US-144MKII

Bus-powered USB 2.0 audio interface

This model has been discontinued.

It has been replaced with the US-2x2.

The most popular TASCAM 4-channel USB audio interface has been updated with better audio specs and a fresh new look for the US-144mkII. The US-144mkII starts with two great-quality XLR microphone preamps with phantom power for condenser microphones. There's also a pair of balanced line inputs and a guitar-level in for direct recording of electric guitar or bass. A pair of S/PDIF digital inputs and outputs is also included, for a total of four inputs and outputs at up to 96kHz/24-bit audio quality.

The US-144mkII connects to Mac or Windows computers using USB 2.0, and the unit is powered over the USB cable. Zero-latency monitoring is available for recording without the delay going to a computer and back. MIDI input and output jacks allow connection of synths and drum machines. Connect the US-144mkII to monitors through the line output or use headphones with the front-mounted stereo 1/4" jack. Separate controls for line and headphone out means you don't need to switch off monitors to work in headphones. The US-144mkII makes a perfect portable interface with metal components and solid construction built for the road.

The US-144mkII includes a copy of Cubase LE4 from Steinberg. This full-featured recording software captures up to 48 tracks of audio with another 64 MIDI tracks. You can edit your tracks to perfection using a variety of modes and tools. Automated mixing is included to create the perfect master. Cubase LE4 supports VST effect and instrument plug-ins, which an assortment included with the application.

For great-sounding tracks in your computer, trust TASCAM's 30 years of recording experience with the US-144mkII.

For more microphone inputs, take a look at the US-1641 16x4 channel interface.

Spec description

	US-144MKII	US-122MKII
Supported sampling frequency	44.1/48/88.2/96kHz
Supported bit rate	16/24bit
Analog audio Inputs
MIC IN
Connecter	XLR-3-31(1:GND, 2:HOT, 3:COLD), BALANCED
Input impedance	2.2k ohms
Nominal input level (INPUT:MAX)	-58dBu
Nominal input level (INPUT:MIN)	-14dBu
Maximum input level (INPUT:MIN)	+2dBu
LINE IN
Connecter	6.3mm(1/4") TRS-jack(T:HOT, R:COLD, S:GND), BALANCED
Input impedance
MIC/LINE	15k ohms
GUITAR	1M ohms
Nominal input level
MIC/LINE	-40dBu to +4dBu
GUITAR	-51dBV to -7dBV
Maximum input level
MIC/LINE	+20dBu
GUITAR	+9dBV
Analog audio outputs
LINE OUT
Connecter	RCA pin-jack
Output impedance	200ohms
Nominal output level	-10dBV
Maximum output level	+6dBV
Digital audio inputs
COAXIAL
Connecter	RCA pin-jack	-
Format	IEC60958-3(S/P DIF)	-
Digital audio inputs
COAXIAL
Connecter	RCA pin-jack	-
Format	IEC60958-3(S/P DIF) and IEC60958-4(AES/EBU) *Selectable in the Control Panel betwiin	-
PHONES
Connecter	6.3mm(1/4") stereo phone jack
Maximum output level	18mW+18mW(32ohms loaded)
MIDI
MIDI IN	DIN 5-pin
MIDI OUT	DIN 5-pin
USB
Connecter	USB B type 4-pin
Format	USB 2.0 HIGH SPEED/USB 1.1 FULL SPEED
Power	USB bus powered (5V, Max 500mA)
Power consumption	2.5W
Dimensions	135.4(W)×47(H)×179(D)mm
Weight	0.7kg
Bundle software	Cubase LE
Accessories	CD-ROM (containing driver and manuals), USB cable, DVD-ROM (Cubase LE), Insert sheet for Cubase LE, Warranty card, Owner's manual

Audio performance
Frequency response	20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5/-1.0dB(44.1/48KHz, MIC IN to LINE OUT) 20Hz to 40kHz, +0.5/-1.5dB(88.2/96KHz, MIC IN to LINE OUT)
S/N ratio
ADC to DAC	98dB(When INPUT knob is set to LINE, 20kHz LPF + A-weighted)
Monitor	107dB(When INPUT knob is set to LINE, 20kHz LPF + A-weighted)
THD
ADC to DAC	0.0045% or less(When INPUT knob is set to LINE, 1kHz +20dBu input, 20kHz LPF)
Monitor	0.002% or less(When INPUT knob is set to LINE, 1kHz +20dBu input, 20kHz LPF)

Operating system requirements
Windows
OS	Windows XP:32bit SP3 or more, 64bit SP2 or more Windows Vista:32bit SP2 or more, 64bit SP2 or more Windows 7:32bit, 64bit Windows 8:32bit, 64bit
CPU	Pentium 4 1.4GHz or more, ADM Athlon 1.4GHz or more
Memory	1GB or more 512MB or more for Windows XP 32bit and Windows Vista 32bit)
Driver	WDM, ASIO, GSIF2
Macintosh
OS	Mac OS X Leopard(10.5.6), Mac OS X Snow Leopard(10.6.8), OS X Lion(V10.7), OS X Mountain Lion(V10.8)
CPU	Intel Processor 1GHz or more, Power PC G4 1GHz or more
Memory	512MB or mor
Driver	Core Audio

Supported OS' (PC)

Windows

Windows 10 (May 2019 Update) , Windows 8.1 , Windows 8 , Windows 7 , Windows Vista , Windows XP

Mac

macOS Mojave , macOS High Sierra (10.13) , OS X El Capitan (10.11) , OS X Yosemite (10.10) , OS X Mavericks (10.9) , OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) , OS X Lion (10.7) , Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) , Mac OS X Leopard(10.5.6) , Mac OS X Tiger(10.4.11)

Manuals

Cubase LE5 Quick Start Guide	02-16-2011	2.1 MB
US-144mkII Owner's Manual	11-04-2009	3.4 MB

Documents

Installation Guide for macOS Mojave and macOS High Sierra	10-02-2019	629.3 KB
Release Notes	12-24-2014	467.4 KB
How to install Cubase LE	05-08-2014	4.1 MB

Firmware

Firmware V2.03 for Mac	09-27-2012	117.2 KB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII firmware updater for Windows, version 2.03	06-02-2011	136.2 KB

Windows Drivers

Driver V2.05 for Windows	12-01-2014	7.0 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP driver ver 2.03 (64-bit)	06-02-2011	1.8 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP driver ver 2.03 (32-bit)	06-02-2011	1.4 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP driver ver 2.02 (64-bit)	11-16-2010	1.8 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Windows Drivers Windows 7:Vista:XP driver ver 2.01 (64-bit)	03-25-2010	1.7 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Windows Drivers Windows XP:Vista driver ver 1.14 (64-bit) for US-122mkII and	12-24-2009	2.0 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Windows Drivers Windows XP:Vista driver ver 1.14 (32-bit) for US-122mkII and	12-24-2009	1.6 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Windows Drivers Windows 7:Vista:XP driver ver 2.00 (32-bit) for US-122mkII a	12-24-2009	1.4 MB
US-122mkII & US-144mkII Windows Drivers Windows XP:Vista driver ver 2.00 (64-bit) for US-122mkII and	12-24-2009	1.5 MB

Mac Drivers

Driver V3.25rc2 (macOS Sierra / macOS High Sierra / macOS Mojave only)	10-27-2016	2.6 MB
Driver V3.24rc1 (OS X only)	02-11-2016	1.6 MB
Driver V3.00d8 Release Notes (OS X Mavericks and Yosemite only)	12-12-2013	944.5 KB
Driver V2.10 and Firmware V2.03 for OS X (Mountain Lion)	09-27-2012	2.6 MB
Driver V2.00 for Mac OS X	08-21-2010	1.4 MB

FAQs

After installing Windows 8.1 Update(KB 2919355), PC is re-booted up when system sound on Windows is played.

In case that 24 bit is being selected at the setting of "Select the sample rate and bit depth to be used when running in shared mode" on Windows, PC is re-booted up when system sound on Windows is played.

Please check here for how to avoid it.

How do I authorize Cubase LE?

Cubase LE is authorized on the Steinberg website. Go to this page to get started.

Are TASCAM drivers compatible with Mavericks 10.9.5 and Yosemite?

According to Apple, OS X 10.9.5 includes heightened security measures that will also be part of OS X 10.10. These security measures will affect some TASCAM audio interfaces, so users are advised to be aware, and hold off on updating until further information is available

These products use Apple's built in CoreAudio driver. The Settings Panel installer is fully compliant with Apple's latest security measures.

US-2x2
US-4x4

The latest drivers are compliant, but testing is ongoing for these products:

US-322
US-366
US-1200
UH-7000

The OS X 10.9 public beta drivers can continue to be used for these interfaces:

US-122mkII
US-144mkII
US-200
US-600
US-1641
US-1800
US-2000

Cannot be used with the current driver (public or beta):

IF-FW/DMmkII: Development is on-going and a version that is compliant with the new security measures will be made available as soon as possible. Please keep your system at 10.9.4 or earlier if you wish to continue to use the IF-FW/DMmkII.
TASCAM Mixer Companion: Gatekeeper Security must be set to "allow all" for TMCompanion to be installed. It can be reverted to higher security settings after installation.
Other audio interface products not mentioned are no longer supported.

There is no MIDI input or output from my US-series interface when using it with Pro Tools 9 for Windows.

Pro Tools 9 for Windows must be run from the administrator's account for MIDI to function. Launch Pro Tools in 'run this program as an administrator' mode.

Pro Tools 9 for Windows will not launch with the US-series interface connected.

The latency setting must be the same in Pro Tools and in the US-series control panel. Change this in Pro Tools' Hardware Setup window, and in the US-series control panel.

How do I register my copy of Cubase LE?

Please be aware that this activation system is designed and controlled by Steinberg and not TASCAM.

Install Cubase LE 4 or Cubase LE 5
Make sure that your computer has a working Internet connection. This connection is necessary to activate the license because the eLicenser Control Center (eLCC) needs to register with our license server.
Make sure that you have the latest version of the eLCC installed. Click here to download
Open the eLicense Control Center (eLCC) software and make a note of your Soft-eLicenser number
Create a user account in the MySteinberg area. If you already have one, please go to step 7.
The "My Steinberg" area can be found on the Steinberg home page
Check your email and activate your user account by clicking the link in the confirmation email
Log in to your MySteinberg account, and click on "Activation & Reactivation", choose "Cubase LE 4" or "Cubase LE 5" and select "Permanent Activation". Enter your Soft-eLicenser and choose your hardware manufacturer
You will receive an email containing the activation code
Launch the eLicenser Control Center software. Click the "Enter Activation Code" button to download the license for your Steinberg product to the Soft-eLicenser. To do this, enter the required activation code into the corresponding field. Follow the instructions on screen.

The process above is taken directly from the Steinberg website. Cubase LE4 Cubase LE5

If you are still having problems after following the above instructions, consider posting a message on the Cubase.Net forum

Has this interface been tested in Windows 8?

This interface was tested with Windows 8 and no problems were found. It is approved for use with Windows 8.