Tascam US-1641 USB 2.0 Audio Interface Review

[BBJones]

yeah I'm using cubaseSX. setup went fairly smooth from what I recall. fire away with any questions.

just one comment that the Tascam unit is setup and used like any other VST device like the Maduio Delta stuff. At least it seemed that way for me from what I remember.

[randyyy]

if lets say i put a input in the rear of the unit at input #11 do i have to worry about that switch that says -10 +4 ? how long have you been using the tascam 1641 and cubase for, what is your set up like.... i have a condenser mic in one and two and i have a line out of my guitar amp going in #9 and a line out of a base amp going in #10... I also was thinking of making a line out of my yorkville ap812 to go into a rear input of the tascam so i can get a track of the 2 dynamic mics that are in the ap812, the 2 condenser mics are picking up the room sound and then after i thought i would listen to it all on headphones and do a clean vocal track into the condenser mics and then a drum track and then get rid of the original track that picked up the whole room sound.. any sugestions or comments

[randyyy]

when i use the guitar in, do i have to push the button in if its an acoustic guitar with a pick up that has a battery in it

[BBJones]

I'm assuming you set up the VST devices and can add and map audio tracks to projects?

Assuming that...

Press F3 for the mixer and just make sure you're getting a decent amount of signal.

The rear inputs have the +/- to give you some adjustment on input levels since you don't have gain/volume knobs like the front 10.

None of the features do anything to the sound as far as know of (like the acoustic guitar button making it sound better when you use an acoustic guitar). Its all about getting decent levels.

I have been using cubase for a few years now and by no means a pro.

Best thing is to just make sure you're getting a signal on the track you expect, then do some sample recording.

Try the mic in different places, try the +/- buttons and the gain knobs/accoustic button etc until you end up with recording samples that you like.

[randyyy]

i have each track assigned to the correct channels but what do you mean by setting up vst devices... i have on mic on chan one and on the track it says in one and same for 2 and so on but im not sure how the vst devices work or what they are or do.... ??could you explain it or direct me to a site
thanks... one more thing ... if i am recording and i have about 5 or 6 audio tracks set up all with the corresponding inputs ... if my band does a song and i want to do another song after it can you pause after the song and continue to do another song without having to open up a new project....

[BBJones]

I'm pretty sure the Tascam manual had instructions for setting it up as a VST device for Cubase LE which was pretty much the same thing in SX.

However, one question, are you recording now and are you getting sound? If you are using the Tascam then its probably working somehow. But if you don't recall having set up VST devices then I don't think its working for you yet.

I can't remember all the details but it is in the manual. If you don't have it, go here to get it:
TASCAM

Page 20 has the steps on how to add the Tascam unit as a device and what you have to do to get it running. I highly recommend you read the entire manual cover to cover (twice).

With SX you have the advantage of using the Mixer to monitor your input levels easily. You must make sure you are getting input signal before you try to record. If you have input signal then you have things set up correctly.

As to your question about recording songs... yes you can keep adding new songs/sessions in one project.

I do that regularly. One project for each band I record. I just keep adding the next song at the end of what I have. I'm not sure of the time limit for projects in Cubase but I have projects with over 10 hours of songs/jams with no problem so far.

The hard part is organizing where all the songs are with one big long project. You can use markers or just write it down externally.

[randyyy]

i dragged the vertical line after the song ended but when i hit record it went back to the start of the track

[BBJones]

do you have the loop/repeat button on? its up there with the play/record buttons, looks like a sideways U

You should be able to place the vertical bar anywhere and from its position.

this isn't related to the Tascam unit so you may want to start another thread about it

[randyyy]

what do you mean about the headphone jack in the us1641, are you saying you can only hear sound out of it while you are laying down the tracks and that after when you listen to them you cant hear the tracks at all... i did a playback to i could add a vocal track and there was sound that came out but only on one side of the headphone... any comments

[Ryan D]

The headphone jack is for live sound only.

Yeah, I was pissed when I found that out. My guess is the only sound you're hearing is the microphone re-picking up the played sound.