Multitrack Recording with Tascam Model 16

Getting Stuff Done Hints and Tricks
#1

I recently got a Tascam Model 16 delivered and I’m really happy so far. Sounds good and nice to have the analogue feel, but with the digital benefits.

I’m on Linux (either Arch with pipewire or Ubuntu Studio with pipewire).

One of my use cases for the desk is to be able multi-track live to my DAW from the channel inputs.

If I start Ardour and use ALSA to connect to the Tascam I get all the individual SENDs and RETURNs, which is great and this is probably how I’ll use the device anyway.

However, when using pipewire, in qjackctl graph or coppwr I only ever saw two SENDs and two RETURNs from the desk, which I think are either

  • MAIN OUT (Tascam USB mode set to STEREO) and MAIN RETURN or
  • SEND 1-2 and RETURN 1-2 (Tascam USB mode set to MULTI)

Why does pipewire not see all the SENDs and RETURNs that are available when going directly to the device with ALSA?

I realise that this is not an Ardour specific question. I’d be happy to be guided to a better forum, but thought I’d start here as I’m an Ardour user.

#2

Have you assigned a Pro Audio profile to it?

https://roosnaflak.com/tech-and-research/transitioning-to-pipewire/#access-all-your-i-os

If it was me I’d stick with ALSA though… all killer, no filler!

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#3

I haven’t tried Pro Audio for the device yet (hadn’t thought to). I will try this evening and see how that goes. Big thumbs up for that linked article. Wish I’d known about it sooner!

For other readers, “Pro Audio” seems to be a pipewire feature meant to allow non-consumer capabilities for devices. See more details here.

My understanding is that using ALSA to connect Ardour to the device is a more direct approach. When I do that I can see the device drop out of the pipewire graph, which suggests that Ardour now has exclusive use of the device. Doing things this way probably reduces latency and avoids inadvertent resampling by pipewire, etc. So from a “pro audio” perspective (I don’t claim to be pro audio, of course!) it’s probably preferable to use ALSA.

#4

Setting the TASCAM Model 16 to “Pro Audio” in Ubuntu Studio (using the Sound Settings UI) immediately had the desired effect. I was able to access all SENDs and RETURNs in qjackctl graph, copprwr and Ardour (using JACK).

Is it just me or is Linux becoming more and more of an “it-just-works” system?

Thanks for the tip @GMaq.

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