MultiMix–Bundled Cubase LE 4 Cripples OS X!

[episkopos]

We have an iMac G5 running OS X (10.5.7), heaps of RAM and gobs of storage. It is a fantastic machine for audio recording/editing, working flawlessly until we installed the Alesis bundled Cubase LE 4 about 10 days ago. Until that time, we were using Audacity with a Lexicon Omega (yes, I know this is an Alesis area!) with no complaints. Nonetheless, we wanted to record more than 4 tracks, so one of our teens (this is a church) offered to let us try out his MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 to see if we might go in that direction. I have used Alesis gear (and Cubase) for years, so I thought nothing of installing the bundled Cubase LE 4 to use for the test drive.

Here's the rub:

Ever since I installed Cubase LE 4, I am unable to record with anything other than Cubase! All other apps (Audacity, Garbage Band, etc.) record only white noise from all inputs (built-in line input, Lexicon Omega, MM16). Curiously, the built-in microphone is unaffected.

Whatever Cubase (or Syncrosoft's SeL) did is system-wide and apparently irreversible. All sources are disabled in all apps for all users.

CAVEAT: Cubase does work, and even more curiously, once Cubase has been launched (whether it is closed or remains open) so do all other apps—until a rebooot.

Cubase is not the answer for us (the UI is too complicated for our untrained staff, plus we do not own the MM16 so we are not entitled to use it), and now we are stuck. Removing Cubase (along with the SeL) does not resolve the problem. At this point, our only work-around is to keep Cubase installed and launch it every time we boot. Not good.

Needless to say, we are pretty gun shy about handing over any of our shekels to Alesis at this point. I've burned at least two whole days Googling and hacking at this to no avail, so I'm pretty desperate.

Can anybody help?

[episkopos]

Alesis Tech Support suggested that we apply the Cubase patch from Steinberg's website. The update installed without incident, but broke Cubase. Now that Cubase is broken, so is our work-around. I removeed Cubase and SeL again and tried to reinstall the bundled version, but now the installer blows up midway. I was already up the creek, now I officially have no paddle.

Unless someone has another suggestion, it looks as if I'm going to have to resort to a new OS installation. So much for my Alesis test drive!