USB interfaces currently at 99 to 149 - many choices! - Lex Lambda anyone?

[junplugged]

i saw a sale for one for 99, then looked a little more and there's about 3 or 4 in the same range, maybe more than 3 or 4.

so far, i'm seeing:

M-Audio MobilePre USB Portable Audio Interface
Lexicon Alpha USB Desktop Recording Studio
E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 Audio interface
E-MU 0404 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface
M-Audio Fast Track USB Computer Recording Interface
ART USBPhonoPlus v2 Computer Audio Interface
TASCAM US-122L USB2.0 Audio/Midi Computer Interface
TASCAM US-144 USB 2.0 4X4 Audio MIDI Computer Interface
Edirol UA-4FX USB Audio Capture Interface
PreSonus AudioBox USB
CME Matrix K FireWire Audio Matrix Interface
**ok, i think i just talked myself into this one: Lexicon Lambda USB Desktop Studio - - because it has inserts on the back and i have some rack gear i'd like to use.

anyone not like that one? can i use reaper with it? (itchy trigger finger)

(i guess i'll forget the poll)

 

[kojdogg]

personally, i'd look at the e-mu 0404 usb 2.0 interface based on the specs for the pres and converters. i like the centrance mic port pro as it has a good pre and conversion, but it's just one channel.

 

[xstatic]

I might be a little leary of the Lexicon Stuff. As far as soundcards go, I have never heard anything good about them, but tons of horror stories.

 

[warlock110]

I have the 0202, works fine. Although the driver sucks balls, I can't control the volume with my keyboard, so that means I have to get some sort of monitor controller. There is NO volume output control ON the interface, you have to either click on the window "speaker icon" to control the volume, OR get monitor controller, huge flaw in the unit IMO, but everything else works great.

 

[timthetortoise]

Stay as far away from Lexicon as you can. You'll have nothing but troubles, promise.

 

[santiu]

i had the lexicon lambda. it has a problem with some condenser mics where you'll get a high pitched whine. It was really annoying. on the plus side, the inserts on the back were SUPER handy. Anyhow, due to the phantom power problem, I can't recommend it.

 

[SonicAlbert]

I just bought the Tascam US-144. I'll let you know how it works out once I have a chance to use it.

 

[Robert D]

I just bought the Tascam US-144. I'll let you know how it works out once I have a chance to use it.

I think you'll like it. I did, but somebody liked it even more than me and stole mine out of my car. Good unit, decent sounding pre's, stable drivers including GSIF, very functional design. Best value out there in that configuration, IMO.

 

[KingDiamond]

I had an E-MU 0404 before I switched to the Presonus Firepod I have now. The E-MU 0404 wasn't that bad, but I wasn't a big fan of the driver interface. I don't think you can go wrong with the 0404 except that the interface is a bit confusing at first.

 

[Gnash5150]

What about this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-FireOne-FireWire-Audio-Control-Interface?sku=241179

I'm thinking about checking this out or the new 8 channel usb deal for my laptop.

 

[johnnymegabyte]

M-AUDIO Fast Track Ultra. 8 inputs ( 4 mic + 4 line) USB 2.0
Anybody tried one out yet ?

How about Alesis MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 ? http://www.alesis.com/multimix8usb20
It's a mixer with 8 outs + stereo mix out and stereo mix return

 

[SonicAlbert]

I had a chance to use the US-144 last night and it worked out well. Driver installation was easy and trouble free, and the unit worked great from the moment I hooked it up.

Last night I used it to play back sounds out of Kontakt2. Tonight I'm going to attempt to combine those sounds with a hardware synth. The idea is to mix the hardware and softsynth in the US-144 and then send the output to the PA.

The only thing I'm not crazy about the US-144 on the Mac is that there isn't a software mixer for it, unlike on the PC. I do like to see the signal path and have control over it. Tascam says that on the Mac those routing chores are done in the DAW software that is being used.

That's convenient also, so perhaps I just need to get used to this way of working.

Based on my one night of experience with this interface I do think it's a good USB interface. I do like the large controls on the top surface of it, they make it very easy to use.

 

[yenjwang]

i have 0202 and 0404 USB.
i think it have good preamps with gain to spare, great headphone amp.The EMU is crystal clear.

 

[junplugged]

I didn't get the Lex. I have heard lots of bad stuff about them, there's also the next lex up for about $200 and has 4 channels, but i think i'll pass on that. Good posts.

Thanks for the US-144, review, Albert, i'll look that one up.

the Alesis multimix looks fantastic, @ $300, i'll need a lot more research, but having a full blown mixer in front of me is very appealing, for me, coming from analog, tape, and all-in-one box stand-alone units like the korg d-1600, fostex mr-8, sony mdmx4mkii, tascam portastudio 488, etc.

 

[Markaholic]

I believe the multimix only outputs a stereo track via usb.

 

[junplugged]

yup, multimix is limited.

i started an 8 channel thread, but decided for the immediate future to go for portability first and usb to try out different machines also.

The Tascam is the only one i've found that mentions Vista. I found downloadable drivers for it on their site also.

I wonder why they have a 122 for $30 less than the 144, so close it wouldn't really make a difference in price. I'm now leaning toward the 144.

 

[SonicAlbert]

The 122 has a few less features than the 144, which explains its lower price. Since the price difference is not much I'd recommend going for the 144.

I bought my 144 for $138 from Jim's Music Center in California. But you can get it for $130 new from ScitScat on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TASCAM-US-1...ZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

I've bought from ScitScat several times and they've been fine.

 

[junplugged]

I may have one tomorrow. it'll be nice to try out on all these machines i have hanging around here, it's bound to work ok on one, hopefully not the noisy one...

 

[junplugged]

us-144 is good. works fine with vista. only complaint is low gain on headphones, i might have to boost it externally. good with reaper and so far, on a dell 531, next test is quieter laptop.