Edifier M3500 Manual

My Tascam M-3500 Console Reconstruction Project My Tascam M-3500 Console Reconstruction ProjectAuthor: Frederick R. Vobbe, W8HDUOctober 10, 2010 (Updated 4/8/2012) Status: incomplete/on-goingThis page documents me rebuilding of a Tascam M-3500 console that I recently acquired. Click on the picture to see a larger image. I have the M-3500/32 like the one seen on the left side, and not the right. Print this document out if you wish to rebuild your console, but please don't change the attributes to myself or others.If you just found this page, please be patient as I'll be updating it only after I have performed the work and documented the results.

1. Edifier M3500 Review
2. Edifier M3500 Manual Guide

If you don't see it here, then there is nothing more to tell you.This console was found in a production TV truck, and had about seventy actual hours on it. However, it had been sitting for over 13 years in a garage. Here in Ohio it can be -20 to 103 degrees, and humidity between 50 and 100%. Cosmetically the console is very nice.

But the electronics will need some serious work!Like most Tascam/Teac products it was made to a minimum standard. By this I mean if the circuit calls for an opamp or capacitor, they put 'something' in, but the component is not chosen for maximum quality. It's chosen for least expense for them.The console works, but it's noisy and frequency response is something to be desired. However, if you rework all the component flaws you have one heck of a console at a fraction of the price you would pay for something in the same size and feature!Typically a console like this goes for $350 to $1,250 depending on size and features.

There is a 24 and 32 input version, as well as versions with full and partial meter bridges.I started finding much of my information from various musicians blogs, Google Groups,. To save some time, you'll find PDF page captures of the various discussions. I also incorporated upgrades, mods, and additions due to my own skills in designing audio products.

If you want to search for yourself use search terms such as Teac Tascam M-3500 M-3500 console mixer board audio in various configurations.Tools and Test Equipment:Potomac Instruments AA51, & AG51. Leader 1541C Oscilloscope. Leader 1311 Function Generator. Leader LDM-171 Distortion Meter. Heathkit IG5218 Sine/Square generator.

Weller EC1002 solder pencil. My technician background; 45 years in radio and television broadcasting and high end studio audio, as well as electronics experimenter since age seven.Part 1 - Overview:The console I have is a Tascam M-3500, 32 input, with only the right half of the metering bridge. Not having the left half of the meter bridge, (an option), was a blessing for the modifications I wanted to make to this console.This project will be broken into several sub projects; cleanup and restoration, repair and restoration, and modifications. 'Cleanup and restoration' refers to taking the board and power supply apart, cleaning all the surfaces and hardware, and then going through replacing dried up electrolytic capacitors and components that have failed. Electrolytic capacitors should all be changed if the board is older than fifteen years.When I opened the power supply up, the large electrolytic caps were already leaking, and smaller caps were bulged. This was from storage in an unheated garage for more than fifteen years. When in doubt, change the capacitors, and use only good quality capacitors rated for audio work.

I say this only because a friend was restoring a Yamaha console and to cut his costs he purchased caps at a ham fest. I'm guessing the caps looked new, but were over a decade old. During a session, his console went up in smoke because all the caps let go in sort of a cascade effect. Buy new, fresh capacitors!The next phase will be 'repair and restoration'. This is where we go in and fix things we know are broken. Slider pots and switches often fall into this category. But you may find there are integrated circuits, (IC), that have died, open, shorted, or some other problem.Finally, modifications.

This is where we make the console a little better than produced.Back in its day the M-3500 was a nice high end consumer console. Times have changed, and integrated circuits have become better. Reading some of the posts, (at the end of this page), will give you an idea of the results. Specifically in this rebuild I have several things on the agenda. The integrated circuits can be upgraded, and socketed. Capacitors can be upgraded. The inputs and outputs which are unbalanced 'consumer' style can be modified to accept normal studio or broadcast specifications.

(My man-cave's standard is +4). I'm also taking the liberty to incorporate some of my personal designs to improve performance, aid work-flow, as well as make the console more friendly to my operations. In case you are wondering, these circuits are designed using a commercial PCB program called. Circuits and documentation will be found at the end of this article as they may be useful in other applications and builds.I should note that much of the advice and help in tracking down components has come from other sources than the manufacturer.

Teac/Tascam offered no help, let alone answered e-mail, letters, or phone calls. When doing mods remember that power supplies and some circuits can be lethal. Mods are typically made according to the designer's needs or application. This is simply to say, caveat emptor. If you don't think this project suffices your needs, move on without comment.

When making mods, do your research, check your facts and work, use the highest standard, and illegitimum non carborundum. Let's begin.Part 2a - The Power Supply:The power supply for my M-3500 is a beast. It measures 3RU high (5.25'), 19' wide standard rack, and requires a depth of 16' (considering the power cable and reasonable air flow).

The weight is roughly 32#, mostly due to the power transformer (p/n: ). A hardware mod I made in my rack was a support to the rear of the supply, which took some of the weight off the rack ears, and also supported the cable to the console and power cord.If your power supply is like mine it came with a consumer power cord. The power cord is typically a 'zip cord' wire with two pronged connector. This is standard for consumer grade equipment from the 70s and 80s. Since I always seem to have a bag of power cables from computers and other hardware, I sacrificed one and changed the power supply's 110 volt cord.

Technically it didn't improve performance, but it does look more professional. (see Mods at the end of this article).The power supply provides the console with +15, -15, +12, +48, and +8 volts, DC. I recommend using a standard broadcast style grounding for the console.

Edifier M3500 Review

By this I mean you can probably use the ground in the cables, but it would be best to have your console grounded through a strap, to the power supply, and have the supply grounded to a central earth ground. This avoids ground loops. It's easy to do this when planting the console in a fixed studio location.

Edifier M3500 Manual Guide

(see Grounds at the end of this article).There was an excellent discussion about the power supply, as well as the equalization (EQ) functions in GroupDIY. I've archived the two pagers, and.On page 8 of the first document above, you find references to a schematic of the power supply. Here is the and theBelow you will note (3) 22,000mf capacitors. An extensive search on the Internet has proven to be exhaustive for these caps. What I did was to purchase another style of capacitor and make up a special holder for them. If you can find good quality, NOS, 22,000mf capacitors with feed through PCB leads, use them, Else, go with my modification. Desig.DescriptionVendorPart NumberCostRemarksC00612,000 mf @ 35 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser539-LP35V12000$5.23Cornell Dubilier LP123M035H7P3.

See text.C00812,000 mf @ 35 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser539-LP35V12000$5.23Cornell Dubilier LP123M035H7P3. See text.C010100 mf @ 35 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser539-SK35V100$0.60Cornell Dubilier SK101M035STC011100 mf @ 35 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser539-SK35V100$0.60Cornell Dubilier SK101M035STC0144.7 mf @ 50 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser598-SK4R7M050ST$0.14Cornell Dubilier SK4R7M050STC0154.7 mf @ 50 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser598-SK4R7M050ST$0.14Cornell Dubilier SK4R7M050STC01612,000 mf @ 35 v radial electrolytic capacitorMouser539-LP35V12000$5.23Cornell Dubilier LP123M035H7P3.

WarrantyPeriod1 Year Manufacturer WarrantySubwooferSubwoofer Impedance8 ohmWired/WirelessWiredFile FormatAudio FormatsMP3Other DetailsCountry of Origin or Manufacture or AssemblyCommon or Generic Name of the commodityNo. Of Items insideManufacturer's Name & AddressNet QuantityPacker's Name & AddressMarketer's Name & AddressImporter's Name & AddressWarrantyWarranty1 YearOutputPower Output - Subwoofer (RMS)30 wattsPower Output - Total (RMS)64 wattsGeneralBrandEdifierType4.1 & 5.1 Speaker SystemColorBlackChannel5.1ModelM3500ConnectivityBluetoothNoUSB PortsNoWiFiNoDimensionsNumber of Parts (Boxes)6Subwoofer (W x H x D)19.1 x 28.6 x 34.9 cmsIn the boxBox ContentsMain Unit, Satellite Speakers, Subwoofer, Remote Control, User ManualFeaturesTallboy SpeakersNo3D PlaybackNoRemote ControlYesFMNoKaraokeNo. Enjoy the best music and sound experience at home with the amazing Edifier 5.1-M3500 speaker set. The speaker ensures that you are witness to high quality sound. It has an audio input of 3.5mm stereo line in and an input impedance of 20KOhm. The bass subwoofer speaker driver is magnetically shielded with a 6 inch paper cone, 8 Ohm.

With the available wireless remote control, you assured much comfort. The Edifier Speaker 5.1-M3500 is simply perfect for gamers, and music and movie lover. It also comes with a 1 year warranty.