A workaround that worked for me was to just remove the switch from the circuit. I connected the positive and negative wires to each other and covered the metal parts with the cable protectors and electrical tape. Now Model 12 lives on an extension cord with its power switch operating as a power switch for the mixer. Of course, this leaves a gaping hole on the back of the unit where the power switch used to be, but that's nothing that a black piece of tape wont hide. Just a possibility for those who, say, have poor access to new parts and an upcoming gig that relies on the mixer to work. :)
I heard about the power issue before, and I was a bit frustrated by that but I still decided to buy a model 12. I took it apart and the power switch connector seemed loose indeed. I bypassed the power switch by soldering a piece of wire to the board, and now I don't have to worry about it not turning on, since I'm planning to use it on live events too. Also, two of my 'rec' buttons were a bit funky and did not have a click to them, I managed to fix them too by turning the transparent plastic part by 180 degrees. It's not really nice that I had to do this. But after these fixes, I am a happy owner of this unit.
THANK YOU! To your point about the switch being loose; can confirm that readjusting/bending the rocker switch leads fixed this problem for me instantly. There's a small tongue/lip on the pins, just needed to clip it back into place. Weird! After no mixer for 2 months, you saved me $200+ in repairs 🖖
I have the same power issue with my model 12. I just keep the unit in the on position all the time the last time it successfully powered up and keep it plugged into a separate power strip and I just use the power strips power switch and it fires up every time this way (hundreds of power cycles). I had this issue on my previous model 12 which was sent back and replaced after waiting 9 months and then the replacement started doing the same thing. Must be a frequent issue on these boards. I’m not big into ripping my gear apart so just found a quick work around “fix.” Won’t ever get another Tascam. Next mixer will probably be a PreSonus Studiolove Series III 32SC. Thx for posting. May check the connector to see if it’s loose and try to tighten the connection to see if that might fix it.
Thanks to the OP for posting this video--I wish I had found this stuff out before my warranty expired. I also figured out that it powers on using a power strip, however, I'm back looking for solutions now that it's starting to happen again even with the power strip. Now I'm having to cycle the on/off even more. I'm gonna open it up and check out that connection, and definitely gonna try to contact tascam for a replacement.
Phew! I saw my life flash before my eyes when this problem reared it's head last month. I cannot afford a new mixer at this point and this video saved my ass. Though the anxiety provoking ambience did not help my heart rate! Lmao having a panic attack while having the sonic equivalent of a disassociating panic attack kept me on the edge of my seat. Really though, thanks for the help and the tunes
Thanks for posting this! I have this issue and, like another commenter, I found the fix was to power it on/off via a power strip. I'd like to replace the switch, but Tascam absolutely refuse to send me a replacement (I want to pay, even though it's a common defect with this mixer) or give me a model no. so I can order my own. They keep telling me they'll only repair it for me (at my expense, shipping/repair etc) despite me saying I'm more than capable of replacing the part myself. Extremely frustrating and poor customer service from Tascam, making absolutely sure I won't be buying any more of their gear. Shame, as it's otherwise a great mixer.
im sorry to hear that, i bought mine from my local music store whom contacted the dealer on my behalf and i was really close to my warranty expiration at the time. so i think i got really lucky. a generic can be sourced i believe. another yt'r posted this part thru digikey : 708-2505-ND, no idea if its legit but maybe ?
Tascam sucks like that for whatever reason. At least when it comes to things like that. I've had issues with them before (good luck if you have a piece of gear with a weird power supply, & you're definitely screwed if it's a discontinued product. They can even be unnecessarily rude with you about it too.)
Agreed. I've had my other Tascam mixer/recorder for almost 25 years & it just started having serious issues last year. It had issues well before then but those were because of the poor build quality (all plastic chassis & some of the inputs/outputs were literally just soldered to the board inside with no reinforcement whatsoever & they came loose over time. Actually a few came loose within a year or two after I got it but I couldn't return it or afford to get it fixed. But still worked; just had to be in place a certain way to get a good connection. 😂 Other than that, it served me quite well until last year. No idea what the problem is, but no matter what I do, nothing I record on it sounds right. It's hard AF to just get anything to sound decent. Last two songs I recorded on it took me a month or two each just to get a result that was listenable. It's that bad, but it lasted for that long. Playing through it as a mixer still sounds fine; just can't get a good recording on it. So I got one of these model 12s. I love it so far.)
I got this issue on my Model 12. I tried adjusting the switch connectors but turning on is still super inconsistent. Hopefully, Tascam will send me a replacement switch. It's ridiculous though that so many Model 12's have bad switches
Mine's doing the same thing. It's the second unit I've had with this problem. I'm just going to bypass the switch entirely, the flimsy standby switch is a bad design choice.
I had my Model 12 professionally serviced for this issue. 21 months later, the problem has returned. I just don't trust TASCAM to make a reliable product at this point.
another YT'r posted this part from digikey : 708-2505-ND, haven't tried it myself, however; from what I seen while reading specs, looks fine. for the price worth a shot. much cheaper than shipping your mixer, lol.
A workaround that worked for me was to just remove the switch from the circuit. I connected the positive and negative wires to each other and covered the metal parts with the cable protectors and electrical tape. Now Model 12 lives on an extension cord with its power switch operating as a power switch for the mixer. Of course, this leaves a gaping hole on the back of the unit where the power switch used to be, but that's nothing that a black piece of tape wont hide.
Just a possibility for those who, say, have poor access to new parts and an upcoming gig that relies on the mixer to work. :)
I heard about the power issue before, and I was a bit frustrated by that but I still decided to buy a model 12. I took it apart and the power switch connector seemed loose indeed. I bypassed the power switch by soldering a piece of wire to the board, and now I don't have to worry about it not turning on, since I'm planning to use it on live events too.
Also, two of my 'rec' buttons were a bit funky and did not have a click to them, I managed to fix them too by turning the transparent plastic part by 180 degrees.
It's not really nice that I had to do this. But after these fixes, I am a happy owner of this unit.
thank you for feedback !
Too many of us have this same problem with the Model 12.
THANK YOU! To your point about the switch being loose; can confirm that readjusting/bending the rocker switch leads fixed this problem for me instantly. There's a small tongue/lip on the pins, just needed to clip it back into place. Weird!
After no mixer for 2 months, you saved me $200+ in repairs 🖖
glad to help :D and thank you for you're feed back, it will help more ppl
I have the same power issue with my model 12. I just keep the unit in the on position all the time the last time it successfully powered up and keep it plugged into a separate power strip and I just use the power strips power switch and it fires up every time this way (hundreds of power cycles). I had this issue on my previous model 12 which was sent back and replaced after waiting 9 months and then the replacement started doing the same thing. Must be a frequent issue on these boards. I’m not big into ripping my gear apart so just found a quick work around “fix.” Won’t ever get another Tascam. Next mixer will probably be a PreSonus Studiolove Series III 32SC. Thx for posting. May check the connector to see if it’s loose and try to tighten the connection to see if that might fix it.
Thanks to the OP for posting this video--I wish I had found this stuff out before my warranty expired. I also figured out that it powers on using a power strip, however, I'm back looking for solutions now that it's starting to happen again even with the power strip. Now I'm having to cycle the on/off even more. I'm gonna open it up and check out that connection, and definitely gonna try to contact tascam for a replacement.
Phew! I saw my life flash before my eyes when this problem reared it's head last month. I cannot afford a new mixer at this point and this video saved my ass. Though the anxiety provoking ambience did not help my heart rate! Lmao having a panic attack while having the sonic equivalent of a disassociating panic attack kept me on the edge of my seat. Really though, thanks for the help and the tunes
I put I link in the comments to the part you will need to order from DigiKey. I have tested it. Good luck and thank you for comment.
Mine does the exact same thing. Thank you for the insight.
I guess I’m ordering a new switch. Mine also acted like this just after a year.
i have now ordered the switch from digi-key, its a nice fit. ( the one i posted in comments below) :D
Thanks for posting this! I have this issue and, like another commenter, I found the fix was to power it on/off via a power strip.
I'd like to replace the switch, but Tascam absolutely refuse to send me a replacement (I want to pay, even though it's a common defect with this mixer) or give me a model no. so I can order my own. They keep telling me they'll only repair it for me (at my expense, shipping/repair etc) despite me saying I'm more than capable of replacing the part myself.
Extremely frustrating and poor customer service from Tascam, making absolutely sure I won't be buying any more of their gear. Shame, as it's otherwise a great mixer.
im sorry to hear that, i bought mine from my local music store whom contacted the dealer on my behalf and i was really close to my warranty expiration at the time. so i think i got really lucky. a generic can be sourced i believe. another yt'r posted this part thru digikey :
708-2505-ND, no idea if its legit but maybe ?
Tascam sucks like that for whatever reason. At least when it comes to things like that. I've had issues with them before (good luck if you have a piece of gear with a weird power supply, & you're definitely screwed if it's a discontinued product. They can even be unnecessarily rude with you about it too.)
Good to watch this. I have a 12 and have had no trouble with it but good info ! thanks.
Agreed. I've had my other Tascam mixer/recorder for almost 25 years & it just started having serious issues last year.
It had issues well before then but those were because of the poor build quality (all plastic chassis & some of the inputs/outputs were literally just soldered to the board inside with no reinforcement whatsoever & they came loose over time. Actually a few came loose within a year or two after I got it but I couldn't return it or afford to get it fixed. But still worked; just had to be in place a certain way to get a good connection. 😂
Other than that, it served me quite well until last year. No idea what the problem is, but no matter what I do, nothing I record on it sounds right. It's hard AF to just get anything to sound decent. Last two songs I recorded on it took me a month or two each just to get a result that was listenable. It's that bad, but it lasted for that long. Playing through it as a mixer still sounds fine; just can't get a good recording on it. So I got one of these model 12s. I love it so far.)
I have a model 24 and no issues, but I’m still plenty interested 😊
I got this issue on my Model 12. I tried adjusting the switch connectors but turning on is still super inconsistent. Hopefully, Tascam will send me a replacement switch. It's ridiculous though that so many Model 12's have bad switches
Thanks to post the solution
Great video you wouldn’t happen to have a video on how to replace the USB port, would you?
Mine's doing the same thing. It's the second unit I've had with this problem. I'm just going to bypass the switch entirely, the flimsy standby switch is a bad design choice.
I had my Model 12 professionally serviced for this issue. 21 months later, the problem has returned. I just don't trust TASCAM to make a reliable product at this point.
Can I just ship mine to you and you can fix it?
another YT'r posted this part from digikey :
708-2505-ND, haven't tried it myself, however; from what I seen while reading specs, looks fine. for the price worth a shot.
much cheaper than shipping your mixer, lol.
here is another power switch failure video:
th-cam.com/video/KBDIJKzVtr4/w-d-xo.html
How did you post a link in TH-cam comments???
Those are always automatically deleted on other channels.