configuring US144 to recognize the S/PDIF in

> > > configuring US144 to recognize the S/PDIF in

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Member Since: Jul 08, 2008

hello everyone,

i just found this forum, and i am very happy to be a part of the community. i will read thru the forum at more length when i have a few dead hours.

i purchased a tascam US144 a few weeks ago, and i have to say that i love it. the installation was painless, (pretty much), and i was recording music in less then three hours. i really do love its capabilities. but, i seem to have run into a problem.

i use the cubase le version 1.0.10, and, for the life of me, i cannot figure out how to make it recognize the S/PDIF in. i thought that i could just arm tracks 3 and 4, and, in a perfect world, see my levels dancing the happy dance. but, no joy.

i just recently bought an ART DPSII which has a S/PDIF out, and i connect it to the S/PDIF in on the tascam. i went into devices, and vst inputs and whatnot, but, for the life of me, i cannot figure out how to configure the machine to recognize the digital stereo signal coming out of the ART mic pre.

please, any help or suggestions would be muchly muchly appreciated.

and, i will contribute anything i can, but, i am just learning how to track nice tracks. recording a cello, and getting a full, not wishwashy sound, is hard.

thanks
pacem
jamz

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jul 08, 2008 09:46 pm

Hey, welcome to HRC.

First thing I'll ask is the obvious question but I gotta ask.

Do you have the output on the ART unit set to live. I know some of the units need it to be either analog or digital output by setting it. And some are able to do both at once, but it is not set to on by default you have to turn it on.

That said, if indeed it is live and sending signal out the ART unit. Have you looked at the Tascam control panel to make sure the input level for the s/pdif is turned up and or on? Or that the mute is not turned on. By default most are turned down or off.

Also if that is all good then next make sure you can see signal coming into the 144 with the tascam control panel. IF that is good then you will need to go into the property page for the interface drivers in Cubase and make certain that the drivers are live and then they are selcted as input device.

I am not certain but Cubase LE may limit the inputs to only one pair so you might not be able to use it with the analog inputs live. Just guessing there. on that one.

There are a few here that use the 144 so hopefully they will stop by and might have some other hints.

Member
Since: Jul 08, 2008

Jul 08, 2008 11:10 pm

cool Noize2u,

thanks muchly for the response. yes, the mic pre is set to digital out, on the S/pdif, @ 44.1, and it seems like the tascam "sees" the digital in, because when i fire up the control panel, (its really basic, if you havent seen it yet), it says.......

"no valid signal", but, thats not what it said this afternoon......

argh. *bangs head on table*

but, the properties page in cubase, do you mean right click on the program, and go into properties?? imma try that right now......thanks again

*big happy face here*

its a bit of a conundrum, but, i will, nay, i must figure it out for infintity and beyond..

imma restart now.

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

Jul 09, 2008 03:30 am

Hey Jammy, as a fellow US144 owner, I can relate to your frustration with the SPIDIF. The weird thing about the 144 is that its firmware doesn't do a whole lot outside of interpreting the input signal. (Via KHz for the main input bit rate that is.)

I've fought with the SPIDIF before and found each time, 4 total, to be either a problem with the software or an issue with the device I'm trying to hook up to the US-144.

My question is, why are you using such an outdated version of Cubase when the US-144 comes with Cubase 4 LE and GigaStudio LE? I would think you would want to upgrade.

Either way, I've always found the issues with the SPIDIF to relate back to wither the software or the third party device. Once you've got the 144 and your computer connected and working, all the inputs are simply connect and record for me. Perhaps you have a unique case though?

Member
Since: Jul 08, 2008

Jul 09, 2008 05:23 am

see my S/PDIF in device, is a brand new ART DPSII. i just bought it....got a pretty good deal on ebay, and, it apprears to be brand spanking new. its my very first time trying to use anything other then analogue so, i sorta knew i wasnt going to be able to just plug it in and have it work. i had my fingers crossed tho.

im pretty sure i am missing something in the VST Multitrack, or the VST System Link, from the devices pull down, but, i cannot find how to choose the S/PDIF input anywhere. all i can see is the ins and outs for the analogue.

and my version of cubase le is the older version because, again, my tascam was purchased off of ebay....so, i sorta thought it would have been a shelf-sitter.....but, i am still super happy with it. im nervous to upgrade, because, it works now...and, .....well, you know.

but, im probably going to buy an alesis i/o 26 within the next nine months, the tascam was for portability, and to see if i like cubase. so, being the ever explorer, with new gear, i bought the mic pre specifically for the S/PDIF, to see if i couldnt get all four ins to work.......to do a basic record of a drum kit, with three, and a bass in the fourth. i would do the overheads with the digital, put a solidtube to catch the kick, and DI the bass.

but, i think my version of le only allows me to arm 2 tracks at a time, unless im missing something again in the device pull down..

im still figuring stuff out. i love recording because of all the ways to do things, but, sometimes it gets confusing.

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

Jul 09, 2008 05:45 am

There's your problem I think;

If I understand correctly, you're trying to record more than 2 inputs at a time? The SPIDIF is not an extra input. It's a timing master, a link to your outboard gear. A way to input other devices, yes, but you can only record either the mic/ line inputs two at a time (respectively) or the SPIDIF on its own. You cannot record all the inputs at the same time. Not only are you limited by the USB Data Transfer, but also the US144's given abilities.

You can record only the two front inputs simultaneously (I.E. Left and right, XLR or TRS, interchangeably) at once. Basically you have 2 inputs. The other inputs are perks for existential or otherwise novelty usage.

Member
Since: Jul 08, 2008

Jul 09, 2008 05:57 am

zap, so when they advertise it as a four input device, they should really say, its a 2 OR 2 input device.....poop, i really wanted to try to record four at once.

oh well, like i say, i bought it mainly for the portability, and to see if i dig cubase. and, i really like cubase..

i tried to configure the tascam to reaper too, but, there was a latency thing i didnt feel like messing with.

thanks keith for your input, you probably just saved me about three or four hours of going "wteff"

:P

but another thing i wanted the four ins for was to be able to keep everything: (a keyboard in stereo, and two mics) plugged in, and only have to switch the front panel of the mic pre.....oh well, i get what i pay for.

actually all things considered, i got way more then i payed for.

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

Jul 09, 2008 06:12 am

Actually, if you have midi in/out on your keyboard, you can record both mic inputs and the midi input at the same time with the 144; I've done it beofre, but I did it in Sonar 7PE. I've never use Cubase in any fashion, so I'm not sure what it's capable of, especially the LE versions, as they are 'light' versions.

It stinks that they list it as a 4 input device and don't delineate the inputs potential, but I suppose that's why everyone reiterates research when buying a USB Device like this. (not to discourage or dismantle any hopes or feelings at all.) It's a great interface with very high portability, but it's not 1010, that's for sure. It's for beginners and basic singer songwriters like myself; I get by with two inputs, and like the ability to add on with midi and SPIDIF later on down the road, but I doubt I'll need much more. If I do, I'll need another jpb to pay for the equipment I think. It's a cheap all in one interface, and a killer buy for the buck, bar none.

> > > configuring US144 to recognize the S/PDIF in

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