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This is one more horrible problem I've run into with D/A recording on PC. I'm using Yamaha's midi-USB UX16 (to record my piano - Roland HP302)to my computer (Acer W/7 64bit) running MSI recording software.

The above set up works quite well, but when I but in my mike - C-1U, a Behringer direct to USB condenser mike - I can work for a while but I get frequent crashes.

But the real problem starts when I put the Audio-USB mini mixer - Behringer (XENYX 302USB). Either the USB fails to load at all, or there is a brief entente cordial followed by another blue-screen explosion.

I'll need the audio-USB device to actually record the HP302 parts into the computer (and it's a lot of multi tracks).

So: 1) What do you do when you get blue screens?
2) Does anyone else deal with this kind of Behringer stuff - if so, have you solved any driver problems?
3) In the longer term, what would be a realistic solution for reliable digital audio recording/multitracking (always including midi).

To be honest, I've been trying to sort this problem out since 1998 (from time to time) and ALWAYS run up against silly (mostly synchronisation) problems with PCs (I used to work fine with Atari ST back in the 80's, but that was mostly midi only).

News Flash: I've just changed USB hub and ALL THREE devices are now working (midi to usb/ audio to USB to audio/ mike to USB).......FOR THE MOMENT....

The hub I was using was a brand new USB 2.0 device bought 2 weeks ago from a high tech chain. It did not work.

The one I'm now using is ancient, version 1.0 and was bought from LIDL (the down-market grocery chain).

There is a moral in there somewhere.

mmmm - It's much better now but I'm still getting occasional blue screen crashes. Pain in the ass. Any suggestions?

The problems with USB hubs it that you are actually using a single USB port split into several ports. But they share Interrupt Requests and several other issues like bandwidth etc. So they work great for things that are not continuously requiring info, like a keyboard, a mouse, etc.

My suggestion would be to try to hook the Behringer mixer into a dedicated USB port on the computer (you may need to put the keyboard on the hub, for example), and do this with any key components if you are able to free actual ports on the computer.

Hope this helps,
Rafa.

Yes, thqt mqkes sense. My problem is thqt this computer only hqs one USB port. It used to hqve two but one of them is broken - qnd I qctuqly tested the terminql inside the computer qnd it is not working either. So thqt meqns qll signqls hqve to pqss through the sqme USB.

Yesterdqy I wqs looking qt Mqc Book Pro - they only hqve one USB qpprently. Does thqt meqn it would be unsuitble for multi-trqck Digitql Qudio recording?

Or qre they so well designed thqt they only need one?

I don't think any Macbook Pro has ever had less than 2 USB ports. Some had 3 USB ports. What Macbook Pro did you see?

Have had some trouble with USB hubs as well, mostly power-related. Could try use an active one that comes with its own PSU if that's the issue.

Though I don't think I've ever had blue screens because of a hub. Blue screens are usually the result of messy drivers. Your mileage may vary.

I am completely confused here... you are having Blue Screens on a Mac Book Pro? You listed your hardware as an Acer with Windows 7. I really don't understand, is this a new computer you are looking into? I agree with Macy that any Macbook Pro, as old as I can remember, has had at least 2 USB ports. Also, Macs are heavy on Firewire support, so you could have a Firewire audio interface or firewire midi device and save one USB port?

Also, there appears to have been a hardware swap of your Q and A letters in your keyboard, you may wanna check into that

Rafa.
edit: Yes, all Macbook Pro has 2 or 3 USBs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro#Technical_specifications_2

Yes, I wqs looking qt q Mqc Book Pro in q shop - I didn't sqy I hqd one. I once experimented with q Mqc Book Qir qnd there did not qpper to be qny speed problems qt qll. If it would be q solution, I might consider buying one.

I think the drivers cquse the blue screen - not the hub. The hub wqs simply not functioning properly with the mike/mixer inputs for some odd reqson.

I do not know the model, but it wqs new qnd only qppered to hve one USB socket qs well qs one firewire.

Thqnks for your suggestions.

toddy, is your "a" key broken?

Yes. I thought 'q' would do for second best.

Your keyboqrd is hqving q bqd dqy? Thqt's q shqme!

Thqnk you qll for your concern. I'll convey your condolences to my keyboqrd immediqtely.

Well, Behringer usually produce crap so a driver issue with these devices wouldn't surprise me all that much.

Does the bluescreen have any message? If you see mention of a .sys file then it's most certainly a driver issue.

Toddy, most of the Macbook Pros have one USB on one side and one on the other, so if you saw one USB and one Firewire, then the other USB is on the other side.

I'm sorry to hear that about the Behringer, as they seemed like a budget alternative to more expensive products.

Rafa.

Yes, I must sqy the Behringer does q very poor job re Qudio to Digitql (to USB). There is q distinct drop in quqlity qnd the bqnd between (white) noise qnd clipping due to overloqd is very nqrrow indeed. I wouldn't recommend this converter/mixer, unfortunqtely.

Perhaps a good place to start would be Komplete Audio 6. It's an audio and midi I/O for about $229. I would get a mic to use with it as well and not recommend using your podcaster. One usb device only. I would also recommend a good daw program. You mentioned MSI. What is that?
Reaper is free and considered good.

MSI is q Jqpqnese progrqm which leqves q lot to be desired. However, it wqs the only one I could find for q resonqble price which combined midi qnd qudio, for q rqsonqble price, q couple of yeqrs qgo.

It's bqsed on the originql Cubqse design which I quite like.

http://www.frieve.com/english/musicstd/download.html

Unfortunqtely it is not thqt intuitive in some of its fqcilities qnd there does not seem to be much support for it. I shqll certqinly try Reqper.

Your multiple usb devices are just as suspect.

Your program is probably incompatible with your computer.
Early version of Cubase as well as Cubase LE are known not to work good. On top of that, you are running a 64 bit OS with this same old software.

Yes, indeed. I'm considering a clean sweep with new gear - too many mishaps and crashes with this equipment. and at the moment, I'm only using one midi source - my Roland piano - and one michrophone. It should not be so incredibly complicated surely.

I've downloaded Reaper and the manual. It seems exactly what I could use. Thanks for the advice.