• SONAR
  • Audio issues with setup, Cakewalk or any other DAW
2018/06/29 01:44:16
Liquid Noise 23
I am having some issues setting up my new laptop with my audio gear. Here is a list of what I have. Its pretty straight forward.
 
Alienware 15r4
Cakewalk A-500S 49-key Midi keyboard controller by Roland
Akai MPK-225
Zoom UAC-2 with USB 3.0
USB 3.1 Gen 2 ( Type-C ) port
USB 3.1 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
USB 3.1 Gen 1 port
Thunderbolt 3 ( USB Type-C ) port
Anker 60W 10 port USB 3.0 Data Hub with a USB 3.0 cable
Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB 3.1 Adapter
 
Anyway on to my issue.
To start off, I do currently have it all working but in a limited way and this is the only way it will work.
I have my Zoom UAC-2 with USB 3.0 plugged into the Anker USB 3.0 hub and then the hub is plugged into the USB 3.1 Gen 1 port (it will not work in any of the other ports and the Zoom UAC-2 will not work plugged directly into the laptop. However, I get bad audio sound and most of the time when I click the transport play button I get audio drop out and then nothing works if it is directly plugged into the laptop.) The Akai MPK-225 is plugged into the Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB 3.1 Adapter which is then plugged into the USB 3.1 Gen 2 ( Type-C ) port (it is recognized in other ports but it will not transmit any midi data if plugged into any other port.) Finally the Cakewalk A-500S is plugged directly into the Zoom UAC-2 via a midi cable. Drivers are not supported by Roland for the Cakewalk A-500S in Win 10. If I were to switch the Zoom to another port the A-500S would no longer transmit midi data.
So in a nut shell the Zoom is plugged into the Anker hub which is then plugged into the USB 3.1 Gen 1 port. The MPK225 is plugged into the USB adapter and the plugged into the USB 3.1 Gen 2 ( Type-C ) port and the A-500S is plugged into the Zoom with midi cable. This is the only configuration that will work. You would think I would be able to use any port but I can’t . I have this issue with Sonar Pro my other DAW. So it must be hardware-based. 

I hope this wasn’t to confusing. So if anyone has any suggestions I thank you in advance.
 
 
2018/06/29 10:42:48
fireberd
Just a comment on the USB 3 ports and older devices.  Some older devices will not work or work correctly with USB 3.0/3.1 ports.  For example, my MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid which is listed by MOTU as a USB 2.0 interface will not work with some USB 3.0 ports.  On my old desktop with USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports the MOTU would have audio dropouts when connected to a USB 3.0 port.  On my current (Dec 2016) desktop the MOTU works OK with a 3.0 port.  I have a 2017 Dell Inspiron 15 (gaming) laptop that has USB 3.0 and 3.1 ports, the MOTU works OK on the 3.0 port but not the 3.1.
 
On a different issue with recording and the Dell laptop.  Despite a lot of tweaking and uninstalling Dell apps I was never able to get the Dell clean for recording.  I still had some dropouts and Resplendence Latency Mon program also showed the dropouts.  I had to install a second SSD and only install Win 10, needed drivers, MOTU drivers and Sonar.  I returned the Dell factory image to the Dell M.2 SSD and now dual boot.  If I want to use the Dell for general PC work I boot to the Dell image.  If I want to record I boot to the separate "recording" image.  
 
I do user support on the Dell forums and knowing all the extra software/utilities that Dell installs on an Alienware I suspect you will have to do something similar with a dual boot.
2018/06/29 17:39:12
Liquid Noise 23
I thought that my Zoom UAC-2 wouldn't have any issues since it is a usb 3.0 device. I will also get on the dell forums and see if i can get any more information. 
2018/06/29 17:48:27
Wookiee
What driver modes have you tried, have you tried WASAPI, I could be wrong but I thought Zoom used a version of ASI4all for their ASIO driver, which is not really ASIO.
2018/06/29 17:51:01
Liquid Noise 23
I use the Zoom asio driver from Zoom's web site. When i try to change the driver the only choice i have is the Zoom's driver.
2018/07/01 11:33:12
Wookiee
What driver is Windows set to?
2018/07/01 15:44:50
Liquid Noise
Well it turns out that I have some hardware issues with my new 15R4. So I will be sending it back for a replacement.
Thanks for the help. I'll post back here after I get the new system to let people know how it goes, if anyone is interested.
 
Again thanks for your time.
 
 
Liquid Noise
2018/07/01 16:31:31
Anderton
fireberd
Just a comment on the USB 3 ports and older devices.  Some older devices will not work or work correctly with USB 3.0/3.1 ports.  For example, my MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid which is listed by MOTU as a USB 2.0 interface will not work with some USB 3.0 ports.



I wonder what would happen if you used a USB 2.0 hub with a USB 3.0 port to get USB 2.0 outputs?
 
Also, I used to have USB 3.0 motherboard ports that were unuseable. Turned out there was a motherboard firmware update on the Intel site. Now it works as long as the computer boots first, then I turn on a connected USB 3.0 device.
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