US122 questions

[boltdude]

Total recording newbie here, so be gentle , and .... I already RTFM!... several times.... ahem

How can I hear my recordings other than using headphones? I'd like to be able to use my computer (laptop) speakers, but it seems that's not possible. The manual says, "To monitor output from your computer, connect the analog outputs (-boltdude: RCA jacks I assume?) of the US122 to your mixer, amplifier or powered monitors." Ain't got no mixer or powered monitors. I do have an amplifier, but of course, it has no RCA style input jacks. Is there such a thing as an RCA to 1/4" jack adaptor?

Perhaps on a related note, what the heck are the "Insert" jacks for on the US122? The manual says almost nothing about them. They are 1/4" jacks. The manual does say "tip=send, ring=return, sleeve=ground." They are on the input side of the unit, but the manual gives both input and output audio specifications for them. I don't suppose these could be used as output to my amplifier for monitoring?

Oh yeah, and one more thing, which is better for a newbie with rather non-extravagant recording plans, Cubasis or Gigastudio?
Thanks

 

[MichaelG]

Yes, the RCA jacks are the analog outputs. You could check Radio Shack for RCA-->1/4" adaptors or, if you have a boom box with a line in, run the RCA outs from the US-122 to your boom box. It won't sound great, but it will probably sound better than your laptop speakers.

The inserts can be used for external effects processors like compressors, delays, etc. If you don't have any external effects yet, you don't need to worry about the inserts.

As for software, I think you'll find the lame versions of Cubasis and Gigastudio that came with the US-122 to be pretty user/newbie unfriendly. I'd recommend Tracktion. It's US$80 and you can download a demo of it here:

http://mackie.com/products/tracktion/index.html

--Michael

 

[boltdude]

Thanks for your help MichaelG! I'll check out Radio Shack for that adaptor.

As for the Insert jacks, I wouldn't have guessed they were for effects, but I am a newbie. How would you hook one up? Would you just go guitar to pedal input, and pedal output to US122 Insert?

I'm too cheap to shell out $80 for a piece of software when I got the free stuff already, so I guess I'll try to slog my through these guys.

 

[MichaelG]

To use the inserts you'll need a special cable (or an adaptor). The cable has a stereo plug that goes into the insert jack and two mono plugs at the other end. The tip of the stereo plug is the "send" and its side of the mono cable would go into the effect input. The ring of the stereo plug is the return, and its side of the mono cable goes into your effect output. NOTE: you can't use a standard stereo to two mono cable; you need to make sure one side of the mono cable goes to the tip and the other to the ring.

You can get an adaptor at Radio Shack that has a stereo plug to left and right RCA jacks, then connect your effects to that. This is the one I use:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_001_002&product_id=274-893

As for Cubasis, you may find it's not worth the effort. To my knowledge, no one on the US-122 forum is using it--it's just too dang limited and unnecessarily complicated. This has been my conclusion as well (and I'm a software teacher/trainer). Tracktion really is the best bang for the buck sequencer available.

You can visit the Yahoo! US-122 forum for more input on Cubasis and anything else related to the US-122:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tascam-us122/

Best--

Michael

 

[boltdude]

To use the inserts you'll need a special cable (or an adaptor). The cable has a stereo plug that goes into the insert jack and two mono plugs at the other end. The tip of the stereo plug is the "send" and its side of the mono cable would go into the effect input. The ring of the stereo plug is the return, and its side of the mono cable goes into your effect output. NOTE: you can't use a standard stereo to two mono cable; you need to make sure one side of the mono cable goes to the tip and the other to the ring.

whew! thanks, I never would've figured that out on my own.

You can get an adaptor at Radio Shack that has a stereo plug to left and right RCA jacks, then connect your effects to that. This is the one I use:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_001_002&product_id=274-893

Now that confuses me. The RCA jacks on the US122 are output only. So then if you use them for effects, you hear it through your monitors but it's not in the recording??

As for Cubasis, you may find it's not worth the effort. To my knowledge, no one on the US-122 forum is using it--it's just too dang limited and unnecessarily complicated. This has been my conclusion as well (and I'm a software teacher/trainer). Tracktion really is the best bang for the buck sequencer available.

You can visit the Yahoo! US-122 forum for more input on Cubasis and anything else related to the US-122:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tascam-us122/

Michael, thanks so much for the info. You rock dude. I will definitely check out the user group. That US122 manual is hard for a newbie such as myself to understand.

 

[MichaelG]

Now that confuses me. The RCA jacks on the US122 are output only. So then if you use them for effects, you hear it through your monitors but it's not in the recording??

You're right about the US-122 RCA jacks--they are for output only. The Radio Shack adaptor goes into the US-122 insert jack. You'd then need RCA --> 1/4" cables to go into and from your effects. Alternatively, check your local Guitar Superstore for a TRS Y-cable (above caveats apply). I had to go the RS adaptor route because I have no local Guitar Superstore.

--Michael