TASCAM 144 with Cubase 4 (yeah, another one)

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I'm not so great
Member Since: Feb 07, 2009

I just bought the TASCAM 144 with Cubase, and so far I'm having some trouble with all the inputs and outputs. The really short manual thing they give you to get started recording on Cubase with the 144 tells you to very limited information on how to get it set up to record. I'm just wanting to plug my guitar in, a bass in, and a mic in (not at once) and record. So, what's the secret to setting everything up to getting it to read the input from my guitar?

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Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 08, 2009 09:20 am

are you on a PC? or mac?

did you load the software? does your PC see the device?

on windows, there should be a control applet, showing some options for the us144, is it there? can you adjust things?

This will show that the device is loaded properly, and windows (and possibly mac) and see it.

Now, plug in your guitar, into the 1/4" input, then switch the input selector to gtr in. Turn up the gain, and play some noise. Is there lights lighting up on the 144? there should be. turn the gain up until the light lights for most of what you're playing.

Now, in the PC, i'm not sure about cubase, but i'll run through how reaper works.

You need to tell your DAW that you're using the 144, so in options, or preferences, etc you'll need to select the 144 for inputs, and for outputs. You probably should select ASIO, or maybe WDM for the interface driver. ASIO is often lower latency, but not always.

Now, back in the DAW main screen, I need to create a new track, to receive input. Then, I tell the track on what input to listen, so I have to select us144A or similar, for the first channel on 144 (or whichever you're using). Then you need to 'ARM' the track, or tell it to write the signal when it's coming in.

Then press record, and start playing. Signal should be showing up in the track, and on the input meter, if there is one.

Two tracks can be recorded at once, just create a second track, and tell it to listen on input 2, and arm the track for recording.

hope that helps some, let us know what else isn't working, if I didn't cover the problem.

I'm not so great
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2009


Feb 08, 2009 02:35 pm

Yeah, I'm on a PC, and so far, everything seems to be working fine, just not recording anything when I attempt it.

I've got the inputs and outputs selected. When I play, the light on the 144 lights up. On my Cubase interface, when I play, it shows that it's picking it up, it just isn't recording it. I've read that the only way you can hear what you're playing is by using the headphone jack (which, I dont understand why that would be the case), but, the interface and the Cubase program are both recognizing the guitar being played.

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Feb 08, 2009 07:14 pm

I;ve got a Tascam US 144 and it works like a dream for me. Then again, I'm more inclined to this type of thing than alto of others because of my background in studio engineering.

I don't use the Cubase Le it came with, and I'm unfamiliar with the program. But the question I would ask is whether or not you can see the waveforms in Cubase. If you can see the waveforms of sound but not hear the sound when played back, then it's an issue with your playback settings with the US144. If you can't hear anything ever and can't see the waveforms, then it's an issue with the drivers for the US144 and/or the audio set up for the US144. Either way, let me know your computer specs and tell me which of the above you're experiencing so I can help you more.

:)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 08, 2009 07:32 pm

Quote:
it just isn't recording it. I've read that the only way you can hear what you're playing is by using the headphone jack


Those two are different things, to be addressed differently.

The us144 is showing signal, so that's good. and you say cubase is showing input signal, so that's good. sounds like you're maybe not arming a track. But i don't know cubase either, so i'll have to defer that area.

I am curious as to if cubase is creating the waveforms, like Keith mentioned.

But, you can listen to its playback, and also monitor your incoming signal through more than just the headphone jack. It just takes setting it up correctly. If you're just not able to hear your playing, then it's a monitoring issue. Depending on your situation, you may want to hear the incoming signal routed back through the outputs, or in other cases, you won't. It all depends on your situation at the time. But that may be the case with you, that monitoring is set incorrectly. The US144 should have a direct monitor switch, which means it will route it's input directly over to its output. The signal goes directly from the line / guitar in jack to the headphone jack. This won't have the effects on the signal, but you'll hear what you're playing right along with any playback tracks without latency.

Like I said, it can be set up several ways, and depends on what situation you have, and what you need at the time.



I'm not so great
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2009


Feb 08, 2009 09:40 pm

I dont see any waveforms, and that's what I'm looking for. If I were seeing waveforms, I'd at least know what I'm playing is being put on the track, but I'm not. Cubase, on the bottom ride corner, has two little rising meters. When I play, the meter jumps up. When I dont, it's dead. So, I know it's getting the signal. Like you said, it's probably an issue of arming the track, which I would completely blame on me having little to no knowledge of working with an interface and all the software and the fact that I have no guide or anything to read what the heck to do. I'll see if I cant figure it out, if not, feel free to let me know what what major "minor" detail I'm clueless of.

As far as the monitoring goes, I think I should be able to hear what I'm playing. You say the us144 has a direct monitor switch so it routes the input directly over to its output, and, that's something I wasn't real sure of. Because, I have to set up an input as well as an output, and I dont know what output I should be selecting, because none of them on the list seem right to me, but what do I know?

And, since neither of you use Cubase, what software are you using? I dont want to use Cubase. That's just what came with it. If there's better out there (hopefully, maybe, easier) I'm down for tryin it out. I dont think Cubase (at least this version) is the best thing for me, but, I've tried screwin around with ProTools, and that was apparently way over my head at the time.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 09, 2009 06:40 am

I'm on reaper (www.reaper.fm), which a lot of 'new' cubase users jump over to. It's free to try (shareware) but fully functioning shareware. If you like it, they ask for 50$, but software still works just fine if you are testing it for however long.

Full featured, very low download (3.4mb) and very easy on the CPU / Mem.

And, it doesn't inject stuff into the registry, so if you don't like, just delete and nothing remains in windows.

It'll run from a USB stick, too, if you're inclined.

There's some great plugs included, plus a pretty decent forum.


Veni, MIDI, Vici
Member
Since: Jul 02, 2008


Feb 09, 2009 10:45 am

I second pjk about Reaper. Purchased it last year and never regretted it one moment. It's everything he wrote and also, imo, easy to use.

I'm not so great
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2009


Feb 09, 2009 11:01 am

I just downloaded Reaper and I'm gonna give it a shot tonight once I get off work.

Anything I need to know about the program or using the us144 with it?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 09, 2009 05:42 pm

It should ask you to set up your audio preferences, no big deal there.

Then just like I mentioned above, make a track, tell it to listen on input 1. Do this by right clicking on the track's meter, then click the input. You may have to grab the bottom of the track and pull it down, to see the meter.

Then arm (click the little red button low left of the track), then press record.


http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Feb 09, 2009 06:11 pm

Cubase > help > vst connections.

you need to set them up before doing anything and then change your stereo in left (or whatever its set on) to whatever you set your vst connection up as. and that is in your track window.

eg, if you set up a "mono in" in your vst connections, then in your track window in your project, you will need to change it to "mono in" by clicking it and selecting that option.

leave the stereo out as is.

so in a nutshell you are setting up your recording signal chain from in to out.

once you've done that, its plain sailing.

also, once youve set that up if you have a look in the vst connections, you'll see a number next your new bus. that corresponds to the input your recording into on your interface, so make sure you choose that number input.
eg; your using input 2 on your interface, then make sure your "mono in" number is that.

once you have a look it'll make more sense.

if you wanna hear what youre playing, press the orange speaker button on your track window next to the slider. thats the monitor thru cubase button. but youd be better off using the direct monitor option thru you interface. so leave it off in that case. if you want to use this button youll need pretty low latency though.

I'm not so great
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2009


Feb 09, 2009 06:46 pm

I appreciate all the input. Helps a lot.


Here's a question, as for the specs on a computer, how does this look to you all as far as being used for strictly recording?

Model: M5183 Power Mac G4 version 2.9
System Version: Mac OS X 10.2.4 (6j73)
Machine Speed 400 MHz
512 MB SDRAM
Bus Processor: 100 MHz
L2 Cache Size 1MB (Times 2)
Boot ROM info 4.2.8f1


I'd prefer to have 800+ MHz of processor speed, but is it necessary?

I'm not so great
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2009


Feb 09, 2009 08:40 pm

Also, I just tried out Reaper, and I'm not seeing that it is receiving a signal. Do I need to change something to make sure it's reading the us144? I've changed the inputs and whatnot, and still nothin.

I tried Cubase again, got everything set, and it shows that it's receiving signal or a small meter in the corner, but the minute I hit record, it no longer shows anything.

I obviously have no clue what I'm doin.

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