Stereo audio playback problem

[Gijs]

Hello dear members,


I am new here to the forum. I own a Tascam Model 16

So first, I have read all the stickys and searched for a solution in other threads.

My problem is simpel, I don't get my audio playback in stereo in the situation that I play music from my IMAC and play music from my DAW ( Ableton)
I only have a stereo situation when my synths are playing live on a stereo Channel (9/10 and 11/12)

What I want is that when I record to Ableton and have a 'song' existing of multiple tracks, I can hear it in stereo. I can't find out how to do this. The same for normal music playing from the computer.

Some info of how I set my Model 16 mixer up:

- My monitors are going into L and R control room
- Model 16 is connected by USB to my IMAC
- Playback of music is set on Channel 1 and 2
- Channel 1 and 2 are set on PC mode
- PFL/AFL Master turning knob is set on 0
- On each channel the PFL button is pressed
- I set the volume with the control room fader.

Every other button on the mixer is not pressed.

I hope there is anybody who can help me out and if there is more info needed I like to hear it also.

Cheers!

 

[Max Relic]

@Gijs welcome to the forum. PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) should be used for gain staging or particular pre-listen purpose, for regular mixing / monitoring you should use Main bus. So why are you using PFL to monitor channels?

 

[shredd]

- PFL/AFL Master turning knob is set on 0
- On each channel the PFL button is pressed

I'm not one of the smart guyz here that solves problems...and (based on the endless stream of problems/complaints about them) I wouldn't choose a Modelxx if I were at gunpoint...so I can't speak to this issue with experience, or even try to recreate it.

But: am I only one who sees these two listed conditions as CAUSING the lack of playback?!?

 

[Max Relic]

"0" as in 0 dB or unity gain. I hope.

 

[shredd]

"0" as in 0 dB or unity

Ah. That would make sense, from a gain-staging/signal-flow pov. I thought “0” implied set to minimum/no signal passing…
As mentioned - I don’t have one…

 

[Max Relic]

Ah. That would make sense, from a gain-staging/signal-flow pov. I thought “0” implied set to minimum/no signal passing…

Agree. Waiting for the OP to chime in and let us know his workflow... so we can build up from there.
P.s: neither I have a Model 16 but I based an educated guesswork from the OM and pictures available on the web.

 

[Gijs]

@Gijs welcome to the forum. PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) should be used for gain staging or particular pre-listen purpose, for regular mixing / monitoring you should use Main bus. So why are you using PFL to monitor channels?

Thanks for the reply!

I use PFL mainly because I don’t get sound out of the main bus/fader.

I tried (for what I think) every possible way to get sound out of it.

So lets say I want to play a project from Ableton in stereo. Playback is on channel 1 and 2. On each channel I have 3 buttons. Main, sub and PFL/AFL L/R bus.

I can have sound when the PFL/AFL L/R bus is pressed and the Control Room fader is up for setting the volume (in the manual they say that you have to use this fader for adjusting the output levels of the Control room L/R jacks where my monitors are conected) also the PFL/AFL master knob is set to 0 DB.

In the manual they say: Use the control room L/R jacks to monitor signals from the main mix L/R bus or PFL/AFL L/R bus. But when I push the button main on the channels I can’t hear anything.

What I can see on the block diagram is that channel 1 and 2 are mono. The only thing I did not do is to set playback Audio on for instance on 13/14 (stereo).

But I find it a bit weird if thats the case, because why can’t channel 1 and 2 be stereo together when panned left and right?

Gives me headache hahaha!

 

[Gijs]

"0" as in 0 dB or unity gain. I hope.

0 dB indeed!

 

[Max Relic]

Ok, now we have a starting point. Looking at the block diagram, PFL send points for each channel are placed between the equalizer and before mute switch, fader and pan pot; mono channels are sent equally to left and right PFL bus so they become mono, while stereo channels keep left and right distinction.
Go on. Control Room/Phones output stage is normally connected to the Main Mix output (after fader), pushing down at least one PFL button makes it switch from Main Mix to PFL bus.
Assuming you have loaded a song in Ableton, choose one mono track and assign its output to Model 12 channel 1.
On Model 12
• set channel 1 input selector to PC
• assign the channel to MAIN and set its fader at unity (0 dB)
• be sure that no PFL buttons are engaged (pressed down)
• set Main and Control Room faders at unity (0 dB)
you should hear the Ableton track in your phones or monitors.

Please confirm if it works.

I'm not sure if the Model 16 has the same options as the Model 12 for USB AUDIO input/output, I would leave them at default value.

 

[Gijs]

The problem is solved! Thanks for your help, made things more clear. And also I found out that you can go to the system screen in the menu and select USB audio and there are two options, one of them Stereo mix. I totally overlooked, this and the settings you are saying worked out! So very happy! I’m a totally noob.

 

[Max Relic]

@Gijs Glad to know you made it, and thanks for reporting here your experience. Be happy with your Tascam gear!

 

[shredd]

Looking at the block diagram

Block diagram: Learn It. Know It. Live It.

“Here endeth the lesson.”

 

[Max Relic]

"I am the block diagram in the sky
looking at you, I can blow your mind..."