questions on gear

[ELSOL102]

Hi I just got a Tascam US-122L interface...and the software that came with it is Cubase3. I have a Tascam condensor mic as well as a Shure SM58. I have a computer that has Windows XP2 and 1 gig of ram and two 80 gig hard drives isntalled. I hooked up the Tascam...I got a message saying that the software wasn't compatible with my Windows program and that I may have problems would I like to uninstall. I left it alone....then my computer stopped functioning...progams stopped working. I shut down the computer and disconnected the Tascam. Now my computer is working. I do not have a USB 2.0 installed in my computer; it is the older 1.1. Can anybody tell me what they think might be going on with this software. I haven't tried to record yet as I haven't had time...Is anybody familiar with this system? I didn't have a lot of $ and just wanted to start recording myself for fun and as a study aid. I would like to get half decent results...I would appreciate any comments regarding this. Thanks!

[brandondrury]

Hmm. So your computer said that Cubase wasn't compatible with Windows? That's odd because most of us have Cubase installed on our PCs. Interesting.

What was the exact error message?

Is it possible that the dongle isn't in well? There was a problem with the dongle working on motherboards with a certain chipset (which I happened to have). I fixed the problem buy installing a USB 2.0 PCI card (like $5 from newegg.com).

You may be able to fix both of your problems with the USB 2.0 card.

Brandon

[ELSOL102]

Interesting...I don't have a USB 2.0
Is it only $5 from New Egg?
What exactly is it again?
Once I get some work projects done I will try to attach the Tascam again...and see if I get the same error message...and then I will be able to tell you exactly...I just remember it warning me that what I had wasn't compatible with Windows and suggested that I unistall....now I don't remember if it was Cubase (I have Cubas in my compuber now) but the problem seemed to be when I had the Tascam hooked up...software instructions say I should have USB 2.0 but other folks told me it will work on 1.1 I did not try to use the device I just had it hooked up!
So to get a USB 2.0 it only would cost $5? How do I know it would be compatible with my computer? My computer is a Power Spec Pentium 4 from a major chain store...I forget the name of it...

[brandondrury]

If you have a desktop computer, the odds of a USB 2.0 PCI card being compatible with your system are 99.9999999% in our favor. I've never seen a desktop computer with PCI slots unless you back to like 1992 or something.

Here's a list of USB 2.0 cards. Of course, you can get these at Walmart, too.

All you have to do is turn your computer off, take the side of the case off (usually 2 screws) and then push this card into the PCI slot.



The white things are PCI slots.

That's it. Windows may ask you to install drivers, but that's really it.

Done! It's about as difficult as putting a cd-r into a cd burner or pluggin in a toaster. You just have to take the cover off to do it.

Brandon

[brandondrury]

Also, I would not use USB 1.1. If you bought the USB 2.0 soundcard, I've got a huge feeling that you will save yourself 1,000 headaches buy installing a USB 2.0 card.

I personally like the USB 2.0 / Firewire combo cards. This gives me a lot of flexibility when people bring in hard drives or whatever.

Brandon

[ELSOL102]

I did not purchase any sound card so it's just what my computer has right now...and USB 1.1 and not 2.0 so would I need a new sound card and a USB 2 card? I was going to try to record without getting a sound card...maybe I need a new computer...I need one anyways as I'm a photographer and need larger drives...

[brandondrury]

Hi I just got a Tascam US-122L interface...

I did not purchase any sound card

Uhhh. How did you get your Tascam, then?.... by stealing it?

Just to clarify, do you have a soundcard in your possession or not? Just in case your not up on the definitions, your Tascam US-122L interface is a soundcard.

I need one anyways as I'm a photographer and need larger drives...

Just for the record, you can always add more hard drives to a computer (unless you have some stupid Dell that only has a slot for one hard drive). I have 3 hard drives in my recording computer, 2 hard drives in my work computer, and 2 hard drives in my home computer.

Even if you are stuck with some sort of terrible name brand computer that wanted to save the 3 cents and not put in the the extra hard drive slots (which is always in their best financial interests) you could always buy a USB 2.0 hard drive and plug it in to your USB 2.0 ports I was talking about.


Now before I talk you out of buying a new computer, there are tremendous advantages to have a computer dedicated to recording and such. I can get into those details if you would like.

Now, I need to know for sure if you have the Tascam interface or not.

Thanks,
Brandon

[ELSOL102]

Yes I have the Tascam....1221...wow it has the midi in and out...
OK so that is the soundcard...I wasn't sure if I needed a soundcard in the computer also so sorry for the dumb statement!! I just know it's an interface...LOL
Do you like the Tascam? I almost got the M-Audio but chose Tascam...

hmmm
I haven't tried using this and very NEW so forgive dumb questions

So I should try to get the USB 2 PCI card to see if the problem goes away that software isn't compatible with computer? If I don't get this from New Egg, can I get this anyplace so I can do this quickly...and what USB 2 PCI card should I get?

My motherboard can't read larger than 100 gig drive and I have 2 80 gig drives...I'm a pro photog and use computer for processing images and so I could use a computer with a couple of 250 gig drives....or even more!!

I am obsessed with music!!!

[brandondrury]

I've never used theTascam 1221, but I'm sure it's a quality product. I'm sure you made a good purchase. Don't worry about that.

You'll pay a little more

My motherboard can't read larger than 100 gig drive and I have 2 80 gig drives...

Who told you this? There was a 137GB limit on Windows XP before their SP1a upgrade (if memory serves me well). However, most people have the SP2 version of XP. It's a free download. It'll raise the limit to... well, I've never hit the limit...even with 300 GB drives.

If hard drive space is the only reason you are upgrading, you may want to talk to a computer person without an agenda locally who can look at it. I'm very skeptical of this.

So I should try to get the USB 2 PCI card to see if the problem goes away that software isn't compatible with computer? If I don't get this from New Egg, can I get this anyplace so I can do this quickly...and what USB 2 PCI card should I get?

I would buy the USB 2.0 card for sure. Don't even think about it. Just do it. Your soundcard / interface was made for USB 2.0. You probably paid a little extra for the benefits that USB 2.0 gives, so you should definitely take advantage of that.

If you are in a hurry, you can get a USB 2.0 card just about anywhere. They are less expensive at Newegg.com but you can certainly find them at Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, etc. Just about anywhere that carries computer stuff. You may try asking the salesman there about your hard drive limit issue (although don't take his/her word as the gospel...a lot of these salesman are really ignorant about their "specialty").

Your issue with Cubase seams to be caused by the dongle. I've got this feeling that when you double click on the Cubase icon, you are getting this weird error that locks your machine up. Cubase is looking for a little plastic blue thing that plugs into your USB ports. Sometimes, it won't find it, but as i said, this was immediately fixed by the new USB 2.0 card.

I want to assure you that this computer stuff is not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be. You don't have to understand physics, calculus or capacitance to perform basic computer upgrades. Jump in. If you need help, I can take care of you.

Brandon

[ELSOL102]

The tech support people involved in making the computer I bought, Power Spec, are the people that told me the motherboard may not support a hard drive larger than 100 gig so when I got hard drives I got 2 80 gig cards and had my friend install them. I bought the computer in 2000 and they told me that when that computer was made a 100 gig hard drive did not even exist...Money is limited and I just want to record myself for now!