I may be able to grab a clean 32-channel Tascam M3700 console cheap and I'm seeking opinions on 'em--EQ and noise floor and how they do when the gain gets cranked...I'll know more when I go check it out but haven't found much on them just Googling around. Seems like they're solid boards but have an unbalanced RCA tape section that requires card kits with Dsubs for balancing (not included with this one).

Right now I'm using a Studiomaster Classic 8 24-channel split console...it's a somewhat quirky board and kind of oddly laid out; I don't like the limited channel auxes and the whole thing is a bit noisy but the channel gain is pretty crankable, pres OK enough for extra channels during tracking, the split section is nice and flexible, and the EQs other than being limited are perfectly usable; the board's not bad for what it is but...

I'm wondering if there are any opinions here whether the Tascam is a worthwhile console either in addition to or in place of the Studiomaster...if you've used either or both I'd appreciate your thoughts.

BTW no computers for me, I do intend to mix through it, and though I mostly track with outboard mic pres straight to RME converters->Alesis HD24, I will of course be monitoring through it and mixing headphones with it during tracking as well.

thanks!

Dammit, someone answer him! I want to know too.

Well...having the console that " replaced" the 3500/3700 series..( M-2600mkII), I worked on/used a 3500 when they were new. Sounded good at that time.Even tho the EQ center points are changed on the M-2600's,the 3500/3700 were decent enough. The board actually sold new for about $12000-$15000..FWIW..Wendy and Lisa ( from the Prince period, used this console and seemed to like it very much at that time..I'm amazed you can find the M-2600s for $500-$600 dollars now tho'... ....Good luck Dirty..

There's a M3500 on Ebay going for $1300 now. It's pick up only in Florida.

Yeah, regarding the price I've seen posts on TapeOp (I think) that suggested the new price on the 3700s was as much as 22k! That might have been with the balancing kit though, I dunno. As far as I can tell these boards are fethcing 1500-2000 but I may be able to get one supposedly clean and well maintained out of a church for less that that, but no balancing kit...I'm waiting to hear back from my cohort who hipped me to it, as to how it tests out...

I'm getting the impression that it's kind of a vanilla, but solid, well-built console that can be had for cheep due to lack of personality. I've got lots of outboard personality so that might not be a bad thing!

If it worked out I'm thinking I'd try to keep the Studiomaster around as a "character" piece, since it can do the warm fat crunchy thing and can be configured for a bazillion line-ins. Might be nice to have both split and inline consoles around.

I'll certainly share whatever else I learn about it--and of course any more thoughts/info is appreciated

I use one in my studio, wired up to a bunch of DA38's. Reasonably pleased with it, EQ gets less than stellar reviews from most quarters, but I don't know any better. I once hacked an ini file to get the midi to drive the faders in Cubase SX, only worked for the 1st 24 channels for some reason. By the time I got it working, I forgot why I was doing it. Mute & fader only for this early midi implementation, no Pan (!) or EQ, and no actual automation; you will wait a long time waiting for these faders to move.

I used to work on one of these and my main gripe was the lack of headroom.