audio interface advice please

[pallinhio]

hallo everyone!i would like some help choosing an audio interface.budget is tight (up to $400).my goal is to be able to record at least 8 tracks at the same time(drums mostly,so mic inputs are essential).opinions on the tascam us1800 or similar would be great.i own a pc,no firewire!feel free to suggest any set up!!big thanks in advance

 

[schweinhundert]

I had a US1800. It died about a month after the warranty period, with very light use. The usb part of the machine was dead, while the rest was fine. The repair cost was quoted by Tascam (emphasis on "scam") as more than the price of a new one. I've seen quite a few other people saying the same, so caveat emptor. There's a reason it's so cheap.

I replaced it with a Saffire Pro 40, and it's great, but about $100 past your budget, and firewire only. Maybe other people here know of one that can do what you want, but I don't. The US1800 was the only such one I saw at that time.

 

[JimmyS1969]

I had a US1800. It died about a month after the warranty period, with very light use. The usb part of the machine was dead, while the rest was fine. The repair cost was quoted by Tascam (emphasis on "scam") as more than the price of a new one. I've seen quite a few other people saying the same, so caveat emptor. There's a reason it's so cheap.

I replaced it with a Saffire Pro 40, and it's great, but about $100 past your budget, and firewire only. Maybe other people here know of one that can do what you want, but I don't. The US1800 was the only such one I saw at that time.

It's sad to hear that you had a bad experience with the 1800. It happens. Glad you found time to tell of your uniquely bad experience tho. lol

I am surprised that Tascam didn't fix the unit for you. Actually, the price of the 1800 came down $200 a year after it's introduction. Did you buy it used? It is almost a disposable unit at the $250.00 price tag.

 

[schweinhundert]

It's sad to hear that you had a bad experience with the 1800. It happens. Glad you found time to tell of your uniquely bad experience tho. lol

I am surprised that Tascam didn't fix the unit for you. Actually, the price of the 1800 came down $200 a year after it's introduction. Did you buy it used? It is almost a disposable unit at the $250.00 price tag.

Like I said, I don't think this problem is quite unique, given the extensive googling and fretting I did after it broke (it was not used). I found quite a lot of people having my exact symptoms. Many of them were lucky enough for it to happen while it was still under warranty. It's true that any piece of electronics can break. I think what was most galling about it was they had the cojones to want to charge more than the unit actually costs new, and then wanted to charge me to ship back the broken one if I wouldn't pay them that. I just let them destroy the unit. Not really sure why you think Tascam would repair it for me; do they typically repair out-of-warranty units? If so, I guess I didn't merit that treatment.

I will say that when the unit was working, it basically worked flawlessly. If you absolutely need that many simultaneous channels, for under $400 I didn't see anything else that could do it.

 

[schweinhundert]

To the original poster: you might think about a firewire add-on card for your computer. I had a lot more options once I removed the USB requirement.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Like I said, I don't think this problem is quite unique, given the extensive googling and fretting I did after it broke (it was not used). I found quite a lot of people having my exact symptoms. Many of them were lucky enough for it to happen while it was still under warranty. It's true that any piece of electronics can break. I think what was most galling about it was they had the cojones to want to charge more than the unit actually costs new, and then wanted to charge me to ship back the broken one if I wouldn't pay them that. I just let them destroy the unit. Not really sure why you think Tascam would repair it for me; do they typically repair out-of-warranty units? If so, I guess I didn't merit that treatment.

I will say that when the unit was working, it basically worked flawlessly. If you absolutely need that many simultaneous channels, for under $400 I didn't see anything else that could do it.

I was not inferring that they necessarily would, but from the style of commentary you use like "Tascam (emphasis on "scam")", I could see a possibility of your presentation of your issue to a rep, as being not so productive as to getting your gear fixed. I am not talking smack at you, I just have had nothing but positive feedback from users of the 1800, and quite frankly, if you say the right things to any manufacturer of anything, you can get things taken care of. Hell, I just got AT&T to give me a free Microcell transmitter, just by asking nice. It took 5 times, and asking for the right department, but usually a substantiated company will give you what you ask for, if you ask in the right way.

Oh, and I would not suggest a firewire interface for a noob. Seems a fleeting input for manufacturers at this point in time.

 

[ecc83]

The Tascam 1800 has had a good rep everywhere. In addition to HR I visit two other recording forums several times every day (UK based) and a US forum a few times a week and have been doing so for at least 5 years. In all that time I do not recall a single report of a problem with the 1800 (might have been a driver "skurmish" but that ***t 'appen to every AI sometime!) and HAD they been unreliable I certainly would have noticed.

IF the tale is as told then it is reprehensible. We cannot go on "not repairing" stuff. In UK if you buy anything over £100 on CREDIT card (NOT debit card) you get automatic protection from the card supplier. If a product costing £150 fails such that it must be thrown away after 15months say I am sure Barclaycard would have stern words with the manufacturer (I have had some experiences here!). Then, in that situation I would hassle the arse off the retailer (yes, even outside warranty!) to get SOME compensation even to the point of the Small Claims Court if necessary. You might think this is not fair on the retailer but it is in my view for selling unrepairable goods.

So OP, BUY the 1800 with impunity but on credit card! In any case for 8 mic inputs...Only game in town at the price? (Fussywire is dying and you would in any case need a TI PCIe card to be a bit futureproof and even then drivers might not emerge for Win 9 i.e. the "fix" for W8 as W7 was for Blista!).

Dave.

 

[BigDonald]

I got the M Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R a couple of months ago and I love it. It is easily recognized by my Mac desktop and laptop and has 8 mic in and tons of options for routing different monitor mixes (and 2 seperate headphone stereoo mixes out the front). I love it and it was under $400!