Tascam US-122 & Cubasis - Is anyone happy?

[CDimidius]

I recently purchased a Tascam US-122 which came with a version of Cubasis and GigaStudio 24. I have since attempted to register these programs but have been unable to find a key number for either of them. On 21 October 2004, I forwarded online requests for assistance on this issue to both Tascam and Steinberg.

I am yet to receive any response from Tascam and on 27 October 2004 I received a response from Pinnacle stating that: "The serial number normally is written on a label sticked onto the Installation CD sleeve." Preferring to assume that this advice was intended to be helpful, on 28 October 2004 I reponded with an explanation that there was no label on the plastic sleeve that my CD came in.

In addition to these issues, I purchased the US-122 upon the understanding that the package I was purchasing comprised "a 24-bit audio interface, capable of streaming two simultaneous channels of audio" (p. 4 of the Manual). I now find that the bundled version of Cubasis only supports 16-bit recording and one input for recording. As I purchased the package in reliance upon representations made by a salesperson, I am considering returning the package.

Before I request a refund, I would like to know:
- Has anyone who has purchased the same or a similar package been able to register the software?
- Has anyone who has purchased the same or a similar package ultimately been happy with their purchase after extended use?

Answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[P-Man]

Us122

Hi there. First and foremost, forget the bundled software from Cubase that came with your new Tascam US122. It's not worth spit. I have recently installed the latest (full) version of Cubasis onto my laptop, it configured fine with the US122 and although I have only done 3 recordings with mic and guitar, so far so good.

The whole debate on this forum about the US122 seems for the most part very negative, but I think what it comes down to is really what your after in terms of recording and how much you are willing to spend on it.

Though I have to admit, the installation of the drivers for the US122 is a joke. Not to mention the "standby" freeze on XP. Tascam must hve been in an awful hurry to get this baby birthed but it came out a bit like a backward child. Still, hang in there, the US122 is fine for what you pay.

 

[manning1]

CD.
i'm a puter engr. search under my name for lots of tips and comments about usb and other recording issues and solutions posted in the past year.. if you post your computer confign i'll help you with good suggestions that will work.
after reading my tips using search if you have Q's - i have answers.
peace.

 

[gazzapage75]

Help!!!

Hi I'm new here, I signed up as I need help with my uss-122? I've hooked up midi leads to my Roland V drums. I get a signal to cubasis as the meters go up and down but I get no sound out? Please help, thanx

 

[CDimidius]

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I have a P4 (2.8 GHz) PC running XP with 512 Mb RAM, a 40 Gb HD for applications and another 80 Gb HD for data. I've tried to streamline my applications to free up RAM but still have excess background programs that start at start up. I've reached the point where manuals advise that I don't proceed unless I really know what I'm doing. As I know enough to know that I don't, I'm hesitant about further tweaking.

Any tips will be greatly appreciated. I'm new to PC recording and it's been a while since I did any analogue recording (I still have a Tascam 38 1/2 inch with a Tascam MTS-30 Midi sync unit and I even picked up an old TEAC Tascam Series 10 mixing console some years ago).

I must add that I'm impressed by this forum and might not have visited it if I hadn't bought the US-122. Something good has come from my purchase already.

 

[manning1]

CD. this is a better solution imho. i'm assuming you read my tips by searching ?
you already have a mixer and i assume mics. your nearly there.
i assume you already have monitoring and hphones as well.
assuming your pci slots are not loaded up with junk put a delta sound card
into the Pc. makesure its the only device using a pci slot if possible.
(search under my name for reasons). then download the demo of what i use.
powertracks from pgmusic.com. this will give you 48 tracks on your pc for 49 bucks.
you can even try the demo before getting the delta if you wish. it will work with junk on board sound. a TIP. make sure dma is enabled on your hard drives assuming they are dma able which they should be unless its a weird system. if you got any more Q's just ask. this will give you way more flexibility than the 122. powertracks will do 24 bit if you need it. but frankly i dont.
ps. you should take your system to a pc tech to streamline it and
rid it of extraneous programs you dont need at start up. also search for *.tmp files(look in windows temp folder. these can build up over time and should be got rid of. also run adaware and see if you have any rogue stuff around).
please also check in device mgr and tell me if any devices are "flagged".
to reach me just leave a message on this bbs starting "hey manning1 ..." etc
in the title as sometime posts get buried.
also please tell me what you have in your pci slots currently.
peace.

 

[CDimidius]

manning1, thanks for your advice. I was just reading some of your tips when notifed of your last post. There's more than a few of them so they may take some time to peruse.

I have 2 free pci slots (my modem is in the 3rd) and my hard drives are DMA enabled. I delete tmp files regularly and use EasyCleaner to get rid of other dross (although I have found over 1 Gb of duplicate files and know that I don't know enough to choose which duplicated system files to delete).

I have mics, including an SM58, will monitor through TDK tremor S-150R speakers (at least initially) and have some old sennheiser heaphones. My mixers are old. The Tascam Series 10 is a huge relic (20 into 4 -1974?) but is a good conversation piece. I also have an old Alesis 1622 but was intending to use software for mixing. I will investigate software effects options but also have some old BOSS half-rack units (EQs, SE-50, etc).

Given P-Man's comments about the software that came bundled with the US-122, I am considering my options. I am yet to check out the delta sound card or powertracks and am interested to see whether I can still make good use of the US-122. Basically, I just want to record reasonable mixes of primarily guitar and vocals based songs, using good samples for sequenced rhythm sections and some unobtrusive piano and strings. Perhaps I can do this with what I have but I also want to enable both US-122 inputs for quickly putting down guitar and vocals of song ideas. It seems that Cubaase will do this and I will check the Cubase User section to see how high up the product line I will have to go to get reasonable results.

Things have changed since I used my Roland W-30 Workstation as a sequencer/sampler linked to my Tascam 38. I know I'm not the first to find PC recording a little more complicated than anticipated. It looks like I have some reading and catching up to do.

Cheers and thanks again for your assistance.

 

[manning1]

cd. just be aware that a lot of folks are having probs with usb.
if it works for you great.
also dont write off the model 10, it maybe old but that was one product tascam built the company on in the early years. if it works fine and sounds good then use it. it might just need a bit of TLC (maybe capacitor replacement etc) from a good tech internally. capacitors sometimes dont age too well.
good luck.

 

[CHIKO]

Need Advice In A Tascam Us-122

Yeah I Have A Rhode Mic. Nt1-a Annv. Modle But I Was Woundering If The Tascam Us-122 Interface Is A Good Interface That Will Support In Vocal Recording??? Im Basicly Trying To Get My Quality The Closest I Can To Cd Quality ?? If Anyone Can Help I Would Appreciate It??? Thanxxxx

 

[mishagolin]

II now find that the bundled version of Cubasis only supports 16-bit recording and one input for recording.

cubasis considers the US122 as one input. that means it can either be used to record one stereo set or two mono tracks. Each track in Cubasis has a Bus Selector. You just need to change that to include the left bus for one and the right for the other track.

i used a us122 for a few months when i just started to record (about a year ago). I ran into a few problems with Cubasis as it would not let me export my files. I had to reinstall cubasis and the us122 drivers to get it to work.

Once i got the unit working it was alright. i was able to learn some of the basics on cubasis. the sound was alright but i think most of my errors were in mic placement and the room. The preamps in the us122 aren't awesome but they get the job done. i think its good at its price for learning the basics.

since then i've moved up to Cubase SL2 and a Presonus Firepod. Its definitely a more powerful setup. If you're gonna upgrade from the us122 its probably the cubasis software that needs to go first. the us122 isn't horrible for hardware but there are definitely other programs that will work better than cubasis.


chiko: i also have a rode nt1-a and it worked fairly well with my tascam. i've still got a whole lot to learn but you can check out some vocals i did with the nt1-a. granted these were all about 6 months ago. i hope i can do better now. www.purevolume.com/mishagolin It Is Well was done with my nt1-a and us122 (acoustic was done using 2 Superlux SDC's and us122). The other 2 songs were done with the same mic setup but through a friends motu. granted they are mp3's so the sound quality isn't as good as it could be. but who am i kidding i'm not good enough for it to make a difference.