Usb Interface Under $200

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hallpassrecords

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I was wondering if it would be a better idea to buy A USB Recording interface perhaps an M-Audio rig or something like that or to buy a 6 channel mixer and an Edirol UA-1A USB RCA I/O connector. If you can please recommend my best option and what the best equipment to buy would be.
 
If you must go USB:

Tascam has a new two channel with phantom pwr and pres for 199.

M-Audio just released a usb version of the audiphile--also 199

USB is fine if you don't expect too much from it.

-Jtt
 
thankyou

Thank you for your advice those were 2 systems I had looked into. Can anyone recommend a better way to setup a computer based studio as cheap as possible.
 
I tested the Tascam US122 that was mentioned, yesterday.

It is really nice, with 1/4" in's, XLR's with 48v phantom, and line outs.

Solid and stable with a Via KT333 chipset, and it sounds quite nice with my POD.

I will be trying it out with my 12 string acoustic and an MXL 603 hopefully within the next couple days.
 
I've been using the Tascam 224 for a few weeks, since my Aardvark bit the dust. (In a month or two I'll be stepping up to something with 8in/out) It has been very stable with my AMD setup as well.

Latency around 17ms with a bunch of tracks with is a touch to high for soft-synth comfort, but not too bad either.

I imagine that the 122 has the same drivers. If you only need two in at 24 bit 44 or 48, it should work out. I think it even has inserts.

-Jtt
 
I have a duo, that I'll mention briefly. I use it only for my laptop, and only for field recording and personal demos. My studio DAW is setup with a DM-24 going to a Motu mkIII (which is a dream)

The duo is a really nice swiss army type piece of gear. The pres on it are fairly clean, and have used it as a standalone for this. I previously had a presonus blue tube, and while it's a little bit apples and organges (solid state vs. Tube Pre) the duo is just plain cleaner.

As for the usb side of things, it works at 24bit 48k, with an unnoticable amount of latency, and for my uses (live and playtime) it's no problem, now bump it up to 24/96 and you do have to do a little tweaking, but it's not unreasonable.

Like I'm sure a lot of people will say on this board, USB isn't ideal for audio.

That said, if you got a duo, you could use it in conjunction with one of m-audio's duo 2496 cards, and imrpove performance.

That way, you could build your studio bit by bit.

Overall, I've been happy with the duo, and would feel comfortable recommending it as a piece of gear that will be able to do the job, and not become useless when you upgrade.

I haven't heard the new tascam, but my only advice with usb is to keep it simple (the 224 usb interface with faders etc... was aweful to use)

Regards,
Rich
 
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