I'm new - advice on Cubase/Tascam

[Mr.Ainsbury]

I'll have a try here...

Recently I've made some investments in digital multi track recording...I bought a TASCAM US-122 which comes with Cubase and Gigastudio...
a friend advised me to work with Cubase...I seem to be getting good results with MIDI, as far as I understand it (good results being I can actually record stuff), but whenever I record Audio my laptop uses the built in microphone rather than anything connected to the TASCAM audio/midi interface, even though I've selected the TASCAM as my audio device for my computer, and if I record with, say, Audacity, there is no problem recording audio through the TASCAM (or perhaps I'm fooled and it's still the built in mic)....

so, this seems to be related to the Cubase settings, but it looks like I'm only able to change MIDI stuff in the device settings....
anyone know where I go wrong?

[scrubs]

Please advise as to which version of Cubase you are using (Cubasis VST, Cubase LE/SE, etc.), as there are some slight differences.

However, basically, you need to ensure that the TASCAM is selected as both the INPUT and OUTPUT device within the software. This should be in the devices menu. Also, make sure your computer's soundcard is NOT selected for either INPUT or OUTPUT duties within the software.

[Mr.Ainsbury]

currently i'm using Cubase SX 2.01 because a friend installed it to see if that would fix the problems, but the version that came with the TASCAM, which is the one I think I prefer coz it is actually mine, is called Cubasis VST, which I thought is just the cheap version of SX (i'm probably wrong there ;-) )

oh, and thanks for replying! (it's my first post you see...)

[scrubs]

In cubasis vst, here is a step-by-step guide:

Connect the 122 and then start Cubasis. Open the Audio Menu --> System. Make sure the ASIO US-122 (16-bit) is selected as your driver (Cubasis only supports 16-bit recording). Click ASIO Control panel and make sure Audio is enabled (Enable MIDI and Audio). Then go to Audio --> Inputs and make sure the little green box next to US-122 A and B is lit up. If not, click it. Also, if the box next to your internal soundcard is highlighted, click to disable it. It may tell you it needs to "reroute" inputs. Click o.k. if this happens.

Click on the first Audio track in the Arrange window. Select "Enable" on the left-hand side. You will be prompted to select a location to store your audio files. Then open up the Audio-->VST Channel Mixer. Connect something to the US-122's Left input (mic, guitar, etc.). Click the little "In" button on the first mixer channel in Cubasis. Turn up the preamp gain on the 122 and play something. You should "see" the sound on the fader.

In Cubase SE (the version I currently use):

In the devices menu, select VST inputs and select the Tascam as the input device and deselect your internal soundcard.

In the devices menu, select VST outputs and similarly select the Tascam as your output device, if desired (this will allow you to monitor/listen to music while recording and playback through headphones/speakers connected to the 122).

[Zona Mona]

the cubasis that you get for free will start to limit what you can do very quickly, I would go ahead and upgrade now

[apl]

You can order a free Cubase upgrade from Tascam's website.