u/ScrumpusGungo

Hi all. I’ve been using a Tascam US2000 in my home studio along with Cubase for 14 years (started with LE4 and most recently upgraded to Elements 12). It’s had its ups and downs certainly but it’s been an easy and sturdy interface for what I’m doing.

Lately I’ve had audio dropouts like crazy. Like every 1-2 seconds. It’s not every time, and it’s not all the time. But when it happens it’s for long enough that the time I set aside to record is entirely wasted. It’s either the interface or the computer (HP Elitebook 9th gen) because I can see that the LED for the USB connection is wavering.

There’s nothing new about my setup at all.
Same laptop since 2022
Same hard drive since 2020
Same version of cubase since 2023
And I’ve had the Tascam since 2012

I have done what I can to make it better—highest latency settings, frozen/disabled VSTs, changed USB power settings on the computer itself, restarted devices, updated drivers (since support ended it’s not technically compatible with windows11 anyway I think but it’s never been a problem yet)—mostly simple stuff. My Achilles heel is troubleshooting tech problems.

Which is why I’m here—does anyone else use a Tascam US2000 still or any other legacy Tascam hardware? Am I missing something or is this the lifespan of the device? (There’s a pretty steep drop off around 2021 when it comes to finding troubleshooting posts.) 14 years does seem like a good run for a piece of equipment I bought for $499, but I hate to give it up if it still works!

So another post got me thinking, the band was extremely prolific and eclectic between 68 and 72, and their sound was kind of hard to pin down because their live show was so much different than their studio recordings. And a lot didn’t get released or evolved dramatically from its original version.

Just as a thought experiment, let’s say the band only released one album between 68 and 72. We can say it’s a double LP to make it easier.

What would you want on it?? What’s essential and what would you include just for you?

Mine, I think:
Side A
Childhoods End
Chain of Life (from the Body)
A Pillow of Winds
Wots Uh the Deal
Grantchester Meadows (KQED 1970)

Side B
Summer ‘68
Cymbaline (KQED)
Embryo (1970 Peel session)

Side C
One of These Days (Pompeii)
Set the Controls (Ummagumma)
Green Is the Colour (KQED)
Careful with That Axe (Ummagumma)

Side D
Echoes (Pompeii)

I just released a song early this month called "How Did I Get Here", and made a video that captures the feeling of fast-forwarding through a found VHS tape. Let me know if you enjoyed it!!

When people recommend bands that “sound like Pink Floyd” in my experience that usually means “trippy” or “atmospheric”, usually really synthy like The Division Bell.

One thing I feel like is usually missing in the Pink Floyd equation is how much they were influenced by American country music early on, like on the Zabriskie Point soundtrack, or Obscured by Clouds, Meddle A side, even Wish You Were Here.

I know a lot of English prog bands from the 60s/70s were also influenced by the English folk revival; but what are your favorite prog bands that have some prominent American folk/country/otherwise acoustic flavors?

Mainly looking for modern bands but anything will do!

ETA: thanks everyone for the recommendations! Plenty here to parse through already!

I’ll add that some of these I do know, but didn’t consider them as having the specific type of influence I was looking for. I’ve listened to several Porcupine Tree albums, favorite being Up the Downstair. Followed Airbag religiously up through their third album but lost track of them after that. Also grew up with Moody Blues so Days of Future Passed is baked into me even deeper than Floyd.

I got into a bunch of 90s bands really behind the curve. I wrote this song a few years ago while listening to nothing but Weezer, REM, Echobelly, and Presidents of the United States of America

Hope some of you all can get into it!

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/stuartwickeband/how-did-i-get-here