As a producer, sound recordist, and musician running Spaceman Sound studio in Brooklyn, New York, Tom Tierney’s work includes a combination of location sound recording and in-studio work.
‘I am often asked to capture a band or performer in a new environment – sometimes with an audience,’ he says. ‘This requires a portable rig that offers great sound, reliability, quick set-up, numerous inputs, backup recording, and ease of use. The Tascam Model 24 Multi-Track Live Recording Console puts a rich set of features right at my fingertips, without the need for a bunch of external gear. It’s essentially a self-contained recording studio.’
‘When recording a live multitrack performance on-location, I use the it as an interface with my DAW, a mixer, and as a linear recorder for backup. The auxiliary inputs are used for monitoring, and I’m recording a live mix along with the isolated tracks. The fact that the Model 24 can handle all this makes it a joy to work with.
‘The interface enables me to produce music in a nonlinear workflow while the internal recorder lets me record constantly to the internal SD memory card to ensure I don’t miss anything. Further, the analogue mixer enables me to make zero latency monitor mixes and rough mixes, which keeps the groove tight and my clients happy.
‘For me, the ability to use the Model 24 both as the interface to my DAW and as a linear recorder is its most important strength – particularly for location sound work. This way, if the laptop freezes or the DAW recording fails, I can be confident there is still a backup rolling. This is so important – and it eliminates having to add a second recording system.’
Tierney has a list of credits that includes the biographical documentary Get Me Roger Stone (Netflix), the documentary Agents of Chaos (HBO), the TV comedy series Crank Yankers (Comedy Central), plus albums While They Were Sleeping by Candiria (Metal Blade Records) and Everyone Else by Slothrust (Bada Bing Records). In 2018, he won a Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Award for HBO’s Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge.
In addition to his location sound work, Tierney is equally enthusiastic about using the Model 24 for his composition and demo work, ‘The Model 24 makes it so quick and easy to get ideas down that sound great, with zero latency, and without a bunch of set-up and routing,’ he explains. ‘I feel like I’m writing music faster than ever, and my demos tend to end up as keeper performances.’
One current project, On Air Fest 2022, involves a combination of live stories, music, art, performances, podcasts and listening parties. ‘For this, I recorded the entire podcast festival live on the Model 24.’
‘Tascam has been important to my sound career from the very beginning,’ he reflects. ‘My first recorder was a Portastudio, and that is how I got hooked. I also use Tascam portable recorders in my location work, including the DR-100 MkIII, the DR-40 and DR-10X. As for the Model 24, I feel like it was designed with a clear love for the creative process. It functions so effortlessly that it increases my efficiency. The Model 24 offers the path of least resistance when you want to capture the initial spark of an idea or the beauty of a live moment. All my Tascam gear serves me well on a regular basis.’
More: www.tascam.com
