So how does anybody feel about USB audio interfaces for either computer platform? What's working? What's lacking? I'd like to hear some personal experiences before I zero in on a product.
Comments
Well, Doc and Opus have done yeoman work on the Tascam forum in
Well, Doc and Opus have done yeoman work on the Tascam forum in getting the US-438 working and defending its, uh, virtues.
As Doc noted, the 24-bit WDM drivers don't work yet, but as a digital I/O and MIDI interace it works fine.
Nevertheless, I don't wax quite as enthusiastically, since a control surface has not been coming for Cakewalk (even with the good Doc's work). That is supposed to be forthcoming in the Sonar upgrade in about a month, but who knows..?
That said, I just got a VM3100 Pro for $400 and an RPC-1 for $230. Eight tracks in and out, with great effects (in addition to SONAR's), with M-Audio producing the card and drivers.
And with that kind of system (which already interfaces beautifully as a control surface with SONAR), the Blue Amoeba is going to be sitting under a desk, acting as only a digital I/O for my laptop.
Unless, of course, some one wants to make me an offer I can't refuse..... :p
I've been using the Tascam US-428 with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9, and
I've been using the Tascam US-428 with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9, and now Sonar on a PC. This combo works well at 16 bit, although I've had problems with 24 bit (not working). You get 4 audio streams in and 2 out, and 2 midi ports, sounds good, pretty good bang for the buck ratio, IMO.