Advice on UA-4FX, please.

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gray36
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2011/02/12 01:37:35 (permalink)

Advice on UA-4FX, please.

$99.00 on sale, I have been using UA-1G for awhile, and it has done its job wonderfully. I have only been recording guitar so far, but I am wanting to finally learn how to use my Akai MPK 25, and eventually add vocals. I do not need anything mind-blowing, as I am only playing for my own enjoyment. After seeing so many posts about drivers from other brands, and not having any problems with the UA-1G, I assume this would be a safe bet? If anyone has any experience, I would greatly appreciate it! I about forgot, the other one I was looking at was the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, thanks!
post edited by gray36 - 2011/02/12 02:13:22

HP Pavilion dv6 Intel Duo Core 2 2.20GHz T6600, Windows 7 x 64, Guitar tracks Pro 4, SonarX1dEXP,SonarX2Prod. 8.5.3, Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, JBL monitors, Alesis SR-16, Guitar Rig 4 Pro, PRS SE, Epiphone Les Paul Custom, Cort SJ-10 ,Steven Slate 3.5, Akai MPK25, Glyph GT 050Q (500GB)RP1000http://soundcloud.com/mar...ayin-around-mix1 
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    Billaboard
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    Re:Advice on UA-4FX, please. 2011/02/14 04:30:19 (permalink)
    As no-one else has answered, here's what I think.

    I have  UA3-FX and love it. I use it to record guitar - either via condenser mic, or the active pickup in the electro/acoustic or the passive pickups in the old Guild archtop. I record into Adobe Audition, where I can apply effects afterwards or very occasionally have played online where I can use the slightly cheesy inbuilt effects. There are some things to note, though, all of which I can work around. These include....

    It's only a usb 1.1 device (I believe this also applies to the UA4), and there is a huge problem on my AMD-based laptop under Windows 7 with massive crackles and dropouts. This can be cured by inserting an external usb hub (powered or unpowered) I have asked about this here before and continue to research it. The problem is specific to Windows 7 and  applies to usb 1,1 devices from other makers as well. My Intel based laptop doesn't have the problem.

    I, and a lot of others, have problems with Windows 7 where the wifi has to be disabled to remove some lesser audio dropouts and crackles. Because of this I use an older Vista laptop online rather than having to bring a network cable to the Windows 7 laptop. Again, this seems to be a Win7 issue.

    On the UA3, I cannot use all the effects at once. For example it's either reverb or echo, but not both at the same time.

    As I say, I love the UA3-FX, but I'm not sure that, if buying new now, I would go for a usb 1.1 device today.
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    gray36
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    Re:Advice on UA-4FX, please. 2011/02/16 00:41:58 (permalink)
    First off, thanks for replying, but I just purchased a Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, with JBL monitors. Have yet to try it out, but have read that is fine with Windows 7x64, its an Intel Duo Core 2. Tomorrow will give it the test!

    HP Pavilion dv6 Intel Duo Core 2 2.20GHz T6600, Windows 7 x 64, Guitar tracks Pro 4, SonarX1dEXP,SonarX2Prod. 8.5.3, Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, JBL monitors, Alesis SR-16, Guitar Rig 4 Pro, PRS SE, Epiphone Les Paul Custom, Cort SJ-10 ,Steven Slate 3.5, Akai MPK25, Glyph GT 050Q (500GB)RP1000http://soundcloud.com/mar...ayin-around-mix1 
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    gray36
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    Re:Advice on UA-4FX, please. 2011/02/18 10:55:10 (permalink)
    Just to let anyone know, the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB installed and running on Windows 7x64. 5 minutes and was recording. Sounds great, better than I had expected, and was so easy to set-up, I would highly recommend!


    HP Pavilion dv6 Intel Duo Core 2 2.20GHz T6600, Windows 7 x 64, Guitar tracks Pro 4, SonarX1dEXP,SonarX2Prod. 8.5.3, Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, JBL monitors, Alesis SR-16, Guitar Rig 4 Pro, PRS SE, Epiphone Les Paul Custom, Cort SJ-10 ,Steven Slate 3.5, Akai MPK25, Glyph GT 050Q (500GB)RP1000http://soundcloud.com/mar...ayin-around-mix1 
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    5MilesHigh
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    Re:Advice on UA-4FX, please. 2015/02/02 16:55:58 (permalink)
    I have a UA4FX and it is great (for me anyway) and should do what you want. It sounds like a bargain.  I really like the RCA I/O's since I hang a bunch of stuff on an external mixer that I then send to the UA4 which then can send it back to the PC over USB and/or send it out to the amp/speakers. Plus, XLR, P-power mic input, and midi jacks. Plus  all the effects (which sound really nice to sweeten stuff when not running a DAW). And no wall-wart or brick on a leash either, yea! 
     
    However, I've been having some Sonar specific issues with mine lately. Here's the thread.
    http://forum.cakewalk.com/SonarPro-Audio-Driver-Hangs-with-UA4FX-usb-card-m3164385.aspx#3164385
     
    Home » [Cakewalk Products] » SONAR » SonarPro Audio Driver Hangs with UA-4FX usb card
    I've been told my status isn't high enough to include links, so here's the text to it. No solutions so far. I really want that 24b/96K audio it can pump out, but I can only kludge it with Sonar today. Not a problem with other DAWs though.
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    5MilesHigh
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    Re:Advice on UA-4FX, please. 2015/02/08 01:34:26 (permalink)
    The UA4FX issue is resolved, so go for it, unless you want the more 'pro' Saffire for more simultaneous inputs.
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