If you want to record drums but also need something to set up when your band plays live gigs, you should look into getting a mixing board that doubles as an audio interface.
Having one of these versatile tools will allow you to do so much with your drums and other instruments.
While these things are known to be quite expensive, some options on the market are surprisingly affordable. The TASCAM Model 16 Mixer is one of the affordable options, and we’re going to look over everything that it offers.
We’ll take a deep dive into all its features, and we’ll discuss who this mixer is for.
The TASCAM Model 16 has too many amazing features to count. The biggest one is that it works primarily as a mixer, but it also has a USB audio interface built into it. This makes it an amazingly versatile tool for musicians who want to both gig and record.
You can record and monitor 16 tracks, meaning that you can hook up an entire drum kit with eight mics as well as other instruments at the same time.
It has intuitive EQ settings on the board, and you get a classic analog design that so many musicians have known and loved for years.
You can also record your tracks onto an SD card without the mixer being plugged into a computer. It’s a good way of tracking quick demos with your band.
The quality of the TASCAM Model 16 is fairly good for the price it comes at. There are much better-sounding mixers and interfaces out there, but this one is perfect if you’re not willing to spend a high price on premium options.
The biggest downside would be the sound quality of the preamps. They’re not quite at a professional level. However, most drummers and musicians who have this mixer on their radar won’t actually be worrying about that.
So, the quality is perfect for the target market. The sound editing tools on the board are also very extensive, so you can quite easily dial in good sounds where you need to.
We’d say that the mixer tends to work best in home studios where you can really sit and tweak things with no time restrictions.
The construction quality is admirable. It’s a very well-built mixer for the most part. The only questionable construction aspect is the sliders.
They don’t feel very rigid or durable, meaning they’ll most likely fall off after several gigs with this thing. That’s something to take note of if you plan on using it for live settings.
Other than that, the rest of the mixer feels amazing. It has a lot going on, but you get a feeling that everything will work perfectly for many years after you get it. The material used for the mixer feels very strong.
The mixer also has an old-school vibe to it, thanks to its analog design. This makes it an amazing option for older drummers who are accustomed to analog mixers over digital ones.
An amazing thing about this mixer is that you can plug it into a DAW and do recordings, and then you can use the physical knobs and sliders to tweak sounds. You get a special feeling from doing that as opposed to adjusting digital sliders.
When you monitor microphones through the mixer, you get a good response from all the channels. You also get a good response when recording with the audio interface.
It’s a fairly reliable tool, so you get great performance aspects at all times. As we said earlier, the preamps aren’t out of this world amazing, but they’re decent.
Another thing to note about this mixer is that there are many components to it. The user manual explains everything, but it can take quite a long to understand all the ins and outs.
The price of the TASCAM Model 16 is almost unbeatable. The fact that you get a full mixer, as well as an audio interface in one package, is incredible, and it’s well worth the cost this mixer comes at.
You can get better-sounding mixers and audio interfaces, but most of them will cost a lot more if they come in the same package.
So, this is an excellent option to consider if you’re looking to get the most value from the money you pay.
TASCAM is an incredible audio brand, and they’ve pioneered many of the audio recording tools that musicians and other people use today.
The brand has an extensive list of audio products to buy, and they’re all worth considering in their respective areas. You get great quality from TASCAM products, and a lot of them are affordable.
Some of them are quite expensive, though, so you should always compare similar products from other brands to get the best value prices.
TASCAM mixers are made at the TASCAM headquarters, which is in Montebello, California, United States.
The brand has an extensive range of mixers, and many professional studio producers use their high-end ones.
If you’re a drummer and you want a tool that will allow you to set up audio rigs at band practices as well as let you record through a DAW, we highly suggest getting the TASCAM Model 16 Mixer. It has so many great features to utilize, and the analog layout is a breath of fresh air in a world that has mostly gone digital.
If you’re only looking for something that can record into a DAW and you don’t want a tool to monitor instruments live, then you should save a bit of money and look for a dedicated audio interface.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
Find useful lessons, tips and reviews for any drummer. From beginners to professionals there’s always something new to learn and improve. Join our Newsletter for exclusive advice!
11407 SW Amu St Suite #ABM436 Tualatin, OR 97062
There may be affiliate links on this website, which means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to our readers.
© All rights reserved Copyright 2024
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
