TASCAM FW1884 DAW Controller/Audio/MIDI Interface
Includes Cubase LE. Comprehensive mixing, automation, editing and navigation tools for DAWs.
Overall User Ratings (based on 148 ratings)
Submitted August 19, 2005 by a customer from aol.com
"Exceeded my expectations"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've been looking for an all-in-one mixer/HUI with motorized faders for quite some time. After seeing the FW-1884, I knew, especially for the price, that I would most likely go with it. Since no other brands stepped up with another low-cost alternative, I finally purchased one, and I am definitely not disappointed. The FW-1884 is going to give Digidesign a run for their money.
Sound
Sound quality is very good. Mic pres are clear. Added a ton of sonic improvement over my Audigy 2 :-D
Features
So many things in one package- an all in one mixer/HUI. SoftLCD makes up for the lack of scribble strips. Faders are long and very smooth- makes for precise movement. Motorization is VERY smooth. I even have the latency extremely low without dropouts (2.7 ms.) Granted, for my general use I don't use many effects or simultaneous tracks, although I'll be testing that soon.
Quality
Very sturdy. Haven't lugged it around yet so I can't comment any more on that.
Value
Especially with the current rebate, this item is an absolute steal over the Digi002.
The Wow Factor
After getting tired of using my internal soundcard (Sound Blaster Audigy 2), the FW-1884 simply seemed like the right choice. The price has to be the most attractive feature of this product.
Musical Background:
Professional Pianist/Recording Engineer/Computer Musician
Musical Style:
Classical, Contemporary, Showtunes
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Submitted October 6, 2007 by a customer from deta.qld.gov.au
"Tascam's All In One Studio Solution"
I don't want for anything else. Okay...maybe an Argossy desk to house it...and the expanders (though I don't really need them.) I have a Behringer ADA 8000 ($400) attached to it from my booth via ADAT i/o. This replaces the need for an expensive analogue cabling setup between rooms and of course means I can convert to digital early on in the chain, without having to travel through analogue cabling, which is so prone to RF interference. The ADA 8000 as an add on is a must actually. The Fw 1884 can even route its outs to the ADAT outs so I can send separate headphone mixes through the lightpipe via the ADA 8000 to a Behringer headphone distribution box. Tips: When mixing set the thing to computer control for full flying faders. When tracking, set the control to Monmix/Both, so that you can record with zero latency (Tascam has thought of everything.) The Tascam 1884 really is the ultimate digital studio solution. It's the best piece of studio kit I have ever bought. If you don't want the surround features and flying faders and want a perfect solution to just sit away in your rack, the Fw 1804 is even more of a bargain!!!
Sound
A very clean sound...not at all "fluffy" sounding, which you get with cheap preamps.
Features
Brilliant. A perfect design. Plenty of Audio i/o, bass/guitar inputs, MIDI i/o,smooth motorized faders, a pro feeling jog shuttle wheel, ADAT and wordclock, and SPDIF. It works beautifully with Logic Pro. And it's expandable with the Fe8s. I wish it had a talkback system built in, though it's simple to set oneup and I also wish it had a SMPTE IN (just in case I ever have to slave off a video.)
Ease of Use
It works beautifully with Logic and it is intuitive in use. The manual is well written too, though I found it hard to understand the "programming section." It would be good to be able to tweak plug-ins more easily, though I guess I could just use Logic's "learn automation" feature.
Quality
It is solidly made...it certainly feels so....though I wouldn't like to take it out on the road. Ideal for studio--only use.
Value
Remarkably well priced for what you get. Basically replaces audio interface, midi interface, surround matrix even analogue cabling with ADAT and SPDIF i/o.
Manufacturer Support
The website has all the drivers, manuals, etc you will ever need. It is supported by Logic Pro to run natively. Haven't had to deal with Tascam directly, so can't comment on that side of things.
The Wow Factor
I think it looks great. I think it looks very professional ...especially with the Fe8s. Check out these picks. www.argosyconsole.com/fw1884.htm Sexy!!!!
Musical Background:
pro composer/educator
Musical Style:
Classical and Rock
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Submitted January 4, 2004 by a customer from gingerroot.com
"Killer Product now that new drivers are out!!!"
I will use this happily for a very long time. I already expanded it with a Behringer ADA8000, to add 8 more XLR/TRS inputs via the ADAT input. Together, that's 16 analog inputs direct to the computer. I doubt many people in the small studio game would need more than that at a time.
Sound
Sounds just fine as expected. The pre-amps won't replace your tube pre's, but you wouldn't expect that.
Features
It's got so much! Just look at the list. If it's what you need, you'll know. Comparing similar gear, this was the clear choice for me.
Quality
Seems solid.
Value
Look at the features - there's heaps packed in here, and it was the obvious choice for me. Maybe not for everyone. There are other items in the same price range that have other features, but this one really shines in the amount of inputs. The integration with software, at least Sonar, in my experience, is great.
Manufacturer Support
Tascam support pretty much stinks on this. The software was done by Frontier Designs, not Tascam, and I couldn't get anybody on the phone at Tascam who knew anything beyond the manual for the FW-1884.
The Wow Factor
The choice of features are great, including the full size motorized faders, which have great appeal. It's very comfortable to use and looks great. I just wish it was a little smaller and more portable.
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Submitted August 17, 2007 by a customer from earthlink.net
"Excellent value, very flexible I/O, SOUNDS GREAT"
for an everyday multitrack workhorse to yoke your DAW to, this is the ticket.
HOWEVER...
support and software need fixing. LET'S GO TASCAM!
Sound
It sounds excellent if you do your part.
Features
I bought this because it has a ridiculous number of I/O options and I love my old Tascam tape gear. It has three uses: mixer, DAW control and midi controller. And lots of combinations thereof.
As a control surface, it is awesome. Big transport buttons, easy to read controls. Lots of faders, expandable.
Ease of Use
It does what a lot of other units do, but it's very easy to get around. The tradeoff is a big footprint, so you need some room. But if you have room, it rocks.
Quality
Nothing broken yet. Their old gear is bulletproof, this seems to be too.
Value
very much so, for the i/o alone: S/PDIF, ADAT, multichannel analog via 1/4" jacks. The item most likely to fit with what you already have!
Manufacturer Support
Lousy, I called once. Software support too. Cubase LE (that ships with this unit) crashes with some regularity. The driver for my Apogee Rosetta does not get along with the Tascam driver for the 1884 (or is it the other way around?), so I am stuck with the Tascam converters.
Which don't sound bad at all.
The Wow Factor
It looks like it got hit by the ugly stick. But I still love it.
Musical Background:
active musician, pro/hobby recording, podcasting, analog transfer, blah blah blah
Musical Style:
sloppy
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Submitted January 27, 2006 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Great Features, Great Price, Questionable Workmanship, Non-Existant Support"
Even with its inherant problems, there is nothing like it available anywhere for the price. This is it. And while Tascam may not understand the basics of support and decided to build in weaknesses (that can be worked around by a competant electrician for a few dollars and a case of beer) I am still impressed by the machine.
Sound
It pretty much keeps up with what I am doing until I us Rewire clients (excepting Reason, which works quite well with it) or use Fruity Loops. Then it gets grainy and pops no matter how high I set the latency. Of course, I am talking about 20 plus tracks in Cubase and another 20 intruments in FL running multiple tracks. So I do tend to push the ability a bit.
Features
Scribble strips, why not. Sure the SoftLCD is cool, but I am sticking tape all over the mixer anyway.
Quality
OK, how hard or expensive would it have been to include a protection circuit at the input. The pre-amps WILL blow out if you hot plug. Now, we all know that hot plugging is bad, but for an extra buck per unit they could have installed some sort of protection for the inexperienced or unlucky. I was working with a friend of mine one day and left him alone with it for a couple hours and when I came back inputs 4,7 and 8 were dead (and now my friend is...he he ;).
Mine also has hiccups. Sometimes indicator lights work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes a control will do what it is supposed to do and other times it will become just a useless button.
Value
There is nothing on the market for this price that does what it will do, even if it sometimes doesn't do it very well.
But...I bought mine used for a VERY good price (if I told you how very good you would have to kill me).
Manufacturer Support
Support?
The Wow Factor
Shop around, you won't find a better unit for the money.
Musical Background:
Trying to go pro
Musical Style:
I write everything I think will sell
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Submitted December 7, 2003 by a customer from dumbfungus.com
"Go Pro - Start using this, DAW software, and a computer."
As I said above, I do plan to expand this configuration. I do not however see myself "jumping ship" on this control surface anytime soon - it's just that cool.
There are other control surfaces out there (Makie, MotorMix, Radikal) but this thing is also an audio interface.
This unit makes it easy to create music with your computer. I am coming off using a Roland VS 1880, and that is a great product but the automation is lacking because the faders do not "fly", you can not export the files as WAV files, and editing on a little LCD is kind of a pain.
I would buy it again if it were stolen (only if I couldn't find the guy who stole my first one).
Sound
The sound quality is great. I would give it at 10, but lets face it - I didn't pay for a Neve, and I didn't get a Neve:)
Features
The person who wants LCD meters probably isn't using this where it really shines...as a control surface for a DAW. All DAW software have on screen meters.
Quality
I would give it a 10 but I've only had it a little over a month. It feels rock solid, all the knobs have a "sturdy" feel, and the feel of the jog/shuttle wheel is top-notch.
Also, it has no fan - can you say quiet!
Value
I had to give it a 10, because combining this with Sonar 3.0, and a DAW computer that I built myself, has given me the studio that I've always wanted.
If you do decide to go this route, do yourself a favor and stick with a PC (or Mac) that is designed and set up for pro audio, and not a gaming machine. I built mine around an Intel 865PERL motherboard and I couldn't be happier.
Manufacturer Support
I don't know about real-time tech support, because I have never had to deal with them. I've only owned the thing a little over a month now, and I have had no problems, but Tascam does not have a user forum pertaining to this product, and that will not work well for some people.
The Wow Factor
I may not quite have the sex appeal of the Digi 002, but it can be expanded in groups of 8 (something I'll be doing for sure) and it works with many different DAW applications.
Musical Style:
Roots Rock, Americana
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Submitted December 14, 2009 by a customer from mac.com
"Not working with my new Mac Pro/10.6"
have to give it a lower score here because of the slow driver updates and because it stopped working altogether with my Mac Pro.
Sound
Pre-amps sound good and are quiet. Balanced out was key for me. I like the overall sound a lot.
Features
Great features and integration with logic and Final Cut Pro.
Ease of Use
Very easy to get started. Unless you own a new Mac Pro. It doesn't work with my new Mac Pro Quad i7 running Snow Leopard. Crashed it hard and support says I am wrong.
Plug it into the Macbook running 10.5 and it fires up no problem.
Plug into the New Mac Pro and the firewire connection won't light up. If you turn it off or unplug the firewire cable while the Mac Pro is running it will crash the computer.
Quality
Seems fine when it's running.
Manufacturer Support
No user board. The only one that is up and running you have to pay to join.
support was prompt in getting back to me but says that I am wrong and that it should run on the new Mac Pro. I am here looking at it right now not running and crashing a Mac Pro I just bought brand new.
The Wow Factor
Gets people all worked up.
Musical Background:
Recording Engineer/Video Editor
Musical Style:
Basic Rock
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Submitted July 23, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Gotta have it!!!"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
In comparison to the Yamaha 01X and the Digi002, the Tascam wins hands down. Very flexible, quality built, funky lack-of support, controls are easy to manuveur(not all crammed together), excellent sound, funky lack-of support, smooth and quiet operation,... did I mention funky lack-of support? I'm sure Tascam will get it together. If they expect to keep selling these things, they'd better!
Sound
Excellent Mic Pre's.
Features
Great expansion. Great interaction with DP4.
Quality
Seems to be design, developed, and manufactured by professional minds.
Value
This device offers so much, it ridiculous.
Manufacturer Support
It's the end of July now, and I just got a response to an e-mail I sent in April. On top of that, it was just an acknowledgement of receipt of the e-mail. No assistance was provided. There is an issue with either/both Mac G5 and Panther 10.3, that Tascam acknowledges but has yet to provide a solution for the last four months. Frontier Designs does not respond either.
The Wow Factor
I would replace it in spite of Tascam's lack of support.
Musical Style:
All styles
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Submitted November 10, 2005
"Good job Tascam"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I will probally use this until........
Sound
It is pretty darn clean, that I can tell. I have no complaints.
Features
Well, I use Sonar 4 Producer, and it works VERY well with it.
It has so many functions, shortcuts to use, and some I don't use.
I do feel now, after useing it for awhile, a scribble strip would come in handy
Quality
Looks great, and seems to be made very well!
Value
Totally worth it.
The Wow Factor
Well its a nice machine. I don't find machines to "sexy"
Musical Background:
Musician, producer, etc.
Musical Style:
Christian rock/heavy rock. and Acoustic
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Submitted May 27, 2004
"Great Value in a swiss-army knife of audio/midi i/o"
Sound
excellent quality, great low-latency, nice updates from tascam on regular basis including the lcd-panel that sits on-screen in software; and great sound.
Features
Can;t beat it for mix of audio i/o, midi i/o, moving faders, and transport controls. Wish list would be a USB port for using a mini-light like I have with my notebook. For us middle aged dudes the little type on dark backing is harder to read in low-light. One downside is no lexan overlays for a specific program, as the mackie control offers...
Quality
strong ...
Value
best value out there ...
Manufacturer Support
they email you back, and they keep updating drivers and features on schedule
The Wow Factor
I bought one
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Submitted May 5, 2004
"Great Unit! It's the only audio interface/control surface with motorized faders made for multiple DAW Software."
Great features, sound quality is crisp and faders are great. Kind of miss scribble strips, but the software readout gets the job done. Very Versatile!
Sound
Sound is very crisp. Mic pres are quiet, and through the digital in you can hook up better tube based pres.
Features
It has everything you could want in a software based studio. Motorized faders, 8 ins and outs, midi, DAW controll, and digital I/O. And its expandable with the tascam FE-8. Is relatively portable also, bring along a laptop with a firewire and youve got an 8 in portable studio with phantom power!
Quality
Mixer is solid and good looking. Transport buttons are big and feel like professional. Faders move smoothly and the jog wheel feels works great.
Value
A good control surface with motorized faders like mackie universal will cost you a grand alone. Good luck trying and find a separate 8in/8out firewire audio interface and control surface for $1300, you wont find em. Add the midi and digital I/O and you have a real bargain.
Manufacturer Support
Tascam tech support guys were not much help with an issue I had with the clock sync. Got it working finally after reading the manual, go figure.
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