» D00927520A US-144 USB Audio/MIDI Interface OWNER'S MANUAL IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS For U.S.A. Declaration of Conformity Model Number: US-144 TO THE USER Trade Name: TASCAM Responsible party: TEAC AMERICA, INC. This equipment has been tested and found Montebello, California, U.S.A. to comply with the limits for a Class B digital Telephone number: 1-213-726-0303 device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC These limits are designed to provide reason- Rules. Operation is subject to the following two able protection against harmful interference conditions: in a residential installation. This equipment (1) This device may not cause harmful interfer- generates, uses, and can radiate radio fre- ence, and (2) This device must accept any interference quency energy and, if not installed and used received, in accordance with the instruction manual, including interference that cause undesired oper- may cause harmful interference to radio com- ation. munications. However, there is no guarantee that interfer- ence will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer- This appliance has a serial number ence to radio or television reception, which located on the rear panel. Please can be determined by turning the equipment record the model number and serial off and on, the user is encouraged to try to number and retain them for your correct the interference by one or more of the records. following measures. Model number Serial number a) Reorient or relocate the receiving anten- na. b) Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. c) Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. d) Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. CAUTION Changes or modifications to this equip- ment not expressly approved by TEAC CORPORATION for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equip- ment. 2 TASCAM US-144 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1 Read these instructions. * Microsoft, Windows, and Windows XP 2 Keep these instructions. are registered trademarks in the United 3 Heed all warnings. States and other countries of Microsoft Corporation, USA. 4 Follow all instructions. * Pentium is a registered trademark of 5 Do not use this apparatus near water. Intel Corporation, USA. 6 Clean only with dry cloth. * MIDI is a registered trademark of the 7 Do not block any ventilation openings. Association of Musical Electronics Install in accordance with the manufactur- Industries. er's instructions. * Other company names and product 8 Do not install near any heat sources such names in this document are the trade- as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that pro- marks or registered trademarks of their duce heat. respective owners. 9 Only use attachments/accessories speci- fied by the manufacturer. 10 Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, brack- et, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over. • Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes. • Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus. • Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a book case or similar unit. TASCAM US-144 3 Contents 1 Introduction 5 Connections Overview ..................................... 5 USB connections ....................... 15 Features ....................................... 5 Audio connections .................... 15 What is in the package .................. 5 MIDI connections ...................... 17 Conventions used in this manual .... 6 6 Recording with Cubase LE 2 Parts of the US-144 Input setting ............................. 18 Top panel ..................................... 7 Recording .................................. 19 Rear panel ................................... 8 Mixdown ................................... 20 Front panel .................................. 9 7 Troubleshooting ............. 21 3 Installation 8 MIDI Implementation System requirements ............... 10 Chart .................................. 23 Windows XP ................................. 10 Mac OS X ....................................... 10 9 Specifications and Installing the drivers ................ 11 performance Installing the drivers Audio specifications ................. 24 for Windows XP ........................11 Audio performance .................. 25 Installing the drivers Other characteristics ................ 25 for Mac OS X ............................ 12 Physical characteristics ............. 26 Installing Cubase LE .................. 12 Dimensions ................................ 26 Settings on your computer ...... 12 4 Control panel settings Overview ................................... 13 Driver settings .......................... 13 Audio Performance ...................... 13 Sample Clock Source .................... 13 Digital Output Format ................. 14 4 TASCAM US-144 1 – Introduction Please read this owner’s manual carefully nearby for reference when required. before you begin using the US-144, and use We can accept no responsibility for any the product correctly as directed in order to loss of the data you record using this prod- ensure long and trouble-free enjoyment of uct onto other MIDI equipment in your all its functionality. system or onto storage devices such as After you have read this manual, keep it hard disk. Overview The US-144 is a USB-based audio inter- the US-144 operates using only USB face designed for use with Digital Audio power, you can use it with a laptop com- Workstation (DAW) software. It provides a puter to create a very compact and portable four-input, four-output 24-bit 96 kHz audio digital audio workstation system. interface and a 16-channel MIDI interface. The US-144 is also an ideal way to capture Because the US-144 is USB-based, it is the analog sources such as records or cassette ideal companion to any desktop- or laptop- tapes into your computer and preserve based digital recording setup. And since them as audio CDs. Features • 24-bit / 96 kHz audio interface. • Unbalanced stereo line output (RCA • Analog input signals (L, R) and digital connector) and headphone output. input signals (L, R) can be input at the • MIDI IN/OUT. same time and recorded simultaneously • Direct Monitor function allows zero- into your computer via USB. latency monitoring of the input. • Two XLR mic/line inputs (balanced) and • Power is supplied by the USB connector. two 1/4” phone mic/line inputs (bal- anced/unbalanced) are provided. One of A note about computer opera- the 1/4” phone inputs can be switched to tion allow direct input of an electric guitar or If you are unsure about how to perform electric bass (R channel only). basic computer operations appearing in • Stereo digital input jack and stereo digi- this manual, please refer to the owner’s tal output jack. manual that came with your computer. What is in the package The US-144 package contains the follow- • CD-ROM (containing drivers and manuals) ing items. • CD-ROM (Gigastudio 3 LE) [Windows • US-144 main unit only] • USB cable • CD-ROM (Cubase LE) • Owner’s manual (this document) TASCAM US-144 5 1 – Introduction Conventions used in this manual The following conventions are used in this This typeface is used to designate messag- manual: es displayed by the software. Example: Control Surface Protocol Front panel keys, knobs, and indicators, and rear panel connectors are designated This typeface is used to designate software in all-capital letters. menu functions and on-screen controllers. Example: LINE IN jacks Example: ASIO Device 6 TASCAM US-144 2 – Parts of the US-144 Top panel 1 LINE OUT level knob Controls the 5 MON MIX balance knob Controls output level of the LINE OUT jacks. the balance of the signal sources being out- put from the LINE OUT jacks and the 2 PHONES LEVEL knob Controls the PHONES output level of the PHONES jack. jack. When this knob is turned to the far left, the signal being input to the 3 MIDI IN indicator Lights when MIDI US-144 (from the XLR jacks, or 1/4" phone data is being received at the MIDI IN con- jacks) will be output. When this knob is nector. turned to the far right, the output signal MIDI OUT indicator Lights when MIDI received from the computer via USB will data is being transmitted from the MIDI be output. OUT connector. 6 MONO switch Turn this switch ON if 4 USB indicator Lights to indicate a you want to monitor in monaural. This valid USB connection to the host comput- switch affects only the analog input signal. er. 7 INPUT knobs (L, R) Adjust the level of the audio signal being input to the MIC IN jacks and LINE IN jacks. TASCAM US-144 7 2 – Parts of the US-144 8 SIG/OL indicators Light when signals 0 PHANTOM switch Turns on the +48V are being input to the input channels (L, phantom power supplied to the MIC IN R). They will light green to indicate a sig- jacks. nal is present, and will light red immedi- WARNING ately before distortion occurs. These indi- Microphones should not be connected cators apply only to the analog inputs. to or disconnected from the US-144 with phantom power switched on. NOTE These indicators will light green when Unbalanced dynamic microphones should never be connected to phantom- the input signal level is in the range of - 30 dBFS to -2 dBFS. The indicators will powered connectors. light red when the input signal level NOTE exceeds -2 dBFS. Turn this switch on only if you are using condenser microphones that require 9 MIC/LINE-GUITAR select switch Set phantom power. this switch as appropriate for the input Please note that if you are operating source you have connected to the LINE IN the unit with a battery-powered laptop jack R channel. Use the GUITAR position if computer, the battery life of the com- you have directly connected an electric puter will be reduced if the PHANTOM guitar or electric bass. Use the MIC/LINE switch is on. position if you have connected an electron- ic musical instrument, audio device, or mic.