Tascam Model 24 Digital Multitrack Recorder
29 August 2018
Tascam’s new Model 24 digital multitrack recorder offers 24 tracks of 24-bit, 48 kHz audio capture (22 channels and a stereo main mix) and 22 playback tracks via either USB 2.0 or to the unit’s onboard SD Card recorder. The SD Card recorder offers quick, easy one-touch recording and includes transport controls, auto and manual punch in/out, and overdub capability. Colour-coded knobs, faux-wood sides, and a retro design are nods to vintage Tascam products but the Model 24 is based on the company’s digital Portastudio technology, as evidenced by the LCD screen and digital recording and Bluetooth input features.
Mixdown is easy thanks to a built-in 22-channel mixer with 100mm faders — a feature not often found in this price class. The two monitor returns, subgroup bus, and stereo main bus also are equipped with dedicated 100 mm faders. The Model 24 offers 12 mono channels, each with XLR mic and quarter-inch line inputs; quarter-inch channel inputs 1 and 2 can be switched between line and instrument level, enabling plugging in a guitar or bass, and feature a quarter-inch TRS insert point. You also get four stereo channels with mono XLR mic and left and right quarter-inch line inputs. All 16 microphone inputs sport a preamp gain control and an overload (clip) indicator for the channel’s Tascam microphone preamp. Each of the first 20 channels includes Mute and PFL solo.
An additional stereo channel (21/22) is equipped with unbalanced RCA, unbalanced stereo minijack, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity and offers Mute and Pairing buttons. This enables streaming audio from a laptop or mobile device. Stereo channel 21/22 has also been optimised to feed the Monitor 1 and Monitor 2 buses via rotary auxiliary send controls.
A Routing Mode selector enables each channel to be independently set to accept live input, the return from the USB bus, or the return from the SD card recorder. This enables you to overdub in the studio and to fly in backing tracks for live performance. Multi-segment LED meters monitor the stereo main bus output levels. Outputs include stereo XLR and quarter-inch main outputs, two quarter-inch monitor sends, an effects send, stereo control room outputs, and a stereo quarter-inch headphone monitor output.
The Model 24 provides plenty of signal processing. Each of the 12 mono channels include a simple one-knob compressor, a low cut filter, and three-band semi-parametric EQ with sweepable midrange. The compressor and low cut filter are pre-Routing Mode selector so they can be applied to any recording track. The stereo channels include a low-cut filter and three-band fixed EQ. A stereo seven-band graphic EQ with easy-control toggle buttons and instant bypass can be applied to the main mix or monitor outputs, enabling you to shape your mixes and prevent monitor feedback. An onboard stereo multi-effects processor lets you apply 16 preset effects, including reverb, delay, chorus, and flanging.
With its choice of multitrack recording methods, onboard processing, variety of inputs, and flexible mixing and routing options, the Tascam Model 24 digital multitrack recorder is a great choice for project studios and for live recording and mixing.
The Model 24 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2018.
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