Audio Interfaces for the Beginner

[Chixter]

Hey folks, hope everyone is well. Over the last few weeks I have really dug into this DAW (Reaper4.0) and comming from an analog/tape background (yes I am over 50), this stuff blows me away. I am doing some learning stuff with just an electric guitar and bass through the stock sound card (IDE) of my system, and with all the DAW has to offer, it actually sounds pretty good. I'm running Win 7 on an HP Desktop with an i5 processor, 8gig ram. I'm plugging the guitars into the line in input of the soundcard. I'm getting pretty fluent with the program,VST, drums, fx etc. OK Now I'm ready for my first A/I. I will not be recording more than 2 tracks at any given time right now. Recording guitars, bass, keyboards (Yamaha635), vocals So I need 2 inputs to cover me. I want to spend less on this first interface as a decent chunk of cash is going into good monitors. Right now I am comparing interfaces in the $250 max range. I'm narrowed down to: UX2 by line 6, and Focusrite Saffire 6. I need USB I dont have firewire. Ultimately I would like an RME setup but as I am smuggling cash out of the cave (oh this? I got it from Jim for $25 hon) more planning is required along with more saving. Any views on either of these 2? Thanx.

 

[wheelema]

The Tascam US800 ($99 street) enjoys a lot of buzz around here though I have never used it (nor the interfaces you came up with). Personally I'm trying to justify a Sound Designs USBPre 2 for it's dual functionality (USB I/O and field mixer) and I have a moderate confidence level that I'll succeed by the middle of February.

 

[mjbphotos]

Some folks have indicated a problem with the Tascam US-800 and Windows 7, the resident Tascam guy is checking it out. The Saffire and the M Audio USB Fast Track Pro are the two main choices for folks looking for only 2 inputs.

 

[WesternHaikus1]

I'm quite new at all this, however right now I think I can confidently say the Tascam US800 is a good option but only if you have a really clean PC setup. The driver is known to not be perfect with Win7, but I've not encountered anything more than minor (and I mean very minor) annoyances. For $99 you really can't do better in terms of I/O from what I've read. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though, as I'm quite new.