Well, this is a bit of a turn-up. Tascam have just announced a delightfully retro-looking new 24-track multitrack recorder that doubles as a live sound desk and audio interface. Designed for studio and live applications, the Model 24 can capture 24-bit, 48 kHz audio (22 channels plus a stereo main mix) and play back 22 tracks via either USB 2.0 or to the unit's onboard SD Card recorder.
The 22-channel mixer features 100 mm long-throw faders across the board. It offers 12 mono channels, each with XLR mic and ¼-inch line inputs; ¼-inch channel inputs 1 and 2 can be switched between line and instrument level, enabling plugging in a guitar or bass, and feature a ¼-inch TRS insert points for additional processing.
You also get 4 stereo channels with mono XLR mic and left and right ¼-inch line inputs. All 16 microphone inputs sport a preamp gain control and a clip indicator for the channel's mic pre. Each of the first 20 channels also 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 optimized 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. Outputs include stereo XLR and ¼-inch main outputs, two ¼-inch monitor sends, an effects send, stereo control room outputs, and a stereo ¼-inch headphone monitor output.
Each of the 12 mono channels include a simple one-knob compressor, a low cut filter, and 3-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 3-band fixed EQ. A stereo 7-band graphic EQ can additionally 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, a variety of inputs, and flexible mixing and routing options, the Tascam Model 24 digital multitrack recorder offers an interesting new option for project studios and for live recording and mixing. The Model 24 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2018 with pricing yet to be confirmed.
