This is What the Quality of TASCAM Manuals Once Was

[Mark Richards]

Back in the day, TASCAM actually employed talented technical writers to develop the owner manuals for their gear.

This, for example, is the M-30 8x4x2 Audio Mixer's Owner Manual.

It includes a wealth of information on reading block diagrams, understanding impedence, and other technical information that's still relevant today for owners of TASCAM mixers. I'm posting that manual here in Recording 101 for that reason.

Hopefully, regardless of the specific platform, this c. 1980 TASCAM manual will be a useful resource for forum members.

It's a shame TASCAM doesn't go the extra mile anymore for their customers.

 

[shredd]

I'mma gonna agree w @Mark Richards - while Tascam's O/M's of today aren't worth the effort of tearing out a page to use for wiping up kitchen spills...I've had my O/G DP-32 for a coupla-three years now...and while I REGULARLY have to scour the forum, or search ytube, etc, for answers/solutions...I've cracked the manual about 3 times since I read it through when acquiring the unit.
@Phil Tipping 's User Guide is at least 10x more utile/relevant to a user - especially a NEW user - than the OEM O/M could possibly be. Clearly Tascam is using Uighur slave labor to write their manuals, without bothering to notice that they understand about as much about English usage as a politician understands about integrity or character.

There WAS a time where their manuals were great. Not just informative, not just useful, not just relevant to the product's use...but REALLYREALLY good. I ran 2488's for 15 years - all three incarnations - and never ONCE did I EVER have to search ytube, scan through blog/forum posts, or post on "social" media for an answer to ANYthing. They were exactly what MR is talkin' 'bout.

 

[Phil Tipping]

Wow, what a contrast; it's like a book on the subject.

Love the idea of speaking the word "statistics" into a mic and watching the meter and peak LED, then repeating with the word "average". Great way of making the point.

So many things to quote, but here are some which caught my eye:

"The routing for effects sends, cue feeds and stereo monitoring can be hard to visualize"

"Your mixing needs may be best served by an arrangement of inputs and sub-systems that you work out for yourself"

"Understanding what is going on inside your equipment will help improve your sound"

"The first time user may say at this point that these extras are SO HARD TO GRASP... the first few pages seem to be describing logic that is so sophisticated that it only makes sense to a 20 year "pro". WE AGREE!
These mix patches ARE complex and their routings are not easy to visualize. We will not insult your intelligence by saying otherwise. The M30 is a tool, not a toy. Like any good tool, good results depend on practice and understanding"

"'Less' is always the best working concept in audio, so use EQ after all other methods have been exhausted, move the mic, change the mic, and finally - try the 'cut' functions of the EQ first"