Tascam TM-D8000

Introduced by Tascam (TEAC) in the late 1990s — the official preliminary brochure dates to September 1997, the Sound On Sound review to May 1998 — the TM-D8000 was the brand's first foray into digital consoles. It targeted the 24-track studios then equipping themselves with DTRS recorders (DA-88/DA-98): its in-line architecture and TDIF format were designed to talk directly to those machines, a single button switching the 16 analog inputs to 16 TDIF channels, up to 40 TDIF channels at mixdown (five DTRS machines) while keeping 6 stereo inputs for effect returns. The mixer has 16 mic/line channels, 6 stereo line channels and 24 tape returns — 52 inputs in all — 8 multitrack buses, 6 mono aux and a stereo master, with 16 direct outs on the first channels. Every channel (and every tape return) has a 4-band parametric EQ and delay; eight dynamics processors (compressor/limiter/gate) can be freely patched onto any channel. There are 4 fader groups and 4 mute groups, snapshot automation internally and dynamic automation driven by an external computer. Ergonomics are the heart of the matter: 48 channel faders (24 dual-fader strips, 60/100 mm, non-motorized), four assignable control faders, a stereo mix fader, and above all a backlit LCD acting as a “window” onto all functions, sitting above a rotary-encoder control pod, complemented by a JOG/SHUTTLE wheel for machine and video control. I/O gathers 16 analog inputs (jack or XLR with inserts), 5 TDIF-1 connectors, 4 AES/EBU inputs and 2 S/PDIF inputs. The exact converter resolution was never disclosed by Tascam (to be verified).