I went through this decision process just over a year ago and ended up going with the DM-24 and an RME card for my PC. Neither mixer is clearly superior, but they have distinct strengths and differences. Here's my quick summary of comparative strengths:
Tascam DM-24:
- Far more comprehensive digital connectivity options: Tacam has 1 lightpipe, 3 TDIF, 2 S/PDIF and 2 AES connections built in (Yamaha has 1 lightpipe, 1 S/PDIF, no TDIF or AES)
- Much more expandable: the Tascam has 3 expansion slots, the Yamaha has only 1
- More input channels and pre-amps: Tascam has 16 mic/line inputs plus 4 assignable line inputs/aux returns (Yamaha has 12 mic/line inputs and 2 stereo line inputs
- Tascam has 2 headphone outputs, the Yamaha 1
- Firewire option
- Meter bridge option
Yamaha 01V96:
- Much better software support and integration: Yamaha's Studio Manager tools are real and look very useful. They're being integrated into several platforms (including Nuendo, I believe -- I know they're in Cubase SX 3). Tascam has delivered OS updates for the mixer, but the computer integration is not very good at all. I have hacked together MIDI control for Cubase, but it isn't good enough for me to recommend it.
- Better vendor support (IMO): Last year, Tascam killed their own support forums (how stupid is that?) so a 3rd party started hosting their own at
http://www.tascamforums.com/ Yamaha has a much better history of supporting old products and platforms, IMO.
- This is one you'll need to research to comfirm, but I *believe* the Yamaha can use all of its channels even when running at 88/96KHz -- The Tascam's I/O and DSP are halved when operating at 88/96KHz. You'd better check this out if 96K matters to you.
- Built-in USB and MIDI (Tascam has MIDI only)
In terms of sound, I can't speak to the 01V96. Previous Yamaha mixers I've used (01V and 02R) did not sound good to me at all, but they were earlier models with earlier converter designs, so keep that in mind.
I am pretty pleased with the sound of the Tascam and its converters -- I've clocked mine externally and it sounds even better. Even the pres are pretty good for basic duties.
Summary:
The Tascam DM-24 offers more bang for the buck and it's a better "digital router" if you have lots of gear and need interface options (especially if you plan on using external converters). People are buying these new for as low as $1,500 and Tascam is currently offering free expansion cards on top of the low price (hurry, ends Dec. 31):
http://www.tascam.com/Fall_Free_Stuf...ffSplash.html.
The Yamaha has much better computer/DAW integration and a far more promising future as an integrated platform. Yamaha is even developing DSP plug-in options. Check out:
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/Docu...E0707Final.pdf
I am completely happy with what the Tascam does and how it sounds for what I spent (at that time, the meter bridge was thrown-in free during a sales promotion), but if I had it to do over, I would more strongly lean towards the Yamaha because of the superior DAW integration and vendor support that has come about in the last year.
-Synth80s