Tascam DM-4800 Digital Mixer User Reviews at zZounds

"The Best Value for a Digital Mixer" submitted December 22, 2008

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Sound: It has a very open and polished sound. It is great for fine tuning and crafting complex mixes. It easily interfaces with my sequencer software and the firewire card works flawlessly. My mixes are sounding better than ever. Feature: The onboard TC reverbs sound beautiful and can be tweaked to fit specific mixes. The firewire card is great! 32 ins and outs to my DAW. The remote layer allows 24 faders linked to the virtual faders in my DAW. The compressors sound very good. I'm not sure why one of the other reviewers was complaining about distortion. To me the comps sound punchy and clear. (If set properly) The routing capabilities are quite staggering once you figure out how to assign them. I wish there was an input for typing in names. The text entry is a bit awkward. Ease of Use: For me, it was pretty hard to figure out. The user interface is not very intuitive. Once you get it, things become easier. The manual is O.K. but the product is so deep, I think it is hard to explain everything. Some sort of video or tutorial would be helpful. Quality: The mixer seems very well made. Solid construction and good quality faders and knobs. Very pretty looking too. Value: The value is undeniable. No other digital mixer even comes close. At twice the price, the Yamaha 02R doesn't have touch sensitive faders. This thing is a bargain. Manufacturer Support: I haven't needed support. The Wow Factor: It is a real beauty. It makes my studio look more "pro". It has taken my mixes to a whole new level. Overall: I wish it had 76 channels. I wish all of the channels were full-featured. That being said, it is really working well for me. The 96k capability and firewire card give it long legs to stand on. I don't anticipate needing to upgrade for a while.

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"All in all for the money it is a great console, but if it were any more money it almost be incomparable to the Mackie TT-24 or t" submitted August 25, 2009

By a customer from rsmsound.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Live Engineer

Music Style: all genres but prefer rock

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Sound: For a lower end console the sound is amazing. I ran mine side by side against a Digico D5 and the sound quality was almost as good. I can't say it was just as good because it wasn't, but it was very very comparable. But for $70,000 cheaper it kept up pretty good. Feature: There are a few things I wish it had. Light sockets, automated gain controls, 30 or 31 band geq's on the outputs. Yamaha's virtual rack is what puts this console to shame. Ease of Use: It is very simple to navigate. I have worked with some techs on it and by the end of the show they are pretty comfortable with it. Quality: So far so good. I have it in the truck all the time and use it about every weekend and have had little to no problems with it. I even spilled a beer on it by accident once and it was a little termpermental for a while but the show the next day it worked perfect again. I anticipate it will last for quite some time. Value: For what you get it is well worth the money. Manufacturer Support: Tascam support is great. The Wow Factor: It is not bad looking. I would ditch the wood, put a touch screen on it and put a meter bridge on the unit itself Overall: The lack of certain key things will decide that. The Virtual rack, computer interface, extra monitor port, more auxes, matrix mixing, and few other things that the Yamaha LS9 has would make the Tascam a more desired live console.

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"WOW! I think Tascam has finally killed the analog console...Sorry Soundcraft!" submitted December 15, 2006

By a customer from sbcglobal.net

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Musical Background: active musician/engineer/studio owner

Music Style: you name it

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Sound: Awesome! Feature: One can't begin to describe the flexibility of this console in a simple review. This is the digital console that I was waiting for...it was worth the wait. P.S The manual sucks! Ease of Use: Once you learn it, the console is remarkably intuitive. However, the manual is written poorly. Quality: Just great! Value: Best value on the market. Manufacturer Support: The folks at Tascam are just too damn busy...your best bet is the user forum. The Wow Factor: Just look at the pictures...this thing is beautiful! Overall: It will take several months just to realize the potential control, etc. of this console...I see it lasting me quite a long time. I would replace it with an identical console with 32 mic pre-amps, or I may just buy another DM-4800 and cascade two of them.

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"An excellent console except... THE COMPRESSION SUCKS!!!!!!!!" submitted June 8, 2008

By a customer from G2sound.com

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Musical Background: Pro

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Sound: The mic pres are OK... rather transparent, but headroom is a bit tight. Also, don't even THINK about using the dynamics, the compression algorithm causes a severe distortion. TASCAM should really be ashamed of putting out a "pro" product with such a marked and easily fixable flaw!! Feature: For the price, the features are right up there with the Yamaha DM2K (at roughly 4x the list price of the TASCAM). They actually did the routing a bit better than Yamaha... can send ANY input to ANY output via just about any signal path... Yamaha could take a lesson! Ease of Use: If you've used one digital console... actually, the menus on this console are very easy to navigate. Quality: It's very pretty!! However, it loses points for the CRAPPY COMPRESSORS!!!! Value: At $5000, this console is a bargain... even with the BIG PROBLEM WITH THE COMPRESSION ALGORITHM!!!! (i put this in caps so that maybe TASCAM will take heed and fix this problem). Aside from this one problem, this console is rock solid. I own three of them and two of the DM3200's and have used them for two seasons to record "The Biggest Loser", "Beauty and the Geek" and numerous other reality shows. No problems, crashes, etc... aside from the VERY BAD COMPRESSION!!!!! Manufacturer Support: I have always had good experiences with phone support from TASCAM. The Wow Factor: Probably the best looking console in the "under $20,000" catagory.

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"You have beans in your ears if you can't get great results with this console." submitted January 15, 2009

By a customer from gmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Recording Engineer, Producer, Musician

Music Style: Alternative Rock

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Sound: The DM 4800 is quite a clean competent sounding console. The effects are of a very good standard, especially the reverb. Mic Pre's are a little light on headroom but make up it in clarity and depth. It's not as brittle sounding as the Yamaha Gear. Feature: The routing options on this console are extremely flexible, Automation and DAW control are seamless if you know what you are doing. And the firewire interfacing is rock solid. You couldn't ask for more at this price point Ease of Use: Getting everything just right can be a bit fiddly but once it's there it's great. The Manual makes a great loo paper substitute so there is a bit of a learning curve initially but a bit of playing around and a few forums later it all falls into place. Quality: Considering the price, Quality has not suffered at all. It's not amazingly well constructed but it's pretty darn good for the dollars. Value: It is without a doubt the best value in it's class.Why would you spend four time as much for a comparable unit. Manufacturer Support: I have not had to call Tascam yet so I can't comment. The Wow Factor: I would have no hesitation buying another one if this one was stolen or damaged beyond repair. Clients love it for it's looks and sound. I love it for it's functionality, sound and beauty. Overall: This console will never be sold. I may upgrade in about 5 years but it will still get use in the studio or for live work. I love the way it makes you think about your work flow and the way you mix. And I love the results. I think it makes a great DAW controller too. I use my outboard gear in conjunction with the desk daily and find the results most pleasing.

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"I have used this mixer both for live and recording at the same time.. Shocking! way too easy!" submitted June 28, 2008

By a customer from gmail.com

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Features

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Musical Background: small to medium/large format mixing engineer hobbyist on sound steroids

Music Style: praise! smooth jazz/ new age / contemporary

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Sound: Sound is great! Clean crisp.. Feature: Loaded with features, I also have the firewire card, works great! I dont know what this other person has a problem with and why he cant make anything work... Ease of Use: True digital mixer, everything is controllable.. Quality: extremely solid construction, gain knobs seem a little flimsy, but I have noticed that on just about every newer digital mixer I have touched.. Value: Great value Manufacturer Support: Support is good because you can get through, but when it comes to pc related problem, working with the mixer, forget it... I ended up fixing it by reinstalling windows.. Cant blame them for that one.. The Wow Factor: I had loads of compliments when I showed up with this bad boy at church.. oh ya, we had a gathering around the back where the mixer and I were located.. People really like to look at this mixer, its appearance states, no nonsense. Overall: This is a fantastic live mixer, and it can be used for live and recording simultainiously much easier than I thought... This mixer puts a spot light on the serious draw backs and problems on the mackie tt series new digital mixers that makes one want to run as fast as possible... to the tascam of course..

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"Live or recording, it fits like a glove" submitted November 15, 2007

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: 10 years as a Keyboard player, sound specialist, five years as a Recording engineer.

Music Style: Rock, Raggae

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Sound: It's a live monster. Just as good as the top line Yamaha live digital mixer that costs over ten times more. Feature: Mackie makes a bit better live mike amp. Ease of Use: It's the easiest I have used. The manual can confuse you; if you have used a digital board before, you may not need the manual; it's pretty straighfoward. Quality: It's a beautiful piece of equiptment. Value: The price beats all on the market today. Manufacturer Support: When I did reach them, they were very friendly and knowledgable but it took me two days od calling before I could talk to someone. The Wow Factor: My 10 year old daughter says we should show it off in our living room. Overall: It lacks some of the gadgets and plugins of the Yamaha DM2000 but it's quite computer friendly. I have used world class boards that has more features but the professional may need no more than the TasDM4800. At that price, this board cannot be replaced.

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"AWSOME MIXER" submitted January 2, 2007

By a customer from aol.com

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Musical Background: Recording Engineer, Band director, Producer

Music Style: Techno, R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock

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Sound: it sounds awsome. the best digital mixer i have ever used. Forget about buying a Souncraft mixer then a interferince. this mixer is better than most expensive ones. Feature: The thing i like the most about this mixer is if you have diffrent recording needs i.e. you have a drummer and a guitar, then a vocalist you can hit one button and the mixer moves all the channel to a preset number. This mixer works... well it is awsome! Ease of Use: after a couple of days of learning how to use it, it is very easy to use. Quality: very high quality Overall: very good mixer

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"Easily the Best in it's class!" submitted February 8, 2009

By a customer from Hotmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Recording engineer and musician

Music Style: Indie

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Sound: Considering this is an all digital console the sound is great. Not at all brittle like most. Feature: For the money this thing has an amazing feature set and remarkable flexibility. Ease of Use: Better spend some time nutting it out coz the manual is just shocking. Quality: In it's price range nothing even comes close! Value: You simply won't find better value anywhere. Manufacturer Support: The guys at Tascam are just way too busy. Maybe if they did a descent job of the manual people would not be constantly calling tech support to figure out basic problems. The Wow Factor: It is a beautiful piece of kit and oozes sex appeal. Overall: I'll be hanging onto this console till the day I die.

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"It's like a perfect, gorgeous girl you've been dating for months, and you just discovered she killed her last bf." submitted October 4, 2010

By a customer from me.com

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Musical Background: Pro Audio Engineer

Music Style: I'm an unbiased engineer

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Sound: The sound coming from this machine is very nice, clear, and huge head room. Until you start adding compression and the effects. I normally am a huge fan of T.C. effects, but no matter what i do I just don't like the sound of the onboard stuff. Feature: The only reason it's not a ten is for two things, one, you can't add master EQ to the L/R output and 2. there is no way to lock out certain functions to stop less experienced users from accessing different things. other than that, it is a sweet bored! Ease of Use: It takes a lot of reading, playing, and watching videos, to get comfortable with this baby, but once your there you fly through the functions. and it is a pretty sweet drive! Quality: So the big downer is that my bored has spent more time in the shop then in my venue. I baught it bran new, and after 2 months an adio card died, and I didn't see it for 4 months. then the preamps quite passing audio, so it's in the shop again, just really faulty in my mind. the recall functions are sometimes kind of glitchy, and I've had faders move for know reason. (one started creeping up in the middle of a show!) i dunno, I like the bored, so it's a shame all this has happened. Value: It's a fine bored with glitches, and it's priced that way I guess? but with all the other other choices in this price range, i'd go for one of them, they all offer the same stuff, just not so inconsistent. I have used several others that DON'T have these problems. Manufacturer Support: Same answer every time, run the factory reset and if it doesn't work, send in for repair. and the factory reset never works! The Wow Factor: Way better options, especially now. Overall: I'm already looking for a replacement. Unless Tascam comes through for me, but I doubt it.

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"Tascam should do better than this." submitted April 16, 2008

By a customer from emeasures.com

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Sound: My O2R sounded better. Manufacturer Support: While I may have kept this console even with its problems. . One call to tech support sealed the deal. It is now for sale and I do NOT recommend anyone purchase it. Especially with the excessively poor docs and arrogant miserable tech support people. At this point the firewire implemenation is not functional.

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