Help me use SONAR w/ my Tascam DM4800

The key to this puzzle will be the input/output routing options on your DM4800. I spent quite a while figuring it out...so long ago (3 years) that I haven't rerouted it sense! The meter pegging thing is a loop due to your sending the input signal to itself rather than an output buss most likely.

I'd mosey over to the tascam forums pay them a few bucks and see if there are any detailed threads on this beast. Be patient, test a very low volumes, or no volume at all until the meters show a correct reaction to input signals. You'll save your ears and monitors (or headphones).

Good luck! I love my SOnar 8pe, DM3200 and Motu 2408 mk3 tdif set up!

As Zenfly said, you need to assign each input to a TDIF output channel, which is the input to sonar.
Then assign each TDIF input (audio coming from sonar) to input channles in the DM, different than those used for other inputs.
The DM-4800 menus are not very intuitive, as in most roland units, but you need to learn the signal routing options and configure them.
I used one and I remember it was difficult to find what I was looking for in the menus, but I don't have it currently so I can't give you more specific steps.

If you want connect the ADAT to the PC, you need an ADAT interface in the PC (such as a RME9652). Each ADAT optic fiber carries 8 channels and you will need one for in and one for out.
The ADAT interface has embedded clock, so the very same optical fiber server for the purpose of syncing the ADAT and the PC interface. You have to set one as master and the other as slave. In this case it does not matter which one is master, but I'd suggest the PC card to be master, so it can work without the ADAT switched on. If you want the opposite, set the ADAT as master.
There is an optional connection called ADAT Sync, a 9 pin D connector. The wordclock syck is already done with the optic fiber, but using this connection allows also transport control.

If you want to connect it to the mixer, you need ADAT interfaces or TDIF/ADAT adapters for your mixer (I believe it uses TDIF). Just connect it as described for the PC. Then the mixer would be connected to the PC, also through ADAT connections.

A third option is to use an ADAT router to connect the PC to the mixer and the ADAT.

In any case, only one thing must be set as clock master and the rest as slave.

Ooops, I confused the mixer model with a much older and very different one, and forgot you were using a motu too.
You could connect the mixer to the motu through TDIF, and the ADAT either to the mixer's ADAT or the motus's ADAT. Other combinations are possible. But in any case this setup would be very limited in the number of channels from mixer to pc (only 8), and you will have routing splitted across the motu and the mixer.
But for best flexibility I would purchase the mixer's firewire card and use the mixer's firewire to connect to the PC. This way you have 32ch in 32 ch out bewteen PC and mixer, and you could control everything from the mixer. The ADAT would connect to the mixer's ADAT port. And in this case you would not need the motu.
In any case, you have to configure routing and clocks in all the connected modules, so that one is clock master (the mixer would be the best option) and the rest as slaves.

I would also experiment with making the clock the DM-4800. I have the Firewire card, so everything works all snazzy there with the DM 3200 being the clock, but on my Pro Tools HD set-up, I was trying to use my 192/Digital as the clock and I was having some issues (pops/clicks and etc) until I let the DM3200 be the clock source. Ever since then, things have been nice and smooth.

So I would take John's advice first, but if you start getting little pops and clicks (jitter), then I would make the DM3200 the clock source and see if that clears things up.

Thank You everyone for the suggestions, it's allot to digest for sure. I'll be back at the studio next Monday (6th), and I'll be able to apply some of your ideas. Just so I'm clear on one point, if I use Sonar w/ the Tascam 4800 via the Motu 2408mk3 interface (TDIF connection), I will be limited to how many channels in and out...8, 24, or 32 or what?

Again, thanks for the replies

Your issue is the clock. Use the Tascam as the master and the Motu as the slave. Before I bought my Lucid Genx this was my set up wth the DM2400. You shouldn't have to change the output settings too much on the board. your i/o screen on the Tascam should provide easy routing for outputs. Do not mess with Sonar too much, this is not the issue.

Call me over the weekend...I will get on my system and walk you through setting all the in's and outs....

My studio # is (202) 299-8573....

If I can help, cool, if not, have a great weekend!!!

Peace!!

StudioCat57

Hey, I appreciate your offer to help me over the phone. However I only have access to the Studio in question during the week. I'm going to try to work it out on my own (using the tips offered in this forum of course) but if I can't, I may take you up on your offer and give you a call. I hope you'll be able to do that on a week-day.

Have a great 4th of July!!

http://www.tascamforums.com

Hey, I just want to thank everyone who responded to this topic I started. By utilizing all your helpful tips, and finally getting some great phone support from Tascam (and Sweetwater), our studio is now rockin'! I can record w/ Sonar or the ADAT HD24, and do it while going through the DM-4800...YIPEEE! (no master clock needed!!).

..So that's the update, Thanks again.

HELP!!!
I'm hoping there is somebody still out there who does this.
I just acquired a Tascam DM-3200 and am in the process of cabling it up and..........uh-ehm........attempting (in vain) to set up the routing.  I have the following setup:
- Sonar Producer 8.5 (Windows XP...I know, but it's stable.)
- MOTU 2408 mk2
- Tascam DM-3200 running firmware 1.70 (current)
- connected Word Clock BNC Cable (Motu as master, DM-3200 as slave)
- 3 TDIF cables all connected to respective banks A, B, C on Motu.
 
Word Clock is set to internal on Motu and working fine.
PCI-324 settings are set to TDIF on all 3 banks and Output to From Computer.  I even have the automation configured and working over USB including time code.
 
What I want to do is use all 16 Mic/Line inputs on Tascam, route them - via TDIF to 2 MOTU Banks for 16 simultaneous inputs.
I then also want to be able to have the automation work (realizing there are only 16 faders avail on the REMOTE layer)  - for mixing out of the Box - should I so choose. But will likely have more like 22 tracks....  (how do I get stereo out back from Motu onto DM-3200? Would/should I use Bank A for that as it echoes all first 8 on analog and 1-2 to stereo? Would I then have to use Bank's B and C for 16 M/L inputs from DM-3200.  Would it be better to use ADAT cable for the  "other" channels beyond the 16?
 
There certainly MUST be someone out there who has done this.  If so - could someone screen-shot their input and output routing screens for M/L, TDIF Banks, Stereo outs, Bus outs, Aux, etc? 
I'm currently getting a mic input signal on ch 1 of the board, but its not going anywhere....except echoing on channel 17.
 
I also would like - to run 4 separate monitor mixes from the board to avoid latency (if possible) and run those to an external 4 channel headphone amp.  What is the best way to do this? If this is not possible, I'll go back to doing in Cuemix - but how best to cable out of Motu to headphone amp - even with Cuemix?
 
 I'm obviously a newbie to this digital routing stuff and would REALLY appreciate any help getting it set up.  I've been reading the manual over and over and the routing stuff is just not making sense to me. Once this is set up, I'll probably never change it if it works. :)
 
Any help GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!