chuckpuckett
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Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
I'm looking at the following to be used recording with Sonar X1 on Windows 7/64 bit and would like to hear pros/cons and price/value tradeoff opinions: - Roland Quad-Capture: 4-channel USB Audio/MIDI Interface with 2 VS Mic Preamps and S/PDIF I/O - 24-bit/192kH
- TASCAM US-122mkII: 2 x 2 USB Audio Interface with 2 Microphone Inputs, Phantom Power, 2 Line Inputs, Hi-Z Instrument Input, and MIDI I/O; 24-bit/96kHz
- Mackie Onyx Blackjack: 2 x 2 USB Interface with 2 preamps, Zero-latency Monitoring (have read there might be Win 7/X1 issues with this, which I hate, since I really like Mackie
- PreSonus AudioBox USB: USB Audio Interface, 2-in/2-out, with 2 Microphone/Instrument Preamplifiers, 2 1/4" Outputs, MIDI I/O, and 1/4" Headphone Output, 24-bit/48kHz
If you have any experience with these, especially on Win 7, I'd love to hear your story and opinions. Thanks. P.S. The Roland seems to be the Cadillac in this group, but I'm wondering if the quality justifies the price point.
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ampfixer
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/06 23:05:39
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BUy the Quad Capture the rest is junk. Compared and contrasted. YOur not not a teacher are you?
Regards, John I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps. WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig, Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6
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Jonbouy
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/06 23:26:35
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Another happy Quad camper here. It's bulletproof.
I'd not found anything that ticked so many boxes in the space of three years, and a couple of lesser options along the way.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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chuckpuckett
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/06 23:38:47
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No, but I was thinking of a scene from "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead" when I wrote that :)
Thanks. That amplifies what I thought.
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JazzSinger
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 22:09:30
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I own/have owned the following USB-powered interfaces: Quadcapture: Guitar input buzzes, even with input shorted and laptop on battery (in other words, not an earth loop problem. It is a design fault). Other owners have confirmed this. Tascam 144 mkII: Guitar input clicks when the green signal LED turns on and off. Also confirmed by other owners, can even be heard on demos online. I now have the PreSonus AudioBox 22VSL and am very impressed. Good preamps and has basic monitoring effects. Nice.
post edited by JazzSinger - 2012/04/07 22:41:51
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Lanceindastudio
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 22:15:49
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I would go with the quad capture because you are probably going to appreciate the lower latency performance eventually if not immediately.
It is a great box with great drivers which is key.
Lance
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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Lanceindastudio
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 22:40:18
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Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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vicsant
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 22:51:54
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Got my Quad Capture a couple of weeks ago :-)
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jimkleban
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 23:15:28
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You know, I was wondering about the noise when I record guitars (on the DI side) using my OCTA CAPTURE... like a hiss in the background? Kinda sux. I might sell my Octapus and get something a bit higher end. TY Jazzsinger
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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mattplaysguitar
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/07 23:54:41
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I have the Edirol UA 25-ex, which came before the Quad Capture it seems. Before all that, I had a Tascam US-122. The Tascam was useless. The Edirol is great - except it doesn't have a separate headphone volume which is really annoying.
And just in case you were thinking of dealing in 96 bit rate (which is a waste of time in my opinion - but another discussion), remember it's only half duplex. Thus you can't hear anything when you are recording. So it's pretty much useless. I ride in 48 and that works well.
I'd look into that guitar hum issue a little more and see if it's a design flaw, or poor quality control. Also be wary as to whether or not it was actually the guitar humming, or the interface humming. Guitars often have hums.
Thus, get the quad.
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DW_Mike
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 00:22:53
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Not to hijack the thread but can you bypass the pre's on the Quad?
I like to use my stand alone pre-amps.
I have the Fast Track Pro. Not really crazy about it but it's nice that i can use my pre-amps and plug them into the line in which bypasses the Fast Track pre's.
Mike
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jimkleban
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 07:19:16
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Couple responses:
1) The hiss happens with all of my guitars and not just one. Gets louder as I increase the gain on the preamp
2) You CAN NOT bypass the pre's on the Quad or the OCTA.. I contacted customer support to find this out.
Jim
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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Jonbouy
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 07:33:48
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chefmike8888
Not to hijack the thread but can you bypass the pre's on the Quad?
I like to use my stand alone pre-amps.
I have the Fast Track Pro. Not really crazy about it but it's nice that i can use my pre-amps and plug them into the line in which bypasses the Fast Track pre's.
Mike
No it can't be done on the Quad unless you are otherwise equipped go via the digital ins on it. WRT to the guitar buzz issue I don't doubt JazzSingers experience but I never have trouble getting a clean signal via the High Z input so it seems there some guitars output levels that work better with it than others. I've not found it to be any noisier than anything else although the input sensitivity is able to go way beyond any useful range. So I'd say as always YMMV rather than writing it off or bigging it up in this respect.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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DW_Mike
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 09:01:39
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Sonar X3 ~ Scarlett 18i6 ~ Home Build DAW
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jrmunday
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 09:34:49
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I used to have lots of trouble with my UA25 until I twigged that one should be using BALANCED 1/4 inch jack leads (stereo).
I always mic up a guitar amp - use balanced XLR cable for that.
I never bass guitar direct - I always use a DI box.
Blooming synths are noisy at their outputs so I usually (very carefully) use the headphone outputs again via a balanced jack lead.
This cured all my issues.
BTW, I also use balanced leads to the monitor amp as well.
Hope this helps.
CbB, Splat, HP Pavillion i5, Win 10 64bit, 6G ram, Scarlett 8i6, Kontakt 5 plus a shed load of hardware, synths & guitars collected over 50 years.
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jimkleban
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 09:59:41
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JR...
Hmmmm, interesting? I currently go from a guitar (electric) into a RADIAL DI box, then into my Hardware Helios PRE/EQ which then goes out to the Octacapture.
Are you saying that I should be using a balanced guitar cable into the DI box? That would be a good thing to learn.
Thanks,
Jim
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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Jonbouy
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 12:03:02
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The other thing about High-Z it is very susceptible to RF interference.
Many already know that one amp setup will be nice and clean and another combination of gear will add together to make a perfectly tuned and functional AM radio.
I'm obviously not being troubled by my particular combination of equipment but as always YMMV.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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jrmunday
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 12:25:33
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Are you saying that I should be using a balanced guitar cable into the DI box? That would be a good thing to learn.
Not sure with the Octacapture as I don't use one - I use a Scarlett 8i6.
But I always try to use balanced leads - but certainly on the outputs - always!
Have a look at the specs for the inputs - I would expect balanced outputs on your DI box.
Why do you EQ the output from the DI box?
I wouldn't. I would do all that in Sonar post recording.
The Radial DI is a good piece of kit - use Amplitude or Guitar Rig inside Sonar for your treatments.
Only a suggestion.
CbB, Splat, HP Pavillion i5, Win 10 64bit, 6G ram, Scarlett 8i6, Kontakt 5 plus a shed load of hardware, synths & guitars collected over 50 years.
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jrmunday
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 12:30:54
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Are you saying that I should be using a balanced guitar cable into the DI box? That would be a good thing to learn.
Just re-read this - doesn't make sense sorry.
No point in using balanced leads for the guitar to Radial. I suggest not using the Helios unless it is being used as an effects box.
So:
guitar to helios using ordinary guitar lead Helios to DI box perhaps using balanced lead to DI box then definately balanced lead to Octa
CbB, Splat, HP Pavillion i5, Win 10 64bit, 6G ram, Scarlett 8i6, Kontakt 5 plus a shed load of hardware, synths & guitars collected over 50 years.
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jimkleban
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/08 15:18:27
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JR... actually the EQs I use in tracking are part of the sound... the HELIOS is very, very musical and magical. I have the HELIOS EQ plugin (UAD2) for mixing but it doesn't have the same magic as the hardware.
I only DI the Bass and 12 string electric parts and track with the EQ... mostly track for the HELIOS pre-amp and put slight EQ on the way in. I was really disappointed that I couldn't bypass the OCTA pre's though.
This thread has convinced me to look for a new interface.. I need to be able to record at least 5 tracks though for mic'ing up a Leslie speaker.
Jim
PS - my signal chain is RICK or Micro-Frets into the DI - split, DI to Helios, thru to AMP, Neumann mic on AMP to another Helios, and then both into the DAW.
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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dmbaer
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/09 17:59:31
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Lanceindastudio
I would go with the quad capture because you are probably going to appreciate the lower latency performance eventually if not immediately.
It is a great box with great drivers which is key.
Lance
Also, since the OP is posting here, it's reasonable to assume he's a Sonar user. Let's see ... which interface has the greatest chance of having zero issues with software from Roland/Cakewalk? That said, I only do in-the-box MIDI and have never had occassion to plug anything into the audio inputs, so I can't speak to how well or poorly it works on that front.
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cclarry
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/09 22:56:12
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I have the Quad....great interface....great pre's.....very transparent...
I've own the Presonus AudioBox and Firebox....both good...pre's aren't as clean
as the Quads IMHO...
I just bought the Zoom R24....8 inputs and a control surface...
Headphones are nice and clear through it....cleaner and clearer then the Quad...
Effects on it are "OK"...not great...but I have a lot of GREAT plugs...so that's not
even remotely a concern..
I've plugged my guitar in....and it's clean...nice and clean...but haven't used a mic
with it yet....but for $450 bucks for 8 inputs, and Control Surface, Sampler, and
Pad surface....it's well worth the money...
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jimkleban
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Re:Compare & Contrast these USB Audio Interfaces, please
2012/04/10 19:15:49
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This was a good thread... I have decided to keep the OCTAPUS until the APOLLO is ready from UA (supposed to be this summer).
Jim
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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