Tascam M-300 Series, Operation & Maintenance Manual

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Understanding what's going on inside your
equipment will help improve your sound. This
manual as a reference book. You may not need
to know all of what is here to begin, and it is
certainly not necessary to memorize it, but do
try to find the time to read it thoroughly at
least once. That way you will be familiar with
the contents and, if you need answers to any
questions or solutions to problems, you will
know where to turn.
Good luck with your sound!
INTRODUCTION
The T ASCAM 300 Series Mixers were designet
for maximum flexibility without compromisin!
performance in any way.
They are equipped with a very flexible comb ina
tion of features and functions so they can be sue
cessfully used in an extremely broad range
o
applications from small studio recording,
tt
mixing for live sound reinforcement, to audit
broadcast production, and video sweetening.
A mixers' value and usefullness can be determine(
by its flexibility. The more flexible a mixer, tht
greater its value to you. This flexibility however
may make the mixer difficult to understand a:
first. With study and experience, you will fim
the
300
Series readily understandable, eas)
to use, and very flexible.
To understand the full capabilities of the
30(
Series Mixers, it is important to realize the 30(
Series are mixer systems comprised of multipll
submix systems. These submix systems an
designed to perform specific functions whid
allow the
300 Series to adapt to many differen1
applications. These subsystems are: The MAl�
MIX, the AUX
1
SUBMIX, the AUX 2 SUB MIX
the EFFECT SUBMIX, the EFFECTS RETUR�
SUBMIX, and the MONITOR SUBMIX. On thE
models
312
and
320,
the MONITOR SUBMI)
contains two (2) additional submix systems
AUX
3
and AUX
4.
Each of these subsystems performs the samE
basic function: it takes signals in through it
input, processes them, and sends them ou1
through its outputs. The processes perform!!(
involve gain control and routing
-
in simple1
terms, "where" (both "where from" and "when
to") and "how much". Every control found or
the top panel, regardless of its specific label o
system membership, performs one or both
o·
these functions. Keeping this in mind may helt
overcome the inevitable intimidation caused bl
the apparent "sea of knobs" presented by you1
mixer.
These three illustrations will help you to under
stand the submix systems. The first is an illustra
tion of the top panel controls. The second
i:
a pictogram; this shows the controls laid ou·
according to how they are wired (their
Func
tiona/
sequence). Note that the functiona
sequence is not the same as how the controls
an