Guide to running 2 Tascam US2400 units together in Sonar
Just thought I'd stick this out there in interest of helping anyone else out...
I had a lenghtly and failing setting up process for getting 2 Tascam US2400s to run independantly within Sonar.(
previous thread)
Ive now sussed it - heres what I did to do it....
1) Install both US2400s onto your PC - each one will install as "USB Audio Device" 6 times over (see my thread on above link for description as to why this is). I've renamed both US2400s within Windows (through regedit) to easily indentify the units, but I dont think its neccessary to do - just remember whats what f.y.i.
2) Put both units in Sonar compatible mode (will map loads of Sonars controls striaght to the unit) - see the US2400s manual if unsure how to do this.
3) Start Sonar, and start a new project (or load an old one).
4) Then go to "Options" (in top bar) - then "Controller/Surfaces"
5) Using the "add new controler/surface" button on right side of window, set it up like this:
Device.........................In Port...............................Out Port
Mackie Control 1..........Tascam US-2400 1...............Tascam US-2400 1
Mackie XT-1................Tascam US-2400 1 (2)..........Tascam US-2400 1 (2)
Mackie XT-2................Tascam US-2400 1 (3)..........Tascam US-2400 1 (3)
Mackie Control 2..........Tascam US-2400 2...............Tascam US-2400 2
Mackie XT-3................Tascam US-2400 2 (2)..........Tascam US-2400 2 (2)
Mackie XT-4................Tascam US-2400 2 (3)..........Tascam US-2400 2 (3)
note: have left out the 4th port for US2400s (for the surround panner) as I don't have surround setup for music (yet) - so haven't dealt with this - will tackle another time!
As you are putting each line into this - each bank (8 tracks) should enable (leds light-up and faders move). Also make sure each line has different consecutive colours after each other (WAI section on right-hand side) - will make things easier to distinguish later. Note: the first select button on each bank of faders (faders 1, 9, and 17) should be on (green) now.
6) Now go into "Tools" (in top bar) and select "Mackie Control - 1". In the next window (as the US2400 manual states) press the "Configure Layout" button once. Now press and hold the F-Key and the Shift key on US2400 - then tap the Sel button on master fader. This should then leave only faders 1's green select light enabled. Do all of step 6 again to configure layout for 2nd US2400 (obviously selecting "Mackie Control - 2" from "Tools" instead this time).
7) At this time - if all has gone well both units are functioning, but they will mirror each other (move fader 1 on 1st US2400 and fader 1 on 2nd US2400 will move with it). This was where I got stuck for a few days but step 8) is how to fix this...
8) As the Us2400s don't have any visual read-outs (no LCD screen - bit pants but hey) you'll ideally need to have 48 tracks inserted into your project (or work up in multiples of 8 until you've got enough tracks for your project, to literally oversee this last step). All of the 1st US2400 is already configured - all you have to do is re-distribute the other 24 channels of the 2nd US2400 so go back to "Tools" then "Mackie Control - 2" and press "Configure Layout" again. This time you need to turn the v-pot (rotary control at top of US2400) on the 2nd US2400 on track 1 ever-so-slightly to the right (this moves the banks up, by 8 tacks at a time). The v-pot needs very little input (seriously small touch) to move the banks. You need to turn the v-pot enough to move the 2nd US2400s bank 1 (which are the first 8 tracks hidden behind the 1st US2400s colours) to go to bank 4 (tracks 25-32). You wont see where the banks gone until you hit the "Press again when done" button. Once you think the v-pot has been turned enough hit the "Press again when done" button to see where the bank of 8 tracks has actually got mapped to. Note: you will need either console view or have the WAI enabled in track view (do this by ticking box in "Options" then "Controllers/Surfaces") to see where that bank got mapped to. Repeat the process until the bank has actually gone into the right place! You will need to do this process 2 more times - to move bank 2 to bank 5 (tracks 9-16 up to 33-40) by turning the v-pot on track 9 on 2nd US2400, and bank 3 to bank 6 (tracks 17-24 up to 41-48) by turning the v-pot on track 17 on 2nd US2400.
Job done!
I'd like to thank the members of the Sonar community for helping me with getting my US2400s setup. I'd also like to give special thanks to Psalmist35 and Kip (who wrote the brilliant app GenMCE - for complete customising and re-mapping of any Mackie compatilble device).
Hope this is information will be of help (posted as I bloomin well needed the info at the time, hehe)!!!
Enjoy your 48 track studio!
