Bob has it. The Tascam FW-1884 was one unit that functioned as a control surface and a soundcard. I didn't ever get the sound card part working because of drivers and firewire, but I had other choices and just the control surface was great. I then moved to a Behringer X-Touch control surface, and now on to a Presonus Faderport 8.

A nice combo unit would be a mixer, both with home your computer and standalone for live concerts, a sound card, both with your home computer and with a laptop in live concerts, and also be a MIDI control surface for your DAW. Transport control, too. I recall the Tascam 12 (but NOT the 16) had all this.

Bob, if that's still confusing, ask away.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.