Lexicon Omega Studio... opinions please

[solidaction]

Though no stranger to recording and recording techniques... in pro studios (as a client) and at home on a cassette 4-track, expressly for demoing songs. I've decided to enter the digital realm here at home. Now, I can't say I'm much of a gearhead but I know what I think I require from my gear.

does anyone here own or have experience with the Lexicon Omega Studio?

It seems the Lexicon is the only device in the $300.00 price range with four 1/4" inputs compared to the usual two. Is this a correct supposition? or have I not looked in the right places? is there something comparable, cheaper?

Here's what I'm looking to do with it...
I have about 100 cassettes worth of 4-track material.
I would like to transfer each track from my Tascam 424mkII, as a separate track, simultaneously into Garageband or perhaps Cubase LE (free with the Lex).

I also would like whatever I decide to purchase to be my primary means of recording decent quality demos (mainly guit/vox).

thanks for any advice.

--solidaction

 

[rockabilly1955]

go with a presonus firebox!! i am very pleased with mine. 6 inputs total (4 1/4 inputs), firewire, very stable, and i got mine at the local guitar center for 250

 

[Flux]

I recently asked much the same question. Though my question wasn't directly answered, what I gather is that most prefer to use either a PCI card-based interface or a FireWire interface. The reason is that USB devices have limited bandwidth which is why most of them only have two inputs - or rather, like the USB mixers, have lots of inputs but only allow two tracks to 'tape' at a time. Lexicon seem to have pulled it off with the Omega though. I have had some limited experience with one, at a jam/party, and it does work and it does sound good - but it was a party... so I can't give you more than that.

If you use a PC, and if you're on a budget, and if you think that you'll never need more, then I don't see what other choices you have. I mean, you get quality hardware, CubaseLE and Pantheon reverb and it's a Lexicon (these guys are no bums) all for $300 - hard to beat, I'd say. OTOH if you have a Mac or think you might get into more complex recording, then there's other choices. Here's a FireWire alternative: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--PRSFIREBOX (a second vote) for much the same price, that everyone likes... and then there's the million other flavours to choose from. HTH.