Tascam 16 not recognized

[ilstefano]

Hello,
I had to reinstall my PC and after that my Tascam 16 will not show up in Ableton 12 as an asio audio device.
I have installed the latest drivers for Tascam and Windows OS on my PC recognizes it.

Any help of what I can try to look into?

With regards,
Stefan

 

[Mark Richards]

Welcome to the community, @ilstefano.

I don't own/use this particular mixer, but what you're describing seems to be a fairly common occurrence with the Model series.

Have you reviewed the posts in the Tips & Tricks sticky at the top of the forum that discuss issues similar to yours and possible solutions?

 

[D. Tempest]

Hello, try these steps. Starting at step 3: since you already downloaded the drivers and have your Model 16 connected. Power the mixer on first, then boot the computer. This lets the OS enumerate all 16 inputs/14 outputs cleanly.

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3. Set the mixer’s USB parameters​

1. Press MENU ▶ SYSTEM ▶ USB SAMPLE RATE → choose 48 kHz (the Model 16’s fixed internal rate).
2. BUFFER SIZE: set to 64–128 samples for tracking, 256+ if you need CPU headroom during mixing. (You can also adjust this from Ableton’s Hardware Setup button.)tascam.com

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4. Configure Ableton Live 12​

1. Live ▶ Preferences ▶ Audio
   • Windows: Driver Type = ASIO, Audio Device = TASCAM Model 16.
   • macOS: Core Audio, Input/Output Device = TASCAM Model 16.
2. Click Input Config → enable the mono (1 - 14) or stereo pairs you plan to record.
3. Click Output Config → enable at least 1/2 (master) plus any submix pairs you need.
4. Set Latency: Start at 128 samples / 2.7 ms (48 kHz) and tweak later.
   (Full routing details are in Live’s manual.)ableton.com

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5. Recording into Ableton​

Mixer switch	What it should be for tracking
SOURCE toggle (top of every channel)	LIVE – this routes the pre-EQ signal to USB.
Gain knob & Hi-Z switch	Set as you would for normal live mixing (aim ≈ -12 dBFS peaks in Live).
Channel fader	Affects only the analog mix, not the USB send, so it won’t change your recorded level.

In Ableton:

1. Create an Audio Track → Input Type = Ext. In.
2. Input Channel = 1, 2, 3… (matches the physical channel number).
3. Arm the track and hit Record.

If you only see inputs 1-2, you haven’t enabled the others in Input Config (common first-timer mistake).tascamforums.com

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6. Monitoring and playback​

• Flip a channel’s SOURCE toggle to PC when you want to hear Ableton’s return on that strip (handy for re-amping or mixing stems back through the analog EQ).
• Alternatively, leave all channels in LIVE, set Master Out = Ext. Out 1/2 in Ableton, and monitor on the mixer’s ST OUT or CONTROL ROOM outs.

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7. MIDI / DAW Control reality check​

The Model 16 sends no Mackie Control or HUI data, so its faders/transport controls won’t move Live’s faders. If you need tactile DAW control, add a separate MIDI controller (e.g., Launch Control XL) or step up to the TASCAM Model 12.tascam.jp

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8. Troubleshooting cheat-sheet​

Symptom	Fix
Model 16 missing in Ableton	Re-seat USB, power mixer first, reinstall driver, try a different port/cable, disable USB power-saving in Windows Device Manager.
Clicks/pops	Raise buffer size, close other audio apps, update GPU and USB-host drivers.
Only channels 1-2 record	Enable channels 3-14 in Preferences ▶ Audio ▶ Input Config, then re-select them on your tracks.
No sound on playback	Channel still in LIVE mode – flip to PC, raise fader, or assign Ableton’s output to 1/2.

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9. Next steps​

• Save a template set in Live with all 14 inputs pre-labeled—makes future sessions plug-and-play.
• Explore Cue Out routing in Ableton to create separate headphone mixes and return them on channels 13/14 (set their SOURCE to PC).
• If you ever need to integrate the Model 16’s SD multitrack files, drag the \MASTER folder’s WAVs directly into Live; they line up sample-accurately.

You should be ready to roll! Let me know if this works out for you.​

 

[Mark Richards]

@D. Tempest, it seems you've spent considerable time crafting your reply. Looking at your previous posts in this community, you seem from your reply to have come a long way in mastering your all-digital Model 12's operations, so congratulations!

However, @ilstefano only made a general reference to "the latest drivers for TASCAM and Windows" associated with his analog Model 16.

The OP didn't tell us which version of the firmware is running on the Model 16, which version of Windows is on the computer, and which specific TASCAM and Windows drivers were installed.

Having that formation from the OP beforehand would be critical to solving the OP's specific issue; and for the OP to benefit from the solution that worked for you, your operating setup would need to be very similar to the OP's, yes?

It's hard to say if such detailed steps would work for the OP if the OP's firmware, OS version, and installed drivers are at this point unknown, and s/he has an analog mixer v your digital mixer.

Have you confirmed that the troubleshooting steps you've developed are generic enough to apply to all the possible Model16/Windows OS/Driver combinations? Otherwise the OP may become even more confused and waste time going down rabbit holes that don't apply to his/her operating setup.

Including references to the MAC OS when the OP is using Windows might only add to the confusion. Likewise re the section you wrote about MIDI/D.A.W. Control.

Be that as it may, what are your "steps 1 and 2" left unmentioned? Why not include your ommitted information, instead of starting with a self-numbered step "3" that might confuse some who may find this thread in the future and who may be unfamiliar with obtaining and installing the correct TASCAM and Windows drivers?

I trust you'll take these comments as a constructive critique from someone who's been providing many years of assistance to this community based on decades of real-world experience.

 

[ilstefano]

I got it to work now, thanks for all replies!