Tascam Model 12 | Tom Quayle Review 

Great review, thanks. The real question that the Model 12 raises is this: Why isn't everyone doing this? It just makes so much sense to combine a USB mixer/interface with a control surface. In fact, it seems silly to ever have them as separate. Now I just want someone to bring this out with motorised faders.

Much appreciate how thorough and well-explained everything is. I've been eyeing one of these, and this basically answered all the questions I've had in my research. Also helps to hear positive feedback from someone who clearly works with a lot of different gear at a professional level.

First video that clearly explained why it's 12 that I've seen. I've had mine for a year and this vid is 2 years old. I started with the paper manual and now that I'm checking out these videos I'm making more progress

Best Model 12 video on YT by far! Thank you!

Great! This breakdown is the most thorough I have watched so far. I appreciate the time you took with all of the features of this device. SOLD!

Fantastic review. Honestly I’m sold on this now. Thanks Tom

Tom great demo as usual just ordered my model 12 last night very excited..

Great coverage of the unit. I have the 16 and it good to hear it mentioned in comparison . Will watch you Model 16 next! Peace

Outstanding review! I have a Model 12 on the way and can't wait to dig in!

This was the most useful video on the Tascam 12. Thanks for the concise explanation. I will be buying this thanks to this video.

Great review, very thorough. Answered most of my questions.

Hi, Tom, I'm a new subscriber, thanking you for such a well done tour of the Tascam Model 12. Your intelligence comes through with your spot-on, no nonsense delivery! I just ordered one of these and in advance of it's arrival, I downloaded the owner's manual. The manual provided no clarification as to whether or not the built-in effects are record-able directly without resorting to an additional patching/routing solution through the aux-outs and such. (A review I read questioned whether it was an option: He hadn't had his long enough to know. I'm mostly going to be doing my spoken-word material on this, nothing fancy. I just want to be able to have a finished mix without resorting to a DAW or outboard effects. I'd prefer to not have to commit to effects choices until mixdown. I'm an ancient analog guy and I suppose when it comes to routing, with an option-laden piece of gear such as the Model 12, it may just be a case of 'where there's will, there's a way.' Thanks again, stellar!

Thanks for this great video. Thanks to you my Tascam Model 12 arrived yesterday.

Bought it. Loving it so far. I’ve always wanted a full-scale desk with digital FX. There is some learning to do, but the process of discovery is good. There are plenty of vids out there about recording songs and mixing them down. The Owner’s Manual is not very good at the end-game, so be sure to click around RU-vid. Like most digital gear, there will be some excess capacity. For example, I’ll never use the Bluetooth function, or any external FX. I won’t use the DAW facility, despite it being one of the main functions. I just want a good recorder and I think this is it.

Great review. You convinced me that I need to purchase this console.

Tom, Thanks so much for this detailed review. I have been shopping for a small desk for both recording (Cubase) and live solo performance (When it’s safe to do so again). And I think you sold me in the model 12.

Great overview! I love this line. I didn't have the money for the Model 16 so I bought the Tascam US 16x08, which is killer for the money. I'd love to have a Model 12.

Also, this is probably the best mixer for streaming podcasts because of everything you mentioned and the new firmware update which give us output-delay function, meaning that even if there is a delay between the visual and the audio, we can fix it at the output level and also run a PA with the main outputs which won't be affected by this.

Fantastic information and very engaging presentation. Thank you. oh, and I want one.

Always great, straight information. Thanks

Excellent review. Thanks!

Great review from a real musician point of view!!

When I was 16 I saved all summer to buy a Fostex VF160ex. 1300 buckaroos 2100 today. And it had 2 mic preamps. I wish I had this Tascam when I was a kid. My old recordings are weak as I ran my drum mics into the line input. I also used the line input as a DI. If I had this Tascam my recordings from those early years would rock.

Great breakdown btw TRS is tip ring sleeve (not sends) thanks for the review

Great review. This looks good.

Really great review, thanks a mil! Just ordered this Tascam 12 as an upgrade from the Mackie Onxy 8, and excited for it to arrive! While the Onxy imo definitely had good sound quality and was conveniently compact, I felt it consolidated too much of its USB interface functionality for it to be user friendly and used extensibly enough. Also the Onxy is disappointingly only able to serve as a live multi-track mixer, rather than also a studio mixer--meaning no way to (at least ideally/individually) capture EQ’ing, FX etc on the way into the box or SD file, and no way to post mix outside of the box or off an SD file onto its physical channel strips--as the Onxy is only pre [strip] aux out, while this Tascam beautifully has a toggle to switch between btwn both pre and post aux out. Also love the vintage look of this Tascam and sure looks like its build solid too.👍👍

Genius review. Subbed. Cheers.

I just got one of these. only 2 days in, but the sound quality passes the test for me (as Tom says) and also it has replaced my old analog mixer, interface, sd recorder, outboard reverb, metronome and computer. The features are ideal for me. Only thing missing would be a stereo fx return and a "tape input" like my old mackie so i don't have to tie up a recording channel with stereo sources. great piece of gear so far.

I like you mention the drivers it's important and usually not addressed...

Dude. Great breakdown. Buying one 👍

I have one of these and they're an unbelievable bargain - you really can do so much so quality/controls it beats most audio interfaces in that price point. Mixers like this need to be the new normal imho.

Great review

great videos, thanks! was wondering, how would you say the model 12 preamp compares to, say, the asp880 or similar preamp? i've already spent the bucks on the latter so i'm having a hard time justifying recording onto the sd card on the tascam rather than my computer daw via the asp880. what do you think??

NICE review.

Awesome thanks for the video.

1010Bluebox or Model 12 - to buy,or not to buy - that is the question ? What a really comprehensive review - done in a single take methinks - and i think it's helped me to resolve some of the existential angst around purchasing what i need to have some fun making music ! When Shakespeare first started out he must have thought - what do i need to get cracking ? Some paper,ok.A quill pen,ok and some ink.End of.Perhaps if he had to spend hours online researching equipment,reading reviews,being sidetracked by perhaps a better quality quill,a negative review etc etc and then deciding how he was going to pay for it,doing an unboxing video,possibly developing GAS in the process,wondering if Mrs Shakespeare would approve - things might have turned out diferently. Asked to review the Model 12 he might have said " 'Though she be but little she is fierce' "........

Just being the annoying audio engineer here : I love this product... but this is actually not an analogue desk. You can re-amp the tracks and therefore hard-bypass the channel strip, which means that the AD conversion happens before the signal hits the channel strip. Tascam clearly states it in their manual, despite marketing it profusely as an analogue desk. Does it matters? Honestly, no, not at this price point. You can still use it as a stand-alone mixer, and it looks and feels analogue. But the AD conversion happens before anything else, which means that this, actually, a *digital* mixer through and through.

I got interested in this because I’m setting up a small home studio and I’ve got Logic Pro x and all I’ve got for an interface is my line 6 HD500x or in the future when I upgrade to helix. But this model 12 is a live mixer, a daw control surface and audio interface. I haven’t found a better unit for the price. Similar units with these features run 2500 ish.

Very helpful, thank you!

Great video ! thanks you Did you notice big differences between analog sound (Live) and Digital sound (Pc and Mtr) ?

It’s not an analog mixer. It is different in this regard to the 16 and 24 track. That’s how they could make it a DAW controller.

Awesome video 👍 👍 Thanks!

Great review. I appreciate the extra details you explained. I've owned a Model 12 for about 9 months. My first 'analogue' mixer; overall, i would highly recommend it. There is a learning curve (and I must admit to struggling a bit as I'm used to Garageband and Logic Pro X), but it is very reliable and the sound quality is great. The Bluetooth iPhone connection works really well on track 9/10. Multi track recording to SD card works really well. I'm sure there are many features I've not mastered yet. Didn't really understand what 'inserts' were and still haven't got round to actually making it work; I guess it means two-way communication on one cable; maybe I can hook up my Empirical Labs Distressor EL8-X to insert 1 and my eventide reverb to insert 2. Could use another one or two Model 12s lol

I don't have one but the SWEEPABLE MID FREQUENCY is what caught my eye about it.

great review my friend thank you.1love

Nice review bro

Hi , in Live Mode , it is possible to record a master track like a normal recorder ? How does it work ?

are the analogue channels able to go out via USB, or do the USB I/O have a separate digital gain? I'm returning a Soundcraft unit right now because you can't route the USB audio through the analogue on the first pass.

I have only been able to use the compression and eq on channels 1&2 in a Logic Pro X session. All volume and pans work.

Stop making me buy stuff, Tom. I’ve alteady bought Tascam 208i because of you and I love it

Is it compatible with GarageBand on an IPad? I was wondering because I use gl just now but can’t get a decent guitar sound electric or acoustic but I do like some of the drum and keyboard sounds. This looks like a great piece of equipment that gives you a quality sound recording.

Awesome! Thank You!!

Thanks for the review and I'm a little late to the party, but certainly will be purchasing one soon. My question if that's ok is, what stand are you using because this set up would suit my limited space in my tiny project studio. Any one with any ideas? Looks like a sturdy music stand? Thanks

What im getting from the manual. It is A/D in then at final output Analog..for that warmth.

Can it behave as a master MIDI clock based on the BPM of the metronome? Would be pretty sweet to be able to make this the central hub of a live rig as the master clock.

How to adjust the settings so the OBS reads the sum mix instead of the individual 1-2 channels? Thank you! And great information!!

This is a great unit for your money. Good presentation (got a like from me) Sorry, but looks like you haven't done much research on this unit before your review. CORRECTIONS: 1. Not an analog mixer, past the gain knob, it's already digital, Comp, EQ, etc. 2. TRRS input for mobile phones "mix minus" is for skype or zoom call feature to stop the other party hearing themselves with echo (latency), not about karaoke or backing track.

Great breakdown! Sold me on it lol

This is for podcast... if I set the mode switch to PC because I wanted to play audio from my computer (a Mac) how would I set stereo playback? Would I have to assign on channel as left and another as right? If so, that's kind of a pain in the ass, as I play audio during our show and mix on the fly. Dealing with 2 faders would be kind of a pain. We're often talking over stuff. Also, if I record multitrack into a DAW, can it be set as post-fader? Thanks! Great work!

Appreciate advise how to get headphones audio from model 12. Thanks.

Hi Tom....Thnx for the video.... I am thinking about buying the Tascam 12, but I have some questions.....Maybe you can help me with that before I decide. 1. If you are playing live, How many monitors can you use for the musicians? I see there are 2 aux. So If you use 2 monitors then you can't use the effects anymore? 2. Can I connect the Tascam to my Mac and record the multitracks directly in my DAW(Cubase)? 3.When I choose an effect 4 example reverb, That's the only one I can send to every channel? Or can I send 2 or more different kind of effect? Well I hope you can help me out😊✌🏽

Hello how are you doing I just buy tascam model 12 ,the problem is that I’m always record it using irig2 with this one I can’t make it works if you know can you please help me out where I can coneted or make it work.

Am now subscribed because of how simple you broke down this gear! I use my Apollo Solo Interface to connect to the 'LUNA' DAW from Universal Audio, so do you know if the Model 12 will be compatible as a controller? Tascam has videos for setting up all the other major DAW's, but there's no mention of compatibility with 'LUNA'. Please help!

Fantastic! Very clear and comprehensive, which makes me think I missed the answer to my question, which is this: My band would like to use a mixer like this both for live sound and to record multitrack simultaneously. We'd want to actually mix, EQ, compress and EFX the audio later to sync with video shot at the gig. Can we send completely dry multitrack signals to the SD card at the same time that we have compressed / EQ'd / EFX'd signals going out to the house? Or do the channel strip controls affect both outputs at the same time? Thanks, all.

How many tracks can be recorded simultaneously on PC DAW? Are they pre compressor pre EQ only or can be recorded post compressor post EQ?

Is he using a generic sheet music stand for this demo? I am interested in using a similar stand for my Tascam Model 12 Mixer, preferably one I can adjust the angle on, but I don't think a generic music stand could support the weight of this mixer.

In PC mode is EQ and compression after the fact or can you record into your settings?

Hey is it pre or post EQ when using it as a audio interface(multirecording)?

In the video, you call it an analogue mixer, but it is, in fact, a digital mixer that just looks analogue. Once the audio has passed through the preamps, it goes to a ADC, and the rest of it is digital. Except for the analogue outputs, of course. Being a digital mixer unlike its siblings, isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course, as this is what allows its knobs and sliders to be used as a MIDI and DAW controller, but it is something one should be aware of.

Really In-depth review ThankYou! Am i right in saying you cant record any EQ'ing/Comp/ or FX, But can once audio is recorded onto Model12. Im a little Lost lol. Thanks!

So if one mixes within a software suite within a DAW, like I mix in Izotope Neutron within Reaper - this thing is not very useful to me with that set up, eh? Like I can't control the bands on Neutron's EQ for instance, right?>

good video. just to clarify, this is a digital mixer and not analog like the model 16 and 24. and the only one, of the three, that operates as a control surface for your DAW.

Thanks for a great review Tom. I already have the model 12 (and am a big fan-I'm pretty much "no computer recording" guy) but I like going back and looking at reviews-I always seem to pick up something I wasn't aware of. (anything to keep from RTFM, right?!)

Mixcraft is not listed in the DAW list. What DAW pre-set should I use? Also, where do I find the "Orcs"?

is this compatible with Propellerhead's Reason (11)?

Tom, great review. I would like to position my Model 12 vertically like yours. Which stand do you use to do so? I am looking for a strong sturdy stand to mount my model 12. Thanks.

Great! How is the quality of the soundcard....it have good ASIO driver for VST Instruments?

Question: Is the Tascam Model 12 USB class compliant (for use in iOS)? I have a PC at the moment for my DAW, but also lean heavily on the iPad for so many things, from midi drums, to synth, and some DAW work such as Auria and GarageBand. That said, I would LOVE it if the Model 12 was flexible enough to offer this kind of marriage between these two worlds for studio work - on the fly. If the midid clock can be synced with iPad and my Windows DAW and I can also link my various iPad apps that use AbletonLink I would be a happy camper.

i own much more expensive gear, but the model 12 is simply great for being so convenient. like many other reviewers you get something wrong: unlike the model 16 and 24, the model 12 is fully digital. so, as you claim in 1:52, mixing back through the analog mixer isn’t possible, cause there isn’t any analog mixer😎 and imo in this priceclass analog doesn’t make sense, besides the preamps. but still: for me the model 12 is a great piece of gear for recording and project studios. tascam really seem to have thought about making our lives easier.

Will this work as a controller with studio one 4.5?

Is it build it for in ear monitoring?

Are there any more mixers (maybe smaller, less channels preferably) that have bluetooth assignable channels? I’ve looked and can’t find any.

Hi ,one question: can i use the aux1 output for a stage monitor? Thanks

Question, say a person bought the model 12. Then down the road wanted the ability to record more live. Can a person buy a second model 12 or even the model 16 or the bigger one what is that 22 or 24. Can they be synced and the outputs be merged or can all 28 tracks be merged on stereo or 5.1 tracks on logic or even the machine. Sorry if I’m confusing. Basically you have one but want to add another can they be synced.

Hello I have the model 24 they is some who can show where to find reverb?

Thanks for the review. I bought a Model 12 a few months ago and I disagree that this desk is "intuitive". I still have much to learn and the included documentário is very succint. You'll sweat to learn to use it. I am a musicians, and I had a DP24 Tascam recorder for years, but the Model 12 does not replace the recorder. Yes, it will record your music, but it won't master it and you have much less functionality for recording than you do with the DP24 or DP32. It is a great machine, but it is not easy to use and it will not replace your DP Tascam machines

Might ne a dumb question, but what are the pros and cons of owning Tascam Model 12 with another audio interface, Scarlett 2i2 let's say.

Mix minus is nothing to do with vocal removal, it's a setup where you send the full mix back to the phone call 'minus' the input of the phone itself, so the caller doesn't get a delayed copy coming back at them. In this case you plug your phone in with a TRRS mini jack, then you can take a call and hear the caller, and they hear you, but not themselves again. It's not high tech, you'd usually do it on a conventional mixer by sending all channels to the phone via an Aux, just minus the incoming call channel

so please answer me this... it has global phantom... so the 1/4" jacks could be used for dynamic mics right... it says the 1/4" is balanced... so you should be fine using any mic when phantom... just use an adapter ... from xlr to 1/4" balanced.

Thank you for the video! Would this be a good solution to mic a drumset into a DAW to record? 7 piece kit (x1) Snare - Top Mic (x1) Snare - Bottom Mic (x1) Rack Tom 1 Mic (x1) Rack Tom 2 Mic (x1) Floor Tom 1 Mic (x1) Floor Tom 2 Mic (x1) Kick Drum Mic (x1) Overhead Mic 1 (x1) Overhead Mic 2 (x1) Additional Mic for Hi-Hats/Ride Cymbal if needed Or should I be using the analog Model 14? Thanks again!!! 🤘

which is better or more features this or the zoom livetrak l-12 digital mixer

Is it correct that a L/R instrument like a keyboard or electric drum kit should go L and R into channel 7/8 or 9/10, in order to save channels?

I just bought it, sounds very good, my cubase is reading it but two annoying things: 1) I can’t connect my pedal on the aux, it has only aux out, no returns? 2) the return of my laptop is going only on channels 1 and 2 which is a waste, I can’t use those two channels for my other instruments when im producing If anyone has any tricks and tips for those two issues will be very much appreciated 🙏🏻

Can the AUX 2 (FX) be set to pre fader?

Would you say the Tascam Model 12 preamps are better than what's found on a typical Behringer mixer?

Can you record to the SD card and the daw at the same time?

Do you remember if there is any fan noise? I was thinking of using one of these to take in the closet and record some vocals, then export files to logic. A silent unit would be perfect.

Hello Tom, I recently purchased a Tascam Model 12. I am very intrigued about the 4 pole jack (which I have)for the iPhone or iPod to remove the lead vocals on an existing track from my phone while plugged into the Tascam. I understand it goes through channels 9/10. But I am completely baffled on how to separate the lead vocals from an existing song with the Tascam. I see no mention of this in the owners manual. Are you saying that this feature can be used as sort of a karaoke feature, singing over an existing song while removing the artists lead vocals? How do you separate the two? Very confused. Please explain, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you!

I have 2/ 15 inch speakers and 2 10 inch speakers not powered I use the 10s as monitor. not powered . can i connect a power Amp to run speaker's? am thinking about buying model 12 I've owned powered mixer. And Boss recorders.. But the Power mixer not working as well these days .. so looking at this unit. Not sure how this works. Am thinking this needs power manitor only Dave in Florida

Will it work with the Mac m1chip ?