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Which USB audio interface?


Finbar
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I own a Tascam US-122 at the moment, and while it works fairly well, I'd like to upgrade. My computer has decent specs and my monitors are fairly good for what I need. But the Tascam is letting me down I think. I picked it up for about £30 I think, so I can't really complain, but it has some problems.

I can't shut down or restart the computer while the Tascam is plugged in. If I attempt that, then the computer gets stuck at the 'windows is shutting down, do not turn off your computer screen' for all eternity. Not a massive issue as long as I unplug it and plug it back in when needed, but still - I shouldn't have to be doing that, surely?

Also, it will sometimes just cause my PC to BSOD at random times. Changing my audio drivers seemed to fix that a bit, but again, I don't really trust it.

Researching the unit online throws up numerous results for people having the same problems, as well as a popping/clicking while working with audio in a DAW, which I have also experienced.

Other than that though, I'm pretty happy with the features it has, and I'd be more than happy to replace it with something that had the same features, just with better reliability.

So I'm after the following...

USB powered
2 XLR / 1/4" inputs
MIDI I/O
Internal direct monitoring
Headphone out
RCA line outs (my monitors are RCA only)
Can be left plugged in permanently!

And around the £100 mark? I'm happy to go used.


Cheers :)

Edited by Finbar
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This [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=133385"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=133385[/url] looks OK for the money!

You shouldn't really get popping and clicking with the behringer card, but I don't actually have experience with them. My cards are PCI so I will refrain from posting more - I just noticed the one for sale and thought you may have missed it.

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This is probably a 'been there, done that' suggestion... but firstly make sure your drivers are up to date for the US-122!

I use a Tascam US-144mkII - it's a great interface (might be worth checking out as a replacement?), but I had some problems when the driver became outdated and I hadn't upgraded it in a while. Works perfectly now.

Otherwise, the Focusrite Saffire is a worthy purchase as already mentioned.

Good luck with it!

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Yeah, I'm pretty much forced to download the latest drivers for it - it doesn't come with vista drivers, so I have to go to the Tascam for the latest ones any time I want to use it on a new machine. Think the Saffire is probably what I'll plump for. Just had a sale fall through that would have paid for it, so I'll have to wait until some dosh comes my way!

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I'd look at the Line6 UX-2. I've had mine for a few years now and it's been rock solid on PC and Mac.

Line6 always keep the drivers bang up to date via the Line6 Monkey updater app (as you'd expect) and there's the advantage of the excellent modelling software called GearBox. Huge tweakery.... :)

[url="http://uk.line6.com/podstudioux2/"]http://uk.line6.com/podstudioux2/[/url]

HTH

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  • 4 weeks later...

[quote name='Finbar' post='1211835' date='Apr 26 2011, 05:25 PM']Also looks like a good shout on paper![/quote]
+1 had mine for ages now. Got all the spec you asked for and decent quality pre-amps given the price bracket. Solid as a rock and virtually no latency on a pretty old and low spec Windows 7 laptop. I love it cos i am clumsy and its made of metal. I have dropped it onto a hard wood floor twice and so far its been fine.

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My best friend is a composer/session player/writer and swears by the Apogee Duet: [url="http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php"]http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php[/url] between the two of us we have been through loads of interfaces and the Apogee stuff craps all over most other interfaces in a similar price bracket. I have the Apogee One and it even makes your Itunes music sound better.

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[quote name='BottomE' post='1237270' date='May 19 2011, 07:13 PM']+1 had mine for ages now. Got all the spec you asked for and decent quality pre-amps given the price bracket. Solid as a rock and virtually no latency on a pretty old and low spec Windows 7 laptop. I love it cos i am clumsy and its made of metal. I have dropped it onto a hard wood floor twice and so far its been fine.[/quote]

How does the Saffire 6 do with regards running hot input signals? Iv found alot of interfaces in this price braket run quite hot, i know the Saffire 6 has a -10db pad as well though.

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