Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions

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musiccontinuum
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2016/04/10 21:32:31 (permalink)

Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions

What other audio interfaces do people use that are solid under Windows 10 and Platinum. I only need minimal input like one mic and line input. I haven't found an audio interface that has midi like the Tascam 2x2 that's not over $200. So I might end up getting a midi to usb adapter to get around that issue.
 
I've been using the US-122MKII with Producer 8.5 through X3 run under XP and Windows 8 and haven't had any issues. But under Windows 10 it would occasionally stop working. Disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable fixed the issue. US-122MKII is no longer supported and the disconnect and reconnects were occurring more often. 
 
I've been using US-2x2 (US-122MKII replacement), which is supported under Windows 10 and I've ran into a few times of needing to disconnect and reconnect in addition to latency glitching, which I never experienced with US-122MKII (even when I reinstalled it under Windows 10). I'm not sure if I'm overlooking any settings Preferences > Audio > Configuration File, but I'm not sure what setting might help.
 
The US-2x2 has no issues outside of Platinum (and X3, which I still have installed) and is sonically superior to my older unit.
 
So I'm looking for suggestions on another audio interface under $200 and/or any suggestions to try to resolve my issue. 

Jon


Platinum 2016 (latest patch)
Windows 10 - x64
Tascam US-2x2 or Focusrite Scarlett
DELL Inspiron 3000 (I3847-3846BK) Intel i3-4130 3.40GHz / 8GB Memory / Windows 10 64-bit
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    fireberd
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 08:13:51 (permalink)
    I would run the Resplendence Latency Mon to see where the problems are.   Win 10, for most, has lower latency than other Windows OS'.  In my case (not with a  Tascam) my useable latency went from 6ms to 4ms with Win 10. 
     
    On Win 8 I was having dropouts and problems similar to yours in Sonar until I disabled the internet and removed Google Chrome and the Google updater. 
     
     

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    TheMaartian
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 10:24:25 (permalink)
    Are you running the US-2x2 buss-powered via USB2? Are you using a condenser mic that requires +48 VDC phantom power?
     
    If you are, I would suggest a decent powered USB hub. They're inexpensive, and any buss-powered audio interface could benefit from one.
     
    I love my US16x08. You could do a LOT worse than the 2x2. Try to stick with it.

    Intel i7 3.4GHz, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB HD Win10 Home 64-bit Tascam US-16x08
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    JonD
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 11:00:51 (permalink)
    Some general tips:
     
    - Make sure there isn't some other task/bg process hogging your resources (See fireberd's tip on that).
    - Use A/C power when you can. 
    - Onboard USB ports can be hit and miss (different quality and chipsets).  I have always used an PCI/PCIe USB add-on card for my audio interface, and they've always done the job with no issues. Make sure you get a USB 2 card (not USB 3). Cost is around $30.
     
    If in the end, it comes to buying another USB interface, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Steinberg URxx series.  The UR242 is in your budget, has midi and A/C power. (I have used the UR44, UR28m and MR816x and love the stability and sound-quality).
    post edited by JonD - 2016/04/11 11:22:15

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    batsbrew
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 14:39:59 (permalink)
    no midi in/out on the ur28m.......
     
    the Ur44 does....
     
    but the 28 is more expensive..... but only 2 mic pres...
    and the 44 is less expensive, but has 4 mic pres....
     
    wtf is the diff between the two that makes the 28 more.....?
     

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    JonD
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 15:59:56 (permalink)
    batsbrew
    no midi in/out on the ur28m.......
     
    the Ur44 does....
     
    but the 28 is more expensive..... but only 2 mic pres...
    and the 44 is less expensive, but has 4 mic pres....
     
    wtf is the diff between the two that makes the 28 more.....?



    Digital I/O, plus hi-z and pad switches on the pres.  And more routing capabilities (switches) and LED meters on the front panel. It's also physically bigger - maybe 1.5 times as big.
     
    Obviously, deciding on which is just a matter of your priorities.  I sold the UR44 to get the MR816x (Slightly better latency with the FW, but mostly because, like the UR28M, it has s/pdif which I need for my VRM box).
     
    As far as no midi on the UR28m, that's correct, and the reason I specifically suggested the UR242 (which has midi) to OP.  I personally don't need built-in midi, as I use an Edirol UM-550 midi interface.

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    musiccontinuum
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/11 23:41:16 (permalink)
    Thanks Firebird - I ran the latency program (seriously thorough program!), and it returned ave of 5ms. Now the paging from Sonar was in the red, which I tried to fix, but to no avail.
     
    The UR242 looks like a nice unit so I'll consider that one and it has midi to boot.
     
    TheMaartian - I was recording guitar (line in) with AD drums. I do have a pretty full stack audio FXs in my FX Chain (Poulin plugins, with two TH2's, etc.) about 12. My US-122MKII works flawlessly with phantom power, which I don't use to often.
     
    I tried a few more things and after one more reboot the 2x2 didn't work at all, disconnect+reconnect scenario. So I unplugged the device and joyfully uninstalled the drivers. I found out that I'm beyond my return date for Amazon (dang!). I reconnected and reinstalled my US-122MKII and no glitching and no issues, so it's my fall back for now. I do notice less fidelity with this unit compared to the 2x2. 
     
    I've looked at some of the very cheap midi-to-usb devices, but I'm thinking that my old Proteus 1 (no that's not a typo), might not work with them. Since my US-122MKII still drives my midi I should be good for now.
     
    Thanks for everyones input. Any other suggestions are welcomed. Frustrating when you're focusing on recording your piece and there's some audio issues that you have to work around. 

    Jon


    Platinum 2016 (latest patch)
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    Tascam US-2x2 or Focusrite Scarlett
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    http://www.joncoble.com
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    eph221
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/12 19:34:21 (permalink)
    I'm rockin the new Tascam Celesonic.  Ez pz to set up.  It has just about anything you could possibly want. optical and otherwise.  Midi,you name it.  Latency is incredibly low.  It has a usb 3..not sure if that contributes to the low latency.
     
     
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    JonD
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/13 10:55:57 (permalink)
    eph221
    I'm rockin the new Tascam Celesonic...  It has a usb 3..not sure if that contributes to the low latency.



    Yes, it should -- if you are plugged into a USB3 port with a USB3 cable (Not the same as a standard USB cable). 
     
    Not trying to sound like a smart-a--.  Because USB3 is (theoretically) backwards-compatible, a lot of folks jumble USB2 and USB3 components together (ports and/or cables), and think they're getting USB3 speeds.  It's only possible to get USB3 if all components are USB3-specific. Otherwise, it's USB2 speed.

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    TheMaartian
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/13 12:10:36 (permalink)
    JonD
    eph221
    I'm rockin the new Tascam Celesonic...  It has a usb 3..not sure if that contributes to the low latency.



    Yes, it should -- if you are plugged into a USB3 port with a USB3 cable (Not the same as a standard USB cable). 
     
    Not trying to sound like a smart-a--.  Because USB3 is (theoretically) backwards-compatible, a lot of folks jumble USB2 and USB3 components together (ports and/or cables), and think they're getting USB3 speeds.  It's only possible to get USB3 if all components are USB3-specific. Otherwise, it's USB2 speed.


    +1
     
    To add to that...
     
    Plugging a lower-speed device into a higher speed hub (e.g., plugging a USB2 device (e.g., an iLok2 or flash drive) into a USB3 hub) will bring the entire hub down to the top speed supported by the slowest device.

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    musiccontinuum
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    Re: Tascam 2x2 issues & audio interface suggestions 2016/04/15 17:07:47 (permalink)
    USB 3.0: (taken from the ever authoritative Wikipedia ) "USB 3.0 can transfer data at up to 5 Gbit/s (625 MB/s), which is about ten times as fast as the USB 2.0 standard. Manufacturers are recommended to distinguish USB 3.0 connectors from their USB 2.0 counterparts by blue color-coding of the Standard-A receptacles and plugs"
     
    I have a 3.0 for my external back up drive, nice feature is it being self powered.

    Jon


    Platinum 2016 (latest patch)
    Windows 10 - x64
    Tascam US-2x2 or Focusrite Scarlett
    DELL Inspiron 3000 (I3847-3846BK) Intel i3-4130 3.40GHz / 8GB Memory / Windows 10 64-bit
    http://www.joncoble.com
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