Issues with new Universal Control Software (4.7.2.108537) and Quantum Firmware (2.30)

[brmichael]

Hi,

I just noticed that there is a new update for Universal Control (Windows) and the Quantum HD8 Firmware. Being naïve, I installed it.

This was a thing I better should not have done. Although everything appeared to be normal, Windows cannot initialize my Quantum HD8 any more. Trying to select the HD8 in Universal Control gives an error message "Audio device Quantum HD8 cannot be initialised". The same message appears when opening Studio One.

On my HD8, everything seems to be fine. Display and all buttons work. I also did a factory reset in the global menu, with no success. I tried a downgrade to the last software/firmware versions that worked (4.7.0.106978/2.23) without success neither. My HD8 is currently unusable

Before i have found a solution for this problem, I strongly recommend NOT to install Universal Control 4.7.2.108537 or HD8 firmware 2.30.

Michael

 

[brmichael]

Here's some additional information:
In Windows device manager, the HD8 appears under "Audio, Video and Game Controllers". However, it doesn't appear under "Audio inputs and outputs". This is what device manager looks like:

As a result, Windows doesn't recognize the HD8 as an audio device. Only the onboard audio (Realtek) is recognized. The HD 8 doesn't appear neither in Windows sound settings nor in ASIO drivers such as ASIO4All.

This is weird, because the HD8 is recognized as an audio controller (which proves that USB connection is ok), but not as an audio output device. Furthermore, the HD8 operates normal, for instance mic input signal causes changes on the level meter. All HD8 parameters (levels, phantom power, display brightness etc.) can be set as usual. So the unit isn't bricked.

To me, this looks as if Universal Control killed the audio subsystem of my Windows installation.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Working fine here. I do not have a Quantum however. But it's all good for my ATOM.

Then again - I would also never allow any onboard audio devices (like the Realtek) to even exist on any DAW.

All onboard audio is disabled in the BIOS at first install.

VP

 

[brmichael]

Onboard audio worked fine before the update. I use onboard audio for Windows sounds and the Quantum for ASIO. So I can listen to Windows sounds (e. g. video streams) without having to close DAWs by simply switching inputs on my monitor amplifier. But I'll try what happens if I deactivate onboard sound.

 

[Vocalpoint]

I use onboard audio for Windows sounds and the Quantum for ASIO. So I can listen to Windows sounds (e. g. video streams) without having to close DAWs by simply switching inputs on my monitor amplifier. But I'll try what happens if I deactivate onboard sound.

I tend to see this answer a lot - and have never understood why.

My RME - handles ALL audio from all sources - all in realtime.

Whether it's Windows, Spotify, YouTube, Studio One - does not matter what the source is - there is only ever a single destination here.

Windows has been specifically told that the RME is the the only audio device and it happily uses it with no issues whatsoever.

Maybe it's the outstanding driver model (or TotalMix) that RME uses - but I have built at least a half dozen DAWs since I got my first RME (Multiface) in 2008 - and have never - ever allowed any onboard audio to exist since then.

VP

 

[brmichael]

Phew - got my HD8 working again. With onboard sound active

Here's what I did:

First I uninstalled Universal Control and all Presonus drivers. Then I restarted the computer and opened the device manager to make sure that only Microsoft drivers were assigned to the HD8 (this is to prove that no Presonus drivers exist on my system any more).

After that, I installed the oldest versions of Universal Control and HD8 firmware that I had (4.5.0.102825 released in October 2024 with HD8 firmware 1.96). This finally brought my HD8 back to normal operation

Then I updated Universal Control and the firmware to the newest version that was working (4.7.0.106978 released in July 2025 with HD8 firmware 2.23). Fortunately, my HD8 still was up and running. This is what the device manager is supposed to look like when everything is ok:


Now I won't touch my system until Presonus releases a version that is newer than the current one (4.7.2.108537/2.30 released this month). And I swear that from now on I will wait at least a few weeks after release date and install only if noone reports problems during this time. That's what I should have done this time, too.

I don't know if the HD8 is capable of operating as a Windows audio device and an ASIO device simultaneously. But as long as there are no problems with my onboard sound working for Windows audio while the HD8 handles ASIO, I don't need to know.

 

[OutrageProductions]

"I don't know if the HD8 is capable of operating as a Windows audio device and an ASIO device simultaneously..."

FWIW, since the days of Vista, all audio that enters or exits my computer passes exclusively through my ASIO device (MOTU 896, M-Audio ProjectMix[FW], and now Presonus interfaces) . Windows sounds, video conferences, any application sounds, browser audio, et al, in addition to any video editor or my DAWs. I disabled the MOBO audio device in BIOS.
It's been flawless.

 

[brmichael]

Ok, I will try to get this to work on my HD8. However, it hasn't the highest priority as long as the onboard audio device doesn't interfere with anything else.

I have passive monitors connected to a Denon HiFi amplifier that sits in front of me on my desk. This allows me to choose between several audio sources by simply pressing a button. Switching between large & small speakers & headphones and controlling their volume is just as easy.

 

[OutrageProductions]

Ok, I will try to get this to work on my HD8. However, it hasn't the highest priority as long as the onboard audio device doesn't interfere with anything else.

I have passive monitors connected to a Denon HiFi amplifier that sits in front of me on my desk. This allows me to choose between several audio sources by simply pressing a button. Switching between large & small speakers & headphones and controlling their volume is just as easy.

Whatever works for you is the best solution.