We are currently working on Vista drivers for the recently released official version of the OS. (July target date)

In the meantime it is suggested that the product be used on an XP platform.

Please check the model's webpage periodically for further updates on this subject.
If you are a U.S. resident and have registered your product accurately, you will receive an email when the drivers are ready for download.
http://www.tascam.com/warranty.php

Regarding the FW-1884 control surface update, we have received a preliminary update candidate from Frontier. However the operative word here is preliminary. It would be easy for us to upload an incomplete update but i'm sure you would agree that this would not be in anyone's best interest.

TASCAM is doing what we can on our end and once a completed working installer is approved we will gladly post it on the FW-1884 page of our website.


Thank you for your interest in TASCAM products.

Good afternoon!

I was just wondering what the status was on the Vista 32bit and 64bit drivers for the FW-1884. I recall in a previous email that the drivers were slated for May 2007. Also, I was wondering if the updated control surface template for SONAR 6 would also be available for download soon? Any information would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to your response, or better yet, the drivers!

Thanks again!

ORIGINAL: Jay Stephen

I can't claim many lawyers as friends but could side with their position, IF, Tascam's marketing and application notes & drivers were not so specific. I believe there is sufficient claims made by Tascam to suggest that resolving the problem is primarily their responsibility. I think your lawyer friends may be using the philosophy of an OS and PC as a base of comparison. For instance, my laptop clearly states what version of the "Windows" it will run. On the other hand, we are expecting all soundcard manufacturers to develop drivers to work with MS "Vista". To apply your friends' logic, Microsoft should develop drivers to deal with the plethora of hardware gear. Trying telling that to Mr. Gates!

Below is an excerpt from an email I sent Tascam. Note that they developed the drivers - not Cakewalk.

I understand that the issues have arisen because of “changes in the Sonar architecture”. I am perplexed however by your comment that I should direct my concerns to Cakewalk.

The FW-1884 is a “Control Surface” so by definition it is designed to control software products. Your marketing materials state this and your website includes the description; “As a DAW controller, the FW-1884 is compatible with a wide variety of popular applications including MOTU Digital Performer, Emagic Logic, Steinberg Cubase SX, Steinberg Nuendo, and Cakewalk Sonar.” Software versions are always evolving and your literature does not qualify what version of software it is compatible with. A “control surface” is not much good if it can’t control the software it was designed to control.

In addition, Tascam provided; “Application specific drivers” available for download from your website. These drivers include those to interface with Sonar. The “Control Surface Note for Sonar”, also available on your website appears to be a document published by Tascam – not Cakewalk.

I, along with many other FW-1884 users, purchased your product because of the features that specifically included compatibility with Sonar. I think I speak for the majority of DAW users in stating that the DAW software is always the primary decision and the hardware to control it is secondary.

It appears that Tascam are continuing to actively market the FW-1884 and therefore have an obligation to current and future owners that your product stays compatible with the current versions of the software you claim in your marketing materials. If Tascam cannot commit to this then I will be looking elsewhere for my next control surface purchase.

ORIGINAL: SkyKing

The fact is both Cakewalk and Tascam share the update responsibility. Tascam developed (with Frontier) the 1884 to be a DAW controller knowing full well that DAW applications are upgraded regularly. Cakewalk should have a dialogue with all control surface manufacturers to keep them in tune with the features that are being added and what programming components are affected. This should be done during the beta test phase so that the update process is coordinated. Since the 1884 is primarily software driven, this should be much easier to accomplish than if hardware components were involved.

Hopefully Tascam is not planning to drop the 1884 like they have dropped other products (i.e. SX-1, MX-2424, FE-8) almost without notice which also drops the update development cycle.

Speaking for myself only, I would be willing to pay a reasonable fee to get major updates if that would improve the update release process. This is no different than paying for upgrades from Cakewalk or any other software company where it is an expected cost for staying current. Notice I said major upgrades, not maintenance updates. These updates can take significant development time, and if there is no chance to recoup some of those costs then the process gets put on the back burner. 6.2 appears to be significant enough of an upgrade to qualify. I installed it and backed off to 5.2 for now. If they are willing to provide updates for free in order to extend the product sales duration and to keep current owners happy, I wouldn't argue with that either. So far, that doesn't seem to be working too well.

Are we going to have the same issues when Sonar 7 hits the streets? Hmm. I have a feeling 7 will be out before the 6.2 upgrade.

Tascam's lack of support aside, I would encourage some of you to be a bit more civil when sending emails or calling tech support. There appears to be a lot of very nasty stuff being sent out which does nothing to motivate them to respond. In fact, it probably has the opposite effect. Just a suggestion.

SkyKing

June 1, 2007
Mr. Yuji Hanabusa, President
TEAC CORPORATION
3-7-3 Naka-cho, Musashino-shi,
Tokyo 180-8550, Japan

Dear Mr. Hanabusa;
Re: Tascam FW-1884

I have been very pleased with my purchase of the Tascam FW-1884 and impressed that two respected firms such as Teac and Frontier Design would collaborate to produce such an excellent product.

I was persuaded to purchase an FW-1884 as a control surface for use with Cakewalk Sonar. I believe the popularity of the FW-1884 has been largely due to its ability to integrate with Cakewalk Sonar and it has been the clear choice for many Sonar users.

Last Fall, Cakewalk released version 6.0 of Sonar and made changes to their architecture. Unfortunately this significantly reduced the integration functions of the FW-1884. Software manufacturers are constantly making improvements to their code and as is the industry norm, hardware manufacturers follow with the release of updated drivers, etc. In addition, since Tascam produced the original drivers to control Cakewalk Sonar, FW-1884 users expect that Tascam would release updated drivers.

Sadly this has not been the case. Mr. Hanabusa, I am writing to you to request your assistance in this matter but to also express my concerns that your Tascam division has received significant and largely justified criticism over their handling of customer concerns.

On various forums and as recorded by numerous phone calls and emails to Tascam technical support there seems to be a serious lack of concern and urgency in addressing this issue. We understand through contact with the FW-1884 “community” of users that concerns were addressed to Tascam, Cakewalk and Frontier Design last Fall. Both Cakewalk and Frontier Design have responded promptly and expressed their willingness to work together with Tascam to resolve issues. In contrast Tascam has been slow to respond, initially saying they had no responsibility to resolve the problem and generally displaying a poor customer service attitude.
Several months ago we learned that Frontier Design had written new drivers and provided them to Tascam. This information was provided to us by Frontier Design – not Tascam. It appears that Tascam has been slow to test the revised drivers and slow to provide its customers feedback on the status of the release. All the while, FW-1884 users are limited in functionality, frustrated and questioning the wisdom of purchasing Tascam products in the future. I doubt that is your desire.
FW-1884 users have been extremely patient and loyal to your product. Please exercise your influence as chief executive over Tascam to apply the appropriate resources to bring this issue to a positive conclusion.

Thank you.

Yours truly,