Questions on using the Tascam Celesonic US-20x20 Audio Interface with Sonar

WallyG
 
I’m thinking of purchasing the Tascam Celesonic US-20x20 Audio Interface , but have some questions:
 

1. The Owner’s manual states that you can only use USB 3 if you are running Windows 10 and USB 2 if you use Windows 7. I do not want to upgrade to 10 yet for various reasons. I have a ADK pro Audio Computer with USB 2 and USB 3 input running W7. Can I use USB 3 with this interface if my computer supports USB 3?
2. I’m confused about the “Operation Mode” i.e. Mic Pre, Audio I/F, Mixer. What’s the difference? I just want to record audio sources like a mike, instruments, etc. for use with my Sonar DAW. If I choose “Audio” doesn’t the Mike Preamp still function?
3. Can I send a signal from one of the line outputs that adds reverb, eq, compression to a separate Headphone amp, and send a dry signal to the DAW?

Walt

1. NO. Different driver.
 
2. The Mic Pre mode is the default IF AND ONLY IF there is no USB connection (the i/f defaults to being an 8-input mic pre, with the 8 XLR mic inputs routed directly to the Line Outs). The other modes refer to its use as an audio interface. The mic pres of course always work. Two different uses of "mic preamp", one as an box serving a function, the other as an electronic signal processing circuit.
 
3. If I understand your question correctly (the "send a signal" occurs solely within the interface, using the on-board DSP for FX for creating a monitoring mix via the Mixer tab): NO. Well, I know of people who have tried. I know of no one who has yet succeeded. The Mixer routes everything to the Master stereo buss (Master L/R, Line Outs 1/2, both headphone amps). One problem is that the i/f sums its Master buss with the DAW's Master buss. Another problem is that the Output tab allows you to reroute the DAW's virtual Line Outs to its physical Line Outs. So, you would need to create your monitoring mix in your DAW, with all the latency involved. As far as the signal TO the DAW goes, its DRY from the i/f.
 
My unsolicited $0.02 would be, unless you specifically required ADAT or S/PDIF connections, save a bunch of money and get a US-16x08. I have one, and it's been very stable under Win10. I ran it on Win7 until last August, and don't recall any issues once past the typical driver v1.00 issues (v1.04 currently).
 
I have the feeling that the Mixer function is best for simple live situation where you want to send a stereo feed to a PA system.
 
One thing I haven't tried is reconfiguring my monitors and Win10 to use a different Line Out pair (say, 3/4) as Windows and my DAWs Master buss outputs. That way, there's nothing coming back from the DAW that would get summed into the i/f's Master buss. You might be able to get it to work that way.

 
Thank you "The Maartian" and Craig as you have cleared up my confusion.

Anderton
....You can record dry while monitoring with headphones, but I don't think that's what you're asking about. I'm away from my studio but I'll check when I get home to find out if it's possible to do what you want with a non-standard routing.

What I would like to do is record dry to Sonar with maybe a touch of compression to get rid of any gross differences in volume, but like to add effects in Sonar.
 
I think I can do it with the US20x20 by routing a line to an external hardware effects box that I have in my rack and monitor it's HP output. When I sing I like to hear some reverb, but not record it.
 
"The Maartian", I looked at the US 16x8 but think I might get the US20x20 (even though I only need 4 inputs max), since I will probabley succumb to installing Window 10 someday and I'll be able to use USB 3. 
 
Walt

TheMaartian
Nice looking little studio in you avatar, Walt! A US-20x20 will fit in nicely. Good luck!

Thanks! That's my musical Man-Cave. My wife calls it my Play Pen.
 
I just ordered the US-20x20. Once again I appreciate your help and Craigs. BTW one of my good contacts at a major online store stated in an email to me "As you can see Tascam is turning the industry upside down a bit with the Celesonic, it's a boatload of interface for the money, and it sounds good too."
 
Walt

I am probably doing something very wrong but when I use the Tascam US-20x20 in Sonar Platinum I can only see the odd number inputs (in1, in3, in5 etc) both as left right and stereo inputs. I have been studying the documentation but can't seem to figure out what I am doing wrong. Any ideas?
Joe

 
Why doesn't physical input 2 show as "Right US-16x08 ASIO Analog IN 2" ?
Then first stereo as "Stereo US-16x08 ASIO Analog IN 1-2" ?
 
Ah, maybe this is what you wanted to avoid when you said "I'll skip the 'commentary'" ?
 
So it's a Tascam screwup ?

Paul P
 
Why doesn't physical input 2 show as "Right US-16x08 ASIO Analog IN 2" ?
Then first stereo as "Stereo US-16x08 ASIO Analog IN 1-2" ?
 
Ah, maybe this is what you wanted to avoid when you said "I'll skip the 'commentary'" ?
 
So it's a Tascam screwup ?

Right.
 
Nope. SONAR. Don't know that I'd call it a "screw up", but it sure is non-intuitive. There have been feature requests for Friendly Input Names. Once you understand how it works, and get your routing set up properly, it's a no-big-deal. Many more important things for the Bakers to get to first.
 
And welcome to SONAR!

pharohoknaughty

Anderton
If I may add two more rah-rah TASCAM comments...the USB 3.0 connection is class-compliant, so it will work with just about any chip set you throw at it. Although USB 3.0 isn't quite as fast as Thunderbolt, I think you'll enjoy playing an instrument and hearing the note when you play it, not afterward.

Does class compliant mean that you don't use Tascam drivers, but generic Windows drivers instead? Is the same for other interfaces like RME?
 
This is important to me because I always feel so susceptible to the manufacturer stopping support for their product, leaving me with a nice piece of hardware that won't work on my computer.
 
Thanks

Class-compliant means it will work directly with OS-X (no driver required; and the AE Mobile USB driver for Android, for example). I don't know that it has any meaning on a PC. You still need to use the ASIO driver under Windows.

Hi,

regarding "As far as the signal TO the DAW goes, its DRY from the i/f."; is this correct?

i.e. if you EQ and/or COMP a signal entering the interface, isn't the processed signal sent to the DAW as well as the monitor output?

I would like it to be otherwise (get the dry signal to the DAW but be able to process the monitor mix freely), but I haven't figured out how to do so.

cheers
LPS91

As far as I could tell yummay, you can do exactly what you describe; in the Settings Panel you select which physical outputs you want to use for the AUX 2, 3 & 4 sends. Only problem is that you cannot route the Reverb to AUX 2, 3 & 4, so no FX in monitors using the unit in standalone (mixer) mode.
 
cheers,
LPS91

Yes, allowing you to select the Reverb as the input to the COAX-channel for example could solve this, without having to change the mixer much (the reverb return level would then be controlled by the COAX-fader instead of the Reverb Return Pot).

And my biggest gripe; not being able to send signal to DAW direct from the mic-pre, and using the EQ+COMP DSP for the monitoring only (not like now, when the processed audio is also sent to the DAW),
 
cheers,
LPS91