Chiming in on the 'cheap-usb-audio-interface' conversation

[Fernando Gomes]

On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Mike Holstein <mikeh789 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 7:31 AM, Fernando Gomes <f.m.gomes at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> As I posted yesterday, I had a Tascam US122 until a week ago, and it
>> worked flawlessly with every UbuntuStudio distributions I've used (at
>> least from 8,xx until the 10.xx). I had other problems with RT kernels
>> and my hardware configuration, but not with the tascam. Unfortunatly I
>> don't have it now, and I also have losted the information that I have
>> compiled about its installation to put in an article on
>> www.openstudio.info. I'll try to get at least some info from my last
>> installation from the history command, but I can say that it was
>> almost using the link already posted:
>>
>> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/TASCAM_US-122
>>
>> From what I remember (I'm not in my home studio PC right now and I'll
>> confirm it later), I've used a more recent alsa firmware, I think it
>> was this version:
>>
>> ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/firmware/alsa-firmware-1.0.23.tar.bz2
>>
>> Then, on step 6 you should use the second option, replacing the
>> 002/003 by the results you get from lsusb:
>>
>> # sudo fxload -s /path/to/ld2-ezusb.hex -I
>> /usr/share/alsa/firmware/usx2yloader/us122fw.ihx -D
>> /dev/bus/usb/002/003
>>
>> Also in step 7 you should do first this command to create a link
>> because the files are not in the place the program is expecting:
>>
>> # sudo ln -s /usr/share/alsa/firmware/usx2yloader
>> /lib/firmware/usx2yloader
>>
>> I suppose that the sugested udev integration is being deprecated, but
>> it works at least for now.
>>
>> I didn't change the default soundcard because I select it in jack
>>
>> Once I can retreive the history information from my homestudio PC I'll
>> make the necessary corrections. Can you tell us what is not working
>> during your tascam us122 installation?
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Fernando
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 11:48 AM, Hartmut Noack <zettberlin at linuxuse.de>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Am 08.01.2011 07:30, schrieb Casey Forslund:
>> >>
>> >> Hey all,
>> >>
>> >> I am a newbie with Ubuntu (1yr): I've been running 10.04 Lucid (studio)
>> >> lately and I've been blown away at how tough it has been to find a soul
>> >> out
>> >> there who has the skills of knowledge to troubleshoot or problem solve
>> >> getting my Tascam US-122 (which is a device that fits the exact
>> >> description
>> >> of the topic I'm replying to) to work with Ubuntu. I have read EVERY
>> >> posting
>> >> on the forums, official and unofficial, got a hold of some VERY
>> >> knowledgeable and extremely helpful Ubuntu veterans, but my US-122 is
>> >> still
>> >> dead in the water. I'm just wondering if any of you wants to have mercy
>> >> on
>> >> me and see if you can come up with any options I can pursue. I guess
>> >> the
>> >> second part of this message is that if no one out there can help me,
>> >> don't
>> >> buy a tascam US-122, as I have spent (genuinely) over 30 hours of my
>> >> time
>> >> trying to get this thing to even blink, to no avail.
>> >
>> > Did you followed this one:
>> >
>> > http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/Tascam_US-122
>> >
>> > ?
>> >
>> > If so, and it still doeas not work, I would consider to switch to a
>> > different Linux Distro. I have seen this particular interface working
>> > perfectly well under Debian, 64Studio, Suse and even Gentoo...
>> >
>> > Nonetheless you should try to make Ubuntu Studio working first.
>> >
>> > Also Pulse Audio could be a hindrance. PA does not work very well with
>> > devices that do not fit in the typical desktop/office audio type of thing.
>> > So I am quite sure, that you device can work best after
>> > installing/configuring alsa-firmware-loader and running it with jack using
>> > qjackctl.
>> >
>> > best regs
>> >
>> > HZN
>> >
>> >
>> >> From a noob's (very
>> >> limited) perspective, I am quite disappointed in the Studio version of
>> >> Ubuntu, as it hasn't been able to work with my hardware, even after
>> >> tons of
>> >> homework, consulting, trial and error etc.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > --
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>>
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>
> casey... i have one the tascam USB us-122L interfaces. i also could not make
> the device work in 10.04. this interface was given to me, and i dont really
> *need* to use the interface (i have several other small USB interfaces and a
> presonus firepod as my main interface). in my opinion, i wouldnt lose any
> sleep over getting that interface working. i did try the thing out in OSX,
> and the preamps are just OK. in my experience, USB devices can sometimes
> pick up as much electrical interference as internal sound cards on laptops.
> i have mine setting around in a pile of things to photograph and put on
> ebay/craigslist... im not saying you *cant* get it working, its obvious that
> you can, but when you can get devices like
> the http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SaffirePro40
> or a used presonus firepod/FP10 for such a reasonable price, i dont think
> its worth the time and energy for a sub-par quality device.
> as far as support goes, try and come to the IRC channel #ubuntustudio or
> #opensourcemusicians on the freenode network. lots of helpful folk there. i
> found someone who had used a tascam USB device before.
>
> --
> MH
> http://opensourcemusician.libsyn.com/
> http://wnclug.ourproject.org/
>
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>
>

I suppose that for the Tascam us122L it will be difficult to make it
work on Linux, this is why I bought a used US122, not the US122L a few
years ago, because there were at that time references to being
'impossible' to put the 122L working in Linux. The US122 (non L) it is
not very difficult, at least I was able to put it working in many
different distros, including Ubuntu Studio, and in some of the distros
it was already supported out of the box. Casey, you TASCAM is a US122
or US122L? Can you make it work on Windows, to be sure that it isn't a
hardware problem?

Fernando