DM3200 no mike inputs?

[Steve NVS]

I have a DM3200 running with Pro Tools. It's been working fine until I powered up everything last week and have no signal from any of the mike inputs.
- PT 12 on a new MacBook Pro, connected via Firewire to the Tascam Firewire card, and via USB for HUI control.
- I'm getting recorded audio from PT through the Tascam to the monitor speakers, so the Firewire connection is working. HUI is working normally.
- I've reconnected the MacBook to a different interface, (Digi 003) and it works fine. So this indicates that Pro Tools is configured correctly. (And I have double checked all the PT setup options.)
- I've carefully gone through all the Tascam Routing screens to ensure that all the settings are the same as they were before.
- I've tried 3 different mikes (condensor and dynamic) in different xlr inputs, with phantom power on/off.
Do you have any other suggestions to diagnose this problem?

 

[Arjan P]

So is the problem only the audio going to the mac, or don't you even get it it out from the mixer itself? Do you see audio coming in on the DM display? Do you get audio in from the Line inputs?

 

[Steve NVS]

Thanks Arjan for responding. Normally I would have a mike plugged into a Tascam XLR input, which is routed to Pro Tools on the Mac. If a PT track is set to that mike input and placed in record mode then the PT track fader shows the signal and I can hear it in the Tascam headphone out or monitor speaker out. Now there's no mike audio coming into PT or going out the Tascam ouputs. The Tascam doesn't have a meter bar, so nothing to indicate an input signal. If I play an existing recorded PT session the recorded audio goes through the Tascam as normal. I can hear it on the headphones or monitor speakers. I have not tried plugging something into the line inputs, but I did use a dynamic mike, in case it was a phantom power issue. But still nothing. I'm thinking this MUST be a routing issue but I didn't change anything before the problem appeared, and I've carefully checked all the routing menus numerous times to be sure they match the documented settings that worked before.

 

[Arjan P]

Well you don't need a meter bridge to see meters; simply push the METER/FADER button on the right of the display and for each mixer layer you can see what's going on. Also, even without any routing or metering, you should see a red overload LED above each fader when the connected input overloads. I'd say it is a first step to see audio coming in - Protools is not relevant at this point.

 

[Steve NVS]

Thanks Arjan. That proves I do have audio coming in. The meter screen shows activity and the ol/status light blinks when I have the fader & gain turned up. This only happens in Layer Ch 1-16. The meter screen doesn't seem to be enabled in the Remote layer.

So it must be a routing issue. Everything was working previously, and I had set up all the routing screens by following an excellent support document by sweetwater.com on how to set up the Tascam DM3200/IFFWDMmkII firewire card to work with Pro Tools. I've carefully gone through all the documented routing setup several times. I will go through again step-by-step but not convinced I will find an issue. Apparently something changed by itself. So what could it be? I don't think there is a Tascam button that could have gotten pushed accidentally. And the couple of buttons that should be lit are correct. Your ideas for the next step are appreciated.

 

[cmaffia]

It would be helpful to provide screen shots of all your routing screens. The TMC lets you take screenshots of the menus.

 

[Arjan P]

Certainly screen shots would help. Another thought: have you ever saved mixer scenes from the time your setup was functioning? If you do, save your current situation under a new name and try to load one of these functioning mixer scenes.

 

[Steve NVS]

I haven't saved mixer scenes. Might be a good idea once it's working. Here are the routing screens. I think the first three are the ones that matter. I haven't messed with Output or Insert, and the Pro Tools master audio output through channel 17/18 is working fine.

 

[Arjan P]

Yeah, that looks okay indeed if you use the mixer that way - meaning that with such routing you will need to switch on the Bus buttons in the Output Assign module (see picture) - and the bus faders on the bus layer. As you must have found out, there are many ways to route in this mixer..

 

[Steve NVS]

I'm going by the routing instructions of the Sweetwater support document. It says to only have the Direct button lit. I don't have any of the 1 through 16 channel buttons lit (and it was previously functioning correctly without them lit.) I just tried pressing all the 1-16 buttons and it makes no difference. The ol/status light blinks with audio coming in from the mike, but there is no signal in PT when that input is selected.

If you have another input routing suggestion I'm open to ideas. I just need the 16 mike inputs to go through the Firewire card to Pro Tools. The audio output from PT through the Firewire card to the Tascam is working and Tascam HUI control of PT is working.

 

[cmaffia]

Are you sure the inadvertent change isn't on the ProTools side? It's as if ProTools isn't configured to record the correct DM source.

 

[Steve NVS]

I'm quite sure Pro Tools is ok. I switched to my Digi 003 today and had a successful recording session with everything functioning properly. When switching to the Tascam I carefully follow the setup steps, choosing the IFFWDMmkII device, resetting the I/O ports and MIDI control to HUI. The Tascam is getting audio from PT through the Firewire card, it's just not sending audio to PT.

 

[cmaffia]

Are you sure the audio source for the PT track you're trying to record is correct? Please confirm your source for that specific test track you are trying to record. As Arjan pointed out are you're buss assignments for the intended tracks correct?

 

[Steve NVS]

I'm sure the Pro Tools track is correct. I'll post screen shots later. The Tascam buss assignments I'm not sure about. (the buttons Arjan shows above.) Thanks guys for your help.

 

[Arjan P]

Steve, just as a short test, if you take a look at your IMG_3004 screen shot, try this:
On the right, with Pod 4 select ALL, leave the center as is and then in the Output Assign on the left, change BUSS 1 into M/L 1. This will ignore all further routing after the A/D section inside the DM and send your M/L 1 input directly out on IFFW channel 1 output to Protools. If this does not result in audio received by Protools, your problem is on the computer side of things.

 

[Steve NVS]

Ok Arjan, that works!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only on input 1 of course, so I changed the other 15 selections and now have all 16 inputs coming into Pro Tools. Is there any reason not to leave this routing setup? I can't think of any.

I wish I knew what had spontaneously gone wrong with the previous routing. I would like a system that I can rely on. And if something goes wrong it's better if I understand the issue so I can get it functioning quickly. But through all this I am getting a understanding of Tascam routing.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help Arjan and Cmaffia.

Happy New Year
Steve

 

[Arjan P]

OK, great news Steve! Yeah, it's annoying when these things happen and you can't think of what exactly did happen. I would suggest starting to save scenes, so you get instant recall next time.

And no, there's no reason to not leave your routing like this, except if you want to use the board's EQ, dynamics and effects going into the DAW - or use the mixer during tracking with these assets for live monitoring during recording. In fact, that's what I do - going straight to DAW after gain and A/D and use the board for a monitoring mix during tracking. This way you also have zero latency during tracking. Ofcourse you'll have to switch off record monitoring in the DAW.

Happy new year too.