I'm supposing this is a 1D10T error on my part. First off, it works; I just am confused as to why it works.
So I'm running sound, recording and performing at a gathering of about 200 people in some rich person's living room in a couple weeks. I was testing out some new gear in preparation and ran into this issue.
I wanted to send 4 vocal mics (XLR), an acoustic guitar and a ukelele (both 1/4") going into a Tascam US-1800 usb interface to a Harbinger HA120 PA system using a MacBook Pro with GarageBand. I double-checked the Tascam manual and it shows to use the monitor outs (obviously) for this:
And the manual also says that you can manage the balance & levels with the MIX & MONITOR knobs:
When I did this, I could see the signal coming into the interface just fine (on each track) but nothing was coming out of the PA speakers despite mass tweaking of all the knobs.
After smashing things and flipping over tables enraged, I thought I'd try using the "Line-outs" instead of the "Monitor-outs". And *poof* Suddenly sound came out of the PA!
Why? Why is this happening? Just why?
Comments
Hi Boswell... I will test it out again without hooking up the U
Hi Boswell...
I will test it out again without hooking up the US-1800 to the MacBook to answer your first question.
When I used the headphones output, nothing came through at all.
Adjusting the MIX control changed nothing at all.
Thank you for replying and I'll get back to you on the first question shortly.
I too understand your frustration. There's an awful feeling when
I too understand your frustration. There's an awful feeling when you are dealing with a piece of gear that has problems, especially when you're out in the trenches getting ready to do a gig.
Were the monitor outputs the only outputs you were using at the time? You didn't have anything connected to the SPDIF or Main Outs as well?
I'm only asking because the 1800 is limited to only 4 (total) outputs at once...
Or, it's entirely possible there is an issue with the Tascam. I'm not trying to say that everything they make has problems, but quite a few of their audio I/O products do.
Back when I used to use the 1641 - which was the predecessor to the 1800 you have - I went through three models - brand new in the box - before I finally got one (on the third return and exchange) where everything worked as it was supposed to. Before that, there were problems with outputs, mic pre's not working, some working but very noisy, USB connectivity, and a non-functioning HP output.
Only because it hasn't yet been mentioned - have you checked Tascam's support page to check for possible bug fixes, patches, updates on drivers and firmware?
In the first two years that the 1641 was out, it seemed as if they were posting driver and firmware updates and bug fixes almost weekly. I lost count of how many times I had to update versions and download firmware and little bug fixes with that I/O in the first year I owned it.
d.
pcrecord, post: 421726, member: 46460 wrote: The 1800 is the fir
pcrecord, post: 421726, member: 46460 wrote: The 1800 is the first unit I see that doesn't seem to have a routing software.
I went through the manual with no luck.
This means, the routing may be occuring in Windows or the DAW. Check the ouputs there.
Yes, the US-1800 internal routing is all hardware. The block diagram shows a mix control between the computer outputs 1&2 (in stereo) and a mono summed version of the 14 analog inputs. This sum arrives at the Monitor outputs via the Mix control. The Mix control does not affect what comes out of Outputs 1&2 and 3&4.
Maybe Donny's experience of having to go through several Tascam units before getting one that actually worked to specification is in danger of being repeated here.
Hi Paul, I can imagine your frustration. When you got signal o
Hi Paul,
I can imagine your frustration.
When you got signal out of the line outputs, was this being sent from the MBP, i.e. was it the monitor output from Garageband? Do you get any live output from any socket when the US-1800 is not connected to the computer? Do you get the same result using headphones from the phone output? Does the signal fade as you adjusted the Mix control? If so, which end of the Mix control range gave you the output?