I apologize to anyone

Lazarus1140

New member
to whom I recommended the TASCAM US-144mkII.

It seemed to be great when I first starting using it. Either it has become sick or it never was any good and I just didn't know it. I love the way it's layed out and the zero imperceptible or non-existant latency and on and on.

The problem is either the preamps, the gain pots, or both. It is almost impossible, whether using guitar, keyboard, dynamic, or condensor mic, to get enough gain to "print" a track without overdriving the inputs. Sometimes I have to turn the pots up up to 75% and beyond to even get a sound and then at that point the inputs are clipping. It is very frustrating and I have tried everything I can think of.

I read similar complaints online but bought the unit anyway, and to be honest was very happy because I thought I got a good one. Now I believe they don't exist.

I am going to try to disassemble it and changes the pots. If that is not possible it is no great loss. I will buy a Focusrite 2i4 and hope that it is better. I should have spent the extra $50 in the first place.

I'm trying to help someone record her "abum" and there have been days with little progres mostly due to an inferior quality interface. I looked today to compare the specs with the Focusrite but found that the Tascam's specs lack the detail of the Focusrite specs. It is not possible to compare them on the basis of the more important advertised performance data.

I am finished crying now. To be fair, we had fun trying to record anyway ... time spent with a friend girl who sings well is never really wasted, and it beats melting outside.
 
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Re: I apologize to anyone

The TASCAM US interface box is only one part of the signal chain between your source and whatever recording/sequencing software you happen to use. There are several settings that might require adjustment. These could be in the DAW, in the Tascam driver software or in Windows Recording Mixer.
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

Well, I don't doubt that tere's ore to it that I don't understand, but used to be able to record everything without this issue. I don't know what would have changed. I use Reaper and have always used it and the TASCAM together for the last three or so years.
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

mine works fine. You don't need huge levels on a recorded track. Headroom trumps level every time. Set the levels so the loudest input volume spike is still at less than zero db. Its quite a good thing to back the mic off a little too for vocals and acoustic instruments so you don't get big transient spikes in your wave - pop filters help for vocals too. You can make up extra volume in the mix if you want after the tracking is done by using the "normalize" function.
Are you sure your mics and leads are working as they should?
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

sounds like yours has a problem. I dig mine - main problem is only the crappy buttons you have to mash to get it to record and/or play. dumb things drive you nuts when you're trying to keep the momentum going and want to keep re-doing a part and you have to mash the record + play buttons every which way to get them to kick in.

One thing I always do is set an input volume but then really strum hard to make sure I don't go in the red - typically I'd have to turn it down another notch or two.

I had a focusrite 2i2 and sold it because the inputs clip with any normal high output pickup when you plug directly into it, even with the input volume all the way down. F that. Did a quick google after I bought it and saw a thousand other guys that had the same issue.
 
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Re: I apologize to anyone

The more you spend on an interface, the more time you spend making music.

I started off with all the cheap units, then went up the range, finally invested in an RME unit. (Used, got a hell of a deal on it.) I may enjoy buying the cheapest guitars and pedals and whatnot, but there's some things that just have no substitute.
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

I wouldn't rule out driver problems.

I'd try a radically different system and see whether the problem is still there.
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

The more you spend on an interface, the more time you spend making music.

I started off with all the cheap units, then went up the range, finally invested in an RME unit. (Used, got a hell of a deal on it.) I may enjoy buying the cheapest guitars and pedals and whatnot, but there's some things that just have no substitute.

+1

My first and only audio/MIDI interface box is a MOTU Ultralite mk3. It was not cheap to buy but it has served me now for six years. The one possible fly in the ointment is that my unit has 2 x FireWire400 sockets and no USB. My desktop computer is FW800. My next computer may have moved beyond FireWire altogether.
 
Re: I apologize to anyone

+1

My first and only audio/MIDI interface box is a MOTU Ultralite mk3. It was not cheap to buy but it has served me now for six years. The one possible fly in the ointment is that my unit has 2 x FireWire400 sockets and no USB. My desktop computer is FW800. My next computer may have moved beyond FireWire altogether.

MOTU is my second choice.. it's just that I scored the RME unit cheaper than the Ultralite was. :D
 
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