Multiple tracks problem in LE

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

Just did my first recording, and I could only get one record enable on at any one time.

Wound up only taking stereo room sound with singer near the pencils in xy rather than having another track with just vocals.

Firepod->P4 1.7Ghz 512K ram w/ LE (tried at 44.1 and 48.)

What's the deal? I tried all kinds of things in the Devices/VST Inputs and Devices/VST Outputs menus.

Help!

Joe

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

come on, some one has had this happen out of the box like I did... I know there's a simple answer out there.

[TimOBrien]

Yes, read the Help File.

All you have to do is go to Devices > VST Inpus and click on the ones you want to be active.

RTM...

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I definitely did that already.

And I've read the help and a good deal of the pdf manual...

Only two inputs are showing up, and I've selected them. I'm pretty good at this stuff in general-- ex engineering student here. The computer is not "seeing" the other inputs for some reason.

I'm using a PCI card to run the 6 pin FW cable since my laptop came with a 4 pin... But I don't think that's the problem.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

to the top...

[schulteboy]

if you haven't already, check to see which driver the program is using. I had this problem with another card, different version of Cubase. Turns out I had to select the ASIO drivers for my sound card.

[MatthewRedStars]

With my Alesis Multimix i had similar problems of it being detected correctly in Cubase LE.

You know what the problem was? A "bad" Firewire card.... i say "bad" cos it worked fine with everything else, just got a different brand card and it worked first time.

Just something to consider.

[Nick98338]

Well, not counting the s/pdif inputs, you really have only two inputs. The mic inputs and the line inputs. If you keep things stereo, then only two inputs will ever show. Mic and line. If you go mono, then you should have mic/right, mic/left, line/right, and line/left. If you don't see, at least, an input named mic and an input named line , then it's a driver setup issue, or a LE audio device setup issue.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

Nick- two inputs??? The firepod (not the firebox) has ten inputs, eight of them with their own mic preamps...

Schulte and Mark, I'll try the ASIO drivers (I think I already did, tho) If it doesn't work, I guess I'll have to pull out the six pin Firewire PCI card out and buy another FW cable to use the 4 pin input on my laptop. Hmm.. problem is, my laptop is an HP, and so was the PCI card I bought. I think HP uses TI cards for FW-- is that a problem?

At any rate, thanks


Joe

[EdWonbass]

Have you checked the input routing at the top of each channel? Even though you have the inputs active you still need to select them in each channel in the LE mixer. If you have every channel set the same you can only record on one channel at a time.

[schulteboy]

For what its worth, in SE I fixed a similar problem by clicking DEVICES then DEVICE SETUP. At least I think that's how I fixed it. I have to disagree with the notion that your firepod only has two inputs--it's just that you've gotta get the software to find your inputs. good luck. hope it's. nothing serious.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

Ed, schulte-- I'll try both of those again, but I've been clicking on those already.

It would suck to be out $500 if it really is some kind of compatibility issue. I don't see myself messing around with switching around firewire cards at $50 a pop.

Thanks again

[Nick98338]

You posted this same question in the newbie forum. Have you checked that one lately?

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

No- will go check.

I have not been working on my cubase skills-- have the last of the floor sanding/ staingin/ urethaneing to do on my recording/ rehearsal studio-- have to finish it before baby #2 gets here (due new year's) so I can clear out a room!

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

tried turnign off soundmax, but cubase isn't even happy booting with it off.

[crankypants]

Originally Posted by schulteboy

For what its worth, in SE I fixed a similar problem by clicking DEVICES then DEVICE SETUP. At least I think that's how I fixed it. I have to disagree with the notion that your firepod only has two inputs--it's just that you've gotta get the software to find your inputs. good luck. hope it's. nothing serious.

This is where I would look too. In Cubase SE it's:

Devices > Device Setup > VST Multitrack

then from the pull down menu thingy that says ASIO driver pick the appropriate one for your device. For me the choices say:

ASIO DirectX Full Duplex Driver
ASIO Multimedia Driver
Edirol FA-101 which is the one I select.

Then go back and under VST Inputs (F5) turn on the inputs you want to use (I can only see 2 at a time when I go to this menu/window unless I scroll down or click and drag on the edge and enlarge it.)

But maybe LE is different...

Also did you load the proper drivers for your interface?


CP

[eh91311]

I have a Firepod and a PC with XP, running Cubase LE. I had the same problems as you about only being able to arm one or two tracks at once.

You have to make sure that the Firepod driver is installed correctly and recognizes the Firepod and sync's (blue light) without issues. A main problem with sync'ing is an incompatible Firewire interface or card in your computer. If repeated installs don't recognize the Firepod correctly, try a new PCI (desktop) or PCMCIA (laptop) firewire card with a Texas Instruments chipset.

Download the newest XP driver from Presonus for the Firepod, any instructions for same, then download the firmware update. Uninstall the existing Cubase LE program. Uninstall the existing Firepod driver, re-install the newest Firepod driver. Repeat if the Firepod does not sync or if the sync light remains red upon starting the computer. Update the firmware on the Firepod using the utility and follow instructions exactly. If all goes well, re-install Cubase LE. If OK, then select the audio I/O and ASIO driver, referring to the instructions in the Presonus manual, follow all steps exactly. Next, download the Cubase LE 1.10 update program from Steinberg, unzip and install on the computer.

After installing, you should go to the control panel then multimedia and make sure that the Firepod is the main source for audio ins and outs, not the onboard soundcard or any other programs.

Make sure that you download the 10 track template/program for Cubase LE that Presonus has available on their site. Before opening Cubase LE & recording, import the file, then save as a template. Use the template for starting each recording project. Using this template, I was able to arm & record on all 8 analog and 2 SPDIF tracks in Cubase LE to record with at once. I was completely unsuccessful in doing that without using the file/template.

You should seriously consider setting up a new profile on your computer for recording only, and implement some/most of the preferred tweaks for windows XP available on www.musicxp.com - they do help to set-up a nice, stable recording environment. It helps to have a computer dedicated to audio only, and internet surf/use office programs/games on another one.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

Thanks, EH. I will definitely run through that process before investing in another pci card.

[travelin travis]

this might sound silly but did you select the desired input on each track? if you have the same input selected for two tracks, you can only arm one of them for recording at once.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

all--

to anyone who's looked at this thread and is wondering about the outcome, I've not tried any of the suggestions out yet as i have been finishing sanding floors/ polyurethaning/ moving heavy crap up in my new studio.

Will report back after this next weekend about what worked/ didn't work.

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I've been completing my studio, so the firepod's been sitting fallow in its box, but wanted to keep this thread current so that I could write up which advice worked! Will have some time this weekend, I hope.

[EdWonbass]

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan zenabI

I've been completing my studio, so the firepod's been sitting fallow in its box, but wanted to keep this thread current so that I could write up which advice worked! Will have some time this weekend, I hope.

Record something allready!

[johnsuitcase]

Yes, two things when you first start cubase:

LE works like Cubase SX 1 did, where you have to select the input at the channel in the mixer. You can't select the same input to go to more than one track at the same time. To turn on all of your inputs, you have to go into the Devices menu, to VVST Inputs. Now, the key!

You have to expand that window, as it'll only show the first two inputs!

Click the "Active" button for each input.

Now, go to the mixer and select an input for each channel, it's the little pull-down just above the fader.

Now, record enable all of the tracks you need, and you're in business...

I think these should solve your problem, I have clients that use LE to do tracking at home, and the inablility to use all 8 channels on their firepod/motu/etc is the number one complaint. Of course, they can, once they get the settings right!

[travelin travis]

Originally Posted by johnsuitcase

Now, the key!

You have to expand that window, as it'll only show the first two inputs!

good point

[travelin travis]

johnsuitcase, i just repped you but apparently i negged?

i don't know how that happened and my only explanation is that i'm drinking at the moment.

i'll try to tip your scales in the near future to make it right.

don't drink and rep kids.