Tascam 1884 - Is It Good?, how well does Tascam 1884 work? Options

[Markiewicz]

I am thinking of getting a Tascam 1884, but I'm not sure how it rates against something like the Motu 828 or 896 combined with a Mackie Control Universal... has anyone been using one with OS X for a while? Is it reliable? Does it sound great?

[HappyHarryNET]

Hello. First of all happy researching and happy shopping. I hope you find the right control surface and/or digital mixer that you can live with and achieve your recording aspirations.

Yamaha O1x

+ 60mm motorized faders are adjustable to "near" touch sensitive levels, although i'd prefer 100mm

+ expandability? connect up to (8) O1x & control all of them via Studio Manager!

+ expandability? oh! and jack an i88x to each of those O1x

Just ONE i88x with O1x is tremendous! Yamaha DM2000 mic pres, 8 channels of ADAT, 2 more channels S/PDIF plus the 28 channels of input on the O1x. Keep in mind, the O1x manages all of this routing on its own deck without any help from anything or anybody. The faster you get banging buttons the faster you become King Kong on the board.

i got very close to buying a 1884 but i personally didnt like having no scribble strip display AND the 1884 NOT being a true mixer soured me. i wanted hardware that did something without a computer connnected. now that i am recording, let me tell you, it is NICE seldom having to look at a computer screen because i do everything using the O1x display and the rest pretty much is on my MOTIF XS. mind you, i am not saying you never will look at your PC or Mac screen because that simply isn't true. But i swear, i sit at my workstation and the O1x for hours never looking or fiddling with the computer. The O1x display gives me all the information i need to know, including when i call up plugins and adjust them, then i may add dynamics or effect TO that signal and arm it for the record buss. cake. also, most recently i take my mixes with me and edit elsewhere in full pristine fidelity and having every control that is on the O1x on my laptop. when i get home, i load it back into the O1x and bingo.

i too came close to giving up on my O1x. First, i was told wrong information. And this is why i chose to write this verbose storybook. The O1x works EXCELLENT with Logic 5.5 PC & OS9, Cubase, Sonar but I've never used it Digital Performer. However, i do use Tracktion and now use Tracktion 3 ALOT !! Works great on the O1x using Mackie Control. Don't put the O1x in general mode, use Cubase mode! That was mistake number one.

But like one the other posts here said, you gotta figure out for yourself what's best for you and what matters. All i can say is the O1x WILL NOT BE the brick wall in your project studio. O1x will allow you to do things you NEVER could do before having one. the plugins that comes with it are top notch and should be recognized as such and if you're remotely considering buying a mixer or control surface for recording you owe it to yourself to visit keyfax.com and get the O1x DVD and see for yourself. Just don't forget i told you, use Mac OS9, OSX or Windows XP and stay there.

when i learned the 1884 had no scribble strip (display) and was not a true mixer -- i shrugged. but i am hoping future versions of their products recognize these important aspects and integrate them into new and upcoming DAW hardware products.

Remember the O1X is simultaneously acting as your soundcard, MIDI interface, remote controller, digital mixer and your effects processors, amongst other things. So, it may take a bit more time than other products to configure. But contact me (my nic @ aol dot com) and i can get you up and running in 5 min. The O1X doesn't just control your host DAW applications. It also edits & controls your favorite VST plugins. While your computer's CPU is running the actual plugins, the O1X can control & access & manage all pages & parameters plus add EQ, Dynamics & Effects TO the output of those software instruments & effects all using its own processing power. I use Cubase 4 and Tracktion 3 and life is good.

// cheers //