Level 2

255 points

Tascam US-800 and Lion

I bought a Tascam US-800 audio/MIDI interface to replace the US-122 that quit working when I installed Lion (it only has 32-bit drivers).

I'm using it with Garageband. It works fine when I first start up/restart the computer, but when I go back to it after a time, it doesn't work. Neither the MIDI nor audio work, though the US-800 shows up both in System preferences and GB prefs. The signal light for the audio channel I'm using lights up, so the US-800 is getting signal, but it does not seem to be passing it on. If I unplug the USB and plug it back in, the US-800 disappears from both prefs (after a warning from GB) and doesn't return until a complete system restart.

Anyone else having this issue? Any thoughts on resolving it?

Thanks.

Mac Pro (Early 2008) 2.8 mhz single core, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Aug 1, 2011 5:57 PM

56 replies

Dan Radmacher Author

Level 2

255 points

Dec 15, 2011 1:58 PM in response to ---Gusto---

Oddly enough, installing MainStage appears to have helped - and part of the problem appears related to GarageBand.

Since installing Mainstage a few days back, I haven't had to reboot to get the interface working. I have had issues with unwanted distortion, crackling and other problems, but those have been resolved with a simple restart of Mainstage (or even just switching the buffer size up or down).

But I launched GarageBand this afternoon, went away for a bit, and came back and the MIDI was out, though the audio was still working. I quit GarageBand and Mainstage, restarted the US-800 and relaunched Mainstage and all was well again.

I'm going to leave it running for awhile without GarageBand then see if I can replicate the problem.

I still have a MOTU unit on my Christmas list, and am hoping that will resolve the unwanted distortion and crackling (if I can't solve that, MainStage, unfortunately, will be useless to me).

Dan Radmacher Author

Level 2

255 points

Dec 15, 2011 5:45 PM in response to Dan Radmacher

So much for that. Both audio and MIDI signals aren't coming through. Hope Santa is good to me.

Dec 16, 2011 9:22 PM in response to Dan Radmacher

Thanks for the idea Dan. I'm a radio guy, not a musician... I hadn't even heard of Mainstage, but I just checked it out. Too bad it didn't work. There must be an issue with the Teac drivers. I'm not sure if a fix will come as the US-800 is a discontinued unit. Too bad -- it does everything I need so well! Good luck...

Dec 25, 2011 1:20 PM in response to ---Gusto---

I'm having similar problems with my US-800. Works great, but only is recognized after a fresh restart. I'm using a 2.2 GHz Core i7 macbook pro with OS 10.6.8. I'll post back if I happen to find a fix, but it seems to be in Tascam's hands. Here's hoping v1.1 of the software will fix it...

Lotyle

Level 1

0 points

Dec 27, 2011 8:40 PM in response to agoraphone

Santa brought us the US-800 and we are having similar problems with a 2.4 GHz core i7 MacBook pro with OS 10.7.2. Got it to recognize once after restart, but GB would not recognize keyboard MIDI signal after selecting the US-800.

Dan Radmacher Author

Level 2

255 points

Dec 28, 2011 5:12 AM in response to Lotyle

Santa brought me the MOTU Audio Express I'd been hoping for. Packed up the US-800 and will be sending it back. The MOTU has been great. I'm still having a very occasional issue with Mainstage where I get unwanted distortion, but a restart fixes that. Actually, Mainstage has a few issues I'm hoping will be resolved in the next update. Sometimes it slows down my entire system. Then there's the occasional unwanted distortion (that's only happened once since I got the MOTU - it would happen consistently after playing five or 10 minutes with the US-800) or popping (also far more rare on the MOTU).

But even with all the issues, I'm really loving Mainstage and am blown away at the value.

The US-800 is another story. Until or unless Tascam updates the drivers, I can't recommend it for anyone using Lion.

threshar

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2012 9:56 AM in response to Dan Radmacher

I'm on snow leopard and just go tthe US-800 and I'm having similar issues - iTunes may stop playing a song within the first 2 minutes (after another minute it says the interface has been removed). in logic pro I have similar things happen - playback will stop and the "audio device has been removed" dialog pops up.

I'm running on an ancient core2 macbook. Looks like I might be part of the minority here. It could be releated to the sleep mode warning, but rebooting the unit doesn't seem to fix it. going to try some fresh reboots of the laptop itself to see if that helps more (even if it does, not being able to put the laptop to sleep is a bit of a deal breaker).

going to try to contact tascam support later today.

man. and to think I ended up with this because I despised the unstable coreaudio drivers for my digi002 (I grew away from protools and didn't feel like paying the upgrade fees so I could run it on a recent OS (I'd kept my laptop on tiger for a long while just to run the verison of PT I had a license for).. doomed I tells ya!

doggo999

Level 1

0 points

Jan 27, 2012 8:58 AM in response to Dan Radmacher

These are the instructions I sent my bandmates after hours and hours spent troubleshooting the Tascam US-800. Also, see the release notes: http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/207/d01132020b_us-800_rn_eng.pdf

Power off Tascam US-800
Make sure USB cable is connected to the computer
Reboot computer
Wait a couple minutes after complete reboot
plug in power cable to US-800

Warning! Do not unplug and/or re-plug USB cable while DAW (GarageBand) is running.

Please note: The following standard IT troubleshooting methodologies will assist in mitigating difficulties with this system, despite the use of Apple equipment.

Sacrifice (method of sacrifice is optional: burning at stake, tossing into volcano, removal-of-still-beating-heart, etc.) of chicken, goat, lamb, small child, or virgin.
2 - 3 10 minute chanting sessions with pleading, promises, & wheedling to various gods and forces of nature, not to exclude demons.
Ritual dancing, either as part of step 2, or as a separate augmentation of step two. Costumes, including animal skulls, pelts, extensive beadwork, and body paint optional, but encouraged.
Additional repetitive gestures or postures: suggestions include the perennial hopping on left foot whilst spinning counter-clockwise three full revolutions, standing on one's head and whistling Yankee Doodle-Dandy, and bending over backwards
Addressing the system (hardware & software) using increasingly abusive terms, such as impugning ancestry, and suggesting unlikely physically difficult or impossible sex acts

These steps are best employed by experienced, trained technicians to prevent physical and emotional damage and the possibility of criminal imprisonment.

kiyyto

Level 1

13 points

Feb 4, 2012 9:24 AM in response to threshar

Hello,

did you ever get any support from TASCAM?

I have the exact same problem and am on Lion as well, 10.7.3

Sometimes iTunes works fine for hours, and then sometimes a song will just start to distort and then within a minute or two the US-800 will completely disappear from system preferences/audio and I'll have no sound at all. If I unplug the US-800 and plug it back in it comes back, but only for a minute or two and the same thing happens over and over.

This is really ******* me off, its useless.

threshar

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2012 5:33 AM in response to kiyyto

I ended up returning my tascam and ended up with a presonus firestudio. it is firewire, not usb. but so far it has been asbolutely rock solid under snow leopard. (it also costs more)

lousy tascam..

doggo999

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2012 6:59 AM in response to Dan Radmacher

Sent to TASCAM "Operational Support". I suggest everyone here do the same.

2012-07-23 06:56:01

Hello doggo999,

Thank you for contacting TASCAM.

This message has been automatically generated in response to the request you submitted to our support system with Support Reference Code: 3OA5E85C

Below is a copy of the message that you submitted:

Support Reference Code: 3OA5E85C

Support Request Type: Operational Support

Product: TASCAM :: US-800

Your Question:

Would you just provide a compatible driver for your product?! We've all bought the Tascam US-800 well after Lion was standard on Macs and we paid good money for your product. How can you just let this black eye to Tascam's reputation stand?

See the Apple forum for the issues:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3231566

Dammit!

Please allow up to 2 working days for a response.

We will contact you again at this email address.

If you have any additional questions, please reply to this message with a copy of the Support Reference Code in the subject line.

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tascam/156388484378789

And on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/TASCAMpro

=========================================================================

Your privacy is important to us.

This message and any other communications we share with you are bound by the terms of our Privacy Policy, which can be located at:

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Mlars

Level 1

0 points

Jul 24, 2012 6:37 PM in response to doggo999

Hey everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone else discovered this, but I was having the same issues with my US-800 and Lion. I'm not sure how I figured it out, but the US-800 will only work without the driver. Uninstall the Tascam US-800 driver, connect your Tascam and let Logic or Garagband discover it. Once Logic discovers it, the whole system discovers it. It seems to easy to be true, but it's working for me without fail. I hope this helps!

www.sonoflars.bandcamp.com

Mlars

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2012 5:04 PM in response to Dan Radmacher

Dan and others, did you see my post from a couple days ago? I am suprised I haven't gotten any responses. This solution is still working perfectly for me. Here it is again:

Hey everyone,

www.sonoflars.bandcamp.com

Dan Radmacher Author

Level 2

255 points

Jul 26, 2012 5:09 PM in response to Mlars

I saw that, but since I returned my US-800 months ago, I can't try it. It's a little irritating, actually, to be honest. 😉

Mlars

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2012 5:11 PM in response to Dan Radmacher

Sorry man. What did you switch to? I hope it turned out well anyway.

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Tascam US-800 and Lion