165 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
165 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
# ALSA Driver for TASCAM US-144MKII
|
||
|
||
An unofficial ALSA kernel module for the TASCAM US-144MKII USB audio interface.
|
||
|
||
## 📢 Project Status
|
||
|
||
*--- OLD VERSION --- ✅ **Upstreamed** — This driver has been merged into the [`sound/for-next`](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/log/?h=for-next) branch for inclusion in an upcoming Linux kernel release.
|
||
|
||
### ✅ Implemented Features
|
||
* **Audio Playback:**
|
||
* **Audio Capture (Recording):**
|
||
* **MIDI IN/OUT:**
|
||
|
||
### 📝 To-Do & Known Limitations
|
||
* *MIDI IN/OUT works only in active audio streaming(DAW ALSA/JACK or browser audio)
|
||
* Non MKII US-144 needs testing to see if the driver will work with it.
|
||
|
||
## Installation and Usage
|
||
|
||
This is an out-of-tree kernel module, meaning you must compile it against the headers for your specific kernel version.
|
||
|
||
For Arch users, a community-maintained DKMS package is available in AUR.
|
||
Install it via:
|
||
```bash
|
||
paru -S us144mkii-dkms-git
|
||
```
|
||
or if you are using yay:
|
||
```bash
|
||
yay -S us144mkii-dkms-git
|
||
```
|
||
### Step 1: Blacklist the Stock `snd-usb-us122l` Driver
|
||
The standard kernel includes a driver that will conflict with our custom module. You must prevent it from loading.
|
||
|
||
Follow the steps to blacklist it if `lsmod | grep snd_usb_us122l` returns results.
|
||
|
||
1. **Create a blacklist file.** This tells the system *not* to load the `snd-usb-us122l` module.
|
||
```bash
|
||
echo "blacklist snd_usb_us122l" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-us122l.conf
|
||
```
|
||
2. **Rebuild your initramfs.** This is a critical step that ensures the blacklist is applied at the very start of the boot process, before the stock driver has a chance to load. Run the command corresponding to your distribution:
|
||
* **Debian / Ubuntu / Pop!_OS / Mint:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo update-initramfs -u
|
||
```
|
||
* **Fedora / RHEL / CentOS Stream:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo dracut --force
|
||
```
|
||
* **Arch Linux / Manjaro:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo mkinitcpio -P
|
||
```
|
||
* **openSUSE:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo mkinitrd
|
||
```
|
||
3. **Reboot your computer.**
|
||
Reboot the system and check with `lsmod | grep snd_usb_us122l` again if there is no output the blacklisting is complete.
|
||
|
||
> **Note on a More Aggressive Method:** If the method above does not work, some systems (like Arch) may load the conflicting module before the blacklist is processed. A more forceful method is to use a `udev` rule to de-authorize the device for the kernel entirely, preventing any driver from binding to it automatically.
|
||
>
|
||
> Create the file `/etc/udev/rules.d/99-tascam-blacklist.rules` and add the following line. This targets the Tascam US-122L/144MKII series product ID (`8007`).
|
||
> ```
|
||
> ATTR{idVendor}=="0644", ATTR{idProduct}=="8007", ATTR{authorized}="0"
|
||
> ```
|
||
> After saving, run `sudo udevadm control --reload` and reboot. Note that with this rule in place, you will likely need to load the `us144mkii` driver manually with `sudo insmod snd-usb-us144mkii.ko` each time. The `modprobe` method is preferred for automatic loading.
|
||
|
||
|
||
### Step 2: Install Prerequisites (Kernel Headers & Build Tools)
|
||
You need the necessary tools to compile kernel modules and the headers for your currently running kernel. Open a terminal and run the command for your Linux distribution:
|
||
|
||
*You can attempt build without installing linux headers package first, if you are unable to build then you would need to!
|
||
|
||
* **Debian / Ubuntu / Pop!_OS / Mint:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo apt update
|
||
sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
* **Fedora / CentOS Stream / RHEL:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo dnf install kernel-devel kernel-headers make gcc
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
* **Arch Linux / Manjaro:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo pacman -S base-devel linux-headers
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
* **openSUSE:**
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo zypper install -t pattern devel_basis
|
||
sudo zypper install kernel-devel
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
|
||
### Step 3: Compile and Load the Driver
|
||
This process will build the module from source and load it for your current session. This is the best way to test it.
|
||
|
||
1. Clone this repository and navigate into the source directory.
|
||
|
||
```bash
|
||
git clone https://github.com/serifpersia/us144mkii.git
|
||
cd us144mkii/
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
2. Compile the module:
|
||
```bash
|
||
make
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
3. Load the compiled module into the kernel:
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo insmod snd-usb-us144mkii.ko
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
4. Connect your TASCAM US-144MKII. Verify that the driver loaded and the audio card is recognized by the system:
|
||
```bash
|
||
# Check if the kernel module is loaded
|
||
lsmod | grep snd_usb_us144mkii
|
||
|
||
# Check if ALSA sees the new sound card
|
||
aplay -l
|
||
```
|
||
The first command should show `snd_usb_us144mkii`. The second command should list your "TASCAM US-144MKII" as an available playback device. You should now be able to select it in your audio settings and play sound.
|
||
|
||
### Step 4: Install for Automatic Loading on Boot
|
||
To make the driver load automatically every time you start your computer, follow these steps after you have successfully compiled it in Step 3.
|
||
|
||
You can use build_and_install script to do automate this process just `sudo chmod +x build_and_install.sh` before you run it with `./build_and_install.sh` or just do it
|
||
the manual way.
|
||
|
||
1. **Copy the compiled module to the kernel's extra modules directory.** This makes it available to system tools.
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo mkdir -p /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/extra/us144mkii
|
||
sudo cp snd-usb-us144mkii.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/extra/us144mkii
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
2. **Update module dependencies.** This command rebuilds the map of modules so the kernel knows about our new driver.
|
||
```bash
|
||
sudo depmod -a
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Now, after a reboot, the `us144mkii` driver should load automatically.
|
||
|
||
## Reporting Issues & Feedback
|
||
|
||
If you test this driver, please share your feedback to help improve it. Include:
|
||
|
||
- Linux distro and version
|
||
- Kernel version (`uname -r`)
|
||
- Exact TASCAM model
|
||
- How you installed and loaded the driver
|
||
- Any errors or problems (logs help)
|
||
- Which features worked (playback, capture, MIDI)
|
||
- Your setup details (e.g., DAW, ALSA/JACK version, buffer/periods used)
|
||
|
||
All feedback is welcome—whether it’s a bug, a success, or a suggestion!
|
||
|
||
Please report your findings via the GitHub Issues page.
|
||
|
||
## License
|
||
|
||
This project is licensed under the **GPL-2.0** see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.
|