I hate to sound cliché here, but your tracking/routing choices will need to match your own philosophies.
Using the
DIRECT method will work just fine. Basically, if you go this route, it would be similar to how you would have done it through an analog board. Your mic/line signal comes in, goes through your assigned input DM channel, gets effected by the channel's fader movements and effects, then goes out the TDIF cables to the MX. It's very important to watch your signal levels here, for example, trying to turn down an overloaded preamp using the fader. Bad. But, I believe the direct method can be useful for
some things that might need a hair of comp or a touch of EQ before being printed. Just remember, once it's on there, (effects/fader movements) you can't take it away!
Personally, I am a big proponent of the
INPUT BYPASS method. This would probably be the best way to go here to ensure your original tracks are truly the original sounds as recorded. If you go this route, your mic/line inputs are split. One set goes untouched to your TDIFs and on to your MX, while the other set goes to your channel faders and typically out your STEREO Buss and/or your AUX 1-2 via your Assign sends. This way is really useful because now you have a set of inputs being routed straight from your preamps to your TDIF cables and the other to your DM channels for mixing on the fly for latency free monitoring and headphone cues.
As for mixing, (post tracking) I've got to refer you to the
SOURCE INVERT function. Since you said that you have the MX returns on 17-24 (which will work, of course), you may not realize that you are using up channels that you could be using for something else. But first, an explanation. Go To ALT/ROUTING/Input tab. Look at channels 1-16. You probably have M/L set as the input for 1-16, which would be correct (normally). But what about the space below that for each channel? Where it says RTN? Try setting that to TDIF 1 (for channels 1-8) and TDIF2 (for 9-16) and TDIF3 (for 17-24). Now, when you are done tracking to your MX, go back to this input page and move the curser down to
source invert and press enter. CHs 1-8 will now be using TDIF1 (your MX return output signal) as an input source for those channels. Do it again for 9-16. If you had another TDIF cable, you could use that as well for channels 17-24. Now, you can mix your tracks using the DM utilizing the internal effects, internal automation, and routing to bring it all down to two stereo channels, which will have to be recorded somewhere else. Like a
TASCAM DA 3000. AND, 17-24 could now be used for something else when tracking, like external preamps or digital gear inputs. 33-48 is great for ASSN returns-like from a patch bay-, ADAT ins, and effect returns etc., all of which can be sent out on your TDIF cables.
