TASCAM US-144 issue

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Member Since: Mar 15, 2008

When using Cubase LE or viewing the TASCAM control panel the device's name always has some strange characters at the end of it, eg "US-144?a". I've had some issues with BSODs and locking up since i set up the interface, but anyone have an idea on how i can get this thing to work correctly? FYI using 1.11 drivers and 1.11 firmware, these are the latest, are there more stable earlier versions?

my system specs:
AMD X2 3800 @ 2.2 GHz
2GB Corsair DDR-400
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB ACS edition

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


Mar 15, 2008 09:43 pm

Don't roll back the drivers, whatever you do.

What do you have the latency set to in the tascam firmware? You should have it set to "Normal Latency" and tweak out the remaining latency with Cubase and ASIO buffers (if you use ASIO that is.) The "Lowest Latency" setting just jams up the computer and leads to BSODs and other stuff. I recommend getting ASIO4All too- it's worked wonders for me.

The strange characters at the end of the device name in Cubase is the computers "Familiar Name" of the device. You should have "US144 audio codec analog in" or something like that, so maybe the words are just getting cut off or something.

Here's my firmware settings, if it helps:


http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/keithwarren/Tascam.jpg



You might also want to try uninstalling the drivers all together and installing the 1.11 update without installing the drivers from the disk- that's what I had to do to get my US144 working- and make sure you don't plug int he US144 until it asks you.

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Mar 16, 2008 03:24 pm

Thanks for replying, Keith. I am using the exact same settings as you in the TASCAM control panel, except that I have Sample Clock Source set to automatic. Now, I seem to have remedied the strange characters appearing problem, and hopefully the instability by simply changing the USB port the US-144 is plugged into on my PC. Also, when initially setting up the device I went straight to TASCAM's website for the most up-to-date drivers and firmware, and so I initially installed the 1.11 drivers followed by the 1.11 firmware update. Guess I shouldn't mess with that. Anyway, I haven't turned off my PC or unplugged the TASCAM yet, but hopefully it'll work fine as long as it's in this USB port! Now if I could only get Cubase LE to -not- crash every time I close the program...

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Mar 17, 2008 11:08 am

Just to let you know what I meant about the strange characters problem - here's a picture of my control panel when I had the problem...

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj233/f50mann/tasccp.jpg


Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Mar 19, 2008 12:40 pm

Well, I got home last night to a BSOD. Guess I'll just leave the USB cable unplugged from the TASCAM while I'm not using it... But come on, this shouldn't happen. Anyway, switching USB ports did not solve anything, I still have the same problems as before. Perhaps there's a hardware conflict? Device manager says everything's fine, but what does it know?

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


Mar 19, 2008 06:31 pm

Sorry it's been a couple days Zangetsu, I've been pre-occupied.

That's really weird; what audio drivers are you using? I suggest getting ASIO4All www.asio4all.com/ if you don't already have it.

In this situation I would uninstall the drivers and any after market audio drivers (if you put any on your computer that is) and do a totally fresh install. Look around for audio codecs too, sometimes they can intertwine with the US-144 and clog stuff up. Make sure you're plugging into a USB port on the motherboard itself and not into a USB hub or a port on the front of your PC. Then, once that's all done, disable the stock soundcard and check the 144. If it's still got those numbers and BSOD's on ya, then I'd either snoop through windows really deep, or just re-install windows all together. You aren't using Vista, are you??

I leave mine plugged in 24/7 and use it as my sole soundcard and it doesn't give me any guff, even if I leave my computer on for a week straight; but then again I had a run at first trying to get it set up right. It's an amazing interface, but it does take some maneuvering to get it working.

I'll be looking around to see if I can find this problem anywhere else.

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Apr 08, 2008 07:34 pm

Even after trying most of your suggestions I still have the problem. Strange characters after US-144 listed as the device name in the CP.

I uninstalled/reinstalled the drivers, disabled my onboard audio, uninstalled audio/visual codecs, and plugged into a USB port that is on my motherboard. I also went into my BIOS and disabled onboard features I'm not using, like serial and parallel ports, and 2 spare networking cards. BTW I am using XP. I installed ASIO4ALL, but I get worse latency when I have ASIO4ALL selected as my ASIO device versus selecting US-144.

FYI, I was looking at the release notes of the 1.11 drivers from TASCAM, and in there it says that motherboards using nVidia chipsets for USB 2.0 may experience popping/clicking issues with recording (I haven't noticed it) and thus might need to increase their latency. It doesn't sound like my problem, but since my motherboard is nForce4, I thought I'd mention it. Also, here's some more screens of the CP to demonstrate the variety of characters that come up. The one that almost says "serial number" is interesting...


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj233/f50mann/untitled.jpg



http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj233/f50mann/untitled2.jpg



http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj233/f50mann/untitled3.jpg



Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Apr 08, 2008 07:53 pm

I just realized a pattern in the garbage text... at least in the first pic, on my older post, it says "iom 25", well my midi controller is an MAudio Axiom 25. Probably just a coincidence though as it seems to be pretty random garbage text. Any thoughts?

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


Apr 08, 2008 08:35 pm

Couple questions:

1- Are the letters random every time you open the firmware panel, or are they the same every time depending on what you've changed?

2- And are you able to use the US-144 at all? And if so, do you have less problems using it without the Axiom 25 plugged in via midi?

I cant help but feel like there's a very simple solution for this...

It's really weird either way. If I were you I'd call Tascam Support, even though their support sucks, it might be worth waiting for them to answer to figure it out.

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Apr 09, 2008 01:52 pm

The letters change only after removing/reinserting the USB cable. I haven't been able to get the letters to change while it is plugged in. Having the Axiom 25 off/unplugged didn't seem to matter, the letters came up same as always.

The US-144 works fine otherwise, I can record analog and midi without problems. Also, left it plugged in last night and had no BSOD this morning... That _might_ have been fixed by recently uninstalling/disabling items.

I contacted TASCAM support via telephone and spoke to a man who told me it's likely a driver issue. He emailed me the 1.11 drivers, and a 1.12 firmware update, along with these instructions on how to uninstall/install them:

"Disconnect the US144 from your computer.

Insert the US144 Driver Installation Disc and Uninstall the drivers.

Search for TASCAM. Delete anything that comes up.

Search for US144. Delete anything that comes up.

Search for US-144. Delete anything that comes up.

Empty the trash and restart your computer.

Turn off your Anti-Virus, Firewall and/or Spyware.

Go to www.musicxp.net/tuning_tips and go through all of the tuning tips from beginning to end.

Save and load the US122L/US144 Drivers attached to this email.

Follow the instructions as they appear on your screen."

After going through all that, I still have the garbage characters coming up. Quite strange. Waiting on a response from support now, will let you know what happens.

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Apr 09, 2008 02:32 pm

Update: The TASCAM support representative has suggested that I have one of their technicians take a look at it at this point. Instead, I just exchanged it for a new one at Guitar Center. Apparently the new unit seems to be updated, as the box now shows Vista support, along with different included software (Cubase LE4, not just LE). If I still get that strange problem I'll know it's something with my computer. The guy at the store suggested I get an M-Audio box if this one doesn't work, but then I'll have to spend another $50 to have MIDI + 2 Analog inputs... Will let you know what happens.

Member
Since: Mar 15, 2008


Apr 09, 2008 04:59 pm

I am glad I exchanged it, and didn't opt for repairs: Got the new unit set up and lo and behold! The SAME thing happens with the strange characters after the device name. Oh well, it was worth exchanging for LE4 anyway, heh. At least I know the problem lies within my computer somewhere. Guess I'll see if I get any BSODs or any funky behavior before I go on and wipe my hard drive/reinstall XP (although probably not a bad idea since I haven't done so in about 4 years!)

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


Apr 09, 2008 06:05 pm

Be careful with the assumption that it's your computer- it's still entirely possible that it could be the Tascam.

More probable, it's probably a compatibility issue with your computer hardware and the Tascam I'd say at this point. Good luck re-installing if that's what you end up doing, and if/ when you get it figured out, be sure to post findings here to help others in the future :)

Member
Since: Oct 07, 2009


Oct 07, 2009 01:11 pm

I've been having BSOD, system crashes with my newly installed TASCAM US-144. The minidump calls out the tascam usb driver at fault. I've emailed back-n forth with TASCAM cust serv. Still not resolved. Have deinstalled driver, reinstalled and updated firmware. Still get crashes on my Dell Laptop D800 running XP Pro.

Cust Serv. said they have installed this on a variety of system in-house and never had a crash. I told him that there is a problem out there, just google US-144 driver and you can see.

No resolution yet.

Member
Since: Oct 07, 2009


Oct 07, 2009 01:12 pm

I'm currently at driver 1.11
firmware 1.12

Member
Since: Oct 07, 2009


Oct 07, 2009 01:14 pm

Went to search on TASCAM's forum....
can you believe they want $4.00 to use their forum?
Unbelievable.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Oct 07, 2009 04:32 pm

I wish I could help out, but I don't think there's too many people using those.

They've gotten a bad rap in the past, but my older US122 has been working swell.

Quote:
can you believe they want $4.00 to use their forum?


Ouch, that makes me not want to deal with tascam at all. ugh!

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