Tascam FW1884 Firewire Controller

Tascam FW1884 Firewire Controller Review

Tascam FW1884 Firewire Controller Feature

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Co-designed by Tascam and Frontier Design Group, the Tascam FW1884 professional DAW control surface and audio/MIDI interface provides comprehensive mixing, automation, editing and navigation tools for your studio recording. It offers audio and MIDI interfacing to computers as well as control of DAW parameters via eight 100mm motorized touch-sensitive channel faders, one master fader, and controls for pan, solo, mute and select functions on each channel. Tactile control for four bands of parametric EQ, a jog/shuttle wheel and a variety of shortcut keys for various popular software applications are also included.

Comprehensive mixing, automation, editing and navigation tools for DAWs (see larger image).

Tactile control for four bands of parametric EQ, a jog/shuttle wheel and a variety of shortcut keys for various popular software applications (see larger image).

See larger image of the back ports.

In addition to its surface control capabilities, the FW-1884 provides eight balanced XLR analog mic/line inputs with high quality mic preamps, phantom power and inserts on every channel. The mic input circuit uses a hybrid design combining the best of discrete and IC-based circuitry for 54dB of gain, wide dynamic range and natural response. The mic inputs have phantom power assignable in groups of four and include an analog insert on each channel for inserting outboard signal processing.

Using 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters, the FW-1884 offers full 96kHz operation on all analog I/O channels with compatible DAW software. In addition to its two FireWire (IEEE 1394) computer interfaces, the FW-1884 gives you eight channels of ADAT lightpipe as well as stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs. Perfectly suited to multi-channel surround production as well as standard stereo mixing, the FW-1884 provides eight analog outputs for simultaneous connection to L/R and 5.1 surround matrices.

Four MIDI inputs and four MIDI outputs on the FW-1884 allow you to connect with a wide variety of MIDI sound generation and timing tools. Its Word Clock in and out jacks allow computer systems to maintain accurate clock synchronization in digital recording environments. Also, its assignable footswitch jack can be used for tasks such as hands-free punching or MIDI control.

In use, the FW-1884 allows up to 18 audio inputs to be accessed at once. As a DAW controller, the FW-1884 is compatible with a wide variety of popular applications including MOTU Digital Performer, Emagic Logic, Steinberg Cubase SX, Steinberg Nuendo, and Cakewalk Sonar. By emulation of HUI and Mackie Control, the FW-1884 can be used as a comprehensive control surface for DAW applications that support those protocols such as Digidesign Pro Tools and more.

Key Features

• Comprehensive mixing, automation, editing and navigation tools for DAWs
• Eight 100mm motorized touch-sensitive channel faders, one motorized touch-sensitive master fader
• Dedicated controls for pan, solo, mute and select functions on each channel; tactile control for four bands of parametric EQ
• Shortcut keys for various popular audio software applications
• Eight balanced XLR analog mic/line inputs with high quality mic preamps
• Phantom power and inserts on every channel
• 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters; full 96kHz operation on all analog I/O channels with compatible DAW software
• Eight channels of ADAT lightpipe, stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs.
• Eight analog outputs, allowing connection of L/R and 5.1 surround matrices
• Dedicated headphone output
• Four MIDI inputs, four MIDI outputs
• Word Clock in and out jacks
• Assignable footswitch jack
• Up to 18 simultaneous inputs
• Compatible with a wide variety of popular DAW applications
• Operates as a standalone 18x2 line mixer without a computer.
• FE-8 (eight-channel sidecar) expands FW-1884 with eight additional channel control strips up to 128 channels (15 FE-8s).
• SoftLCD application simulates a "scribble strip" by displaying what each channel is controlling
• Includes Cubase LE 48-track/96kHz recording and mixing software
• Compatible with MOTU Digital Performer, Apple Logic, Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo, and Cakewalk Sonar. Control surface compatible with Digidesign Pro Tools.
• Dimensions: 22.9 x 5.4 x 18.9 inches (WxHxD)
• Weight: 22.7 pounds
• Compatible with the latest Intel Macs

Software Support
The Tascam FW-1884 supports the following applications as a control surface:

• Ableton Live 6.04 and higher
• Cubase 3.02 and higher
• Nuendo 3.02 and higher
• SONAR 5
• Logic Pro
• Final Cut Pro
• Digital Performer 5 and higher

COMPREHENSIVE MIXING AUTOMATION EDITING & NAVIGATION TOOLS FOR DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS EIGHT 100MM MOTORIZED TOUCH-SENSITIVE CHANNEL FADERS & 1 MOTORIZED TOUCH-SENSITIVE MASTER FADER DEDICATED CONTROLS FOR PAN SOLO MUTE & SELECT FUNCTIONS ON EACH CHANNEL TACTILE CONTROL FOR 4 BANDS OF PARAMETRIC EQ 8 BALANCED XLR ANALOG MICROPHONE/LINE INPUTS WITH HIGH QUALITY MICROPHONE PREAMPS PHANTOM POWER AND INSERTS ON EVERY CHANNEL 24-BIT/96 KHZ A/D & D/A CONVERTERS 8 CHANNELS OF ADAT LIGHTPIPE STEREO S/PDIF INPUTS & OUTPUTS 8 ANALOG OUTPUTS ALLOWING CONNECTION OF L/R & 5.1 SURROUND MATRICES DEDICATED HEADPHONE OUTPUT 4 MIDI INPUTS & OUTPUTS WORD CLOCK IN & OUT JACKS ASSIGNABLE FOOT SWITCH JACK UP TO 18 SIMULTANEOUS INPUTS OPERATES AS A STANDALONE 18 X 2 LINE MIXER WITHOUT A COMPUTER INCLUDES CUBASE LE 48-TRACK/96 KHZ RECORDING & MIXING SOFTWARE & GIGASTUDIO 3 LE 64-VOICE STREAMING SOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH MOST AUDIO-EDITING SOFTWAREDIMENSIONS: 5.4"H X 22.9"W X 18.9"D WEIGHT: 22.7 LBS