Tascam DM-24 User Manual

Because the DM-24 is a “soft” digital mixing con-
sole, there are few of the hard-wired assignments that 
you find on an analog console. 

In addition, the DM-24 includes an internal patchbay, 
which allows routing and splitting of signals within 
the console, providing a high degree of flexibility, 
and easy re-configuration when the requirements 
within a project change.

These routing and configuration settings can be 
stored in snapshot settings, allowing easy switching 
between the commonly-used routing patterns (for 
example, tracking, overdubbing and mixdown).

The library facilities also allow the retention of I/O 
patches, etc. between snapshots, so that the I/O set-
tings are not always overwritten by the recalled snap-
shot. See “Protecting snapshot settings” on page 102 
for full details.

This section deals only with the assignments in normal 
sampling frequency modes (either 44.1k or 48k). If the 
DM-24 is to be used in high sampling-frequency mode, 
the screens and the options are a little different. See 
“High sampling frequency” on page 112 for details.

The DM-24 defines channel signal sources as inputs 
and returns, as explained here.

In the I/O assignment screens, each channel from 1 
through 24 has two different sources—input and 
return—available (channels 25 to 32 have only one 
source—input—available):

In this illustration, the mic/line inputs are selected as 
the inputs (upper box) for channels 17 through 24. 

The ADAT connector audio is selected as the return 
source (lower box) for these channels.

are avail-

able on the DM-24. These are referred to on-screen 
as 

M/L

. 

They may be assigned to the console channels num-
bered 1 through 32. These are inputs.

(1 through 3) carry 

eight channels of I/O digital audio each (in base fre-
quency mode—in dual-frequency mode, this situa-
tion is different). 

These TDIF inputs may also be assigned to console 
channels numbered 1 through 24.

These are returns.

The single “lightpipe” ADAT 

input connector carries eight channels of digital 
audio input.

The eight audio channels received through this con-
nector may be assigned to any of the console chan-
nels numbered 1 through 24.

These are returns.

Each of these logical inputs has 

two physical connectors: an XLR, typically used for 
AES/EBU connections, and an RCA jack, typically 
used for SPDIF connections. One of these can be 
selected for each logical input, and routed to any of 
the console channels numbered 1 through 32. These 
are inputs.

Optional cards may be installed in the 

two card slots for expansion of the digital and analog 
I/O. These are treated as returns, and may be routed 
to the channels 1 through 24.

These four balanced analog 

inputs may be assigned as channel inputs (for exam-
ple, when they are used with external effect proces-
sors). 

These are inputs and are assignable to channels 1 
through 32.

The DM-24 has two internal 

digital effectors, with stereo returns. 

These returns are inputs and are assignable to chan-
nels 1 through 32.