AnsweredFocusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
Fibesman10
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 7
  • Joined: 2014/01/13 18:58:07
  • Location: Louisville Ky.
  • Status: offline
2017/01/16 13:10:02 (permalink)

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB

Hi all,
I need to buy a new interface. I'm a drummer mainly and record using 8 mics so I need the inputs. I have been considering these 2 interfaces and would appreciate some input. the Tasam is half the price of the focusrite and that makes it attractive to me.
I am not a pro engineer by any stretch. I'm retired and record at home.
I would love some feedback about these 2 pieces from you folks, I need to purchase this pretty soon. 
thanks
Gregg
 
 I have been using an alesis multimix 16 for a couple yrs and there's always a problem not to mention alesis does not have driver support for the multimix.
 

Intel I7 4ghz Windows 7 Pro
16gb ram 64 bit
Sonar Platinum
#1
See best answerList Solutions Only

9 Replies Related Threads
    batsbrew
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 10037
    • Joined: 2007/06/07 16:02:32
    • Location: SL,UT
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 18:30:11 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby Fibesman10 2017/01/16 19:46:26
    i would look at this guy:
     
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/US20x20?adpos=1t1&creative=169712212461&device=c&matchtype=b&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQiA-_HDBRD2lomhoufc1JkBEiQA0TVMmn1Jh3V8K_U85Fbo-qBWnb2WCj5C2NvfCe3K3lO149gaAtx48P8HAQ
     
     

    Bats Brew music Streaming
    Bats Brew albums:
    "Trouble"
    "Stay"
    "The Time is Magic"
    --
    Sonar 6 PE>Bandlab Cakewalk>Studio One 3.5>RME BFP>i7-7700 3.6GHz>MSI B250M>G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB>Samsung 960 EVO m.2ssd>W 10 Pro
     
    #2
    Fibesman10
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7
    • Joined: 2014/01/13 18:58:07
    • Location: Louisville Ky.
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 19:49:37 (permalink)
    I actually did look at that Tascam unit. The plusses are that it has usb 3.0 capabilities and my computer has 3.0 usb.
    What I like about the focusrite are the meters in front for setting channel levels where as the Tascam has the little red lights that light if your signal is to hot.

    Intel I7 4ghz Windows 7 Pro
    16gb ram 64 bit
    Sonar Platinum
    #3
    Jeff Evans
    Max Output Level: -24 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5139
    • Joined: 2009/04/13 18:20:16
    • Location: Ballarat, Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 20:03:07 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Fibesman10 2017/01/16 20:04:16
    I don't know much about the Tasacm unit so you may have to do some more research. 
     
    But I can tell you that my son bought the Focusrite (18i20 sec gen) and it installed without a hitch to a Mac laptop running Ableton.  And it works a treat in terms of its sound.  It is also one of the best interfaces for latency even over the USB 2 buss.  The reviews have been stellar.  You also get a bunch of free plugins too.  Focusrite compressor and EQ etc..
     
    The meters on the front are definitely a plus as he plays drums like me and likes to set things while looking at the front panel etc..

    Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface 
     
    Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
    #4
    lawajava
    Max Output Level: -55 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2040
    • Joined: 2012/05/31 23:23:55
    • Location: Seattle
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 20:10:24 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Fibesman10 2017/01/16 20:35:06
    I have a 2nd gen Focusrite 18i8. It's great. Do you really need 20 outputs, or just the 18 inputs?

    Two internal 2TB SSDs laptop stuffed with Larry's deals and awesome tools. Studio One is the cat's meow as a DAW now that I've migrated off of Sonar. Using BandLab Cakewalk just to grab old files when migrating songs.
    #5
    Jeff Evans
    Max Output Level: -24 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5139
    • Joined: 2009/04/13 18:20:16
    • Location: Ballarat, Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 20:30:23 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Fibesman10 2017/01/16 20:34:54
    It does not have 18 inputs until you connect another preamp to it that has ADAT.  So the Scarlett is essentially 8 Mic/Line inputs + 2 SPDIF inputs + 8 ADAT optical inputs. It is only 18 inputs if you decide to use all of the available input options.
     
    The Tascam does offer more inputs though 20 all up compared to 18 from the Focusrite.
     
     

    Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface 
     
    Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
    #6
    Fibesman10
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7
    • Joined: 2014/01/13 18:58:07
    • Location: Louisville Ky.
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/16 20:37:40 (permalink)
    lawajava
    I have a 2nd gen Focusrite 18i8. It's great. Do you really need 20 outputs, or just the 18 inputs?

    8 minimum lo z inputs. I'm leaning towards the focusrite. I like the new Tascam 3.0 usb but don't want to use windows 10 for an operating system.

    Intel I7 4ghz Windows 7 Pro
    16gb ram 64 bit
    Sonar Platinum
    #7
    melmyers
    Max Output Level: -87 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 157
    • Joined: 2008/08/11 13:08:29
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/19 06:52:50 (permalink)
    Just now found this thread. I have a computer that's been humming right along with Windows 7, and I installed a new 2nd Gen Focusrite 18i20 a few months ago. It seems to be rock solid. The preamps sound good and the metering on the front is helpful. The headphone amp isn't quite enough to crank my old AKG 240's as much as I like them, but should be good enough for any number of other models of phones. 
     
     

    Mel Myers
    Producer/Songwriter/Voiceover Talent
    Sonar Platinum 64-bit/Intel Quad Core i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz 16GB RAM/LGA1155 Motherboard/Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit /Focusrite 18i20/Cakewalk A-800 Pro/UAD-2 Quad PCIe/& a black and white Pomeranian who thinks he's the boss
    #8
    Fibesman10
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7
    • Joined: 2014/01/13 18:58:07
    • Location: Louisville Ky.
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/19 08:06:51 (permalink)
    melmyers
    Just now found this thread. I have a computer that's been humming right along with Windows 7, and I installed a new 2nd Gen Focusrite 18i20 a few months ago. It seems to be rock solid. The preamps sound good and the metering on the front is helpful. The headphone amp isn't quite enough to crank my old AKG 240's as much as I like them, but should be good enough for any number of other models of phones. 
     
     


    Thanks Mel, I ordered the focusrite 18i20, supposed to arrive today.
    Gregg
     

    Intel I7 4ghz Windows 7 Pro
    16gb ram 64 bit
    Sonar Platinum
    #9
    Shambler
    Max Output Level: -75 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 783
    • Joined: 2010/07/06 05:20:19
    • Status: offline
    Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 vs TASCAM US-16x08 USB 2017/01/19 10:25:59 (permalink)
    Hope you like it! I've owned one for around 2-3 months and I can't fault it.
     
    Seamless driver updates, stable drivers, low latency I've not had any issues with it.

    SONAR Platypus on Win10 64bit.
    Studio One Pro / Cubase Pro 9.5...just in case.
    8GB i7-2600 3.4GHz Gigabyte  Z68XP-UD3P
    Geforce GTX970
    Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
    Prophet 12/Rev 2/Virus Snow
    Zebra2/DIVA/NI Komplete 10
    #10
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1