Tascam Model 2400

For quite some time I was searching for a solution for my small studio. My setup considers of a set of Synthesizers and microphones that I need to have them all connected somewhat permanently, so I was searching for something with a lot of inputs all in one. I did an extensive research and I was between various small consoles from different manufactures. I have to say that in our day and age there are endless solutions in various price ranges but the problem I faced was that most of the consoles in the same price range were lacking some key feature that broke the deal for me. For example, not all consoles had all inputs as combo or some of them they only had half combo and the rest only mic level. That was a key factor for me because I have a lot of line level instruments.
After quite some back and forth between various models that I considered, I finally got the Tascam Model 2400.
I like the tactile analogue – what you see, you get – feeling. No menu diving’s no button pressings and endless search of parameters. Everything is there for you on the spot!!
One of the key features that are unique in my opinion, and I am using quite often is, the possibility to record the individual line compressor and EQ. That’s quite useful for jamming sessions that I need to have a somewhat ready to go multitrack that I can mix without too much menu diving in my DAW or even from the onboard SD card, I also use the console as a return and I mix in the console and export the stereo out, also very easy and useful. I used it also as an analogue summing mixer and worked liie a charm.
The Preamps are EXTREMELY clean but maybe someone will think that they are a bit in the weak side but I find out that the sweet spot for them is around -18 to -12 DBFS and they take any post boost, EQ and Compression extremely well without any additional noise. In the past with other interphases I was always targeting around -12 to -6 to get the same SNR
The one knob compressor is working remarkably well, is quite “musical” and I find myself using it all the time to shape things around in conjunction to the somewhat limited but quite nice EQ
Overall a sturdy heavy construction and the knob and fader feeling is quite nice.

I can’t say I have anything negative to say with the exception that I wish they also had direct out for each input. For whoever needs something like that I suppose you can work it around with the 5 Auxiliary out or the 4 Stereo Sub groups and of course in some ways you can also utilize some the 12 inserts if you want to connect to an analogue tape machine for tracking and mixing.

Overall a wonderful product for whoever needs a console with a lot of inputs, integrated interphase, onboard recording and of course the analogue feeling. I truly love it !!

I use this as a recording device, not as a stage mixer, but it's nice to have the option.
The reason I was drawn to this model is because of its analogue mixer. So your inputs are treated in analogue, and sent to what is essentially a digital 20 track recorder. Playback and mixing passes again through the analogue mixer.
The main output tracks record a copy of your mix each time.
Having used many multitrackers over the years, I have never really been happy with the results of any of them, except for the Fostex DMT-8, which was only an 8 track, but used an analogue mixer section, like the Model 2400. I got some great sounding recordings out of that, in conjunction with a Yamaha QY700 sequencer, which helped a lot with the track count.
So I was looking for a multitracker with an analogue mixer section, to get that sweet sound again, that I have been missing. I've been using a DP32 recently, up until now.
With the 2400, I can easily send files to the PC for editing, and back again if needed, but I use the 2400 for final mixdown.
It has some useful effects, and a nice EQ and compessor on the Main output.
When routing inputs to tracks, your input must be plugged into the desired track. You can easily swap the tracks around later if desired.
I'm really happy with the sound quality
and the ease of use.
Recommended.

Utilisation home studio pour setup electro (synthés, effets, guitares, micros), avec ou sans ordi.

Je viens d'une BigSix qui ne me suffisait plus en I/O et dont le routing puissant mais complexe ne me plaisait pas.

Premières sensations au déballage/essai :
- les potards et faders nettement plus cheaps que sur la SSL, j'ai mis quelques heures à m'y faire et à ne pas regretter cette dernière.
- l'absence de vu-mètres à segments sur les tranches : ceux de la SSL, hyper précis et réactifs, m'ont aussi manqué au début.
- les EQs un peu moins musicaux, ceux de la SSL me plaisaient beaucoup, j'aimais jouer avec, ceux de la Tascam sont très bien mais plus "utilitaires".

Mais pour la qualité sonore des preamps et des convertisseurs, à mes oreilles de cinquantenaire on est sur du kifkif : transparents, absence de souffle et de distortion.
Il faut noter que les preamps de la Tascam proposent moins de réserve de gain, pas d'inverseur de polarité, et l'alim Phantom est commutable par tranche de 4 entrées. Un peu moins de souplesse que sur la SSL donc.

Par ailleurs je me régale avec la fonction magnéto multipiste de la Tascam. Une idée ? pas besoin d'ouvrir l'ordi et la stan pour l'enregistrer, je crée une song, je met les tranches désirées en rec, et zou. Tout ça s'enregistre sur une carte SD en fichiers waves, je peux récupérer plus tard les pistes dans ma stan ou jouer avec sur la console.

Au final aucun regret car j'ai le nombre d'entrées qui me fallait + un peu de rab, et je ne me prends plus la tête avec le routing comme c'était le cas sur la bigsix : la tascam est "old school", tout est sous la main et très clair, et avec 5 départs aux et 5 bus de sorties il y a de quoi faire.

Il y a toutefois de petits défauts mal documentés ou pas relevés dans les tests que j'ai pu lire :
- le midi in/out aux réglages très limités, pas de gestion MTC ou clock
- le metronome intégré pas pratique d'usage et proposant des sons bien pourris
- le temps de création et de chargement des songs en multipiste (5-6 secondes, on perd un peu en immédiatété)
- le manque de réactivité du magnéto quand on se déplace dans le morceau, et pas d'écoute témoin en FFW ou FRW
- les deux prises casques sont sur le même circuit, pas de réglage de niveau séparé (donc en gros : une seule utilisable)