Line 6 TonePort GX + MacBook Pro + Garage Band = 0

Question

Level 1

1 points

Line 6 TonePort GX + MacBook Pro + Garage Band = 0

I've been using a TonePort GX (drivers are current) with my MacBook Pro but some months ago it just stopped working. I tried again today and it's just... not working. The computer sees the TonePort GX, the light is green, my ESP LTD is plugged into it, and when I connect the headphones to the TonePort I can hear the noise of the connection for a second but the guitar never comes through nor does Garage Band hear it. Garage Band sees the TonePort GX but there's just no sound. Can anyone help me with this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / 4 GB RAM

Posted on Jul 9, 2008 7:29 AM

Reply

Answer 1

ntloser

Level 1

29 points

Jul 13, 2008 10:41 PM in response to jdess

oops double post

Message was edited by: ntloser

Reply

Answer 2

ntloser

Level 1

29 points

Jul 13, 2008 10:40 PM in response to jdess

so these problems are happening outside of GB as well? If you just open Gear Box, can you hear your guitar?
Assuming it is not something simple like your System settings are set to use the system input for recording instead of the Toneport and or the System output for playback instead of the Toneport;

Check these settings.
Can you hear other sounds through the Toneport besides your guitar.

Assuming your system settings are correct and the hardware is not malfunctioning;
Completely uninstall GearBox, Toneport drivers, and line6 monkey using the instructions found on the line6 site.

Ten install the latest Gearbox (for your OS), which includes the drivers, monkey and gear box.. see what happens.

Reply

Answer 3

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 13, 2008 10:56 PM in response to ntloser

Hi- yeah, it happens with Gear Box too.

I did already uninstall and reinstall everything, made sure it was the most recent driver, etc.

I don't hear anything through the TonePort but the light is green. I made sure the Sound settings were correct, connect the headphones directly to the unit, set the Mac up to output sound to the TonePort... nothing.

And this has happened before, and then mysteriously went away.

Reply

Answer 4

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Jul 14, 2008 4:13 AM in response to jdess

Can you hear your guitar if you direct monitor the tone ports input?

Reply

Answer 5

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 20, 2008 6:23 PM in response to isteveus

I'm not sure what you mean.

GarageBand says it sees the device, but when I play the guitar, it doesn't hear it. I have monitoring set to "on". Still, nothing.

Reply

Answer 6

ntloser

Level 1

29 points

Jul 20, 2008 7:50 PM in response to jdess

Lets just leave garage band out of the picture for a moment.

You said you do not hear anything when you just run gear box and play through your tone port?

When you start Gear BOX is your tone port recognized? In the top right of gear box under the line 6 logo it should display the device it sees.

When you play do the little level move on the tone port interface indicating it "hears" your guitar?

Also, the tone port has the headphones and line outs do you hear anything out of the headphones? Of are you trying to get the audio through your "MAC speakers".

Reply

Answer 7

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Jul 20, 2008 7:58 PM in response to jdess

Most interfaces will let you monitor dry (the input signal before going to the mac). I've never used a GX but my guess is that big knob on the front would mix the input and the playback. If this is true turn it to the inputs side, can you hear the guitar"through headphones or speakers plugged into the tone port"?

Reply

Answer 8

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 20, 2008 8:05 PM in response to ntloser

Right, I don't hear anything.

When I start Gear Box, there is an image of my TonePort GX below the logo so I assume that means it sees it.

No, the levels don't move.

I have the headphones connected to the TonePort GX and the sound output set to the TonePort GX and there's no sound at all. I tried omitting the headphones and setting the sound output to the speakers but that didn't work either.

I also plugged my guitar directly into a small amp I have and it works, so I know the issue isn't with the guitar itself or the cable.

Reply

Answer 9

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 20, 2008 8:07 PM in response to isteveus

It doesn't seem able to do that- the knob on the front is just the volume.

Reply

Answer 10

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 20, 2008 8:09 PM in response to jdess

Also- I can hear the computer's 'alert' sounds, etc. through the TonePort GX with headphones connected while the audio output is set to TonePort GX, so I know it's not the headphones...

Reply

Answer 11

ntloser

Level 1

29 points

Jul 20, 2008 8:20 PM in response to jdess

Ok.. so that is good to know that you can hear the computers sounds through the tone port.

Make sure the audio INPUT in SYSTEM preferences is set to your Tone Port as well. Then restart GearBox.

Then within Gear Box make sure the "Record" knob, (located below the level meters), is not all the way down.

Make sure the "Monitor Volume" and "Out to Hardware" are not all the way down and shut off the HUM REDUCER feature just to make sure that is now whacked out.

Reply

Answer 12

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 22, 2008 3:36 PM in response to ntloser

Thanks, I did all of these things. Still nothing. The dials don't register anything either. The Gear Box preferences says it sees the TonePort. The system preferences are set to use the Tone Port for input and output and the headphones are plugged into the Tone Port.

Reply

Answer 13

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Jul 22, 2008 3:38 PM in response to jdess

The system preferences are set to use the Tone Port

ignore System prefs:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#selectinterface

Reply

Answer 14

jdess Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 22, 2008 8:48 PM in response to HangTime

Ok I set the GarageBand prefs the way the site said, still nothing.

Garage Band and Gear Box both "see" the Tone Port GX but sound doesn't register in the gauges in either one.

I've tried all 3 usb ports.

Thanks for trying to help.

Reply

Answer 15

ntloser

Level 1

29 points

Jul 22, 2008 9:26 PM in response to jdess

jdess wrote:
Ok I set the GarageBand prefs the way the site said, still nothing.

Garage Band and Gear Box both "see" the Tone Port GX but sound doesn't register in the gauges in either one.

I've tried all 3 usb ports.

Thanks for trying to help.

It almost sounds as if the input on the GX is not working. I guess it could be some strange drive issue. Is there any way you can try it out on a PC or another MAC?

Reply