Cubase LE 4 Exporting Problems

[0dd0ne]

Real quick I'll start off by listing what I'm using...

Tascam US-122MKII
Cubase LE 4

Bass guitar hooked up to the Tascam device in the Guitar In port.

I used this set up on my Vista laptop and the results were just fine.
Here's an example:
Pick Up The Phone Bass Cover [HQ Audio] - YouTube

*The E string sounds terrible, but I'm pretty sure the bass needed strings...

Now, I am using the same set up on a Windows 7 laptop.
The result is this terrible sound
Searchlight - Give It Up Bass Cover (HD Audio) - YouTube

As you can hear the audio is really fuzzy and the low notes basically don't exist. Also, the MP3 track I'm playing along with has to be very low to even get this out of it.

I have uninstalled and then reinstalled every thing, the software drivers and updates. I have the Windows 7 update from Cubase's site installed as well.
While recording I make sure to use the "Monitor" option to test that the bass sound doesn't go into the red, or over load the system. I have my bass volume and the Tascam device's Mic levels at a reasonable level, they aren't on full blast.

I have also emailed the company, they insisted the problem was my computer speakers. The laptop is brand new, and since the sound is like this on other computers I'm sure that's not the problem.

Here are a few screencaps of the settings I have while exporting. If you need more info don't hesitate to ask, I'm dying to record again.





Any help at all is greatly appreciated!

[jackslab1]

I'm not sure about the distortion you're talking about. Both clips sound pretty good. Does other music sound bad thru the laptop. You said that it sounds better on headphones. Do you have them plugged into the computer or interface? It's possible you're speakers may have a problem or just can't handle the low end. Are you disabling the tascam on playback? The vid you mentioned being distorted sounds fine on my monitors so it sounds like a conflic with you're sound card or the speakers have a problem.

[joebingo]

You do lose quite a lot of volume when you get onto the E string, so I'd wonder if there's a set up issue on the bass. Is your E string further away from the pickups than the other strings are?

Regarding the sound problem, I'm hearing a slight digital artifact on the second link you posted. Could you upload an mp3 of it to this site?

[brandondrury]

First off, make sure your Youtube thumbnail for each video makes it obvious that you are a chick playing a guitar-like instrument. Setup the monetization in Youtube and you have a good chance of getting 1,000,000 plays this year. You don't even have to dress slutty or anything. That'll probably buy you a new bass this year. This is one effect that is totally ridiculous, but I'm genetically predisposed to miss out on this one. (I wonder if I could fake it.)

With my marketing schpeal out of the way, lets get to work.

As you can hear the audio is really fuzzy and the low notes basically don't exist. Also, the MP3 track I'm playing along with has to be very low to even get this out of it.

Other than the problem with the E string (which may not be as big of problem as we realize...we'd have to check it in context), I like the sound of the first clip quite a bit better. A lot more balls. (Insert girl bass player joke about balls here. ) A few possibilities.

1) I'm assuming this is a straight DI with no emulator on it. If you've got an emulator like Ampeg SVX or whatever, these are going to be very sensitive to gain going in.

2) If it's a straight DI, have you messed with tone controls, pickup switching, or pickup "blend" (if applicable)?

I have uninstalled and then reinstalled every thing, the software drivers and updates.

I don't think this is a sound quality issue that Cubase would have an effect on. When Cubase has trouble, it'll sound broken.

I think this is an audio engineering problem and not necessary a problem with the gear. Now trying to figure out what you did on the first one is where it gets interesting. Sounds change every day for me even nothing seems to have changed. So there's some voodoo (or humidity changes) going on here no matter what.

I have also emailed the company, they insisted the problem was my computer speakers. The laptop is brand new, and since the sound is like this on other computers I'm sure that's not the problem.

Are they implying your bass sounds different because you are listening on different speakers? Surely, you've listened to your older Youtube videos on the same speakers. I'm using the same speakers for both and they are clearly different. I hate these assholes. They always give the shortest, most useless answer possible. Them taking 5 extra minutes to help probably lead to you being a life-long customer.

With that said, I'm imagine the typical tech support humans at Tascam aren't even audio engineers.

I'm not sure how much time has passed, but I believe the problem is on your end. If pickups and all knobs are identical and you are playing about the same way, it's probably bass strings that are the issue. Changing sizes on bass strings will have an effect. Changing brands of bass strings will have an effect.

One last hypothesis. At 0:32 of the first video, you hit a B and it's clearly distorting. Any chance you pushed your preamp on your 122 harder on that first recording? That sounds like the interface is clipping (although it could be other factors). The fact that something is getting pushed hard could explain why it sounds better.....and also explain the farting out issues on the Low E.

Play around with it and get back to us.

BTW, I really loved that second My Chemical Romance record. One of the last ballsy rock records I've heard. (I'm getting old.) I saw them live in 2003 or so. Cool show, but I expect it was intended for the ladies as their was too many guys kissing guys in it for my own personal tastes. I presume women love to see dudes kiss as much as guys like to see lesbians kiss although I know they all deny it.

Brandon

[Emma]

Hi there,

I gave up on asking for setup help from most suppliers - they have a great skill at passing the ball straight back. There's quite a bit of fiddle factor involved in getting it all to run together sweetly. Cubase is an awesome system once you get your head around it. Let us know how you get on!