TASCAM MODEL 12 (01) PDF Document

When using your TASCAM Model 12, please adhere to the following safety instructions:

1. Read and keep these instructions.

2. Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.

3. Do not use this apparatus near water, and clean only with a dry cloth.

4. To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.

5. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

7. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

8. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and where it exits from the apparatus.

9. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

10. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. Use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

11. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

12. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required if the apparatus has been damaged in any way.

13. The mains plug is used as the disconnect device and should remain readily operable.

14. To prevent possible hearing damage, do not listen at high volume levels for long periods.

15. Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes, and do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on it.

16. The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any time.

The TASCAM Model 12 has a broadband transmitter using the 2.4GHz band. Here are the precautions for its use:

Compliance of radio transmitter and interference:

• Use frequency range: 2400 MHz – 2480 MHz

• Maximum output power: Bluetooth® Class 2 (less than 2.5 mW)

• Please use only in the country where you purchased the product. Depending on the country, restrictions on the use of Bluetooth wireless technology might exist.

Radiation Exposure requirements:

• This equipment meets the regulation, which is recognized internationally, for the case of human exposure to radio waves generated by the transmitter.

• For USA/Canada, this equipment has very low levels of RF energy. It is desirable that it should be installed and operated keeping the radiator at least 20 cm or more away from a person’s body (excluding extremities: hands, wrists, feet, and ankles).

Your TASCAM Model 12 comes with the following items:

• Main unit x 1

• AC adaptor (TASCAM PS-M1524A) x 1

• Cord for AC adapter (JAPAN USA/EUROPE/AUSTRALIA) x 3

• Owner’s Manual (this document) including warranty x 1

Always use the included AC adapter (PS-M1524A) and AC adapter power cord with this unit. Never use the included AC adapter or power cord with any other device, as it could cause damage, fire, or electric shock.

Precautions for placement and use:

• The operating temperature range is 5 – 35 °C.

• Do not install the unit in locations with significant vibrations, direct sunlight, near heaters, in extremely hot or cold places, or in very humid, poorly ventilated, or dusty places.

• To ensure good heat dissipation, do not place anything on top of the unit.

• Do not place the unit on top of a power amplifier or other device that generates heat.

Beware of condensation:

Condensation can occur if the unit is moved from a cold to a warm place or exposed to a sudden temperature change. To prevent this, or if it occurs, let the unit sit for one or two hours at the new room temperature before using it.

Cleaning the unit:

Use a dry soft cloth to wipe the unit clean. Do not use chemical cleaning cloths, thinner, alcohol, or other chemical agents, as doing so could damage the surface or cause discoloration.

The TASCAM Model 12 uses SD cards for recording and playback. It supports SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards that are Class 10 or higher.

Precautions for use:

• Do not leave them in extremely hot, cold, or humid places.

• Do not let them get wet.

• Do not put things on top of them or twist them.

• Do not hit them.

• Do not remove or insert them during recording, playback, data transmission, or other access.

• When transporting them, put them into cases.

SD card write protection:

The unit writes track information to the media to improve performance. Since setting information cannot be written to write-protected SD cards, settings will not be retained when the unit is restarted, and performance will be otherwise affected.

Note about formatting:

SD cards formatted by the TASCAM Model 12 are optimized for performance. It is recommended to use the unit itself to format the SD cards you will use with it. Errors might occur when recording with this unit using an SD card formatted by a computer or other device.

The TASCAM Model 12 has a built-in Bluetooth audio receiver to input sound from a compatible device.

Profiles:

The unit supports A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile). The Bluetooth device must support A2DP to transfer audio.

Codecs:

The unit supports SBC and AAC codecs and will automatically select one during audio transfer based on compatibility and communication conditions. You cannot manually select the codec. Due to Bluetooth wireless technology characteristics, playback from this unit will be slightly delayed compared to playback from the Bluetooth device.

Content protection:

The unit supports SCMS-T as a form of content protection, allowing it to play protected audio.

Transmission security:

The unit supports security functions during Bluetooth transmission in accordance with Bluetooth standard specifications, but it does not guarantee the privacy of such transmissions.

After using the MENU button to open the MENU Screen, you can operate it in the following manner:

• Selecting items (moving vertically on a page): Turn the MULTI JOG dial.

• Opening a submenu from a page: Press the MULTI JOG dial.

• Confirming a selected item: Press the MULTI JOG dial (ENTER button function).

• Returning to the previous screen without confirming: Press the F1 EXIT button.

• Going back one step in a menu: Press the F1 EXIT button.

• Returning to the Home Screen from a MENU Screen: Press the F1 HOME button.

Before making connections to your TASCAM Model 12, please follow these precautions:

• Carefully read the operation manuals of the devices to be connected and connect them correctly.

• Before making connections, turn this unit and all equipment to be connected off (standby).

• Install all connected devices, including this unit, so that they are powered from the same line. Use a power strip with high current capacity to minimize power voltage fluctuations.

• Before connecting audio equipment, set the following knobs and faders to their lowest values to avoid sudden loud noises:

– GAIN knobs (channels 1-6, 7/8-9/10)

– Channel faders (channels 1-6, 7/8-9/10)

– SUB fader

– AUX 1 / AUX 2 knobs

– MAIN fader

– PHONES knob

• Set the PHANTOM +48V switch to off.

Connecting the power:

Use the included AC adapter (TASCAM PS-M1524A). Connect it to the DC IN 15V connector on the back of the unit and turn the nut on the plug to secure it.

Connecting microphones:

• Dynamic mics: Connect to the MIC/LINE (BAL)/INST input jacks.

• Condenser mics: Connect to a MIC/LINE (BAL)/INST input jack and turn the PHANTOM +48V switch on (pushed in).

Connecting guitars, basses, and similar instruments:

For instruments with high impedance output (Hi-Z), connect directly to the MIC/LINE (BAL)/INST TRS input jacks and turn the INST switch on (pushed in).

Connecting electronic devices and other audio equipment:

Use the MIC/LINE (BAL)/INST input jacks (1-6, 7/8-9/10).

Connecting smartphones/portable audio players:

Use the MUSIC/TALK jack. A 4-pole (TRRS) mini plug allows you to send the MAIN OUTPUT signal to a smartphone while receiving audio from it on channels 9/10.

Connecting monitor speakers:

Connect monitor speakers (powered speakers or an amplifier and speaker system) to the SUB OUTPUT jacks. Use the SUB fader to adjust the speaker volume.

Connecting headphones:

Connect headphones to the PHONES jack (standard stereo). You can monitor signals from the MAIN OUTPUT, SOLO L/R bus, AUX 1 bus, and AUX 2/FX bus. Before connecting headphones, minimize the volume with the PHONES knob to prevent sudden loud noise.

Use a commercially-available Type-A-to-Type-C USB cable to connect the unit to a computer USB 2.0 port. The unit should be connected directly to the computer, not through a USB hub. The USB indicator in the screen operation section lights when the connection is working.

Pairing:

1. Set the ASSIGN switch on the TASCAM Model 12 to “9/10” or “MAIN”.

2. Confirm that the PAIRING indicator on the unit is blinking. If it is unlit, press the PAIRING button.

3. Select “Model 12” on your Bluetooth device. When pairing is successful, the PAIRING indicator will stop blinking and remain lit.

Unpairing:

1. Press and hold the PAIRING button on the TASCAM Model 12 for at least two seconds.

2. This ends the pairing. The PAIRING indicator will start blinking, and the unit will be ready to pair with another device.

Inserting SD cards:

1. Open the SD card slot cover.

2. The SD card should be inserted with its label facing left.

3. Close the SD card slot cover.

Removing SD cards:

Turn the unit off or stop operation before removing an SD card. Never remove an SD card while the unit is operating (recording, playing back, or writing data), as this could cause data loss or damage.

1. Press the SD card in gently to make it come up.

2. Pull the SD card out.

SD card write protection switches:

SD cards have a write-protection switch. If you slide the switch to the “LOCK” position, writing will not be possible. Move the switch to the unlocked position to record, erase, and edit data.

Before turning the power on:

1. Make the following settings on the top of the unit:

• Other knobs – all the way left

• Faders – all the way down

• Switches – off (not pushed in)

2. Minimize the output levels of audio sources and input levels of amplifiers connected to this unit.

Turning the power on:

1. Use the STANDBY switch on the back of the unit to turn its power on.

2. Turn on connected input audio source devices.

3. Finally, turn on amplifiers.

Turning the power off:

Before turning the power off, minimize the levels of output faders and knobs, and then follow the power-on procedures in reverse order.

1. When the recorder is stopped, select DATE/TIME on the SYSTEM Screen and open the DATE/TIME Screen.

2. Turn the MULTI JOG dial to change a value, and press the MULTI JOG dial to confirm and move the cursor to the next item. You can also use the F2 and F3 buttons to move the cursor.

3. Change the year, month, day, hour, and minute in order to complete the date and time setting.

4. Press the F4 SET button to confirm the setting and return to the SYSTEM Screen.

Adjusting the display contrast:

1. When the recorder is stopped, select DISPLAY on the SYSTEM Screen, and open the DISPLAY Screen.

2. Adjust the display contrast. Options: 10-40 (default: 28).

3. Press the MULTI JOG dial to confirm the setting.

4. Press the F1 EXIT button to return to the SYSTEM Screen.

Adjusting the display brightness:

1. On the DISPLAY Screen, press the MULTI JOG dial to move the cursor to the DIMMER item.

2. Adjust the display brightness. Options: HIGH (default), LOW.

3. Press the MULTI JOG dial to confirm the setting.

4. Press the F1 EXIT button to return to the SYSTEM Screen.

To make an SD card usable for recording or playback, the TASCAM Model 12 must first create a system file on it.

1. When a new card or a card formatted by another device is inserted, a pop-up message “No sys file. Make sys file. Are you sure?” appears.

2. Press the MULTI JOG dial to create a system file. When system file creation is complete, the Home Screen will reopen.

In order to record, you must also format the card using the unit. See “How do I format an SD card on the TASCAM Model 12?”.

1. Open the SONG Screen when the recorder is stopped.

2. Press the F4 NEW button to open the NEW Screen.

3. Turn the MULTI JOG dial to select the recording file format (e.g., 44.1kHz – 16bit).

4. To edit the name of the song, press the F2 NAME button to open the NAME EDIT Screen. Edit the name and press OK.

5. Press the F4 OK button to save the currently loaded song and create a new song. When song creation is complete, the SONG Screen reopens.

To manage songs, first open the SONG Screen from the MENU Screen.

Loading Songs:

1. Select the song you want to load and press the MULTI JOG dial to open the pop-up menu.

2. Select LOAD and press the MULTI JOG dial.

Saving the current song:

1. Select the current song (marked with a *) and press the MULTI JOG dial.

2. Select SAVE and press the MULTI JOG dial. This saves information like added marks.

Deleting songs:

1. Select the song you want to delete and press the MULTI JOG dial.

2. Select DELETE and press the MULTI JOG dial. A confirmation screen will appear.

3. Press the F4 YES button to confirm deletion. The current song cannot be deleted.

Protecting/unprotecting songs:

1. Select the song you want to protect or unprotect and press the MULTI JOG dial.

2. Select PROTECT or UNPROTECT and press the MULTI JOG dial.

3. Press the F4 YES button to confirm. Protected songs will show a lock icon and cannot be edited, recorded on, or deleted.

Use these operations to edit text on screens like the RENAME screen:

• Changing the cursor (editing point) position: Use the F2 and F3 buttons. You can also press the MULTI JOG dial to move to the next character.

• Deleting the character at the cursor position: Turn the MULTI JOG dial. You can input up to 11 characters.

• Leaving a single space open: Turn the MULTI JOG dial to select a blank space at the left end of any row and press the MULTI JOG dial.

• Canceling edits: Press the F1 EXIT button.

• Confirming the changes: Press the F4 OK button.

1. Press the REC buttons for the channels you want to record. The REC button will blink red, indicating it’s in recording standby.

2. Set the recording levels. Use the GAIN knobs of each channel to adjust their input levels. Watch the SIG indicators and level meters to set suitable levels without distortion.

3. Press the ● (record) button. Recording will start, and the ● and ▶/II buttons will light. The REC buttons for the recording tracks will stop blinking and stay lit.

4. When recording has completed, press the ■ (stop) button.

5. Use the ◀◀/▶▶ and ■ buttons to locate to a position you want to check.

6. Press the ▶/II button to play the recorded tracks. Use the channel and MAIN faders to adjust playback levels.

You can undo recording, auto punch in/out, and track clearing operations.

Undoing the previous operation:

1. When the Home Screen is open, press the F3 UNDO button.

2. A confirmation pop-up message will appear. Press the F4 YES button to return to the state before the previous operation.

Redoing an undone operation:

1. After an undo, when “REDO” appears on the Home Screen, press the F3 REDO button.

2. A confirmation pop-up message will appear. Press the F4 YES button to restore the previous operation.

1. Use the AUX 2/FX knobs of each channel to adjust the levels of signals sent to the built-in effect.

2. Press the SELECT button in the Analog output adjustment section to open the EFFECT Screen.

3. On the EFFECT Screen, turn the MULTI JOG dial to select the built-in effect type (e.g., 1.HALL1, 8.DELAY1).

4. Press the MULTI JOG dial to select a parameter item (e.g., TIME) and turn the dial to adjust its value.

5. Press the F3 ON or F2 OFF button to turn the built-in effect on or off.

6. Use the FX fader and TO AUX 1 knob to adjust the return levels for each bus (MAIN MIX, SOLO, AUX1, SUB).

1. Determine the part of the track you want to replace in advance.

2. Press the REC button for the track to be replaced to enter recording standby (REC button blinks).

3. Start playback before the part to be replaced.

4. When the part to be replaced is reached, press the ● (record) button to punch in.

5. When the end of the part to be replaced is reached, press the ▶/II (play) button to punch out. The unit will switch to playback and stop after two seconds.

Setting the punch in/out points:

1. When the recorder is stopped, go to MENU > MTR > AUTO PUNCH to open the AUTO PUNCH Screen.

2. Press the ▶/II button to start playback.

3. Press the MULTI JOG dial to set the punch in and out points as the track plays.

4. Press the ■ (stop) button to stop playback.

5. Press the F4 ON button to turn the automatic punch in/out function on. The A.PUNCH icon will appear.

Using automatic punching in and out:

1. Confirm that the A.PUNCH icon appears on the Home Screen.

2. Press the REC buttons for the tracks you want to record.

3. Press the ● (record) button. The transport will start playback from the pre-roll point, automatically start recording at the punch in point, and stop recording at the punch out point.

All track editing functions are found under MENU > MTR > TRACK EDIT.

Clearing tracks:

1. Select TRACK CLEAR. Turn the MULTI JOG dial to select the track to clear and press the dial. A confirmation message will appear.

2. Press the F4 YES button to clear the track. You can also press F2 ALL to clear all tracks.

Importing tracks:

1. First, connect the unit to a computer and copy WAV files to the “MUSIC” folder on the SD card.

2. On the TASCAM Model 12, select IMPORT. Select a WAV file to import and press the F4 OK button.

3. Select the target track for import and press the F4 YES button to import it.

Swapping tracks:

1. Select TRACK SWAP. Turn the MULTI JOG dial to select a track for item A.

2. Press the MULTI JOG dial to move to item B and turn the dial to select the second track.

3. Press the F4 YES button to swap the contents of the two selected tracks.

First, ensure the F4 button on the Home Screen is set to MARK (MENU > SYSTEM > KEY FUNCTION).

• Adding marks: When playing or recording, press the F4 MARK button to add a mark at the current point.

• Moving between marks: When stopped, paused, or playing back, press the ◀◀ or ▶▶ buttons to move (skip) to the previous or next mark.

• Clearing individual marks:

1. Skip to a mark that you want to delete.

2. Press the F4 MARK button to open the Mark Clear confirmation screen.

3. Press the F4 YES button to clear the mark.

• Clearing all marks: On the SONG screen, open the pop-up menu for the current song and select CLR ALL MARKS.

Setting the click sound output:

1. Go to MENU > CLICK > SETTING. Select the output destination (CLICK OUT, PHONES1, PHONES2, etc.) and open its settings screen.

2. Select OUTPUT and set it to ON. For CLICK OUT, you can also select a MODE (e.g., REC&PLAY).

3. Select VOLUME and turn the MULTI JOG dial to set the click output level.

Making metronome settings:

1. Go to MENU > CLICK > METRONOME.

2. You can set the following:

• BAR DISP: Changes the time counter to show bars and beats.

• TEMPO: Sets the tempo from 20 to 250 BPM. You can also tap the CLICK button to set the tempo.

• SIGNATURE: Sets the time signature.

• SOUND: Sets the click sound (CLICK, STICK, BELL, etc.).

Starting and stopping the metronome manually:

Press the CLICK button to start the metronome when it is off, and press it again to stop it when it is on.

All mixer settings are found under MENU > MIXER.

• MTR/USB SEND POINT: Select this to set where the signal is sent from for recording. For each channel, you can choose PRE COMP (before compressor), POST COMP (after compressor), or POST EQ (after equalizer).

• PHASE: Select this to change the phase of each channel. You can select a channel and toggle between NORMAL and INVERT.

• AUX1 SEND: Select this to change whether the signal sent to the AUX 1 bus is PRE FADER (before the channel fader) or POST FADER (after the channel fader).

• SOLO MODE: Select this to set the function of the SOLO buttons. PFL (default) sends the channel signal to the SOLO L/R bus. INPLACE SOLO mutes the signals of other channels.

1. Go to MENU > SYSTEM > FOOTSW to open the FOOTSW Screen.

2. Select FOOTSW1 or FOOTSW2 and open its settings screen.

3. To set the function, select MODE and choose the desired function from the list (e.g., PLAY/PAUSE, PUNCH I/O, FX MUTE).

4. To set the polarity, select POLARITY and choose NORMALLY OPEN or NORMALLY CLOSED to match your footswitch.

5. Press the MULTI JOG dial to confirm your selections.

1. When the recorder is stopped, go to MENU > SYSTEM > INITIALIZE to open the INITIALIZE Screen.

2. A confirmation message “Restore factory setup. Are you sure?” will appear.

3. Press the F4 YES button to restore the factory default settings.

4. When the setting completes, the SYSTEM Screen will reopen. Note that the date and time setting is not initialized.

Formatting an SD card erases all data on it and this cannot be undone.

1. When the recorder is stopped, go to MENU > SYSTEM > MEDIA FORMAT to open the MEDIA FORMAT Screen.

2. Select a format method: QUICK (quick formatting) or ERASE (erases and formats, which can help restore writing speed).

3. Press the MULTI JOG dial. A confirmation message will appear.

4. Press the F4 YES button to start formatting.

5. When formatting is complete, the SYSTEM Screen will reopen.

This function, called SD PLAY mode, plays WAV files from the “MUSIC” folder on the SD card.

1. Set the channel 9/10 MODE switch to “MTR”.

2. Set the channel 9/10 PAN/BAL knob to the center position.

3. When the recorder is stopped, go to MENU > SD PLAY to open the SD PLAY Screen.

4. Select a WAV file to play back.

5. Press the F4 PLAY button or ▶/II button to start playback.

During playback, you can use the function buttons for transport controls:

• F1 EXIT: Return to the file selection screen.

• F2 RPT: Select repeat mode (repeat one, repeat all, no repeat).

• F3 ◀◀: Skip to the beginning of the current file or the previous file.

• F4 ▶▶: Skip to the beginning of the next file.

1. Use a USB cable to connect the computer to the TASCAM Model 12’s USB port.

2. On the MENU Screen, select STORAGE to open the STORAGE Screen.

3. A confirmation message “Switch to storage mode. Are you sure?” will appear. Press the F4 YES button.

4. The unit enters USB storage mode and appears on the computer as an external drive named “TASCAM_M”. You can now transfer files between the computer and the SD card’s “MTR”, “MUSIC”, and “UTILITY” folders.

5. To disconnect, first use the proper procedure on your computer to unmount the external drive. Then press the F1 EXIT button on the TASCAM Model 12 to return to the Home Screen.

To use the TASCAM Model 12 as a USB audio interface, you must first install the dedicated software on your computer (required for Windows, recommended for Mac).

Installing the dedicated software (Windows):

1. Download the latest Windows software from the TASCAM website.

2. Uncompress the saved zip file.

3. Double-click the “.exe” file to launch the installation software and follow the on-screen instructions.

Setting the USB audio mode:

1. Go to MENU > SYSTEM > USB AUDIO.

2. Select the mode:

• MULTI INPUT (default): The inputs of channels 1-6, 7/8, and 9/10, and the output of the MAIN MIX L/R bus are sent to the computer as separate USB channels 1-12.

• STEREO MIX: The output of the MAIN MIX L/R bus is sent to the computer as USB channels 1-2.

Confirm that the power plug and other connectors are inserted completely.

Confirm that the SD card is inserted completely.

• Are the input sources and MODE switches set properly?

• Are the channel faders raised to suitable levels?

• Is the MAIN fader raised to a suitable level?

• Is a monitoring system correctly connected to the PHONES jack or SUB OUTPUT jacks? Is the monitoring system set up correctly?

• Is the PHONES knob or SUB fader placed at a suitable level?

• Is the SD MAIN MIX RETURN switch on (pushed in) during playback of anything other than a stereo master file?

• Are the channel GAIN knobs set too high? Are the input source levels too high?

• Is the EQ set too high?

• Are any channel faders or the MAIN fader raised too high?

• Is the monitoring level too high, causing the monitoring system to distort?

• Connecting another device to the unit’s SUB OUTPUT jacks (stereo output) could reduce noise.

• The noise could be caused by interference from another device, such as a power amplifier with a large transformer or a fluorescent light. Try changing the distance or orientation of such devices to reduce noise.

• Are there any wireless LAN devices, other Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, or similar equipment nearby? Keep such devices as far away as possible during use.

• Try reducing the distance between this unit and the other Bluetooth device. Try changing the positions of this unit and the other Bluetooth device.

• The operation of apps other than for music playback on the smartphone could cause the sound to break up. In this case, stop the operation of apps other than the one used for music playback.

• Confirm that the other Bluetooth device’s power is on and its Bluetooth function is on.

• Confirm that the other Bluetooth device is not too far away and that there are no walls or obstacles between it and the unit.

• Turn off and restart the TASCAM Model 12.

• Remove the “Model 12” pairing record from the other Bluetooth device and try pairing again.

• Confirm that the other Bluetooth device supports A2DP and is in a state that allows transmission.

• Turn the power off for both this unit and the other Bluetooth device, then turn them both on again and try pairing.

• Turn off other Bluetooth devices that are not the one you are trying to pair with.

• Has the dedicated software been installed (especially for Windows)?

• This unit cannot be used with USB 1.1. Use a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port.

• Do not use a USB hub. Always connect the unit directly to a USB port on the computer.

• If the above methods do not resolve the problem, connect the unit to a different USB port on the computer.

• The processing load on the computer may be too high, causing sound to break up and noise to occur.

• If a wireless LAN or background software (including antivirus) is running, turn it off during use of this unit. In addition, set your computer’s power option to a “high performance” setting.

• Use the shortest USB cable possible.

• Use a USB port built into the computer, as the quality of the computer’s USB port affects the USB connection.