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Newsflash: Computers? Have you heard? Well, they're being used in studios now. Surprise, surprise. But, you know, it takes more than just a computer to make music. You need an audio interface, a MIDI interface, some way to control monitor levels, and if you're of the hands-on persuasion, a control surface. And TASCAM's FW-1884 was the company's entree into designing a single FireWire unit comprising all these capabilities - check out my review in the February 2004 issue. Then the family expanded with the rackmount FW-1804 interface. And now TASCAM strikes again with the FW-1082, a scaled down version of the FW-1884.
WHAT IT IS
The idea behind this FireWire control surface/audio-MIDI interface is to package everything you need into one convenient, easy-to-use package. The FW-1082 has a small footprint: 19" wide, 15" deep. It fit perfectly on my desk in front of my Apple Cinema display.
The FW-1082 is capable of 10 input channels (eight analog, two S/ PDIF) and four channels out (two monitor outs and two S/PDIF). Four of the analog channels have mic preamps; all eight sport TRS line ins. Channel 8 can be switched to accept guitar-level signals.
The unit can operate in one of three modes: In...