which interface to purchase

I currently have the presonus audiobox 44vsl. I have nothing but issues setting this up in X1. Between getting the proper drivers to work correctly, routing and now after finally being able to get it to work I go to my studio, hook up my laptop and a new issue has arrived. Changing absolutely nothing to my setup the audiobox will no longer playback or monitor through the mains or headphones that are connected to the 44vsl. I have been going back and forth with presonus on this issue and quite frankly I am tired of dealing with attempting to get this thing to work properly after 4 weeks of owning it. This leads me to my decision to return this unit to get another interface. I need one that is quality and will be simple to interface with X1. For that reason I am looking into the Roland built units as I assume, I know assuming is dangerous, that since Roland also make cakewalk their units will be easy to setup and use with Sonar X1. I am looking at the Octa-capture and the V-Studio 100 and the Boss BR-800. I like that the Octa-capture has multiple in's and the autosense input levels as I find myself tweaking input levels often before recording. However I like the fact that with the VS-700 I can use it as a DAW controller for X1. The limts of simultaneous inputs on the VS-700 are a drawback for me. For most applictions 2 inputs are ok but at times I may have band members over and need more inputs. Not often but at times. I can see me in the future wanting to expand to have more mics set up to record. Anyone have experiences they are willing to share regarding either of these units, the Octa-capture or the VS700? Pros and cons of one over the other? How about the Boss BR-800? I have even been looking at the Zoom R16. Would this unit be a viable option for using to control X1 DAW?

maestro72


 The limts of simultaneous inputs on the VS-700 are a drawback for me. For most applictions 2 inputs are ok but at times I may have band members over and need more inputs. Not often but at times. I can see me in the future wanting to expand to have more mics set up to record. Anyone have experiences they are willing to share regarding either of these units, the Octa-capture or the VS700? Pros and cons of one over the other? How about the Boss BR-800? I have even been looking at the Zoom R16. Would this unit be a viable option for using to control X1 DAW?

I assume you mean the VS-100 here, which only has 2 inputs....the VS 700 can have many many inputs...it's their Flagship console.
If you need multiple inputs, bang for buck, I have 2 recommendations...

1. $699.00  Octa-Capture - 8 inputs - ultra low latency - same preamps as the VS 700, and you can chain 2 together for 16 total inputs. USB ONLY
    I have the Quad-Capture - same preamps...outstanding....and compression on both inputs...very nice interface...

2.  $549.00 Motu Track16 - 16 inputs 2 Mic Preamps, 2 Guitar inputs, 4 line level inputs and 8 Digital inputs - built in DSP effects.
        USB and FIREWIRE 400

Both of these units are outstanding - 24 bit / 192 Khz capable units...and both are portable enough.  
Octa-Capture is expandable to 16 inputs - at another $699.00.

It all depends on how much coin you want to drop...both will do the job very well.


I had a VS-100 - it's an awesome unit.  Both standalone and Interface with built in DSP Effects.  Only 2 preamps and only
24 bit / 96 Khz.

That's my 2 cents worth....

robert_e_bone


Hi - I own a Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, and while I had some setup issues they were resolved and I am LOVING it.

Perhaps I can assist you before you dump your smaller brother to my interface.

I also just yesterday helped another guy with a Presonus interface.

can you give me about 30 minutes to finish something else up?  I will try to help you.

Bob Bone

Hi Bob...
 
that's cool... I didn't realize you too were using an 1818VSL... I just installed mine the other day and I must say I'm enjoying it very much... Especially after total disappointment with a Tascam us1800...
 
My older machines use SSL/Soundscape Mixtreme/Mixtreme 192 interfaces and I find it hard to get anything to measure up to them... If I had the cash I would have bought an SSL Slpah Link which would let me use my Soundscape Mixtreme9 (yup, I've got one of them too) for 24 i/o...
 
I've got an old Soundscape SS8IO-1 which I'm using via it's ADAT i/o to add an extra 8 line i/o to the system giving me 16 analog and 2 s/pdif...
 
Wonderful stuff... and as to the Mic Pre's? they may not be designer (I still love Neve or UA pre's), but they are excellent and very transparent allowing the user to color the signal with other processors as they chose...
 
I highly recomend these...
 
Keni
 

I agree!  We are GREAT decision makers!  :)

Are you still there, Maestro?

I am REAL close to being done helping the other guy on HIS interface, and I PROMISE I will help you til we get it working or broken by throwing it against the wall.  EITHER WAY, it WILL make a noise.  :)

So, just a couple more minutes - Keni, can you get him started on looking at settings and such?  That I can cruise through the posts when I come back and it will help speed things along for Maestro.

Thanks, and to anyone else who might want to jump in, 

Bob Bone

I did have a Zoom R24.... I liked it...was quite nice...not the best pre's...but for what you get for $499
it was pretty amazing.  Decent sound, DSP Effects, and an 8 channel control surface,
it's a lot of bang for the buck...

maestro72


First off I want to say thank you so much to you guys who are willing to be helpful in resolving my presonus issue. I would have been there to receive but unfortunately I work 12 hour night shifts, I am at work right now, so I couldn't have stuck around this evening. I had no idea my post for purchasing advice  would lead to offeres for help and especially so quick of a response. Believe me I am not ignoring anyone and this is greatly appreciated.
 
Also I mistyped and am not interested in the VS 700, well I am but its pricey for my situation, and yes I meant the VS-100.
 
As for my 44vsl situation when I get home from work at 8AM I will get back on here and post some specifics to my issue. I will copy/paste some of my conversations I have had with reps at presonus since it is sort of a log of my issues and what I have attempted to resolve them. Of course after I post this morning I will have to get some shut eye and get ready for working another 12 hours of graveyard tomorrow night. So I won't be available again until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon til 7P when I come back to work.
 
Thanks again guys.

Not a problem maestro...
 
I'll do my best to help when it works for you... as I'm sure we all will.
 
Keni

I initially had issues with my 44VSL as well. Worked great in stand-alone softsynths, but failed to work properly in Sonar X1. I finally resolved my issues by switching to a different USB port and following this recipe:

1) Unplug 44VSL
2) Uninstall drivers.
3) Reboot.
4) Reinstall drivers and DO NOT PLUG IN 44VSL until requested by the driver installer.
5) Set 44VSL to 44.1/24bit.
6) Either disable 44VSL in Windows or set Windows to use output 3/4 @ 44.1/24 bit. Disable recording in Windows.
7) Reboot.
8) Start Sonar.
9) Run Wave Profiler.
10) Set Sonar audio settings to 44.1/24 bit. Apply and restart Sonar.
11) Rerun Wave Profiler one more time.

If you still have issues, try a different USB port and start again. Presonus's driver is VERY picky about which USB port works well. I have had no issues since I did this and it has been almost 6 weeks of steady use.

Good Luck!

Dan

Okay I got off work late and fell asleep as I was about to post. Awake for now but am posting this then off to slumberland. I have had multiple issues with the 44vsl. Do a search for maestro72 posts. Current issue is this as posted to presonus reps: Me, "So far everything, after much effort configuring, has been working ok. Today however when I connected the 44vsl to my laptop and attempt to playback from my DAW, Sonar Producer X1, I have no sound from my monitors. Meters are going as they should with playback just no sounds from monitors or headphones. Both are turned up on the 44vsl. I have change nothing since the last time I connected yesterday. I get meter readings in the vsl interface as well as Sonar whether strumming my guitar or playing back recorded material. Mixer is turned to VSL. When I turn away from VSL on the mixer knob I can hear me strumming the guitar through my monitors and headphone, still no playback. I had installed the latest drivers and firmware on presonus' site a coupe of weeks ago and all was fine until tonight. I have restarted my laptop, turned power off and on to the vsl, disconnected and tried different usb ports on my laptop from the 44vsl. Nothing has worked. I am coming close to returning this product to musician's friend as I am coming near the point of their 45 day return policy. I have been very frustrated with this product and am more often riddled with problems and attempting to overcome them than I am enjoying playing music. I am tired of coming into my studio, firing everything up only to have my creative flow come to a halt because I am having to fix an issue with this thing. TO add, I just finished uninstalling the vsl44 drivers from my system and re-installed them. No change and my situation is the same as above. USB sync light is blue as it always has been." Presonus, "Hi Brian, Have you opened the AudioBox VSL application on your computer? Is the VSL mixer on or off? If you playback audio from your computer making sure the AudioBox is the default audio device, does it playback in iTunes or Windows Media Player? Is your audio device properly setup in Sonar X1? Are you using the latest patch from Sonar, X1d?" Me, "VSL is open and on. Audiobox is set to default device. WMP does not make sounds through the monitors with audiobox set as default device. If I change defauld device back to my laptop sound card wmp will play through my laptop speakers. Recorded material on Sonar X1 is not audible either through my monitors or laptop speakers in either configuration. I am using X1 d build 533. 64 bit. I have not been able to successfully use ASIO drivers with Sonar. I am attaching screen shots and you can see how I have tracks input routed from InputLeft line 1/2 and out to Master. The Master is routed to Stereo Line Out 3/4. When I play back I get moving led's in my master fader. The DAW faders in VSL move. I have switched back to ASIO drivers in Sonar to see if that was the issue even though nothing had changed since the last time I used my system. That did not work. I changed back to the settings as you see now as it was working before yesterday. I tried unchecking line 3/4 and only using line 1/2 in the output drivers, also the other way around. None of this has worked." Presonus, "Hi Brian, I see that you are using WDM as the driver output. What happens if you use ASIO? Hi Brian, I miss read your email. I see that you did try it with ASIO. It seems that the device itself might have some issues with it. Are you able to get it exchanged by musicians friend? If so, I would get in contact with them to see if they can help you further. If not, below is the RA process we have with our company. This process will be a warranty repair and we will cover all parts, labor, and return shipping of your unit." Links to screenshots of my setup I sent to presonus: http://support.presonus.c...2ukk/?name=devices.png http://support.presonus.c...me=driver+settings.png http://support.presonus.c...eack+and+recording.png http://support.presonus.c...rack+input+routing.png

WOW!

Thanks for the incredible detail.

Yeah - I would take it back at this point, too.  I have their AudioBox 1818VSL, and after getting through the setup it works really well with further fuss of any kind.  8 mic inputs, as well.

I just invested about 100 posts back and forth with someone and finally concluding that the drivers for their interface just plain old suck.  (Roland UA-25).

Bob Bone

Hi maestro...

Yes... I think he might have nailed it for you... If all this is happening it's very possible you have a defective piece of gear and should exchange it... If the same problem happens then there is something "wrong" somewhere in your system as their gear works fine everywhere I've installed it...

Install of any of them is always a bit different but mostly the same...

As does Bob, I have the 1818VSL which installed fine first time and has been no problem since. I've used a lot of their' gear in different places/systems/circumstances with excellent results so I hope you don't sour on them due to these problems... My SSL/Soundscape was a pain to install many years ago but once in and working stayed fine for me and still do... I expect no less from the Presonus device(s)...

I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time of this and hope you can "laugh" it off after getting the new one...

Keep us updated...

Keni

Believe me I have laughed every time I get on this thing, the 44vsl, and a new issue has cropped up. Not necessarily a laugh of enjoyment or pleasure, sometimes more like a laugh of insanity as it slowly has slipped away over the last 4 weeks. I am however starting to feel a bit soured towards presonus. I have Tube Pre I bought a few years ago. After very little use the light in the meter needle would stop working. At first Just thought, "No big deal..." and just worked with it. After a while though I grew tired of squinting. Long story short I have contacted them about this and have been send a replacement 4 times. Each time the light goes out withing weeks of installing the new needle meter. The last time it went dark I went to radio shack and bought an led, the appropriate resistors to make the voltage correct to the new led and hacked into the meter and installed the new led with resistors in tow. While in the tube pre this time I made a very cool mod. I couldn't stand the fact that the unit does not come with a power on/off switch. You have to reach behind it to disconnect the power cable to turn it off. I installed a toggle switch to the front of the tube pre and wired it to the main power coming in. Now the tube pre has a power switch on the front I can turn it on and off without having to reach around and disconnecting it. If anyone is interested in a write up with pictures I will be glad to share as for me it has been an awesome mod. However after about 6 months of doing this the audio meter needle has stopped metering. The needle sits at zero and won't move. My led still works great though. Somehow having a lit up meter that doesn't move just isn't satisfying. The unit still works and the overload light still comes on indicating to back off the gain. Be nice to monitor real input level. So I'm just a bit soured by presonus at this point. Back to my original question; Oca-Capture, VS-100 or possible Zoom R16. I like the thought of external control with the VS-100 but probably eventually want more input capabilities. The Octa-capture has the inputs I'd like to have but I lose the controls with the VS-100. Also being able to scratch record without the lappy is enticing. The Zoom R16 seems to have it all. However I have no experience with Zoom and don't know how quality their product is. I could buy either the VS-100 or the Octa-capture and add the other later on as they can be linked. Bigger bucks. The Zoom with that price is attractive. I also feel since the other two are made by Roland that interface with Sonar should be a breeze. In the end my opinion is that if I have to spend more money and get better use of my time creating and enjoying my music and recording this is a much better situation than saving dollars yet spending time working on and working around issues with something that is subpar. I can save money with the Zoom but is there quality in the product? Or if the Roland unit will be superior I have no quams about putting out a bit more bank up front. I can just get either the Octa-capture or the VS-100 now and add the other later. Thoughts?