Tascam US-122 vs. M-Audio Quattro

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proxymoron

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Ok so I had bought a Firewire 410 but used it thorugh a PCMCIA converter and it was a disaster. I couldn't get either of the two PCMCIA to firewire converters to work right with my laptop. So I think I am going to take that back--unless anyone has any suggestions as to how to fix it. With one PCMCIA adapter it recognizes the soundcard in the device manager, windows XP, but it doesnt recognize it in any recording programs
With the other PCMCIA card it would only record about 10 seconds then it would stop. I am using power on both the Firewire and the PCMCIA adapter but to no avail)


Anyways its been giving me a headache and so I am thinking about getting rid of it to get one of the two soundcards mentioned in the subject. Anyways I am doing just recording of a few tracks (acoustic guitar and vocals, with some overdubs of both), so I don't need anything too fancy. I know a lot of people have quarrels with USB but I am really hesitant about trying any other combo wher ei need converters and what not. My computer has a USB port (2.0) built into it so hopefully that can't go as wrong as the firewire stuff. Anyways I need a soundcard with phantom power too because I don't have the money right now to buy anything else.

The Tascam US-122 is 200 but only has 48khz sampling rate

The Quattro is 350 (maybe i can find it cheaper) but has the option of using the sampling rate at 96Khz
Both are 24 bit. But it doesnt have phantom power. So I could get that and the omni on ebay for about 400 to get the two of them but thats twice the price of tascam.
Aside from that the quattro is a little fancier in terms of ins and outs and also would give me the option of buying the omni later on as a front end.
I am using N-track right now but switching to cakewalk sonar soon.
Anyways do you have suggestions about one vs the other, or else a 200-350 dollar USB soundcard? is there another option?
Thanks a lot
_Mike
 
One thing:
I've read many horror stories about the Quattro. People having troubles getting it to work. So be warned.

Tried the 410 on any other computer yet? Trading it for a USB device just doesn't sound good to me.
 
Re: Re: Tascam US-122 vs. M-Audio Quattro

christiaan said:
One thing:
I've read many horror stories about the Quattro. People having troubles getting it to work. So be warned.

Tried the 410 on any other computer yet? Trading it for a USB device just doesn't sound good to me.
Click to expand...

I agree. Zzounds.com customer reviews are just plain bad for the Quattro.

I wouldn't give up on the 410. I have only heard good things about it so far.
 
Clarification

Hello,
I don't really want to give up the 410, from the 15 or so seconds I am able to record it sounds really nice. The problem is though is just doesn't work since I am using this configuration

Firewire 410 -> Belkin F5U512 PCMCIA to firewire converter ->
Toshiba lap top

-or i have tried this

Firewire 410 -> ADC Tech -API-601 (as recommended for a PCMCIA to firewire card on M-audio webpage)
> Toshiba lap top

With the first set up, I can record and it sounds nice, but i can only do about 15 seconds then everything freezes, the monitors in the programs freeze (i have used it with soundforge and N-track the same problems happens in both). I plugged in a power supply to the adapter and still had the same problem.

With the second set up, the system will install the firewire 410 fine but then it doesn't recognize the card except in the device manager. It is listed as installed and working fine in the device manager but it is not listed as an option for a soundcard anywhere else (either in windows or in the recording programs). Sound will come through the headphones plugged into the firewire still, but i can't record because the computer doesn't recognize it. I have tried using a power adapter on the PCMCIA card for this but that didnt work either

That being said, I guess I am looking for either help finding a solution or else suggestions for a new soundcard. I'd hate to give it up but I don't have a choice if it doesnt work. I have called tech support for my computer, the PCMCIA adapters (both) and M-audio but nobody really is helpful, they just sort of blame it on one of the other devices. Maybe you guys have a suggestions?
Thanks for the help
-Mike
 
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