The Hardware Rebellion

[billroper]

Last Thursday night, I ran down to the basement to record a fresh scratch track for Teenage Popsicle Girl so that I'd have it for the recording session that I planned for Dorsai Thing over the weekend. Of course, the last time I'd been down in the studio, I'd been recording ladyat to ADAT for Juanita's album and this recording was going to be done with no one in the engineering booth to Cubase, so I needed to swap microphones and rewire them so that they were using the mic pre in the studio.

Finally, everything was set up correctly, the guitar was tuned, and I was ready to record. I grabbed my handy Frontier Designs Tranzport remote control, pushed a button to wake it up, and --

Well, the little green light came on, but there was nothing in the display. Ack!

It turns out that I had upgraded from Cubase 4 to Cubase 5 since the last time I'd used the beastie. And although Cubase 5 claimed that it was talking to the Tranzport, the Tranzport firmly disagreed.

So I went to the Frontier Designs website. And there, I discovered that they'd discontinued the product. (Obviously, because it was way too useful.) But they had a new set of drivers. I downloaded them and installed them.

And still no luck. Hmm. That was supposed to work.

Eventually, I fired up Cubase 4 and did the recording there, which meant that the Tranzport worked and I didn't have to call daisy_knotwise down to the basement to push the record button. I may yet figure out how to get the thing working. Maybe even later tonight.

At least I had my hardware problem out of the way for the weekend.

Until I discovered on the drive to Michigan that the power switch on my Creative Zen MP3 player was broken. *sigh* Everything I see suggests that particular problem is unrepairable.

So I have a nice new iPod Touch which Gretchen agreed that I could have as a very early birthday present. It seems very nice.

It also now has Steinberg's Cubase remote control app loaded on it. If only it would work with a footswitch for punch ins. :)

Comments

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

"Cubase remote control app"

Do you happen to know how the data flow/translation works for that? Specifically, what is there on the host side that acts as a driver when you're using the iPod touch?

(I'm assuming Cubase wants MIDI control or keystroke events to do its thing.)

[billroper]

Apparently, you need to download and install the Cubase SKI Remote software on your computer. Here's the link to the description.

[pwl1.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - don't tell technogeek1 that there's an app for Cubase - he'll be wanting to borrow my iPod.

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

Ooooooooo!!! An app for Cubase!!! I want one!!!!

[oreouk.livejournal.com]

iPod Touches are fab - I got mine in April last year and still absolutely adore it. There hasn't been a single day since getting it that I haven't used it, which possibly makes me a tad sad but there you has it. Money well spent and one of the best birthday presents ever (only one though - the last couple of years have been epic for great presents).

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I had seven days when I didn't use mine--the seven days I was on a wonderful canoe trip through the howling wilderness. Since I figured iPods and large bodies of water might not get along and there was no way to charge it anyway, I left it with the outfitter.

But aside from that I'm pretty sure I've used mine every day too. PDA, alarm clock, mp3 player, weather report, notebook, ad hoc recording studio, e-book reader, calculator... there are things it can't do, but not many.

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

When you drove from Chicago to Frankenmuth, which route did you take?

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Very sorry about your Zen, but I hope your new Touch works out well. I love mine.

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

I had a similar problem with mt Tranzport and it is sitting unused in the box. Apparently it does not like working with my M-Audio Project Mix Board so I had to choose between one or the other :-( I have refused to update to Cubase 5 and am waiting for tyhe next release which may have more useful changes for the money. Just talked to the mastering studio and they want 24 Bit mixes for mastering and I recorded in 16 Bit :-O They told me to render my mixes to 24 Bit before bringing them in. Apparently the effects and stuff that come with Cubase are 24 Bit and it gives them more editing room if you mix in 24 Bit. Good thing I found this out before going in there on April 3rd. Hugs and we will see you at FKO.