I got one of these year and half ago, I went from 424 mkiii to model 12 (never done DAW). I still record on it like it is a tape machine, it feels exactly the same as tape. To me it seems exactly like a Tascam 424mkiii thats digital, thats why I think its so great.
Same! I was using a 488mkii for a while and this is very much like that. And sound wise it sounds incredibly comparatively. I really like doing all my mixing on the machine
Great review…! You answered some questions that no one else has addressed at this time. It’s nice to get a review from a real user, and not a sales person. Keep up the great work…
I'm listening to this TH-cam clip on my TASCAM MODEL-12 ... I Love Mine Mate I also very much like Your Videos ... By for now From a Little Malteser all the way from Tasmania / Australia
Thanks for the vid - Been wanting this mixer for a while! I may get one of these instead of a new faderport + FMR compressor.. Might be a better investment with more choices
Thanks for the great review and really helping acoustic musicians realize this Tascam does simply not have enough gain for the purest of vocals and acoustic guitars. Sad that they did not even reach -60db gain. That is very disappointing.
It's not of a big of an issue. Once it's digital, you can always add gain in your DAW. During mixing from MTR, it still produces enough gain. Wishlist from me to TASCAM: Add gain/normalise option for each track from the Menu. Add a limiter plugin on/off the master bus after the Master EQ from the Menu.
I have the Soundcraft 22MTK and the Mic gains are low just like the Tascam. The way it was explained to me is that in the digital world you want to record at -18db not 0 like in the analogue world. The reason is that you need the head room for when you start adding in plug-ins back on your recorded tracks. The more plug-ins the more the volume starts to creep up and you will get into clipping. To get around this problem I just turn my monitor up. I suppose if the gain is still to low you could add a gain plug-in or normalize the tracks.
Thanks. I did make a note on the video that the 0db line marked on the mixer is at around -12dbFS. This gives still plenty of headroom for peaks. I guess you are referring to DAW recording and mixing when you mention plugins. If one understands how plugins should work and be adjusted, output level should match the input level and no volume creeping should occur. The extra 10db of gain I mention will give cleaner analog signal into the converters, as well as better control, since the gain change/difference near the end of a logarithmic pot is more sensitive than in the middle positions.
Thanks for the review again, i have watched your other videos as well. Wondering if you could expound and/or do a video on the midi in and midi out setup? That is something I would like to do with my keyboards... thanks
Even though they may appear as an apples-to-apples comparison, they are not. Each mixer/interface has its own place. One is analog with great features, the other, is digital with many features. I still own both. :-)
@@RecordingStudio9 thank you for the reply. I have the UFX 1204 and your videos on the UFX1604 have really taught me a lot. I like the UFX1204 because it has two stereo inputs I can use besides the two for my DAW.
All MTR recordings and USB send are pre-fader. I suggest you also check out the differences between gain and fader. I have a video on that topic. th-cam.com/video/XxYG1caRmdI/w-d-xo.html
Recording directly in your DAW might be fine, as DAW uses 32bit floating point, so the dynamic is high and adding gain may not bring as much noise as in an analog stage. Having said that, it is still ideal to record at reasonable level. On the Model 12, monitoring screen has a line indicating optimal level (-12dbFS).
Thanks for this! I'd like to use this board for live shows. Specifically for running open mics.I'd like to use this board for live shows. Specifically for running open mics. I'd like to bring music in and out from my laptop between performers. But I want to be able to use my headphones to cue a song without that song coming through the main speakers. Is there a way to do this without having to buy an extra amp to go through sub? Can I send my laptop audio to aux and monitor that way? I'd like to bring music in and out from my laptop between performers. But I want to be able to use my headphones to cue a song without that song coming through the main speakers. Is there a way to do this without having to buy an extra amp to go through sub? Can I send my laptop audio to aux and monitor that way? I'm deciding between the model 12 and Zoom l12.
If you’re using the aux, you just get a mono signal. There’s another way: connect the monitors to the sub out and use the main for the headphones. Set the channel parameters accordingly.
If you simply want to hear the next song after the last one finished, before the next performer, then update firmware to V1.30. The update includes option to set H/P Pre or Post Main Fader. This will allow you to turn the Main fader down, but still hear on the headphones.
hi there, i'm a little confused, can we assign plugin parameters in a daw to the knobs in tascam, just like in a standard midi controller. i was planning to use it like a dj mixer, but if we can't assign for example a dj eq tool in a daw to the knobs in tascam, it is pretty useless to me. thanks in advance for your support.
So it doesnt have enough gain to handle a condensor mic or dynamic mic? that kinda sucks. Guess im canceling my order :( I can get a fethead for my dynamic mics but i cant afford 100-200$ mic amps for my condensers which from what i was told, cloudlifters and fetheads wont add power since the mics are already using phantom power so id be stuck having to buy a few very expensive mic preamps for condensers. currently have a soundcraft mtk 12 i HATE because of this very problem with gain, you have to max it out with condensers and its so noisy and loud. and you cant hear dynamics at all. I had hoped the tascam i ordered could handle the mics. Do you have any suggestions for a multi track mixer that could push these mics? (I prefer one that i can split the inputs in windows like the soundcraft, so i can have my input 1 going to OBS for my main mic as i stream on twitch, while inputs 2-6 go to studio one for my guitar, bass, vocal mic, all that)
I end up using my Mic-pre, which I do all the time anyway, to bring the level up. I also use INSERTs on CH 1&2 with outboard Comp to bring the level up. So, my gain on the mixer is at 0db Unity (about 11 o'clock). As to the rest of the channels, I always have to add gain in my DAW after recording.
Yes, the headphone tied to master fader has been fixed. Now you can set so that even if master fader is at zero, you can listen on headphones. As of Firmware 1.3.0
If you compare this Model 12 to the 16 and 24, its different. The 16 and 24 are hybrid, in that they are analog mixers with a digital interface. This one is digital. That's why you can use it as a controller and not the other two. Personally, I think it was an odd choice to not make them all the same way.
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I got one of these year and half ago, I went from 424 mkiii to model 12 (never done DAW). I still record on it like it is a tape machine, it feels exactly the same as tape. To me it seems exactly like a Tascam 424mkiii thats digital, thats why I think its so great.
Great to read you're enjoying yours too.
Same! I was using a 488mkii for a while and this is very much like that. And sound wise it sounds incredibly comparatively. I really like doing all my mixing on the machine
Great review…! You answered some questions that no one else has addressed at this time. It’s nice to get a review from a real user, and not a sales person. Keep up the great work…
Glad it was helpful!
I'm listening to this TH-cam clip on my TASCAM MODEL-12 ... I Love Mine Mate
I also very much like Your Videos ... By for now
From a Little Malteser all the way from Tasmania / Australia
Much appreciated vid! No regrets buying mine.
Very useful explanation of how to use the model 12, I’m wanting to get a all around mixer and your video help me with that decision.
Glad it was helpful!
Liking the tascam 🙂
Thanks for the vid - Been wanting this mixer for a while! I may get one of these instead of a new faderport + FMR compressor.. Might be a better investment with more choices
No problem!
Thank you.
Thanks Man., 👊
Thanks for the great review and really helping acoustic musicians realize this Tascam does simply not have enough gain for the purest of vocals and acoustic guitars. Sad that they did not even reach -60db gain. That is very disappointing.
It's not of a big of an issue. Once it's digital, you can always add gain in your DAW. During mixing from MTR, it still produces enough gain.
Wishlist from me to TASCAM:
Add gain/normalise option for each track from the Menu.
Add a limiter plugin on/off the master bus after the Master EQ from the Menu.
I have the Soundcraft 22MTK and the Mic gains are low just like the Tascam. The way it was explained to me is that in the digital world you want to record at -18db not 0 like in the analogue world. The reason is that you need the head room for when you start adding in plug-ins back on your recorded tracks. The more plug-ins the more the volume starts to creep up and you will get into clipping. To get around this problem I just turn my monitor up. I suppose if the gain is still to low you could add a gain plug-in or normalize the tracks.
Thanks. I did make a note on the video that the 0db line marked on the mixer is at around -12dbFS. This gives still plenty of headroom for peaks.
I guess you are referring to DAW recording and mixing when you mention plugins. If one understands how plugins should work and be adjusted, output level should match the input level and no volume creeping should occur.
The extra 10db of gain I mention will give cleaner analog signal into the converters, as well as better control, since the gain change/difference near the end of a logarithmic pot is more sensitive than in the middle positions.
Thanks for the review again, i have watched your other videos as well. Wondering if you could expound and/or do a video on the midi in and midi out setup? That is something I would like to do with my keyboards... thanks
Sure thing!
I like my 12
Did you once say that NONE of the individual track compressor/eq/pan settings gets recorded into the SD card?
That depends on the MTR/USB send point selected for each channel from the menu.
WOuld you recomend using external preamps and compressors as inserts in order to improve the gain when tracking?
Yes, if you can spare few extra dollars. That’s how I intend to use, like my current setup.
I believe this video was made before the latest firmware update
Correct 👍
I know this video is 2 years old. I have a question for you. What did you like better ... The UFX 1604 or the Tascam Model 12?
Even though they may appear as an apples-to-apples comparison, they are not. Each mixer/interface has its own place. One is analog with great features, the other, is digital with many features. I still own both. :-)
@@RecordingStudio9 thank you for the reply. I have the UFX 1204 and your videos on the UFX1604 have really taught me a lot. I like the UFX1204 because it has two stereo inputs I can use besides the two for my DAW.
You have the master slider all the way down ,doesn't that make your gain low?
All MTR recordings and USB send are pre-fader. I suggest you also check out the differences between gain and fader. I have a video on that topic. th-cam.com/video/XxYG1caRmdI/w-d-xo.html
Is it best to record a vocal with low gain and then pump it up in the daw
Or as much gain as possible without hearing to much rumble?
Recording directly in your DAW might be fine, as DAW uses 32bit floating point, so the dynamic is high and adding gain may not bring as much noise as in an analog stage.
Having said that, it is still ideal to record at reasonable level.
On the Model 12, monitoring screen has a line indicating optimal level (-12dbFS).
Thanks for this! I'd like to use this board for live shows. Specifically for running open mics.I'd like to use this board for live shows. Specifically for running open mics. I'd like to bring music in and out from my laptop between performers. But I want to be able to use my headphones to cue a song without that song coming through the main speakers. Is there a way to do this without having to buy an extra amp to go through sub? Can I send my laptop audio to aux and monitor that way? I'd like to bring music in and out from my laptop between performers. But I want to be able to use my headphones to cue a song without that song coming through the main speakers. Is there a way to do this without having to buy an extra amp to go through sub? Can I send my laptop audio to aux and monitor that way? I'm deciding between the model 12 and Zoom l12.
If you’re using the aux, you just get a mono signal. There’s another way: connect the monitors to the sub out and use the main for the headphones. Set the channel parameters accordingly.
If you simply want to hear the next song after the last one finished, before the next performer, then update firmware to V1.30. The update includes option to set H/P Pre or Post Main Fader. This will allow you to turn the Main fader down, but still hear on the headphones.
You have too much gain on the recording of this video though. 0db is too high. -12 recording is much safer and cleaner. Especially for a mix.
0db on the meter is -12dbFS
hi there, i'm a little confused, can we assign plugin parameters in a daw to the knobs in tascam, just like in a standard midi controller. i was planning to use it like a dj mixer, but if we can't assign for example a dj eq tool in a daw to the knobs in tascam, it is pretty useless to me. thanks in advance for your support.
In DAW Mode, only transport buttons, channel faders, pan knobs, Rec/Mute/Solo buttons are available. EQ knobs are not MIDI mapable.
nice vid, why is your mic audio quality so poor?
Thanks. Make sure you have high quality video setting for TH-cam. If this audio is as you say “so poor”, what’s a good one?
Sad to hear about the noisy preamps, all other reviews say they are clean.
Read the latest firmware, they added digital gain, so you don’t have to turn the gain knob too high.
@@RecordingStudio9 Does this mean one could use this as a PA mixer for a live band performance?
8:24 they fixed this in the firmware update
Yes, as a result of this video and the comments 😊
So it doesnt have enough gain to handle a condensor mic or dynamic mic? that kinda sucks. Guess im canceling my order :( I can get a fethead for my dynamic mics but i cant afford 100-200$ mic amps for my condensers which from what i was told, cloudlifters and fetheads wont add power since the mics are already using phantom power so id be stuck having to buy a few very expensive mic preamps for condensers. currently have a soundcraft mtk 12 i HATE because of this very problem with gain, you have to max it out with condensers and its so noisy and loud. and you cant hear dynamics at all. I had hoped the tascam i ordered could handle the mics. Do you have any suggestions for a multi track mixer that could push these mics? (I prefer one that i can split the inputs in windows like the soundcraft, so i can have my input 1 going to OBS for my main mic as i stream on twitch, while inputs 2-6 go to studio one for my guitar, bass, vocal mic, all that)
I end up using my Mic-pre, which I do all the time anyway, to bring the level up. I also use INSERTs on CH 1&2 with outboard Comp to bring the level up. So, my gain on the mixer is at 0db Unity (about 11 o'clock).
As to the rest of the channels, I always have to add gain in my DAW after recording.
12 is the best 16 & 24 do not have midi lol
did they ever do any of the updates you were hoping for?
Yes, the headphone tied to master fader has been fixed. Now you can set so that even if master fader is at zero, you can listen on headphones. As of Firmware 1.3.0
How many stereo options could I record all at once into my DAW (Synths)
That’s 5 stereo
But this is fully analog mixer not digital...
Yes it’s fully digital mixer. Just looks analog.
If you compare this Model 12 to the 16 and 24, its different. The 16 and 24 are hybrid, in that they are analog mixers with a digital interface. This one is digital. That's why you can use it as a controller and not the other two. Personally, I think it was an odd choice to not make them all the same way.