Anybody have a Tascam Model 24?

[hamerhead]

I just got one.

I've been recording the band with a Tascam DP-24SD and it's been working out great, if you don't mind going back and overdubbing some stuff (it will only do 8 tracks simultaneously).

This one - the Model 24 - will do 22 tracks at once AND work as a DAW controller, which is good because the drummer's kid has been putting everything in his laptop (Logic Pro, I think) for any tweaks that we might need.

The problem with him having it in his computer is that is he sometimes ODs on fixes, adding layers of stuff we don't really need (he's a singer/keyboard player). Although he is extremely talented, it sometimes makes us sound less like us. My goal with this unit is to have more control over what goes in (drums, mostly) and what comes out.

So.....to make a short story long.....are any of you using one of these? Any tips or tricks?

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be setting it up and dialing it in. Should be interesting.....

[Jakeboy]

I look forward to hearing the recordings done on that bad boy.

[scottcald]

You could ask him for the individual tracks and then leave out what you don't want yourself.   

Edit:  Sounds like he's just eager and has no current outlet. 

[hamerhead]

5 hours ago, scottcald said:

You could ask him for the individual tracks and then leave out what you don't want yourself.   

Edit:  Sounds like he's just eager and has no current outlet. 

Yeah - and it's a bit of a slippery slope: he's young (24), very schooled and could play all the parts/instruments himself if he wanted, but he has never been in a band. I don't want to discourage what he's doing (and learning), but at the same time I need this to sound like the 4 old untrained geezers that we are. He's mainly a keyboard player but also plays sax, guitar, drums, bass, etc, and sings, which means every song should get all that AND the kitchen sink.

We have agreed to doing MY mixes and HIS mixes. Mine are a bit - OK, a lot - more stripped and guitar-centric, much more in line with the way we sound live.  His are a little fluffy-er, with all things non-guitar and a choir of backup harmonies more upfront, in a cool jazz/pop-sorta way. It's great that he is capable of it, but not so much on a Marshall Tucker tune.

I guess my goal is to help him with perspective?

 

[scottcald]

1 hour ago, hamerhead said:

Yeah - and it's a bit of a slippery slope: he's young (24), very schooled and could play all the parts/instruments himself if he wanted, but he has never been in a band. I don't want to discourage what he's doing (and learning), but at the same time I need this to sound like the 4 old untrained geezers that we are. He's mainly a keyboard player but also plays sax, guitar, drums, bass, etc, and sings, which means every song should get all that AND the kitchen sink.

We have agreed to doing MY mixes and HIS mixes. Mine are a bit - OK, a lot - more stripped and guitar-centric, much more in line with the way we sound live.  His are a little fluffy-er, with all things non-guitar and a choir of backup harmonies more upfront, in a cool jazz/pop-sorta way. It's great that he is capable of it, but not so much on a Marshall Tucker tune.

I guess my goal is to help him with perspective?

 

Maybe agree to have him engineer/producer and you're the executive producer (aka final say).  Then have him do a "Joe's mix"  to give it a little, I don't know, stature, specialness.  He might know how to do it, but it's your music. 

Or, you do the mix and have him polish it but not add the kitchen sink, but just stuff like compression, EQ and finessing the mixing you've done. 

[BadgerDave]

Have him listen to the first Ramones album.  Then ask him to do two mixes, one that sounds like the Ramones and one that he has full creative control.