Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions.

Boot Issues

Display shows “Waiting for P4+NCM…”

This is normal during startup — the device is initializing its audio engine. Total boot time is typically 30–50 seconds.

If it stays on this screen for more than 60 seconds:

  • Power cycle the device (unplug and replug USB-C)
  • Try a different USB cable or power source

Device doesn’t power on

  • Ensure the USB-C cable supports data + power (some cables are charge-only)
  • Try a different USB port or power source
  • Check that the USB-C connector is fully seated

No Sound

Check the master mute

On the Global Sound screen, press Knob 4 to toggle master mute. If you see a “MUTED” overlay on screen, the master output is muted.

Check track mute

On the Sound or Track screen, press SHIFT + ↓ to toggle the current track’s mute state. On the Pattern Select screen, muted tracks have dimmed step buttons.

Check mixer levels

Navigate to the Global Sound screen and verify:

  • Knob 4 (Master Level) is above 0
  • Track levels are up — navigate to Track Mixer to check per-track volume

Check that a pattern has notes

If the pattern is empty (no lit step buttons), no notes will trigger. Enter Step Record mode (press RECORD twice) and add some steps.

Check the preset

Some presets may have parameters set to produce silence (e.g., volume at 0, filter fully closed). Try loading a different preset via SHIFT + FUNC3.

MIDI Issues

No MIDI data being sent or received

  1. Go to Settings → MIDI Settings
  2. Check that the relevant port is set to Notes, Sync, or Sy+No (not None)
  3. Look for the status indicators:
    • < = data received successfully
    • ! = data received but ignored (wrong mode)
    • > = data being sent
  4. If you see !, change the port mode to include the message type you need

External MIDI device not recognized (USB Host)

  • The device must be class-compliant USB MIDI
  • Only low-speed and full-speed USB devices are supported (not hi-speed)
  • Check the USB-A port power — devices requiring more than 500mA may not work
  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the device

MIDI clock out of sync

  • Check that only one clock source is active. Having both Ableton Link and MIDI clock sync enabled on multiple ports can cause conflicts
  • On the Tempo screen (page 2), verify the clock source is set correctly (Internal, MIDI-USB, or Link)

WiFi / Network Issues

Can’t access Web UI

  1. Check which WiFi mode is active in Settings → WiFi:
    • Access Point mode: Connect to the tbd 16’s WiFi network, then navigate to the mDNS hostname or IP
    • USB NCM mode: Connect via USB-C, then navigate to http://192.168.4.1/
  2. For USB NCM, verify the network interface is up:
    • Check your computer’s network settings for a 192.168.4.x interface
    • The host should get IP 192.168.4.2

USB NCM not connecting

  • Wait at least 30 seconds after boot
  • Unplug and replug the USB-C cable
  • Check your system’s network interfaces for the NCM adapter
  • On macOS, the interface should appear automatically
  • Ensure tbd 16 and other Link devices are on the same network
  • In USB NCM mode, your computer must bridge the network to other Link peers
  • Check that Link is not set to Off in MIDI Settings

Display Issues

Screen is too dim or too bright

Navigate to Settings → Display Settings and adjust:

  • Min Brightness: minimum display brightness
  • Max Brightness: maximum display brightness
  • Gamma: brightness curve

LEDs above FUNC1/FUNC2 are distracting

Navigate to Settings → Display Settings → Func LEDs and set to Off to disable the status LEDs above the FUNC1 and FUNC2 buttons.

Sequencer Issues

Parameter lock values seem wrong or jumpy

This was a known issue that has been fixed. If you experience erratic p-lock behavior, ensure your firmware is up to date. The fix restored a guard that prevents encoder acceleration from being applied during p-lock editing.

Pattern doesn’t play all steps

Check the pattern length on the Track Parameters screen (Knob 2). The default length is based on the track setup, but can be changed from 1 to 64 steps.

Steps are skipped randomly

This may be the Chance parameter. Open the Step Editor (long-press a step button) and check that Chance is set to 100% for steps that should always play. Values below 100% cause probabilistic step triggering.

Project & Data

Settings reset after firmware update

The configuration file version is checked on boot. If the firmware expects a newer config version, defaults are loaded automatically. This is normal after major firmware updates. Re-configure your settings and save.

SD card not detected

  • Power off, reseat the SD card, and power on again
  • Ensure the SD card is formatted correctly (FAT32)
  • Try a different SD card

Utilities

The Utilities screen (accessible via Settings → System Menu → Utilities) provides diagnostic tools:

Utility Purpose
Button Tester Verify all buttons register correctly
MIDI Debugger View incoming/outgoing MIDI data in real-time
Reboot P4 Restart the audio processor without rebooting the Pico
Reboot Pico + P4 Full system restart