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FW-1804
FW-1804 FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface
Applications Guide
10/28/04
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˘ 18-in/12-out audio interface
˘ Records at up to 96kHz/24-bit
resolution
˘ Four balanced XLR / W" TRS
mic/line inputs with phantom
power
˘ Four balanced W" TRS line
inputs (eight total line inputs)
˘ Guitar level input
˘ W" TRS insert jacks for
channels 1 - 4
˘ S/PDIF stereo digital in and out
˘ ADAT optical digital in and out
˘ Word Clock in and out
˘ Balanced W" monitor outputs
˘ Headphone output with level
control
˘ Two MIDI inputs and four MIDI
outputs
˘ Assignable Footswitch jack
˘ Includes Cubase LE 48-track /
96kHz recording workstation
software
˘ Includes GigaStudio 3 LE
streaming sampler software
instrument
f you’re looking for a busload of
I
high-quality line inputs, mic preamps, MIDI ports and digital I/O in
a compact rackmount package, the
FireWire-based FW-1804 really delivers. Priced and sized for home studios,
it’s ideal for rooms that already have –
or don’t have the room for – a mixing
console or fader controller. The included
48-track Cubase LE software takes full
advantage of the FW-1804’s 96kHz/24bit recording resolution, delivering
monster-truck recording power in a
subcompact parking space.
The FW-1804 has a generous variety
of audio options for interfacing with
your studio. Four microphone inputs,
each with phantom power for pro condenser mics, record to multiple tracks
for later overdubbing or mixdown. Each
has an analog insert point, so you can
insert a compressor to keep from distorting. Up to eight line level signals
can be recorded or mixed simultaneously – such as synthesizers or multieffects processors. The eight-channel
ADAT optical digital interface – plus
a stereo digital S/PDIF I/O – are ideal
for pristine-quality transfers to digital
consoles or samplers.
A full-featured MIDI interface is included in the FW-1804 with two MIDI
inputs and four MIDI outputs, so you
can control 64 channels of synths and
modules.
A bundle of professional recording
software comes with the FW-1804,
providing a powerful production solution right out of the box. Steinberg’s
Cubase LE is a 48-track, 96kHz audio
recording workstation application. It
includes 64 MIDI tracks with sophisticated editing features, VST plug-in and
instrument support, ReWire support
and an upgrade path to Cubase SX.
TASCAM’s GigaStudio 3 LE software
sampling instrument offers 64-voice
polyphony, 16-channel multitimbral
MIDI, ReWire and VST plug-in support,
and is compatible with all GigaStudio
sample libraries –the best in the world.
You even get a demo copy of Nomad
Legends effects plug-ins and a bonus
delay plug-in.
Whether you don’t have the space,
need or budget for a big control surface, the FW-1804 provides the killer
I/O of our groundbreaking FW-1884
in a rackmount package that fi ts in
any studio.
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FW-1804
DAW Recording
he FW-1804 provides an affordable way to
T
add a high-quality audio/MIDI interface to
any home studio. It has four high-quality microphone inputs, each with phantom power and insert jacks for connecting professional gear like
condenser microphones. The FW-1804 records at
up to 96kHz/24-bit resolution – much better than
CD quality – so your tracks can capture every detail
and nuance.
In addition to the four mic/line inputs are an
additional four line ins, eight channels of ADAT
digital ins and outs and stereo S/PDIF digital I/O,
so you’ll be ready to expand your studio in the
future. There’s even a guitar input, right on the
front panel where it belongs, so you can plug in
your favorite axe whenever you’re inspired.
The FW-1804 is perfect for studios that already
have a control surface – like TASCAM’s awesome
24-fader US-2400 –or in studios where there’s sim-
Applications Guide
Microphones
Cello
FireWire
USB
Computer
(Mac or PC)
ply no more room for gear. Just install it in your
equipment rack and start tracking –your spouse
might not even notice.
Mic
Inputs 1-2
Monitor Outs
Monitors
US-2400 Fader Controller
10/28/04
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Live Recording
ith the portable, rackable FW-1804 and a
W
laptop, you have everything you need to
take your studio on the road. Whether you want
to sell CDs at your next gig, upload an MP3 of the
show to your website or use the recording to audition for a bigger club gig, recording your live
show can be the key to bigger and better things
for your band.
The FW-1804 has four microphone inputs, so
you can set your own mics onstage and in the
audience. Four additional line ins are perfect for
amp direct out jacks, guitar amp modelers or the
line outs from a board feed. Insert jacks allow
you to patch in a compressor/limiter, so that the
recording doesn’t distort when things get too loud.
It has ADAT inputs so that you can get a perfect
digital feed in clubs using a digital console. There’s
even a loud headphone amp for monitoring the
recording during the show.
A dedicated S/PDIF digital output can be connected to a CD burner like our CD-RW750 if you
don’t have one on your laptop. Work quickly enough
and you might be able to sell CDs of that night’s
show before your audience catches a cab.
Microphones
Stereo Compressor
Line Ins 5-6
Laptop Computer
(Mac or PC)
Insert 1-2
FireWire
Mic Inputs 1-4
Headphones
PA Mixer
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(
)
FW-1804
Pro & Project Studios
or studios that prefer to use a mixing console,
F
like TASCAM’s DM-24, the FW-1804 forms a
bridge between your mixer and computer workstation software. The analog and digital inputs of
the FW-1804 allow you to record up to 18 simultaneous channels to your computer DAW for later
mixdown. Paired with the DM-24, this is perfect
for applications that need lots of microphone inputs and individual cue mixes. The DM-24 can
even control your DAW during mixdown using
HUI emulation.
The FW-1804’s S/PDIF digital output is bussed
to TASCAM’s CD-RW750 CD recorder in this application. This allows you to mix in the computer
and record to CD, useful in pro studios where time
is charged by the hour. The word clock in and out
on the FW-1804 is a lifesaver in big studios where
several digital components are connected together,
and the front panel indicators show you sample
rate and clock info to help you keep everything
running smoothly.
MIDI Sequencing
Applications Guide
Microphones
Line Inputs/
Outputs
FireWire
Computer
Mac or PC
ADAT I/O
DM-24 Digital Console
S/PDIF I/O
10/28/04
CD-RW750 CD Recorder
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ith four MIDI outputs, eight line ins, digital
W
I/O and word clock connections, the FW-1804
makes a great central nervous system for big MIDI
studios. Since it uses high-bandwidth FireWire to
connect to a computer, the FW-1804 can record
or mix enough audio and MIDI channels for the
biggest synth productions.
The rear panel of the FW-1804 has eight balanced analog line inputs for getting all of your
synths and modules into your DAW for mixing.
There’s also 24-bit ADAT and S/PDIF digital inputs
for digital sources like a PC running GigaStudio
3. Two MIDI ins and four MIDI outs provide up to
64 channels of MIDI information to your synths
and modules.
The FW-1804’s audio and MIDI drivers are industry standards recognized by most sequencers,
like Digital Performer, Logic, Sonar and Cubase LE.
It has three interface modes – Computer, Interface
or Both – which allow it to be used as a stand-alone
Monitors
line mixer even with no computer attached. This
allows you to submix synth tracks without taxing
your computer’s CPU, freeing it up for more plugins and soft synths.
Monitor Outs Line Ins 1-8
FireWire
Computer
(Mac or PC)
MIDI I/O
ADAT In
Synthesizer
Synthesizer
GigaStudio Computer
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FW-1804
FW-1804 Connections
Applications Guide
10/28/04
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˘ (4) Balanced XLR / W" TRS Mic / Line
inputs
˘ (4) W" TRS Analog Inserts (Channels 1 - 4)
˘ (4) W" TRS Line Inputs
˘ (2) W" TRS Control Room Outputs
˘ W" TRS Headphone Output
˘ RCA S/PDIF Digital Input and Output
FW-1804 Bundled Free Software
The following free software is included with
the FW-1804:
˘ Cubase LE
õ 48 audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks
õ 96kHz / 24-bit resolution
õ Supports VST FX and instruments
õ Sophisticated MIDI track editing
õ Loop slice, stretch, groove and
tempo analysis
õ Upgrade path to Cubase SX
˘ Toslink ADAT Digital Input and Output
˘ BNC Word Clock Input and Output
˘ (2) MIDI Inputs
˘ (4) MIDI Outputs
˘ (2) FireWire connectors (In/Thru)
˘ W" Footswitch Input
˘ (2) IEEE-1394 FireWire jacks
˘ GigaStudio 3 LE
õ 64-voice polyphony
õ 16-channel multitimbral MIDI
õ ReWire and VST plug-in support
õ Includes MegaPiano piano library
õ Compatible with all GigaStudio libraries
˘ Nomad Factory Demo Version
õ Blue Tubes Bundle, Rock Amp Legends and
Liquid Bundle plug-in demo install
õ One free delay plug-in permanent install
7733 Telegraph Rd • Montebello, CA • 90640 • phone 323.726.0303 • www.tascam.com
© 2004 TEAC Corporation All trademarks are the property of their respective holders. All rights reserved. Design and specifi cations
subject to change without notice. Product photographs are shown only to illustrate the types of product which are compatible with
the TASCAM FW-1804. These products are not manufactured by the TASCAM Division of TEAC Corporation.
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