The TASCAM US-800 is Garbage!!! (j/k)

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SubYeoman

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My US800 finally arrived, and after uninstalling all my other old audio drivers I hooked it up and installed the Tascam drivers. The installation went swimmingly… I didn’t even have to set it as my PC’s principal sound device, it automatically filled the role. I plugged my instruments into the input jacks and could hear them loud and clear through the headphones. I opened Reaper, assigned it as my input device, and recorded a quick guitar riff. Everything was right with the world. I hooked up my keyboard and began laying down a MIDI track. Everything was going great and then…

BAM!

My computer straight rebooted itself, right in the middle of recording in Reaper (which I have never seen it do before). When windows reloaded I got a message like “Your computer recovered from a serious error… the error was due to an unknown USB device/driver… your computer shut down to prevent [Armageddon]… if you have recently installed a new USB device or driver, it is recommended that you uninstall”, etc.

I unhooked the US800, uninstalled the drivers, downloaded the latest drivers from the website (which may have been the same version as the included disc that I used the first time, I didn’t look), changed the USB cable, and switched to a different USB port on my PC. I went through the installation process all over again, and it went as smoothly as it did the first time. But then I continued to experience problems. Luckily my PC hasn’t rebooted itself again, but multiple times the US800 has abruptly stopped working for no apparent reason. When it does, I get a Windows message like “A USB device has malfunctioned…”. I can still hear instruments that are connected to it through the headphones that are also connected to it, but everything to/from my computer is lost. Rebooting doesn’t fix it and unhooking the USB cable and plugging it back in doesn’t fix it, however, unplugging the power cable from the back of the US800 does. When I unplug/replug, my PC will pop up with a message like “New USB device detected… Tascam US-800… successfully installed”. Then everything works fine again until the next time it stops. One other thing to note is that when I start up my computer or reboot it, the US800 is never recognized, even when I turn it off then back on before booting. I have to wait for the PC to boot, cycle the power plug, and then it recognizes it and it starts working perfectly (until it stops again). In my limited experience with this problem there doesn’t seem to be any particular event or behavior that causes the unit to conk out; it seems to happen randomly, about every 10-15 minutes.

I’m no expert, but this really seems like a problem with the US800 and not with my computer. Could I have gotten a dud?
 
I’m no expert, but this really seems like a problem with the US800 and not with my computer. Could I have gotten a dud?

A dud driver, probably. Musical gear manufacturers can't seem to write stable drivers for USB devices for some reason. My Tascam US-428 didn't play well with other USB devices on the system. The MidiSport 4x4 drivers suck too. Every time I reboot the computer, Windows goes through the "found new hardware" routine all over again.
 
I went back and read that other thread again and it sounds like I'm having a lot of the same problems of rockstar_not. Maybe they sent me the one he returned LOL.
 
There were a few other people in that thread that reported very similar problems... although I didn't actually see a blue screen my reboot error report said "blue screen error" so it's probably the same kind of thing. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like anyone has found a sure fix yet. But, now I'm starting to be convinced it's something fixable about my computer than a bad unit.

BTW, I am running Windows XP SP3, reformat and fresh install less than 3 months ago. All updates are installed, BIOS is up to date.
 
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I've had my us-800 and never had this happen before. The worst thing I can say about it is that it may take restarting the computer once or twice to get it recognized. I've had great results with this interface and really no hiccups to speak of. For the price and number of channels I think its great, and the sound quality isn't bad either.
 
I only use my US-800 for recording duties (my computer is used for everything, unfortunately), so turn the power on to it before kicking on Reaper. No issues (using Vista, blaaa).
 
BTW, I am running Windows XP SP3, reformat and fresh install less than 3 months ago. All updates are installed, BIOS is up to date.

I`m running my tascam us-800 on the same OS (XP SP3), and have`nt had a single problem, I`ve left it on for hours, and have`nt ever had a problem yet...and actually, my computor is filthy as hell, has`nt been rebooted/wiped in a LONG time..

this is odd?
 
man it seems like they would just fix their PC drivers. i'm not having any of these issues with my us800 running to my mac mini. this little tascam unit is working like a charm for me at the moment.
 
I'm having issues similar to this. I have had a blue error screen before, and I've had issues with MIDI. First time I plugged MIDI cable in everything went smoothly. Later when I turned everything back on to do more (after I had shut everything down) MIDI signal wasn't coming through. After doing a bunch of random driver install reboot stuff MIDI worked again, but then it happened again and after I turned it all on again MIDI didn't work. Tell me if you get it working :)
 
Shit i just ordered one of these. Should arrive in a few days, really hope I smooth sailing like it has been with some ppl.
 
MIDI is working now! I just have to go through a process each time. Thank God!
 
What is the process? Boot Windows, fire up 800, open Cubase by chance? :)
 
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