Small pc tower -- soundcard?

[gmiller1122]

I have a Dell Optiplex -- very small PC. Is a Tascam US-122 USB Audio/MIDI Interface (#240868 at musiciansfriend.com) the type of thing I need to take the place of a soundcard?

Here's where I'm at. I'm relatively new to all this, but have used and like nTrack. Til now, I've just used the pc's jack -- I know, I know -- no lectures. I just like to mess around, nothing serious, though I would like to upgrade just a bit (my budget is limited).

Also, it's only me. I play all instruments, one at a time, and I can't forsee doing anything different. Therefore, I don't need a huge mixer right now.

Any thoughts? Thanks,

G

[mjhigg]

The US122 is a USB outboard device that looks like it has some nice features, and for a great price. You musy have USB 2.0 capability on your PC, though. Most new computers already have it. I think you can upgrade to it on older computers by purchasing a PCI card at Best Buy. I know WinXP supports it, and I think so does Win98SE also.

Don't forget the PCI audio cards, though, if you have no plans to upgrade to a laptop any time soon (and if you have an available PCI slot, of course!). I use a Mia MIDI PCI card with my desktop PC, and I get low latency and great sound with the WDM drivers on WindowsXP and nTrack.

[gmiller1122]

and if you have an available PCI slot, of course!

Thanks, but that's the problem. I don't have one available. The thing is small, which is why we bought it -- it takes up very little room.

Thanks for the input.

G

[mjhigg]

Do you know if you have USB 2.0???

[gmiller1122]

I think so... it's a very new pc. How do I find out for sure? In Device Manager?


Thanks.

[mjhigg]

Check this out, G.

[gmiller1122]

Thanks...yup, I got 2.0.

But I've been reading some bad things about the USB connection hardware. Seems lots of folks have problems with latency, etc.

Then I considered firewire, but that means I'd need to install it via PCI, and that ain't happening.

I'm now leaning toward a digital workstation, then feeding files to the PC via the USB when I'm done and/or full. This way, when my father-in-law brings us a new PC (happens every year or so -- it's great, but...), I don't have to mess around w/transferring files over -- a pain.

Also, I want my setup to be as simple as possible. More stuff and more connections just mean more problems to me. I have such limited time that I need it to record, not worry about this connecting to that, etc.

Anyway, thanks for the input. Appreciate the time.

G

[sae]

the tascam us-122 is usb 1.1. Latency will not be an issue because it's zero latency monitoring

[gmiller1122]

sae,

kinda makes sense, but I'm confused. Don't all usb thingys claim to have zero latency monitoring? Also, why is the us-122 only usb 1.1? Is it old?

G

[sae]

it's not that it's old, it's just that usb 1.1 can support 2 in/out (at least at 16/48) If you wanted to use the US-122 at 24/96, I am not sure you could do 2 in/out. You would have to check out the tascam website.

[mjhigg]

Uh, now I'm confused too. My understanding was that the USB 2.0 protocol upgrade essentially made audio through the USB port possible.

G, these companies say they have zero latency because the devices always come with a button you can press for direct monitoring of the source, so it's basically just like a hardware mixer channel, and it doesn't pass through your computer at all. The latency is introduced when processing real-time effects, or with MIDI control of soft synths. Effects introduce more latency than synths in general because audio has to go both ways, and MIDI signals don't really introduce latency.

I tried out Tascam's US 428 (probably about the same as the US 122 in terms of latency) for awhile with USB 2.0 and Windows XP, and I was able to get lower latency than I thought I would with a USB device, although my PCI Mia feels MUCH more responsive and natural. I eventually sold the 428 because the only time I have any time to play music is at 4AM, so needless to say everything I do is virtual and through headphones! Low latency is more important for me than most, probably. I suppose it rally depends on what you are going to use it for.

[sae]

Many USB devices are indeed usb 1.1 and not usb 2.0 In the next few years we will see a huge increase in usb 2.0 (which has similar bandwidth to firewire) and firewire devices.

It will be intersting to see what develops.

-sae