Topic: wmod UA5>PC no sound - which editor to use?

[sunjan]

I'm trying to use my wmod UA5 as an AD for analog tape transfers, hooking it up to my PC over USB.

I can monitor via the headphone jack of the UA5, so far so good, and the device is identified in Audacity as well as Soundforge 9.0.

But there's no signal detected on the PC, no sound coming in?

According to the FAQ, the signal should still be able to travel downstream USB after the mod:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,14389.0.html

So maybe my device settings in Win XP is screwed up? What am I doing wrong?

Is there any particular editing software that works better with UA-5?

[rsimms3]

I am not at home and I can't remember exactly but I think in Audacity you had to arm the track for recording before it would record.  Also make sure that the UA-5 is identified as an input device.  Not sure how to do that with Audacity or Soundforge.  I know I had issues at first using the UA-5 with Audition and the driver not working correctly.  I always have the UA-5 plugged into my computer  and turned on to be seen by Windows before opening my recording program and have had no issues recently using this method.

First question is, does XP see the UA-5 when you have it plugged in and turn it on?

[admkrk]

i'm not sure how much if any of this will apply since it mostly concerns wavelab, but here goes anyway.

1st tho, iirc, the ua-5 manual says something about always using the same usb port as you used when installing the ua-5. i always either got it right or it didn't matter? also, i always make sure to have wl turned on and ready to go before turning on the ua-5.

i also ran into an issue were i couldn't pass a signal and spent the whole morning of a festival trying to get it right. turns out i had to switch the sound card from one thing to another. can't remember what to what and my lappy's broke so i can't give it a check to see. i did have to make this change every time afterwards in order to use it.

this was with media player(?) instead of xp but shouldn't be any different.

i know, not much help, but it's a couple things to look at anyway.

[sunjan]

Thanks a lot everybody. Still struggling with this, but I'll try my luck with Wavelab. After all Steinberg is the "founder" of the ASIO standard, so if any software might pick up a signal it should be their's.

I read some conflicting info whether I should start the software or the UA-5 first in this thread:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,13546.msg168426.html#msg168426

But with some trial'n error I'll get there.

BTW, the search function here on TS is a bitch, keeps ignoring four character terms like "UA-5".   

[rsimms3]

Thanks a lot everybody. Still struggling with this, but I'll try my luck with Wavelab. After all Steinberg is the "founder" of the ASIO standard, so if any software might pick up a signal it should be their's.

I read some conflicting info whether I should start the software or the UA-5 first in this thread:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,13546.msg168426.html#msg168426

But with some trial'n error I'll get there.

BTW, the search function here on TS is a bitch, keeps ignoring four character terms like "UA-5".   

I don't see how you could do it Software first, then UA-5.  The softward doesn't even know the UA-5 is there until you turn it on.  If you don't turn the UA-5 on first, the computer doesn't know it's there so how could the software know it's there? 

I never got around to trying this again with Audacity as I use Audition and it works correctly every time.  I am about to start archiving my vinyl after I get a brush and some cleaning supplies.

[yug du nord]

I've been messing with this lately, and I think that you need to plug in the UA-5 > USB...  power on UA-5...  then open Audacity.

I'll check it out later tonight...  it is possible with a Wmod...  I've recorded some shows this way straight to laptop, and it's been smooth.

[sunjan]

I don't see how you could do it Software first, then UA-5.  The softward doesn't even know the UA-5 is there until you turn it on.  If you don't turn the UA-5 on first, the computer doesn't know it's there so how could the software know it's there? 

You've got a point there... I'm just a computer dummy, trying whatever until I get lucky

I've gotten to the point that the installation is correct, but I'm suspecting that there's some other process running on XP that blocks my signal.

I was running Wavelab 5 with everything connected and on, feeding the computer with music. When I display the meters with monitoring active, it's all flat. If I then go to the WinXP Start Menu, and turn off the computer, XP starts shutting down the other background processes, before shutting down Wavelab. For a second or so, the meters starts to flicker and the signal is being recognized. Then Wavelab shuts, and XP continues to close down.

Maybe there is a "primer" which processes and services I should disable in XP, to record audio successfully?

[admkrk]

from the manual

Can't hear sound from the computer

- Have you specified the audio data output destination for your operating system? You must specify the UA-5 as the audio data output destination for your computer.

- Have you specified the audio data output destination for your playback software? For some software such as Cool Edit Pro LE, you must specify the UA-5 as the audio data output destination.

those are the 2 most likely problems and i'd think the 2nd one is the problem. if you were getting a signal and no sound then i'd think the first.

[EarlyMorningRain]

skip the pc and plug the UA-5 into either your JB3 or iRiver (go digi in on the JB3).

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see how this wouldn't work as all your doing is feeding your recorder with a line signal (and going straight to wav). Just like at a show.

cassette > rca outs > rca ins ua5 > rca outs (or digi out) of the UA5 > line in of your recorder

[sunjan]

skip the pc and plug the UA-5 into either your JB3 or iRiver (go digi in on the JB3).

Yeah, that's what I've been doing up til now, but I thought it would be nice to do 24bit transfers since I have the gear...

I'm trying to strip away other services fron the bootup procedure in XP and see if it helps. Or maybe another PC which is less messed up. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks a lot for all input so far...

[BodhiTaper]

I thought I read somewhere that when you did mods, you lost usb capability. Was this true or am I just thinking crazy thoughts again?

Damn it, I wish those voices would shut up some times. 

[rsimms3]

When you digimod the UA-5 you lose the capability to go from the computer into the UA-5 using it as the Pre for 24 bit playback, you can still record with it on a computer.


I just got mine to work with Audacity.  I don't like Audacity and don't use it, but I can confirm it works.  Steps:

1. Plug in the UA-5, turn it on, listen for the ding dong that XP has recognized your UA-5.
2. Open Audacity.
3. Make sure the UA-5 is the input device - Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O (should be the first, default tab) > Recording > Device Drop Down > UA-5

Recorded and played back a 24/96 test file.

[rsimms3]

Did you get this to work?

[tscales]

Actually, despite Soundforge's elaborate and confusing "Options" dialog box I got it to work with my UA-5..

...but while you're mentioning - where can I download Wavelab again???

-T

[tscales]

Woops - wrong thread entirely.  I'm on meds - forgive me.

-T

Actually, despite Soundforge's elaborate and confusing "Options" dialog box I got it to work with my UA-5..

...but while you're mentioning - where can I download Wavelab again???

-T