Need advise on next step for PC interface
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Need advise on next step for PC interface
Posted on Jan 27, 2004 08:32 pm
Gary
Member Since: Jan 27, 2004
I have been recording by using a Behringer Vamp2 or Boss drum machine directly into a soundblaster PC card...and it met my needs. I ran into come extra cash and spent $200 on a Tascam US-122....which has 2 mic preamps (bal or unbal inputs) and an internal DAC (completely bypassing the SB card). It sounds a million times better in all of my situations, but I am having a problem where the audio sometimes skips or gets garbled for a split second (playback or record). It won't even play files with WMP without skipping at times. I have a 2G PC with over 1M or ram.
If I don't get this thing fixed in a couple of days, and am taking it back...and staying away from USB.
What's the next step up? I need to try an internal sound card with XLR inputs and a seperate preamp with 2 mics. I want to stay as close to the $200 as possible.
Thanks
[ Back to Top ]
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 27, 2004 09:35 pm It is not the USB that is causing the problems. We just had another member having the same problem here. I have just read a review that stated they had severe driver issues with that thing, same as they had with its big brother earlier. I would suggest getting to Tascams website and making sure you have the latest drivers (version 3.21 appears to be the newest) issued for that thing, and check if there are any software fixes that need to be loaded into the unit. Otherwise, agreed with ya on taking it back.
GaryMember
Since: Jan 27, 2004
Jan 27, 2004 10:01 pm Thanks for the response. I just re-checked all drivers and they are the latest 3.21.
So if I take it back what should I replace it with?
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jan 27, 2004 11:33 pm if you need XLR inputs I'd go with a good Mic Pre, you could run that directly into your sound card. Along the way you're going to want to upgrade to a better soundcard, since SBs really aren't made for recording audio, although sometimes they're hyped to do so.
Actually, I take back what I said about buying a mic pre first, I had a moment of stupidity... What I would do is to buy a good small mixer, like a Behringer Eurorack, that way you can route the mixer into your soundcard and you'll have a few channels available with XLR inputs as well as a built in preamp to use.
Jan 28, 2004 12:38 am I noticed the same thing with the US224 when using the free Cubasis VST software that came with the unit. Using other software, it was okay, however, I have yet to find something (software) that works with the controllers on the unit...
W.
GaryMember
Since: Jan 27, 2004
Jan 28, 2004 11:30 am I finally found the customer service number and called Tascam. They knew in less that 5 seconds what the problem was and the fix...seems they get this all the time. Now I feel compelled to report that this Tascam US-122 is a great sounding product, much better than a standard PC soundcard i.e. soundblaster. It is a great 2 mic solution and you can get them on Ebay for around $150 ($200 new).
Here is the fix:
The shipping version of Windows XP has a number of bugs that can conspire to make digital audio stutter and glitch when using USB.
Below is a link to the update
www.microsoft.com/downloa...2A-8E98BC1A0A2C
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 28, 2004 04:17 pm That seems to be an odd patch for fixxing the USB problem, but if it worked more power to them. I will however log it in case this probelm arises again, which I am sure it will since this is twice in one week.
Jan 28, 2004 05:02 pm What type of USB chip is being used that is creating this problem, and what OS are you using? There are a few USB chips (SiS comes to mind, cuz it affected me) that don't work with Windows XP very well, if these symptoms describe your situation, might wanna look in to getting a different USB card.
GaryMember
Since: Jan 27, 2004
Feb 10, 2004 12:26 pm I have a VIA USB chip in the PC and am using Windows XP. This thing is working perfectly now....but I was ready to throw it out the window for the first week.
