annifarkle
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Best audio device recommendation
Hi I'm going to have replace my Presonus Firebox when I upgrade to Win 10. (Presonus doesn't support drivers past Win 7) I would appreciate some recommendations in the $200-299 range. Audio interfaces that you've had good luck with. Thanks- Ann
post edited by annifarkle - 2015/07/20 19:38:57
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TheMaartian
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/20 19:43:31
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I can only speak to the two that I have: 1) PreSonus AudioBox 44VSL and 2) Tascam US-16x08. I have removed the 44VSL from my SONAR setup and use it exclusively with my tablet running Audio Evolution Mobile. If the driver works for you, great. If it doesn't, good luck. There hasn't been a substantive driver update for 15+ months. I could NEVER get it to work with my iLok, and PreSonus look like they're abandoning the VSL line anyway, so... I would have bought the Tascam US-4x4, except that MF had a stupid sale on the 16x08 ($50 less than the 4x4). The driver for the 16x08 was just updated to v1.01, fixing the no-audio issue in Google Chrome, plus some other things. Still some minor issues that may or may not be problematic for you. One great thing about the 16x08 is its flexibility. If it's not plugged into a PC, it defaults to an 8 XLR In to 8 Balanced Line Out mic preamp. That offers the possibility of a second life. Lots of good reviews on Focusrite audio i/f's, but I've not used any, so can't report. EDIT: I just went to the PreSonus site to check for updated drivers. Nope. But what I did find was that the 22VSL and 1818VSL are no longer shown on the products page, just the 44VSL. So, I guess I was correct in assuming that they were sunsetting the VSL line, even though it's relatively new. The driver-bug complaints were the worst for the 1818VSL. So, what do you do if you can't fix the bugs? One of two things: 1) if you can't fix it, call it a feature 2) kill the product Well, they couldn't fix it, so they killed it. Music killed the audio star! 
post edited by TheMaartian - 2015/07/20 20:04:50
Intel i7 3.4GHz, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB HD Win10 Home 64-bit Tascam US-16x08 Studio One 4 Pro Notion 6 Melodyne 4 Studio Acoustica 7 Guitar Pro 7 PreSonus FaderPort Nektar P6 M-Audio BX8 D2 Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro NI K9U XLN AK, AD2 AAS VS-2, GS-2, VA-2, EP-4, CP-2, OD Toontrack SD3, EZK
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AT
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/20 22:59:12
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My favorite, just for audio quality, is the Tascam UH-7000. High-end preamp(s) and conversion, USB with digital in/out too. You won't get much better conversion w/o spending thousands and the preamps are just stellar. The downside - no midi and high latency (11ms on my system). But the digital in/out switches between AES/Spdif so you can use it w/ a faster interface. $400, which is a bit more, but worth every penny.
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http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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BobF
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 09:07:49
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+1 for the US-16x08.
I don't need all of the IN/OUT simultaneously, but the flexibility in the types of INs is awesome.
Bob -- Angels are crying because truth has died ...Illegitimi non carborundum --Studio One Pro / i7-6700@3.80GHZ, 32GB Win 10 Pro x64 Roland FA06, LX61+, Fishman Tripleplay, FaderPort, US-16x08 + ARC2.5/Event PS8s Waves Gold/IKM Max/Nomad Factory IS3/K11U
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Jim Roseberry
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 10:37:24
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☄ Helpfulby annifarkle 2015/07/22 14:36:25
Hi Ann,
FWIW, I'd sit Win10 out for just a little while... and let the dust settle.
If you can wait for BIOS/Firmware/driver/software updates, you'll circumvent the typical early "teething issues".
Most Win7/8 drivers will actually work fine under Win10.
If higher latency isn't an issue, the UH-7000 that AT mentioned is great.
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PluginDiscounts.com
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 10:54:22
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Jim Roseberry
Hi Ann,
FWIW, I'd sit Win10 out for just a little while... and let the dust settle.
If you can wait for BIOS/Firmware/driver/software updates, you'll circumvent the typical early "teething issues".
Most Win7/8 drivers will actually work fine under Win10.
If higher latency isn't an issue, the UH-7000 that AT mentioned is great.
Agreed. I typically stay a step behind when it comes to major OS updates like this (regardless of platform)... Less frustration and issues.
post edited by PluginDiscounts.com - 2015/07/21 11:01:21
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mettelus
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 11:49:00
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+1 to the wait. There is no need to feel pressured (I never owned Vista or Win8), plus there will be a "history" when you finally go shopping.
ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero (Wi-Fi AC), i7-8700k, 16GB RAM, GTX-1070Ti, Win 10 Pro, Saffire PRO 24 DSP, A-300 PRO, plus numerous gadgets and gizmos that make or manipulate sound in some way.
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rumleymusic
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 11:54:52
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The Audient ID14 is probably the best quality you will find in that price range.
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batsbrew
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 12:00:10
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annifarkle
Hi
I'm going to have replace my Presonus Firebox when I upgrade to Win 10. (Presonus doesn't support drivers past Win 7) I would appreciate some recommendations in the $200-299 range. Audio interfaces that you've had good luck with. Thanks- Ann
ANNI, sorry, but in that price range, there really is no 'best'. they all function at about the same level.
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Jim Roseberry
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 12:14:30
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rumleymusic
The Audient ID14 is probably the best quality you will find in that price range.
Haven't used that unit... but the fidelity is supposed to be pretty good.
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TheMaartian
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 12:27:27
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☄ Helpfulby annifarkle 2015/07/22 14:38:42
batsbrew
ANNI,
sorry, but in that price range, there really is no 'best'.
they all function at about the same level.
Gonna have to disagree with you. While the hardware may be similar (pre-amp quality aside), there are HUGE differences in drivers. Many audio i/f suppliers outsource their driver development. Less of a problem on Macs, where the i/f only needs to be Core Audio compliant. Rather than get into a p'ing match between supporters various i/f manufacturers, I would suggest spending a bit of time on the user forum for each of those manufacturers. Get a feel for how responsive the supplier is when it comes to updating their drivers. Too bad I didn't follow that advice myself. [sigh] I bought the AudioBox 44VSL and THEN got on the forum. Long story short. I'm off of the 44VSL. I'm off of S1 Pro. I'm on SONAR, and now that Tascam have brought their driver development in-house, I went ahead and got a US-16x08 instead of a Focusrite i/f. From a bang-for-the-buck perspective, and to your point, the OP might select one or two each Focusrite and Tascam models, and any others that get good recommendations, and keep an eye on Sweetwater, MF and others, looking for a Stupid Deal of the day on any of the units that make it to the final list...and acquire.
Intel i7 3.4GHz, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB HD Win10 Home 64-bit Tascam US-16x08 Studio One 4 Pro Notion 6 Melodyne 4 Studio Acoustica 7 Guitar Pro 7 PreSonus FaderPort Nektar P6 M-Audio BX8 D2 Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro NI K9U XLN AK, AD2 AAS VS-2, GS-2, VA-2, EP-4, CP-2, OD Toontrack SD3, EZK
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batsbrew
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 13:11:07
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☄ Helpfulby annifarkle 2015/07/22 14:39:01
TheMaartian
batsbrew
ANNI,
sorry, but in that price range, there really is no 'best'.
they all function at about the same level.
Gonna have to disagree with you. While the hardware may be similar (pre-amp quality aside), there are HUGE differences in drivers.
drivers is really another issue. most of the units in that price range have comparable drivers. the better answer, is to simply save up for a better unit, one that has both great convertors, preamps AND drivers.
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rumleymusic
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/21 18:14:31
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If you buy cheap you will never get "great." Especially in the sub $200 market. But there are a few really nice products out there from respectable companies at the $200-$300 price range. Personally I would go quality for the money rather than quantity for the money. Buy something with limited IO but with a strong reputation. Audient is no compromise quality wise, Steinberg UR44s are good and have really nice Yamaha pres, I use one at my Radio station and it is very reliable. Both limit the functionality to put more money into the component quality. Never heard the Roland, but I have heard good things about it.
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annifarkle
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/22 14:36:26
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Thank you for all the feedback. This fives me a good idea of where to start and I will take up the advice of saving until I can upgrade to something that is great. And I currently don't need that many IOs so quality is definitely what I'm looking for - not quantity. THANKS!!!
Also- I am going to sit tight on the Win 10 upgrade and just see if my current AI will work with it. That gives me a lot more time to save up. Cheers! Ann
post edited by annifarkle - 2015/07/22 14:44:48
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Cactus Music
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/22 20:42:27
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My DAW will remain as W8.1 for at least a year. I'll just sit back and read the complaints,, or if all is good then I might jump on board, But right now everything is working 100% so why bother messing with it. I would have stayed with Windows 7 but 8.1 was half the price. W7 is all we really will need for a DAW for a few years yet. I switch between 8 and 7 all the time on my different machines and I still do not like 8 when on line. It seems to be way to involved with the internet, I don't trust it... Here's my handy dandy shopping for an interface blurb. http://www.cactusmusic.ca/Articles/Johns%20Audio%20Interface%20blurb.rtf
post edited by Cactus Music - 2015/07/22 20:50:50
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annifarkle
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Re: Best audio device recommendation
2015/07/31 00:46:16
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HI Everyone I'm leaning towards the Audient iD14 . Does anyone know how the latency is?
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