Lately, Tascam has completely refreshed its range of multitrack recording products with new updated models. An example was the recent Model 2400 recorder and mixing console with audio interface, building upon the attributes found in Tascam's previous Model 12, Model 16, and Model 24 integrated mixer/recorders that were basically Portastudios on steroids. Not always these products seem to fit within today's working methods and studio workflows, but with this new announcement it seems Tascam has seen the light.
The new Tascam Studio Bridge distills many of the features from the Model 2400, in a simpler concept that is intended to connect exiting analog consoles and even full racks of outboard gear to capture the analog signal chain that engineers have painstakingly created and wish to preserve. With the Studio Bridge, recording engineers have the option of recording to a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) using the Studio Bridge as a 24-In/24-Out USB audio interface or, alternatively, recording directly to the Studio Bridge itself.
As a device that makes it easy to combine analog and digital audio sources, the Studio Bridge creates an easy-to-use solution for mix summing. Recording sessions that have been tracked directly to a DAW can be output from the software through an analog console and the outboard gear that goes along with it, summed, and then recorded back to the DAW or to the Studio Bridge's internal SD card. Summing can also be performed from tape or anything tracked to the internal recorder of the Studio Bridge.
To help make interfacing between the analog and digital domains as seamless as possible, the Studio Bridge has an internal 1/4-inch audio click out to assist with timing operations. Further, the Studio Bridge has its own DAW transport control feature for Record, Play, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind. Equally important, the Studio Bridge has its own tactile track arm buttons to arm / disarm individual tracks as well as to Punch In/Out on the user's DAW of choice. Record Ready is also supported via HUI (Human User Interface) and MCU (Mackie Control Universal).
Rounding out the unit's rich feature set, the Studio Bridge includes a built-in metronome with click output — making it easy to keep live performers in line with the already captured tracks. There is also Dual Footswitch control for assigning different control functions to multiple foot switches. Additionally, users will appreciate the ability to use the Control app (available for both Mac and Windows) that facilitates visually monitoring various signals, adjusting their Peak Hold time, and other similar functions.
“The Studio Bridge enables a wide range of existing 8-bus or more analog mixing consoles to make the transition to a 24-track digital multitrack recording studio. Now, with a computer, DAW software, the Studio Bridge, and an external mic preamp, users can have a compact and very capable recording setup. Best of all, this potent and very versatile studio tool can be rack mounted to conserve space. I'm confident that a wide range of musicians and recording professionals will find much to like,” says Tascam Product Specialist, Sean Daily.
www.tascam.com
