Tascam M16?

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:43 am

I have a chance to get a Tascam M16 (24 trk configuration) for about $500, but the power supply doesn't work. Does anyone have experience with this board? Could the repair cost more than the board itself and would it be worth it? From what I've read, these boards have a nice warm sound, and that's definately what i'm looking for. Thanks in advance.

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:44 pm

I think you're slightly confused as the Tascam M16, is a 16 track recorder and not a console. Plus it says 16 and so it is not 24 track. I think you need more information before you purchase this?

And if you're looking for a nice warm sound, it's definitely not going to come from anything made by TEAC/TASCAM. I've never liked the sound of their microphone preamplifiers. They are marginal at best. I would rather have a Mackie for a front end, if you're on a limited budget. Their equalizers are even worse than their microphone preamplifiers and I've always hated their equalization as it is so bad, when I have to work on one of their consoles, I try not to even touch their equalizers. Things sound so much better when you don't use them. Now I'm not saying that the Mackie equalizers are much better but they are better and so is their microphone preamplifiers. So I would not be in a rush to buy their consoles. Now if somebody wants to give you a free one, I would say great! Otherwise if you're going to spend $500, I look for something else. Their recorders are acceptable but for a novice, I would never recommend the Tascam M16, as you are talking about an analog machine that needs proper maintenance and tweaking. And since you have indicated the power supply doesn't work, I wouldn't touch it. That's not a bargain.

Check out eBay please
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:06 pm

Thanks Remy. I know it's confusing, but Tascam did issue an M16 (or Model 16) mixer as well as their recorder. And what's worse, even the 24 channel models are called the 16.

FYI from Tascam's site under history (1983):

The TASCAM M-16 was a mixer with 16 inputs, 8 outputs, and a 16-channel monitor section. This board was made in either a 16 input or 24 input configuration, a real flexible mixer that you could buy it with 16 inputs and then add modules later to increase the inputs to 24.-

I want something with alittle more colorization than a Mackie (I've had one). Good pre's aren't so much of an issue, as I go with outboard gear for that. I just want a good old board to pass my signal through to/from my DAW.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:49 am

NO Tascam board is "good old". I used to HAVE to use Tascams, before Greg Mackie took the wind out of their sales. There simply weren't many options back in the "good old"(NOT!) days. Tascams were harsh-sounding, NO headroom, the EQ sucked the life outta everything passed through it, and about as "warm" as a cadaver. I was finally able to upgrade to a RAMSA !! Now THAT was a great-sounding board. When we replaced the Tascam with the Ramsa, it was like somebody removed a veil from the speakers! Clean, extended top end clarity, headroom out the ying-yang. You can find various Ramsa's on the internet at bargain prices,too. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations!

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:30 pm

Oh please! Soundcraft, Panasonic Ramsa, Allen & Heath, Soundtracs,Op-Amp Labs, anything but TA-SCAM console. Not that kind of flavor that anybody with any knowledge and any experience here recommends! Those consoles are fine for schools, churches and people that want to learn, not people that want to produce a quality product. Their recorders aren't horrible but their microphone three amplifiers and equalizers are just the worst and you don't want to feed your signal and that. Why are you asking questions from 35-year professionals and not taking our advice? Aren't you here for some educated advice? Especially since it has a blown up power supply. Power supplies are not cheap, especially supplies that most likely provide, bipolar 15 volts, +48 volts, +5 volts, such as that console probably requires. That's not something you can purchase at Radio Shaft and generally most people charge about $80 per hour for service work and it will take them a couple of hours to repair that power supply if that's the problem!

Keep your Mackie! Buy more microphones. Read more books and trade publications. Improve your recording and mixing techniques. You are talking about something that you think doesn't sound right that we all know is more than perfectly right, its operator error you are talking about and inexperience. Listen to the experienced people who are giving you free advice, here at Recording.org.

It's not a bargain, it's a tumor. (With Austrian accent)!
Ms. Remy Ann David

Now be a good boy and listen to your mother.

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:39 pm

free318 wrote:

I want something with alittle more colorization than a Mackie (I've had one). Good pre's aren't so much of an issue, as I go with outboard gear for that. I just want a good old board to pass my signal through to/from my DAW.

No matter what kind of colorization I can imagine you would ever want, the TASCAM M-16 will not get you there. You will simply be sending your signal through a rather dull and outdated console.

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