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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378 |
I have searched a bunch and couldn't exactly find an answer, but I did find a reference to it in a way. The double usb hookup on one side of the cable- it's used only to increase power- throughput- when running real tracks from the usb drive? I've only used one thus far, NOT the red one. I thought that was perhaps for another usb recording device. But plug in both for extra speed? If using only one, is there a preference, black or red?
Thanks. I just can't seem to find this answer!
Dan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141 |
Hi Dan,
The short answer is the red connector is to provide more power if your computer is having trouble recognizing the hard drive...it does not give you extra speed. Here is longer info from the FAQ section of this web site:
Power supply: Different computers and laptops deliver more/less power to the USB ports. (This information applies to 2.5 inch USB powered drives, not the 3.5 inch AudioPhile editions that use an external power source.)
* On one end of the USB cable, there is a second USB connector you can use for extra power (usually a little smaller than the main one). If your cable looks like that, first make sure you have the larger connector plugged into your computer. It is *normally* only necessary to use the one plug.
* If that doesn't work, try connecting the main plug directly to a USB port on the back of your computer, rather than a USB hub or ports on the monitor/keyboard/front of the computer case. Unless you have a self-powered USB hub (i.e. one that plugs into the wall, or battery-powered) it doesn't have any more current drive than is available on its usb connection to the mother-computer. So each single port on a hub often doesn't have enough power to drive some devices. USB ports on the front of your computer etc. can be similar to this.
* You could try connecting the extra power USB plug to another port (so you have both cables plugged in). Note that there is often a maximum current available per pair of vertically stacked USB ports, so you may have better luck bridging between two pairs. Also, if you have other USB powered devices that require alot of power, such as audio interfaces or a MIDI keyboard, it would be best if each of those had its own pair.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378 |
The FAQ section. Good grief. Thanks for answering. I'll have to look a bit more closely in that section. Thanks again.
Dan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
ALWAYS use both. You stand a chance of either ruining the drive or worse burning out the USB ports. This we have learned from prior issues.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 600
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 600 |
Oops. Hadn't been using that little red one. going through a powered hub. Went ahead and just pluged it in!
Thanks for the tip
Dell 610 dual Monitor, win 7-10, Sonar Plat, ProTools 10 & 11, Reaper 4, BIAB/real Band 2022, Easy Drummer, Superior Drummer, Kontact Essentials, Personnel Orchestra, Korg Legacy Analog & Digital
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378 |
Yes, thanks for that. I've just been plugging in one into the front usb on the tower. I'll plug them both in from now on. They should be a bit clearer on this matter.
Dan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
One or two reported burnt USB ports does not a trend make...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378 |
Seems a bit confusing. I mean, I've been using just one with seemingly no issues. What would be an indication that the second one should be plugged in- a lockup? A crash? I have had both of them in RB 2010.5 once or twice. I didn't suspect it was due to the usb cable. Maybe it was. I was chaulking it up to RB being a bit glitchy, as it seems to be at times. But audio seems to stream over just fine generally. This is the first I've ever run into this kind of usb cable and with one connector being red...confusing. I want to give myself the best shot at longevity with this drive. I get the feeling using both connectors could help that cause but it's just a feeling. Very sketchy documentation on this. I wonder- would having both connected speed up regenerating? That can be a little long at times.
Dan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
"One or two reported burnt USB ports does not a trend make... "
Look, there can be quite a few reasons why someone's particular USB port died on them. They are going to blame that on whatever device they had plugged in at the time. Whether or not that particular device had anything at all to do with causing the port failure can only be conjecture. For all we know, they might have simply broken solder connections between circuit board and socket by plugging and unplugging rather hard. --A much more likely scenario BTW.
I'm not overly concerned about the issue. If the drive works with only the one plug, that's fine with me. I haven't lost any ports here, and that's on at least three different machines, two laptops and one desktop.
Having both connected will NOT change the speed of data transfer. That's because the second plug, with the thinner wire connecting it to the main plug, carries only the power connects and no data lines, which are on the main plug.
As the directions that come with the drive say, if the one plug will run the drive on your machine, then you can use the one plug. Fearmongering and the Internet being what it is.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 378 |
Thanks for your insight Mac. I've been doing fine with one connection and I'll just continue.
Dan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Quote:
One or two reported burnt USB ports does not a trend make...
I believe there are more issues then 1 or 2 but suit yourselves.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Well If I'm going to suit myself I'd like a fine summerweight seer-sucker. In case today is my last birhthday it should do for the trip to the fryer. Otherwise the birthday suit is fine too.
As to USB's I've had problems and no problems. I've had ports that don't work with 1 or 2 things and not others. I've plugged stuff in and my system ignores it. And I've plugged other stuff in the same dang place and it's fine. Some things have to go in the same place as they started the very first time....other things can move. Go figure. I'd prefer another type of solution, but uSB seems to be the standard so we go with that. I thought the instructions I got were clear, but another set is on the way so I'll let you know.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
I believe there are more issues then 1 or 2 but suit yourselves.
3, 7, 15 or what, the count is meaningless unless you also have data as to the likely MUCH larger pool of ALL USB drives sold by PGMusic out there.
Then you have to look at the RATIO of the thing.
Which would very likeldy prove that those who have suffered a "blown USB port" are very likely a fractional percentage of the sample group.
And still, that information does not take into account any of several *other* factors that might cause this problem other than the drive itself, such as the manufacturing process of those particular motherboards, which might be faulty, or the amount of stress that USB ports have been subjected to, which is *very* hard to pinpoint, "my kid did it!" - or some other equally important scenario.
We just can't jump to those kind of dire conclusions over a few samples out of the much larger pool.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
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Posts: 8,021 |
Well this isn't a scientific study Mac. It may only be 1 in a 1000 or 5000 don't matter if you're that 1. You've got two plugs. I say use them,minimize the chance of a failure.
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