Tascam Us-428, Just bought and am totally lost, HELP! Options

[Mangrilla]

So I just got this tascam interface for my computer. But the directions are mostly for PC and when they are for mac, they are for OS 9. I checked the website without much luck. I have all the drivers, but I can't get the input to work I guess. I changed the settings in control panel for input to be the tascam, as well as did it in Garageband (I figured that would be a nice simple program to try it out in, but I also have Logic). I can't get the input to work in Tascam's own application (which has a tuner in it) or in Garageband. Any help?? I hope I didn't pay all this money for an expensive rock... ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHH

This post has been edited by Mangrilla: Thu 5 Feb 2004, 22:08

[xingu]

No worries, it should be a piece of cake, but I'll need more info. I take it you are working in OSX. Panther or Jaguar? I haven't upgraded to Panther yet, so I'm not 100% positive the Panther driver works correctly, but I haven't heard anything bad... BTW, you should only have one driver (per OS, that is). Did you install the driver with the 428 turned on? That's a no-no. You might have to run the "uninstaller" and then reinstall.

I've never used GarageBand, but I use Logic with my 428 every day. You shouldn't have to change anything with the control panel - what you'll want to do is select the 428 as the input source within the program you're trying to use.

As for using the 428 Manager and tuner - what exactly do you mean by you can't get the input to work? What are you running through the 428? Which input? How are you monitoring?

Is the 428 hooked up through a USB hub? It needs to be plugged directly into your Mac.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head... to make things easier, try to be as specific as possible in what steps you've taken and what happened. There should be an easy solution.

[Mangrilla]

Oh praise jebus! Thank you Xingu.
To answer your questions:
I'm using OSX Jaguar.
I think I've only got one driver, but I'll try and remove them all and reinstall...
I've never really useed Garageband or Logic that much. I got logic when I was getting this thing to work with... So I don't know too much, but I'll try that out.
Sorry for me being vague about the 428 Manager and tuner. Basically, I have my guitar plugged into the tascam, which is plugged into the power supply and directly into the mac (no hub). The tascam is on, and the input © is switched to guitar, but when I go into the tuner, it gets no signal when I play any note. No lights on either the tascam or the 428 manager saying if my pitch is sharp or not. Thank you so much for the help.
I don't really know what else to say. I basically, got the thing, went to tascam.com and downloaded the latest drivers. I then installed them, restarted and plugged the thing in. Then I've tried to get a signal since then and have had absolutely no luck.

[xingu]

Ok, let's give this a shot.

If you're on Jaguar you want the 3.2.2. driver. Click HERE. Just to make sure - which Jaguar? You'll need 10.2.6 or later.

Make sure your 428 is off. Run the uninstaller (which will ask you to click on a button that says install - kinda backwards, but this is how it works, just let it do its thang). Run the installer (I think it makes you reboot) and you should be good to go. For good measure, repair permissions (in Disk Utility) after the install.

Power up the ugly blue monster and now: since you mentioned that the input is switched to guitar, I guess that means you're using input C or D. Make sure the Analog (and not Digital) light is lit under the "Input C+D" button. Make sure you have the C or D trim knob (whichever one you're using) turned up. Strike a chord and you should see the green Signal light start to get active. Open up the 428 Manager, select the Tuner tab, and make sure the Channel Input on the tuner is the same as your input (C or D). Still no signal? Even with the Trim cranked?

Then maybe the problem is running your guitar direct. Are you running it through an outboard preamp, effects box, amp modeler, etc.? Or just plugging in direct? I'd still imagine you should get some kind of signal, but I'm not sure. I only have an acoustic guitar and my bass has active pickups, so I don't know if it works the same. Maybe someone else can answer this part...

This post has been edited by xingu: Fri 6 Feb 2004, 05:28

[Mangrilla]

Hey,
I've done all that you said, however still no luck. I have tried different cables going into the tascam and both of my guitars (a fender strat, and a fender p-bass) and absolutely nothing. I followed your directions precisely and get absolutley no light on the signals. I've tried both inputs (C & D), set to guitar, but nothing. I also still fail to get any readings in the tascam setup. What's wrong? Are there any other buttons on this damn thing that I can push? Currently the only lights lit up on the tascam are "USB" "Analog" and I've tried with and without input monitor. What the hell am I doing wrong :-\? anyway, thanks so much for your continued help.

This post has been edited by Mangrilla: Fri 6 Feb 2004, 05:54

[xingu]

hmmm.. oh - 1 more thing to check - go into the 428 manager and click on the System tab - make sure you have the C & D inputs active, and of course make sure both MIDI and audio are enabled. Also, on the Setup tab, make sure none of the channels are muted. I can't imagine any of this stuff isn't set right by default (don't think I've ever touched the settings myself), but you never know.

[Mangrilla]

Nope, everything is set right. Another problem that I did just see, is that on the Status part of the Tascam Manager, I just turned it on and three little boxes appeared in it green and then red. And now they are gone and nothing is there.
Also I've noticed that whilever it's on, hte OL light under the A-track is always slightly light, but just barely.
So what do you think? Really I'm starting to get the feeling that I just got a bum piece of equipment on Ebay. This is ridiculous and I'm veeeeeeeerrry frustrated..

This post has been edited by Mangrilla: Fri 6 Feb 2004, 21:45

[Reedybloke]

Mangrilla
Good to hear someone else is getting bugged by US-428 and OSX.
I have had similar worries about Tascam 428 and buying a pig in a poke.
But it should work.
Finally after a struggling newbie mine works fine with Panther 10.3.2 as an audio and midi input.
If you have worked it out now my apologies. But...
What i did was put the Panther driver on the HDrive. Plug tascam usb directly into Mac (not via external port). Chose Tascam as input under 'sound prefs' and get the USB input for midi and audio. If you just want audio and no latency put tascam line output into mac line input and choose 'built in audio' in sound prefs.
My tascam works with GB and logic.
if you put SoundFlower on HDrive (from http://www.cycling74.com/index.html) you can even route the midi output of Garageband into Soundtrack as recordable audio signal.
It doesn't do anything in the knobs department but contol one track at a time volume via the Master slider.
Reedybloke
movingspace@mac.com

[Mangrilla]

ReedyBloke
Thanks for the response, however, my software problems aren't something I'm tackling yet as I still can't even get an input signal on the tascam itself. :-\

[xingu]

Sorry you're having such a problem. The OL light thing is normal, I forget the explanation for that. There's got to be some simple oversight or something...
You mentioned a Status part of the 428 Manager - I don't have one of those to turn on (or 3 little boxes) so I don't know what you're talking about. Are you positive you have the Jaguar and not the Panther driver? This sounds weird...