Hi, I recently acquired a Tascam Model 12 recorder/mixer and am trying to figure out how gain staging and levels work on it e.g. what units and metering do the LCD meter and LED meters read in. Side note, all of this was realizing that the values on the LCD and LED meters did not match 1:1 when gain and faders were set at unity.
A few things to note:
-Tascam makes a point that the line on the LCD meter represents a value of -12db in the manual. I wish they would have discussed more how the meters/levels work.
-There are several great videos on YouTube on using the Tascam Model 12 and they make the point that the -12db on the LCD meter is a good level to hit when adjusting the input (preamp gain); Tascam never explicitly says this (unless I missed something) but it makes sense since that’s generally a good level to aim for when recording.
-Those same videos also suggest that the LCD meter is a digital peak meter ranging from approximately -40db to 0db, again the line represents -12db. They also point out that the LED meter is basically a VU meter. These also seem to be fair assessments.
-Lastly, I read on a forum (in response to someone who was also confused with the meters and levels on the Tascam Model 12) that 0db on the LED (VU) meter equates to -15dBFS
After studying these points, I’ve made a few assumptions but am not sure if they are correct:
1. The LCD meter is a (digital) dBFS meter and the LED meter is a VU meter (units can be equated to analog dBu/dBv units, so 0 VU is about +4dBu—assuming that these are the actual units)
2. This would suggest that the -15dBFS value on the LCD meter would be the nominal level and -12dBFS is good for setting levels when recording and provides decent headroom; note that the VU meter would read about +3dBu (again assuming those are the units)
3. If my above “conclusions” are correct than it seems that Tascam is breaking a bit from standard reference levels between meter types i.e. +4dBU (analog) = 0VU (analog) = -18dBFS (digital) and instead using there own where +4dBu (analog) = 0VU (analog) = -15dBFS
Lastly, I did reach out to Tascam Support and they wrote this, which confused me a bit more: “
That information is not in the owner's manual or the specifications. What I would advise you do in order to achieve the best signal to noise ratio into each of your channels when you record, is to use the gain knob and make adjustments by turning it up until you see the green LED start turning RED as this indicates the point in which distortion starts to occur.
You don't want to use the line in the middle as a reference point to just reach as this is the nominal gain (0dB) point and there is still headroom to be used above that line. Use the SIG LED at the top of the channel strip as your reference to know where the point of distortion starts to occur. You will get much louder recording levels as a result.”
I am not sure how to support team member can say the LCD meter line is 0db when the manual says that it is -12db (likely dBFS), I do wonder if they were referring to the LED (VU) meter since they suggest that the 0db value is a nominal level which is usually understand as being 0VU (not 0db). I still think that the -12db (likely dBFS) is a good target to hit on the LCD meter as this typically good recording practice and this typically reads as 0VU if everything is set for unity gain (channel gain/faders).
I tried to study the levels block diagram in the back of the manual but quickly got a bit confused and I don’t believe it does elucidate much or any on my questions.
Am I remotely correct or up in the night, thoughts and opinions appreciated!
A few things to note:
-Tascam makes a point that the line on the LCD meter represents a value of -12db in the manual. I wish they would have discussed more how the meters/levels work.
-There are several great videos on YouTube on using the Tascam Model 12 and they make the point that the -12db on the LCD meter is a good level to hit when adjusting the input (preamp gain); Tascam never explicitly says this (unless I missed something) but it makes sense since that’s generally a good level to aim for when recording.
-Those same videos also suggest that the LCD meter is a digital peak meter ranging from approximately -40db to 0db, again the line represents -12db. They also point out that the LED meter is basically a VU meter. These also seem to be fair assessments.
-Lastly, I read on a forum (in response to someone who was also confused with the meters and levels on the Tascam Model 12) that 0db on the LED (VU) meter equates to -15dBFS
After studying these points, I’ve made a few assumptions but am not sure if they are correct:
1. The LCD meter is a (digital) dBFS meter and the LED meter is a VU meter (units can be equated to analog dBu/dBv units, so 0 VU is about +4dBu—assuming that these are the actual units)
2. This would suggest that the -15dBFS value on the LCD meter would be the nominal level and -12dBFS is good for setting levels when recording and provides decent headroom; note that the VU meter would read about +3dBu (again assuming those are the units)
3. If my above “conclusions” are correct than it seems that Tascam is breaking a bit from standard reference levels between meter types i.e. +4dBU (analog) = 0VU (analog) = -18dBFS (digital) and instead using there own where +4dBu (analog) = 0VU (analog) = -15dBFS
Lastly, I did reach out to Tascam Support and they wrote this, which confused me a bit more: “
That information is not in the owner's manual or the specifications. What I would advise you do in order to achieve the best signal to noise ratio into each of your channels when you record, is to use the gain knob and make adjustments by turning it up until you see the green LED start turning RED as this indicates the point in which distortion starts to occur.
You don't want to use the line in the middle as a reference point to just reach as this is the nominal gain (0dB) point and there is still headroom to be used above that line. Use the SIG LED at the top of the channel strip as your reference to know where the point of distortion starts to occur. You will get much louder recording levels as a result.”
I am not sure how to support team member can say the LCD meter line is 0db when the manual says that it is -12db (likely dBFS), I do wonder if they were referring to the LED (VU) meter since they suggest that the 0db value is a nominal level which is usually understand as being 0VU (not 0db). I still think that the -12db (likely dBFS) is a good target to hit on the LCD meter as this typically good recording practice and this typically reads as 0VU if everything is set for unity gain (channel gain/faders).
I tried to study the levels block diagram in the back of the manual but quickly got a bit confused and I don’t believe it does elucidate much or any on my questions.
Am I remotely correct or up in the night, thoughts and opinions appreciated!
