I'm thinking about buying a Model 24. One feature I'd very much like is the ability to swap a pair of (mon0) tracks (or just copy a recorded track to another). This seems to exist on the Model 12, but is not mentioned in the Model 24 manual. I asked Tascam and they said It is not possible to track swap on either the Model 16 or 24 as they are analog devices wheras the Model 12 is a digital device Which sounds like an odd reply: surely the Model 16 & 24 are just as digital as the Model 12 is? However the manuals do seem to agree: the Model 12 manual mentions swapping tracks in chapter 7 ('Track editing') while neither the 16's nor 24's do. So: is it really not possible to do this on anything but the 12? That's a shame if so, because I'd really like the longer faders, and although I could live with the Model 16 other than the faders, the Model 12 really doesn't have enough inputs. Thanks
The only thing digital about the Model 24 & Model 16 front-of-house mixers is the onboard 22-track multi-track recorder and the 2-track stereo recorder of the Model 24 (or 14 & 2 for the Model 16). The Model 12 is 100% digital. Don't own one of these, but I would think you'd be able to export and import the .wav files on the Model 24/16 SD card. What's the owner manual say about that? The "Bounce Tracks" post in the "Tutorial and Informational Videos For Model 24/16/12" sticky thread may be another option.
Track Swap is nothing more than renaming source and destination tracks. It's beyond me why that option hasn't been made available on the Model 16 and 24, they share similar multitrack recorder and file organization with the Model 12. With the Model in storage mode, or inserting the SD card in a pc, the recorded tracks inside a folder project can be "swapped" by swapping their filenames.
I hadn't realised that the Model 12 was more digital than the 16 & 24: I'd assumed it was just smaller. I'm sure it's possible to swap (or just copy) tracks by renaming or copying files (the Model 24 manual certainly talks about being able to export & import files, so this is possible even if indirectly): what I was after was a way of doing that from the desk itself rather than having to have a laptop glued to it. It looks like this isn't possible then, which is annoying given that the recorder is digital even if the rest of the thing is analogue.
@Tim Bradshaw Given the rich track count, average dawless workflow on Model 16/24 wouldn't need much frequent track swap and when needed, if at all, it could be done in the ways mentioned (also with just a smartphone and a card reader unit). Unless the workflow involves recording only from channels 1 & 2 in order to make use of inserts and methodically swap tracks 1-2 with empty ones. Take in account that the Model series are less powerful than the Portastudio by design as they are just front-of-house mixers with recording capability. Sometimes it's a limit, other times it can be a blessing for new creative ideas.
@Max Relic Yes, what I wanted to be able to do really, is use the thing as a traditional 'split' console where I'd use a bunch of channels for recording and a different bunch of channels for 'tape monitoring'. The Model 24 has enough channels that you could dedicate 8 of them to tape monitoring. It looks like that's not really possible though. Yes, you're right about the split between Portastudio and these things. But I really want both a full physical channel strip per channel and long faders (and no computer involved in the process as far as possible), and as far as I can see the Model 24 is the only system in the world which offers that at anything like the price. I am probably unusual in what I want, I realise! Pretty sure I will just buy a Model 24 and live with its limitation (inline consoles are more fashionable anyway, though I always hated them).
Wouldn't it be for the lack of MIDI sync I'd have jumped on the Model 24 instead of 12 because of the larger topology, more tracks, independent control room fader and not least long throw faders. IMO if you don't plan to do many recursive bounce/overdub in a project you should feel at home with the 24, and with the little swap gimmicks described above you should go a long way without even thinking to reach the pc.
