JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum Mac speakers?

OK, admittedly I'm a computer idiot. . . BUT I've looked in all the manuals and on-line Mac Help and can't answer what I hope is a very simple question. Problem: How do I hook up external speakers?
Just bought a new MacMini; hooked up a Tascam US122L via USB; also connected 2 powered EVENT monitor speakers. I can't get anything to play through the speakers. I've gone to PREFERENCES, selected SOUND, and opened the EXTERNAL window. The "Help" tells me, if I want to use USB speakers, simply select them from the list. But there IS NO list. It says "Internal speaker", and I can't change it; there are no options available.
Why don't I get options when I open the SOUND window? and how do I get the speakers to play?
Any help will be MUCHO appreciated.
Terrencio

Are the Event's specifically USB speakers? Or are you hooking up the speakers to the Tascam thing, which I assume is a USB interface? If thats the case, yoy have to select the inrterface as the default sound device in preferences....if that doesn't help, shout out and I'll see if I can help you sort it....

Rob

Macs are supposed to be the end all be all of computers.
Shows to go ya'.

Thats helpful.

Everybody breathes without thinking about it, but when your first starting out, sometimes the doctor gives you a smack on the asterik to get things going....

Rob

[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 11-23-2006).]

Sounds like you're missing an audio driver for the Tascam. Or see if there is a need for power from your USB port. Chances are you've connected the Tascam improperly or there isn't enough power on the port for the computer to see it.

When the computer sees the Audio interface there will be a list to choose from in the sound preferences.

Another possibility if the Tascam is new as well is that you got a bum unit.

Jody

------------------
Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com

Open up your audiomidi utility (applications/utilities) and select "Audio Devices" and see if when you select the "Default Output" drop down menu whether the Tascam appears there. If it's not there, then drivers will need to be loaded. Many new interfaces don't require drivers and just automatically appear there. Just select it. From there, it would be a matter of correctly hooking the Events up to the Tascam.

I keep my audiomidi utility in the dock so it's always available.



------------------
Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

Larry,

What Mac did you end up with....you're running PT yes?

Rob

Are the Events plugged into A/C and turned on?

Wow. My problem remains unsolved, but I'm blown away by the sympathetic support of this community. Thanks.
OK, here's the set up: I've got the Tascam US122L USB 2.0 Audio/Midi Interface connected to the MacMini via USB cable. The two small RCA plugs labled LINE OUT on the Tascam are connected to the 1/4" Balanced Input plugs on the Event ALP5 speakers. (The guy at Sweetwater who sold me all this stuff said "You'll need this cable", and sent a cable with L&R 1/4" connectors on one end, and L&R RCA plugs on the other. NONE of those connectors fit anything on the rear of the MacMini, so I decided they must connect the Tascam to the speakers. So, that's the physical set up.
I already loaded the Tascam Driver installation CD, but I reloaded it after reading your comments; seemed to go OK . . . at least, no obvious problems. When I go to Applications>Utilities>Audio Devices, all the settings show "internal" . . . the Tascam isn't listed anywhere. The Mac doesn't seem to recognize it, although it's icon appears on the desktop. When I insert a music CD, it plays through the Mac's tiny internal speaker and/or through the headphone jack . . . but nothing through the speakers although they're turned on.
The Tascam has a MONITOR MIX control: the manual says "When this knob is turned to the far right, the ouput signal received from the computer via USB will be output". I've turned the knob to the far right.
Whitesides and Lwilliam seem to think it may be a problem with the drivers for the Tascam; I think they may be right, but other than inserting the Tascam Installation CD for a 3rd time, what else can I do?
By the way, the Tascam has a USB INDICATOR light to "indicate a valid USB connection"; that light is lit.
I suspect the problem may lie within the MacMini, but I'm at a loss as to how to deal with it.
Again, my grateful and humble thanks for taking the time to help me. You folks are awesome.
Terry (I'm trying to run Garage
Band)

[This message has been edited by terrencio (edited 11-24-2006).]

In the top left hand corner of the desktop, you will see a little blue apple, open that up and go to "System Preferences". Under the Hardware section, choose "sound". Does your device show up here? At the top will be some tabs, one of which is output, and another is input. Click on these and see wasup.

If your device isn't listed here, the driver didn't load properly from the tascam CD. Go to there website and see if they have an updated driver, if you haven't already...

Rob

I think you're back to the drivers. I would suggest going to the Tascam site and see if there are newer drivers. If you can't find the 122L listed anywhere in the audio/midi setup or in sound preferences, then OS X is not recognizing it.

It sounds like you have the speakers hooked up correctly to the 122L.

One other thing I've run into: I had a lot of issues using OS 10.3.9 with external audio drivers. What version OS X are you running? You should be at least 10.4.6, and 10.4.8 is now available (which I downloaded). You could also try upgrading the OS version to the latest. It's sometimes a double-edged sword in that it usually fixes little problems, but sometimes can introduce new ones as well.

RJC: I have the dual 2.5Ghz G5...now saving up for the quad core down the line.

------------------
Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

[This message has been edited by Lwilliam (edited 11-24-2006).]

Yahoo! It works! I guess the problem must have been the driver supplied with the Installation CD. At your suggeston, I went to the Tascam site . . . took awhile to find the 122L (as opposed to the 122), but, sure enough, there was a driver to download. Did it, reset the preferences in the Audio section of the MacMini and, presto! I got sound! Kudos to all you folks, especially RJC and Lwilliam. It's embarrassing, being a dummy in Cyberland . . . but you guys (gals) make it a lot less painful. Thanks for making Christmas come early.
Terrencio

Rob, I've left this alone for a few days...
If it was directed at my reply you should have seen the winky. You've also seen me around enough in various forums to know I can be a bit of a smart ass now and again.
That being said, my remark, though tongue in cheek, was due to the perception expounded by many Mac users that there are no problems with a Mac when it comes to music. Being a Windows and Linux user myself, I had no help to offer the OP and I know all OSs have issues somewhere, somehow, so I thought I'd throw in some light hearted repartee.
Sorry if I offended your Mac sensibilities....
No, really, I'm not. Amiga RuLeZ, everything else SuX!


------------------
Miltenberger Homes

"That ol' dog's so mean, he ain't done nothin' but eat nails and [naughty word removed] nickels ever since he was born"

Hmmm, what made you think that was directed at you?

By the by, I thought that whole Mac vs Pc thing was pretty much over with? Glad to see you're helping keeping it alive!

[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 11-26-2006).]

Actually that flame war has mutated to: My iPod is better than your Zune. :-p

Seriously, it is nice there's not much for flame wars about computers anymore. Especially since the whole Mac/PC is just a bunch of myths at this point. The only thing you can really debate between them now is: would you rather piece a machine together, or buy one that is whole out of the box?

Now there's a debate!

Jody

------------------
Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com