US144 set-up --- HELP!

> > > US144 set-up --- HELP!

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Member Since: Jan 28, 2007

Hi y'all; I'm a new member today, and now that I've thunk on it for more than 2 seconds, I should've made my screen name something like "Naive Engineer Wannabe"! I play keys, acoustic guitar, bass and sing, and my wife plays sax, woodwind synth, and percussion. So when I saw the TASCAM US-144's hype about "...plug any acoustic instrument, mic or MIDI-out into this 4x6 inch box and your computer becomes a 112-track studio,..." my X-mas list immediately dropped to one gift!

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! I've probably broken the 100-hour mark at this point, with nary a track to show for it. I mean I literally have not had one single success of ANY kind; I can't hear the 1/4 inch audio that's plugged from my keyboard into my US-144, THROUGH THE HEADPHONES ALSO PLUGGED INTO THE US-144!!!

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEZ -- What do I need to do 1st?
Thanks! -JonBo


Equipment & Software: (most of which I just list for info. purposes; for now I'd just like to be able to record one instrument (ANY one!) on one track in Cubase LE!)

-- Hardware: US-144 connected to an HP MediaCenter PC (the rumors of their incompatibility seem to have been overstated; just required a 300gB mem.^grade!)

-- Software: WMP, plus Cubase LE and GigaStudio3 came with the US-144.

-- MIDI stuff: Baldwin EX30 keyboard; Proteus SM100 MIDI; Yamaha WindJammer Woodwind synth.

-- Acoustic Stuff: guitar with internal condenser mic, several vocal mics (high and low impedance), piano, saxes and percussion via ext. condensers. Thanks Again!!!

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 30, 2007 10:22 pm

First off, welcome to HRC. Sorry for the late reply here.

I'll start off with the easy stuff and go from there. Did you install the driver's for the 144 before you plugged the unit into the USB port? If not that might be part of the problem. If so then we shall move on. I looked here, www.tascam.com/Products/US-144.html and there appears to be available updates for both the firmware which is internal to the 144 and drives as well. I would follow the links and download the Windows XP frimware update and the driver update as well.

Let me know were those items stand and we can go from there.

Member
Since: Jan 28, 2007

Jan 30, 2007 11:29 pm

Thanks Noize! Yeah, I downloaded the disk that came with the US144, then the Cubase LE and Gigastudio3, then plugged in the USB. When that didn't do it I went to the same site you mentioned and found those updates. Still nada...

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Jan 31, 2007 12:12 am

Hey Jon, welcome to HRC, wish it was under better conditions.

First, does windows see the device? can you see the device in the device manager? If not, then there's install issues with windows to overcome.

If you can see the device, then can you make windows choose it as it's output device, and play a sound through it. Like winamp, or media player, or such.

Also, is there onboard sound? Probably is. Did you disable that, and/or switch the windows default sound device over to the 144.

Hopefully none of this will seem frustrating for you, as it's a real bear to troubleshoot via forums. Some of the issues may already be covered, or you tried them already, but to diagnose remotely takes extra attention =)


Member
Since: Jan 28, 2007

Jan 31, 2007 01:50 pm

Hi pjk - thanks for your help! Yes, I can pull up the device mgr., and it recognizes the 144 when the USB is plugged in. How do I 'make windows choose it as it's output device'? (I haven't disabled onboard sound or switched the default to the 144.)

Sure, it's somewhat frustrating, which is why I really, REALLY appreciate y'all's help. (I'm an OK musician, but a computer idiot!) Thanks again! -Jon =)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Jan 31, 2007 02:15 pm

Well, that's good. First part seems to be in shape, windows can see the device.

Now you should go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Sound and Audio Devices.

Hopefully, in there, you should see the two different devices available to you, one being onboard sound, and the other being the us144. Select the 144 for all the input and output.

If this part works, then you should be able to see input through the mic or line inputs on the 144, plus you should be able to play windows media player out through the 144's outputs.

Try these steps, and let's see if something is amiss with these areas.

Basically, I'm trying to set up the easiest path, to troubleshoot the device itself. If we can't get windows to use it correctly, then the more complex programs probably wont either.

So let's hope we get sound into or out of the device.

A simple test for incoming signal, is to plug a guitar into the line input, and I think there's a setting for guitar input. Play on the guitar (with volume up) and you should see the signal light light up on the 144.

If there is signal, then I'm gonna assume the device is working, and that the problem may be in the software and/or settings somewhere.

Keep listing each step of this that you do, and the results. Don't just put 'It didn't work', as I can't read what you did through the screen =).

Detail each step, and it'll be much easier for me.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Jan 31, 2007 02:17 pm

oh yeah, you'll need to turn up the gain, or trim on the 144, so it can hear the signal coming in from the guitar (or whatever sound source you use).

Member
Since: Dec 11, 2006

Jan 31, 2007 03:41 pm

to be totally honest, i really dont like le, lol, they sell it with most of the tascams (i have a 122) and i never liked it, mainly cuz they sell it with le and its prettymuch imposible to get the program to recognize the device, so ya. i would suggest trying out some new software ;) even freeware is better, i would google (or wutever search engine u use) mixcraft, its like 40 bucks and its novie but good, i still use it and im on to cubase now so, its just that good; ;), best program u can get for the money i think, besides a free program barely neone uses conmpared to somting people actuially pay for ;), (no offense loki ;))

i would extreamly recomoned that program , mixcraft ;)

check it out atleast ;)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Jan 31, 2007 03:46 pm

I've been using N-track with my 122, and it's worked quite well. I loaded a few of the proggies shipped with the 122, and didn't care much for them, thought them 'fisher-price' like, if you know what I mean.

I'm using reaper now, and though I've not thoroughly tested out reaper w/ 122 on my laptop, it does recognize it and works.

But I was getting to that with Jon. First things first, though.

Member
Since: Jan 28, 2007

Feb 01, 2007 02:56 am

WHOO-HOO!!! followed pjk's of 1/31, 2:15pm and I'm now listening to Windows Media Player thru the 144 headphones! (JGB, Cats Down Under the Stars). Awesome, thanks pjk...

And I have keyboards thru the LineInL 1/4"!...

I can't seem to make the other 1/4" (R w/guitar switch) come out the headphones, but the light is mimicking my keyboard, so it's getting something...

Same with the MIDI-in, (light, but nothing in the phones.)
I don't have my large mic jax with me, (I can never remember if that's hi- or low-impedance?) so I can't try those out right now, but I'm GIDDY that WMP and one of the 1/4" are outputing, and everything seems to be inputing. Dare I open Cubase? I'll definitely check out those other three programs (Mixcraft, Ntrack and Reaper) -- thanks Hydrial and pjk. gotta bed, it's late. Peace!

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Feb 01, 2007 08:31 pm

Good deal.

You won't hear anything in the phones with the MIDI coming in, until you have a host program to play the midi data into. Then the host program will output the audio, based on what the midi data tells it to do.

Hope that made sense. I'd focus on getting the software running first, then add to that.

XLR jack on a condensor microphone will need phantom power, so turn that on. I'm not sure what to say about your other line in, it should be working, if you're not on the guitar setting.

I'd definately recommend reaper, as it's been working well for alot of people.

> > > US144 set-up --- HELP!

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