Help UX2

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Swampy
Member Since: May 13, 2008

I am a complete novice trying to use a new Line6 TonePort UX2 with my Macpro OS-X laptop, and have hit a couple snags. Perhaps someone might be kind enough to save me time with two problems:

(1) when I run my guitar into the UX2 it works fine for awhile, and then at some seemingly random time there is a glitch and a continual rapid click-click-click... sound in my headphones starts with the VU meters wagging along. I shut down the Gearbox program and restart and it is gone, but again at some random time returns. Any clues?

(2) I load the recording software that came with the UX2, Ableton Live Lite I guess, and it says it can't find the UX2 driver, although I thought it was installed with the Gearbox software, and my Garage Band software seems to recognize the UX2 USB device. Do I need to separately install the UX2 driver?

(3) When I try to use the UX2 with Garage Band, I set up to input from the UX2 but when I record, the UX2 audio out to headphones gets real weird with long lags and cutting in and out of the guitar sound as if something were out of phase. I don't think any sound is recorded by Garage Band.

I thank you in advance if you lessen my ignorance about using the UX2!

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 13, 2008 10:39 pm

Um, ya the driver's are the first thing you need to install. In fact you need to run the install disc before you even plug the USB cable in. It states that very clearly in the installation guide.

I suggest doing one of two things. You should have installed the Line 6 Monkey software as well, if not go to the Line 6 site and download and install the latest version of that. Then let it do the work for you. It is an automatic updating system that will take care of all the needed software and driver updates for you and keep them current.

But in most cases like this I would say to completely un-install the package and begin from scratch and follow the installation instructions completely.

I actually own a UX-2 and a POD xt and have installed several UX-1 and 2 on both PC and Mac and not run into this at all.

Swampy
Member
Since: May 13, 2008


May 13, 2008 10:49 pm

Thanks VERY much Noise2U for replying. I thought I did install both the disks as per instructions, but maybe I screwed something up, will retry.

SWAMPY

Swampy
Member
Since: May 13, 2008


May 14, 2008 01:51 am

Did all Noize2U suggested, thanks, and strange click click click clicking from UX2 continues. Switched from MacPro laptop to an iMac desktop I am fortunate enough to have and all seems fine!

As Leo Kottke said at a concert when struggling to tune his 6 string with perfect intonation up and down fret board, "This is maddening!"

Recorded first "song" tonight, thanks!

SWAMPY






Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 14, 2008 12:46 pm

Hey John, sorry if I sounded a bit off last night in my reply.

I am wondering if indeed then it could be a combination of needing to fully update to the most current driver's as well as gearbox. Then disable the onboard sound card. I know on Windows laptops that can cause and issue as well as on desktops if the onboard sound card is enabled which keeps the drivers live and sometimes can conflict with the other sound devices.


Give that a shot and see if that helps at all.

It is a good sign though that it is working on the desktop.

Swampy
Member
Since: May 13, 2008


May 14, 2008 05:44 pm

Noize2u

Don't worry, must be frustrating for you to hear of yet another person who cannot do something as simple as plug in UX2 and a CD, and follow the instructions! And not being a regular on internet forums, it somewhat amazes me that anyone is willing to help a neophyte with obscure equipment issues like this.

I am going to do another install on the laptop, which ends up being real simple, and if problem persists, and I bet it will, I am going to look into the sound card issue. The "clicking" malfunction does almost sound "hardwareish." Thanks

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


May 14, 2008 05:48 pm

i'd agree on the hardware issue. like maybe the usb is not keeping up, and gets confused.

I used to hear tick tick tick issues when sb cards had an incorrect memory address or something like that. USB doesn't have that issue, like ISA cards used to, but it still sounds familiar.

Is there other devices on the USB bus? taking power or something? maybe the USB bus on the lappy is underpowered? Maybe the harddrive isn't keeping up and needs less stuff going on? maybe set some buffers up or down, and see if anything changes?

( just throwing out ideas here . . . )

hth

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 14, 2008 06:21 pm

No worries, thats what this place is about. And more often what looks like a similar problem can have a completely different cause so we all keep learning each time it comes up.

Which brings up another question I should have asked, I'll assume it is USB 2.0. But that doesn't really matter a whole lot as it will work with USB 1.1 as well. But you are not plugging in through a USB hub unit are you??

That might cause an issue as well as it won't supply full USB power which the UX-2 needs.

But ya, it more then likely is hardware related conflict on the lappy.

Member
Since: Oct 11, 2006


May 15, 2008 09:10 pm

Hey i dont know if this is of any help but it kinda sorta sounds like the problem i had with this gear.
Increase the buffer for the CPU usage.
Go to programs
Line6
tools
Line 6 audio-midi device
Move the slider to the right
I was getting clicks all the time and this fixed it.
You also have to do it after every re boot
Hope it is this easy for you.

Swampy
Member
Since: May 13, 2008


May 16, 2008 11:02 am

Thanks to all for the input, which I think led me to solving my UX2 problem (crossing my fingers). It seems I did have to download current Gearbox/Line 6 Monkey software from Line 6 to get the proper UX2 driver installed versus using the included software CD. Then when it still did the the click-click-click thing, and other very strange things sporadically, I finally switched from left side USB on MacPro laptop to the right side one. So far the problem has disappeared, so perhaps the left side one is underpowered?

If this problem is really a thing of past, then I can get lost in twiddling with the dials and recording software!

Thanks much! Swampy.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 16, 2008 10:07 pm

Glad to hear it. Sometimes it is that simple, I wish it were always like that.

And indeed, have fun with the tweaking. I've been tweaking Line 6 emulator's since the very first POD and now run a fully loaded PODxt and the UX-2 and love em both.

Swampy
Member
Since: May 13, 2008


May 16, 2008 11:50 pm

I played some more with it, and UX2 is still working, did some rough recording with Garageband; will try Live Lite soon. Maybe the left laptop USB was low power, will have to test that again to verify. Next I have to clean guitar jacks, as there is some crackling I didn't notice much when playing with guitar amp and band! The low noise digital recording is very unforgiving! Now I am worried about my voice :) Thanks for all the help...

SWAMPY

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