Features
The Rack-mountable TAC-8 audio interface is designed to act as the central hub in both professional and home environments. It provides 8 analog inputs and 10 analog outputs, as well as 10 digital inputs and outputs (in both S/PDIF and ADAT Optical formats), plus World Clock and MIDI I/O.
Whether you want to record large multi-channel 24-bit/192k sessions in your studio without worrying about latency or you want to bring your onstage performance to new heights, the TAC-8 allows you to take advantage of today's latest technology.
Recording
With 8 analog inputs and additional digital options, the TAC-8 allows
you to record what you want, when you want. Record drums, bass, guitar,
and vocals all at once, or go big with a 8 mic drum setup: or anything
inbetween. Thunderbolt speeds will ensure you won’t have to deal with
latency issues. The software mixer and output options let you customize
your session to your needs.
On stage
The TAC-8 allows you to use your laptop onstage with high quality sound.
Simply connect it to your computer with a Thunderbolt cable and then
connect the rear panel TRS outputs to your mixing board or PA system.
Whether you’re a one-man band with an epic onstage rig or your TAC-8 +
computer is the central hub for a band leveraging software effects and
instruments, with 10 analog outs you can customize your rig to your
needs.
Comprehensive connectivity at Thunderbolt speed.
Thunderbolt technology opens up new doors for audio engineers. With
Thunderbolt, the TAC-8 provides 8 high-quality analog inputs, as well as
up to 10 additional digital input options, at near-zero latency speeds.
This gives creators of all kinds the best technology available in an
easy to use interface, taking their work to new heights.
Thunderbolt: There's no quicker way
to get from here to there
More than twice as fast as USB 3.0—not to mention twenty times faster
than USB 2.0 and twelve times faster than Firewire 800—Thunderbolt is
the interconnection technology of the future. Co-developed by Apple and
Intel Labs, it allows signal to be transferred at an incredibly fast 10
gigabits-per-second, which means virtually no latency. Thunderbolt
interfaces such as the TAC-8 are also unaffected by computer jitter
(slight variations in timing).
Analog I/O
The TAC-8 provides a wide variety of both analog and digital connectors.
Eight front panel combo XLR/TRS inputs accept mic- and line-level
signals. Inputs 1 and 2 can also accept instrument-level signal from
guitars and basses. Dedicated input gain controls and Clip LED’s make it
easy to set optimum input levels, and the selectable multi-channel
Phantom Power feature allows for the use of condenser microphones.
Dual balanced analog TRS output jacks enable you to connect the TAC-8 to
amplifiers or self-powered speakers, and there are also 8 discrete
balanced TRS analog line outputs for multichannel monitoring or
connection to external effects devices.
A large front-panel Output knob offers fast control of main output
level, and there are two independent ¼" stereo headphone jacks, each
with its own dedicated volume control for private monitoring.
Digital I/O
ADAT and S/PDIF digital inputs/outputs allow for the use of up to 10
inputs from external interfaces as well as 10 outputs, providing a
combined total of 18 inputs and 20 outputs through the TAC-8 device.
Built-in Word Clock allows for syncing between devices, and MIDI In/Out
allow electronic keyboards, sequencers, and drum machines to be
connected through the TAC-8. Thunderbolt speeds ensure precise audio and
MIDI sync.
Additional Features
In standalone mode, the TAC-8 can be used as an 8-channel mic preamp and
analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converter without being
connected to a computer.
The TAC-8 performs 4-times upsampling during both analog-to-digital and
digital-to-analog conversion. In other words, when the sampling
frequency is set to 44.1kHz or 48kHz, the TAC-8 processes the signal at
high resolution 176.4kHz or 192kHz respectively. For A/D conversion,
this means less aliasing noise; for D/A conversion, this means increased
clarity and fidelity.
Extend your capabilities with software
TAC-8 MixEfx is a free Macintosh application designed specially by Zoom
for the TAC-8. It provides a comprehensive onscreen mixer, with
independent level, phase reversal, and panning control for each channel.
TAC-8 MixEfx also allows you to freely route all inputs to all outputs
and to create custom mixes for each pair of outputs. In addition, a
variety of reverb and echo effects can be used as a send/return effect.
Complete mixes can then be stored in three different memory slots,
allowing instant total recall.
Features at a glance
• 18-in/20-out high speed Thunderbolt™ audio interface
• Record and play back 8 tracks simultaneously
• Support for up to 24-bit/192kHz high‐definition audio
• Ultra-low latency audio streaming
• 8 combo balanced XLR/TRS analog input connectors accept both mic and line-level signal
• High‐performance mic preamps with up to +60dB of amplification
• Hi-Z switches allow direct connection of electric guitar or bass (INPUT1, INPUT2)
• Independent gain controls and clip LEDs for each input
• Switchable +48V phantom power (INPUTS 1‐4, INPUTS 5‐8)
• 10 balanced TRS output jacks for connection to mixers, amplifiers, self-powered speakers, or effects devices
• Dual front-panel 1/4" headphone outputs with dedicated volume controls
• Large knob output volume control
• 4x upsampling during A/D and D/A conversion for reduced noise and enhanced fidelity
• Asynchronous transfer system unaffected by computer jitter
• Robust metal housing ensures roadworthiness
• S/PDIF IN/OUT: 2IN / 2OUT, up to 24‐bit/192kHz audio resolution
• ADAT Optical IN/OUT: 2 IN / 2 OUT at 192/176.4kHz (S/MUX4 compatible),
4 IN/4 OUT at 96/88.2kHz (S/MUX compatible), 8 IN / 8 OUT at 48/44.1kHz
• Word Clock in/out
• Clock source indicator
• MIDI in/out
• Rack-mountable (1U space)
• Works with all Thunderbolt-equipped Macintosh computers running OS X 10.8.5 or later
• Steinberg Cubase LE software download
* Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
* Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
* ADAT and ADAT optical are trademarks of inMusic Brands Inc. in the US and other countries.
* MIDI is a registered trademark of the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI).
* Steinberg and Cubase are registered trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
* All other product names, trademarks and company names in this document are the property of their respective owners.
