have US-144 and computer. do i need anything else?

[shai halud]

I have a tascam US-144 and a computer with more than enough power to accomodate the system. I have tried some tentative recordings in the Cubase LE program. I have not been able to add effects to the insturment signal and can only record a very clean and dry sound. do i need to process the insturmental signal prior to input to the US-144? My input levels are rather low and if I turn up either the output of the US 144 or the mixer in Cubase, the signal becomes overly distorted. Any ideas out there? Thanks

[johnnymegabyte]

go to the store where you bought it ... and bug the cr@p out of them until they give you the right answers.
If they don't, then return it.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by shai halud

I have a tascam US-144 and a computer with more than enough power to accomodate the system. I have tried some tentative recordings in the Cubase LE program. I have not been able to add effects to the insturment signal and can only record a very clean and dry sound. do i need to process the insturmental signal prior to input to the US-144? My input levels are rather low and if I turn up either the output of the US 144 or the mixer in Cubase, the signal becomes overly distorted. Any ideas out there? Thanks

You've inadvertently asked quite a few questions, and I might need some more info.

To add effects, you need to add an insert to the track in the Cubase window; there's a tab called 'insert'. I believe Cubase LE comes with some pretty decent reverbs and chorus.

Your input levels should be peaking at -12 Db. They're distorting because they are overloading the input. The red LED on the tascam will light. The level at which your source is recorded is known as your 'tracking level'. Firstly, make sure that if you are plugging a guitar or bass into the Tascam, make sure it is set to guitar; for low impedance instruments and mics, set it to mic/line.

If you're using heapdhones to monitor, make sure the headphone dial is turned up on the tascam; similarly for the line out if you are using speakers.

I would recommend you study the diagram that came with the US 144; there are alot of dials and it's best to know what each one does early on.

[Nick98338]

Originally Posted by shai halud

I have a tascam US-144 and a computer with more than enough power to accomodate the system. I have tried some tentative recordings in the Cubase LE program. I have not been able to add effects to the insturment signal and can only record a very clean and dry sound. do i need to process the insturmental signal prior to input to the US-144? My input levels are rather low and if I turn up either the output of the US 144 or the mixer in Cubase, the signal becomes overly distorted. Any ideas out there? Thanks

You said you have a clean, dry sound. That's a very good start. Process your recordings *AFTER* you have them in Cubase LE. Don't worry too much that your input levels seem a bit low. You can bring that up "in the software". Read the help in Cubase LE. Or, get a book. Learn how to process recordings using the tools that are in LE. Download some of the free VST effects that are out there.