Getting an MU24 to work with a DM4800

[wm_b]

I can't seem to find a MU1000 for anything less than almost 50% of what you can get a whole mixer for and my MU24 almost of works with "enough" functionality. I get timecode and the meters work for layer 1 but for some reason switch to layer 2 after a few moments. Touching a fader will quickly bring it back but it's an annoying error. For the way I work most of the time I don't really need to see the AUX and BUS levels. Before I updated the firmware to the most recent it seems like it didn't switch the layer but I don't really remember for sure.

 

[cmaffia]

On eBay there are several MU-1000's in the 599 - 650 range. Although I agree the MU-1000 was always overpriced, you can't buy a DM4800 for $1200 yet (even used) so I question your "50% of what you can get a whole mixer for " comment. I'd be very nervous using an MU24 with my DM3200 or in your case, 4800. You don't know if your shorting anything or doing permanent damage. With the price of repair you could end up spending up to the cost of an MU1000 at MSRP value.

 

[wm_b]

On eBay there are several MU-1000's in the 599 - 650 range. Although I agree the MU-1000 was always overpriced, you can't buy a DM4800 for $1200 yet (even used) so I question your "50% of what you can get a whole mixer for " comment. I'd be very nervous using an MU24 with my DM3200 or in your case, 4800. You don't know if your shorting anything or doing permanent damage. With the price of repair you could end up spending up to the cost of an MU1000 at MSRP value.

Last week there was a DM4800 on ebay for local pickup for $1400. I know this is a rare deal but that's pretty close to 50% of the MU1000 street price. I've used the MU24 for 2 years with a 3200 without issue. The only quirk is that it constantly wants to switch to show you layer 2 after a few moments on layer 1 (touching a layer 1 fader immediately brings the MU24 back to the correct layer). It works the same way with the 4800. I realized that if I'm not using layer 2 for anything and just duplicate the input assignments and pull all the faders down the meters would correctly indicate for layer 1 and wouldn't impact the mix. For monitoring inputs it works perfectly fine.

In my rig I only use the DM4800 as plumbing. I don't use the mic pre's unless I'm doing a live sound gig. All my inputs are typically digital via AES cards and an AD16x and my mixes are all ITB. In my studio the DM4800 is only serving analog duties for monitoring and headphone mixes.

 

[cmaffia]

Last week there was a DM4800 on ebay for local pickup for $1400. I know this is a rare deal but that's pretty close to 50% of the MU1000 street price.

And I picked up my MU-1000 for $129 with free shipping on eBay. Even though I got it at that price, I certainly wouldn't advertise that you can get the MU-1000 for as low as $129.00.

but for some reason switch to layer 2 after a few moments. Touching a fader will quickly bring it back but it's an annoying error.

Yes there is a perfectly good reason! You're complaining that the MU24 doesn't work properly when it wasn't made to work with the DM3200 or 4800. I'm confused with the purpose of your post unless it's to inform people that the cheaper MU24 sort of works with the DM3200/4800 but doesn't. If no damage is done I suppose it's a "solution" but the MU-1000 still looks sexier and it works 100%.

 

[wm_b]

And I picked up my MU-1000 for $129 with free shipping on eBay. Even though I got it at that price, I certainly wouldn't advertise that you can get the MU-1000 for as low as $129.00.

Yes there is a perfectly good reason! You're complaining that the MU24 doesn't work properly when it wasn't made to work with the DM3200 or 4800. I'm confused with the purpose of your post unless it's to inform people that the cheaper MU24 sort of works with the DM3200/4800 but doesn't. If no damage is done I suppose it's a "solution" but the MU-1000 still looks sexier and it works 100%.

Good on you for getting a great deal!

On a technical level the MU24 and MU1000 are nearly identical and likely share most of the same components. I posted a question about the possibility of a modifying a MU24 to function better with the DM3200/4800. The signal to switch pages is being sent from the mixer to the meter bridge and somewhere in the meter bridge that signal is being received. I'm not above taking an soldering iron to my MU24 and wondered if anyone else had realized this and already done it.

In the interim I discovered a "hack" to workaround the page switching problem was simply duplicating the input assignments of page 1 over to page 2 and then it doesn't matter when the meter switches over to page 2 while the mixer is on page 1. I realize I "kind of" lose page 2 functionality but I only have 24 inputs, I sum in Pro Tools and I'm free to reassign anything on page two as I like if needed. My main goal of being able to visually monitor input levels while tracking has been met.

As far as an MU-1000 looking sexier... well, you can do what you like in the privacy of your studio. To make mounting my (not quite 100% functioning but giving me 100% of the info I need) MU24 more practical I whipped up a nice frame of birch rectangular stock and it mounts on the DM4800 pretty much exactly as a MU1000. It took about 15 minutes to make, and the birch was old enough to have aged to a similar color as the faux wood trim on the DM4800. The MU24 is not silver but all cats are gray when the lights are off.

I guess if someone wants a so-so solution while they're waiting on a better price for a MU1000 an old MU24 that you might have in a box somewhere can be somewhat functional. It will always show the correct page when you touch a fader on the layer you want to see - it just switches back a few moments after you take your finger off. You will have to engineer your own mounting solution.

In the meantime I'll keep waiting for a good deal on a MU1000 because I'm not made of money right now.

Cheers, William

 

[cmaffia]

Post a pic please!

 

[wm_b]

My DM4800 still lives in the box while I'm planning to reconfigure my current setup. This is the meter on the DM3200 in a pano of my main workspace.

 

[cmaffia]

nice studio!

 

[wm_b]

nice studio!

Thanks! I've been rocking Tascam consoles in here since 2004 and they've been great. I can't wait to complete the transition to the DM4800.

 

[Tuviel]

Love those benches. Fantastic!

 

[Thomas Iltgen]

DOES someone have the pinout of the MU-24?

Thanks
hti

 

[wm_b]

Somewhere on this forum is a link to the service manuals. You might find information there.

 

[Peter Batah]

Great setup @wm_b

 

[cmaffia]

Unfortunately there's no MU-24 pin-out information in the 90 page DM-24 service manual.