Product Description

Small enough to fit in your pocket, Transit brings hi-resolution 24-bit/96kHz recording and playback to any USB-compatible computer. Digital I/O lets you transfer pristine audio between your computer and other devices such as MiniDisc and DAT. The digital output can deliver AC-3 and DTS from your computer to an external decoder such as a surround receiver. And the bus-powered design allows you play and record virtually anywhere your laptop can go. Transit is your ticket to ride. Features:Mobile 24-bit/96kHz USB audio upgradeStereo analog/optical digital input (1/8? )Stereo line/headphone output (1/8?)TOSlink optical digital output allows AC-3 and DTS pass-throughAccommodates self-powered stereo microphones ... Read more

Features

• Transfer pristine digital audio between your computer and other devices such as MiniDisc and DAT
• Digital output can deliver AC3 and DTS from your computer to an external surround processor or receiver
• Bus-powered design lets you play and record virtually anywhere your laptop can go
• 1/8 Stereo Analog / Optical Digital Input
• 1/8 Stereo Line / Headphone Output

Reviews (5)

Terrific sound but not for novices
It's small, requires no power cord, has no buttons, and has a 104dB s/n ratio and almost no harmonic distortion -- yes!The moment I installed this on my Dell Latitude D600, I could hear a marked improvement in bass clarity and overall imaging.

Now the drawbacks: The software is not so hot.You cannot adjust its output and there is no equalizer.Plus I had a huge driver issue and tech support had no idea how to solve it.I had to do three hours of serious technical detective work (Windows driver version numbers, service packs, system files, etc.) to fix it.(Turn out it was an issue was with XP's USB drivers... surprise!)

Furthermore, it cannot monitor its own line-in.Thus you cannot use the line-in jack to, say, play another audio source through your speakers.

Still, the simplicity of the device and its sound quality won me over.Recommended.

Tranist USB small device, big results
The Transit USB helped me achieve the goal of getting digital pastrhough from my powerbook to reciever.The deivce does a great job of passing DTS and Dolby signals directly through the optical port.The tricky part is setting up the device, the manual is lacking in many areas.Also, rather than use the drivers that ship with the device download the newest one from M-audio.The driver that shipped with mine was over a year old, and did not fully support OS X 10.3.7.Also the manual fails to mention that the Transit USB device creates it own settings icon under OS X, rather than adjust the device through the "sound" or "audio MIDI" control panels, use the "transit" control panel.Overall the sound quality has been great, very crisp, no added static and the digital pass through has worked great.Just don't foget to change the Apple DVD player to "Digital output" from "system sound" to take advantage of the DTS and Dolby signals.Overall a great device to allow digital audio output from a Mac

Driver problems
I bought this unit to replace a first generation Xitel unit. The main problem I am having with the M-Audio box is that if the iBook is restarted, the device driver does not show up. One has to unplug and plug in the USB cable to get it to show up. I should have bought the upgraded Xitel HiFi Pro unit instead (which comes with a full set of cables). This unit does not come with a fiber optic cable, the Xitel unit does, and is about the same price.

Transit: Proceed with Caution
Bought an M-Audio Transit to replace a Griffin iMic, whose sound quality was not acceptable, on a Macintosh G4 titanium PowerBook 667 MHz (1 GB RAM, OS 9.2.2 and 10.3.4).

Transit hardware: Excellent. Meets its wonderful specs.
M-Audio Mac OS 9 driver software: Garbaggio. Totally non-functional and not very stable.
M-Audio Mac OS X driver software: Works for us, not for others.

The Mac OS 9 software is unusable junk: neither the input level controls nor level meters of most software will operate with the Transit, though the same software works fine with the (inferior, audio-wise) Griffin iMic, and Apple built-in hardware on other Mac models. Software which will not work with the Transit and its current drivers (we tried both 1.5.4 and 1.5.1) include: Coaster 1.1.3, Amadeus II 3.7.2, Sound Studio 2.0.7, and the OS 9.2.2 Sound control panel. All these are standard Sound Manager-compliant software packages that work stably and well with everything except the Transit. Only the output of the Transit seems to work under OS 9.

During the week of troubleshooting and emailing, M-Audio support recommended using software which supports ASIO drivers, avoiding the Apple Sound Manager. They recommended BIAS Peak LE. We tried the demo of Peak LE 3.2, which was so wildly unstable that we were unable to perform meaningful tests.

We had acceptable results with OSeX Panther 10.3.4, though other OSeX users have not (details on xlr8yourmac.com). Proceed with caution, and make sure you can return the Transit if you cannot make it workable on your system.

Wishing everyone trouble-free audio input and output,

))Sonic(( (and unnamed friend)

Best Solution
Everyone who wants digital audio on his Macintosh is best served with this device. I tried a lot of solutions when I wrote an article about audio devices for DVD playback for Macworld Germany, and Transit is definitely the best of them, specially if someone wants to connect his Mac (PowerBook, iMac, everything with USB ports) with an amplifier that has optical digital input. I use transit now for month and so far had never problems on my Flatpanel iMac. ... Read more

Product Description

Now compatible with ProTools M-Powered SoftwareFireWire Audiophile is a compact, FireWire-compatible audio/MIDI interface that takes the legacy of M-Audio's award-winning Audiophile line to the next level. 4 x 6 audio I/O combines with powerful on-board mixing in a mobile package that's perfect for live performance, home recording, and digital DJ work. Stereo headphone output with A/B switching between assignable sources allows precuing for DJs and mobile musicians - and the assignable aux bus is perfect for creating dedicated headphone mixes and effect sends. You also get zero-latency hardware direct monitoring, ultra-low latency ASIO software direct monitoring, and 1 x 1 MIDI I/O. FireWire Audiophile even has AC-3 and DTS passthrough for surround sound playback.Features4 x 6 24-bit/96kHz I/O2 x 4 analog operation (RCA)digital S/PDIF (coaxial) I/O w/ 2-channel PCMdigital out also supports AC-3/DTS surround soundheadphone output with dedicated level controlflexible software-controlled mixing of hardware and software I/Oaux sends on all channels and aux output assign allows for dedicated headphone mixes and sends to external effectsuser-assignable front-panel level control (output, input, software return, aux send)zero-latency hardware direct monitoringlow-latency ASIO software direct monitoringmomentary switch for A/Bing two software-assignable headphone sources or switching ASIO monitoring on/off1 x 1 16-chann... ... Read more

Features

• 4X6 I/O
• ASIO, WDM, GSIF and Core Audio support
• Assignable dual stereo headphone jack with robust level output and a dedicated control
• Software mixing panel with aux send for creating a separate submix
• Hardware direct monitoring

Reviews (2)

Great audio interface at a great price!
Awsome for the price! This box is the key component in my home recording studio. Its a 24-bit interface and is up to its specs.I use it for studio recording doing track-at-a-time recording and a high end studio mic, and this box introduces nothing - just as it should!The hardware controls are simple and the software interface provides lots of easy-to-understand control over mixing and routing.

Plus, it comes with a limited version of Live Delta which is an extremely versatile and powerful program that can be used for multi-track recording, live DJ clip-sessions, and much more. It took me a week to go through this software and learn all its ins and outs, and when I was done, I sprung for the $225 upgrade to the full version. The M-Audio box cost $150, so for $375 I had a powerful hardware/software solution for a home studio that cost less than the price of the software alone ($500). A great deal!

There's a warning about not connecting to your computer when its turned on which is dissapointing.FireWire is supposed to be hot-pluggable.But, with my laptop, it works fine if I just close the cover so it goes to sleep, plug in the M-Audio box, turn on the box, and then wake up the laptop.

Up and running in less than 15 minutes!
First impressions of this unit are stellar. I owned the PCI version of this card and was very happy with it. I fried it by accident. It gave me a good excuse to upgrade. The pricing on this unit is actually LESS than what I paid for the PCI card about 2 years ago. The Delta Control Panel interface is redesigned completely. But it doen't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The frequency response is a few db better than the original too, which I like. I like the extra 1394 port to plug in my harddrive. You have to turn on the interface to get the harddrive to activate in Windows "My Computer" though. A "refresh" of My Computer is also required if you plug in the drive after booting. What I like especially over the PCI version is the GREAT DRIVERS. They actually come ON THE PROVIDED CD. Whoopee!! NO "dowload the latest driver at, blah blah blah!" ... Read more

Product Description

Now compatible with ProTools M-Powered SoftwareThe Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high fidelity soundcard solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multitrack recording to computer-based home theatre. Analog I/O is available on RCA jacks, utilizing the same professional 24-bit 96kHz conversion as the Delta 44 and Delta 66 cards. S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O provide connectivity to both digital devices and the world of MIDI. The Audiophile 2496 includes a powerful digital mixer/router, and control over SCMS (Serial Copy Management System). Delta cards support all computer platforms and major software programs.Minimum System Requirements for PC. Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or NT4. Pentium II 266MHz - (96kHz operation). Pentium 200 MMX - (48kHz or less). 128 MB of PC100 RAM - (96kHz operation). 64 MB of SDRAM - (48kHz or less). UDMA EIDE or SCSI HDD. Minimum System Requirements for Mac. G4, G3 or G3 accelerator. System 8.5.1 or above. 128 MB RAM for 96kHz operation. 96 MB RAM for 48kHz operation. ... Read more

Features

• LP/cassette-to-CD transfers
• The Audiophile 2496 PCI Audio Card from MIDIMAN provides wide range of applications for recording and playback, from stereo to home-theater
• 24-bit 96 kHz multitrack recording
• MIDI recording and playback
• Digital transfers and Digital mastering

Product Description

Fast Track USB is the easiest way to record your guitar with professional results. Just connect Fast Track USB to the USB port of your computer and you?re ready to rock. Fast Track USB has an input for instruments like guitar, bass and keyboards, plus a microphone input for recording vocals or other acoustic sounds. The included GT Player Express software gives you killer effects and virtual stomp boxes so you don?t need any other gear to sound great. It also plays standard audio files like AAC, MP3 and WAV that let you learn and jam along with your favorite music at variable speeds.easy to connect and useprofessional 24-bit/48kHz sounddynamic microphone input (XLR) with gain control and signal LEDsswitchable instrument/line input (1/4?)stereo headphone output (1/8?)stereo output jacks (RCA)level control for headphones and main outputsUSB class-compliant for plug-and-play operation under OS X 10.3.5USB bus-powereddirect hardware monitoring for synchronized overdubsmono switch sends input signal equally to left and right channelsincludes GT Player software: professional effects; guitar amp and stomp box modeling; plays standard MP3 and WAV files with variable speed playback; standalone operation with ReWire or VST plug-in ... Read more

Features

• Compatible with GarageBand and most other recording software; 1-year warranty
• USB audio interface for recording guitar and vocals on Mac or PC music software
• Dynamic microphone input (XLR) with gain control and signal LEDs
• Switchable 1/4-inch instrument/line input and 1/8-inch stereo headphone output
• Includes GT Player Express software for professional effects and stomp box modeling

Reviews (2)

Great unit with the Mac and podcasting
I have had ZERO problems with this unit. It's plug and play on my Apple G4 tower running OS X (Panther) as well as my PowerBook G4. I use the Fast Track with Audio Hijack Pro, Detour , Soundflower, Audacity and it works like a charm. The only thing lacking is phantom power for a microphone, which I solved with an ART tube preamp which you can get on Amazon for about $50 U.S.

Hmmm not quite sure!!!????
I ve given this 1 star because i cant get it to work properly with my ibook!. Not sure about windows users though. It doesnt work with any of my programs , guitar rig , gt express (which comes bundled with the product!!!!!) and garage band. The company advertises this product as perfect for garageband. I've also read in other forums that the low latency is rubbish. Buy at your own peril!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Features

• 2 XLR-fed phantom-powered mic inputs with inserts
• 2 line level inputs(switchable to guitar level)
• 16 channels of MIDI I/O
• Adjustable zero-latency direct monitoring
• Two line outputs and headphone output with level control

Product Description

Revolution 7.1 is the ultimate audio upgrade for your PCI-based computer. Play DVDs and all your music in surround sound, make games more realistic, and record or mix your own music. ... Read more

Features

• Full support for Microsoft Windows Media Audio 9 Professional
• Output for up to 7 powered speakers plus powered subwoofer
• 7.1 places speakers both beside and behind the listener, for an incredible immersive sound experience
• Includes Dolby Digital EX DVD Player software for Windows
• Also supports 4.1, 5.1 & 6.1 formats

Reviews (9)

Great card for audiophiles
If you switch from a Creative to this card you will notice a dramatic change in music quality, especially if you listen in a lossless format (.wav, .flac, .ape). The clarity and depth of music is amazing. The only downside is there is no equalization control with the driver software. But since most audio playing software already has EQ this isn't really a problem. After adjust EQ in Winamp and iTunes it does the job great. This card isnt really good for gamers but at this price you can afford a 2nd card just for games

Music - WOW!Games - NO!
If you're primary concern is music and you don't play any games AND you have a FAST (2Ghz processor +), this is the best sound card you can buy for the $$.If you play any games which need EAX support, don't even think about buying this card.Buy yourself an Audigy 2 ZS and be happy.Finally--your PC needs a fast processor--this thing takes some speed.

I upgraded from a SB Live 5.1 to this card and my Logitech Z-560's sound amazing now...they were good before, but now there is so much more depth and clarity, its amazing!!

M-Audio, or how about....
I've been looking around for an el cheapo sound card, and I came across this M-Audio 7.1 card (I know, not exactly cheap). Anyways, this is not so much a review as it is buying advice and information. If you look at the used products for this card, there is a Chaintech 7.1 card being offered under this product listing. This sounded fishy to me so I looked into this card. Turns out, the M-Audio is very similar to this Chaintech sound card, using the same audio processor; the Envy24HT chipset. However, the M-Audio supports true 24 bit sound on the analog outputs, whereas the cheaper Chaintec is limited to 18 bit on the analog outs. (the analog outs are where the typical PC speakers are connected to). But, this gets more confusing. First, the Chaintec can support 24 bit/192 khz sound on analog, but only in 2.1 speaker mode, whereas the M-audio can do it 2,4,5,or 7.1 speaker mode. But this is only for the analog output. Why you ask? Well, the analog signal must pass through a DAC, or digital to analog converter in order to translate the audio signal for playback, and the M-Audio uses a better DAC than the Chaintec for channels 1-6. However, the Chaintec uses a better DAC on channels 7-8 (the Wolfgang DAC) hence it can support true 24/192 sound on these two channels. Aside from this analog issue, the M-Audio is known to have problems on its SPDIF output (this is the output on the card that connects to a digital connection like coax or toslink). So, for people who want a sound card to connect to your receiver or an amp, this becomes a drawback (although M-Audio is working on a fix for this problem through soon to be released drivers). Practially speaking, it's not a huge problem, but it'll bug audiophiles because the digital output on the M-Audio does not have native support for ASIO. (ASIO is a high end feature that playsback audio without any resampling; hence it's pure and unmolested). The Chaintec uses a toslink digital out which fully supports 24/192 sound just like the M-Audio. Using the SPDIF on the Chaintec also supports ASIO mode for bit-perfect playback, although you need an external software wrapper like ASIO4ALL to do this, plus it requires a good amount of configuration. (This can done on the M-Audio as well). For the really ambitious, there's even a bios flash program for the Chaintec that can change its native drivers into a Prodigy 7.1 card, hence full native support for ASIO without the need for a third-party wrapper. (But if you figure out how to flash the card into a virtual Prodigy 7.1 card, you lose all analog functionality). So, while the M-Audio may be a better card for analog use, it still costs about 5x the amount of the Chaintec and the digital out is no better than the Chaintec. If you only need the digital output on a sound card, the Chaintec is by far the best bang for your buck. All in all, the research I've done points to the Audiotrack Prodigy 7.1 as the best overall consumer card. (But all of these cards based on the Envy24HT chipset lack hardware acceleration, so hardcore gamers may want to stick to Creative). The Prodigy is about the same price as the M-Audio and it has all of its strengths, but it also has full native support for ASIO. The Prodigy also has better DAC's for analog outputs than the Chaintec.

So, in summary this M-Audio is a good card. But I'd go with the Prodigy 7.1 instead as it's about the same price. For those who are especially cheap or poor or only need the digital out on a sound card, then the Chaintec is the way to go. I ordered it online for under 25 bux with free shipping. Don't be fooled by its generric brand, this is a powerful card with many options, but don't expect much documentation or support on the Chaintec; internet forums notwithstanding. In conclusion, I think it may be worthwhile to do some research on the Chaintech and the Prodigy before shelling out big bux for this M-Audio or any other brand.

Great Product
I just purchased this product and installed it on my PowerBook running Panther.While the bundled drivers were a bit buggy (volume control didn't work, etc.).I dind't have any kernal panics, however after looking through M-Audio's webisite a bit, I found an updated driver for Panther which is now working perfectly.The sound quality is great (although turning on the virtual surround mode decreases quality) and the product configuration options and features are as good as you'll find in any external card at this price.

Not Mac Compatable as you may think
If you are running Panther on a Power Mac system, then I would not get this card.The crappy drivers causes kernal panics within a few minutes of starting the system.I contacted their "Tech Support" and got nowhere fast.It seems that they are more interested in making excuses and finger points to oters as to why their card doesn't work.Then they go on to basicly say "Tough luck for now.We will have new drivers for you soon"but they don't say when, if ever, that they will have them.
It has been two weeks since Panther has comeout and there has been nothing from them.All their other products have Panther updates, why not the Revolution? ... Read more

Product Description

The UA-1X is a simple USB audio interface designed to offer component-quality audio signals to and from your computer. It features RCA jacks I/O plus S/PDIF optical output, and a headphone jack for direct monitoring of your signals. Ideal for use with laptops where audio quality is often ignored, for archiving, and applications requiring portability. ... Read more

Features

• Perfect for archiving audio on your computer, or playing it back from the computer through your home stereo
• Delivers component quality audio signals to and from your computer
• Sends digital signals with an S/PDIF optical output
• RCA jack input/output connectivity
• Headphone jack for direct monitoring and private listening

Reviews (1)

Buyer Beware - Not a good line-in option
This device offers practically no control of line-level inputs. I purchased the UA-1X and was very disappointed. I had hoped to use it with my laptop as a line-in. However, I found the unit completely bypassed the Mixer in Windows, so no level adjustments could be made in XP. The unit has a two level input gain switch, but I found with the unit connected to the preamp out on my preamplifier that the high gain setting resulted in excessive clipping, and the low gain setting was too low. Practically useless as an line-in unless you have a separate external gain control to adjusted the level prior to going into the UA-1X. I would not recommend at all as a line-in. I am returning and searching for another device. ... Read more

Product Description

The Audiophile 192 continues the legacy of M-Audio?s industry-standard Delta audio card line. Building on the Audiophile 2496 - one of the world?s most popular audio cards - the Audiophile 192 features high-definition 192kHz sampling rate, digital I/O, balanced analog I/O and an amazing signal-to-noise ratio. The Audiophile 192 represents a new benchmark in audio performance that?s as good as it gets for music production, mastering and critical listening. As with all Delta cards, you get rock-solid drivers and seamless integration with your favorite Mac and PC applications?and even the ability to combine multiple Delta cards in one system*. And since M-Audio is always ahead of the pack, this world-class card is also compliant with PCI 2.2 and 64-bit audio drivers so you?re ready to take advantage of next-generation platforms and software. The Audiophile 192 is the new world-class standard in stereo audio cards.up to 24-bit/192kHz audio2 balanced analog inputs (1/4? TRS)2 balanced analog outputs (1/4? TRS)S/PDIF digital I/O (coaxial RCA connectors) with 2-channel PCMSCMS copy protection controldigital I/O supports surround-encoded AC-3 and DTS pass-through**direct hardware input monitoring via separate balanced 1/4? TRS monitor outputssoftware routing of inputs and outputsdigital I/O can be routed to/from external effects16-channel MIDI I/OASIO, WDM, GSIF 2 and Core Audio driver support for compatibility with most applications64-bit driver support ... ... Read more

Features

• Up to 24-bit/192kHz audio
• 2 x 2 balanced 1/4" TRS analog I/O
• S/PDIF digital I/O with 2-channel PCM and surround
• Direct hardware input monitoring via separate balanced 1/4" TRS monitor inputs
• 16-channel MIDI I/O

Product Description

Mbox, Digidesign's Pro Tools LE-based portable micro studio, offers novices and pros alike command of any project and full session compatibility with other Pro Tools systems, from Digi 001 to Pro Tools|HD. In addition, Mbox features a Pro Tools LE-based interface inspired by the same award-winning software used by professionals worldwide. With its spectrum of features, Mbox ? Digi's most inexpensive Pro Tools LE product ? works hand in hand with your creativity to bring your ideas to life.The EssentialsMbox is a full-featured, USB-powered studio-in-a-box that works with your Window XP- or Mac OS X-based computer to give you a compact, portable, professional-quality audio production system. Comprised of a small, upright I/O unit and featuring two Focusrite mic preamps, Mbox works in conjunction with your computer and your Pro Tools LE software to provide the firepower necessary for quality results. Complementing Mbox's analog and digital I/O, Pro Tools LE software offers 32 tracks of simultaneous record and playback, 128 virtual tracks, 256 MIDI tracks, and a host of additional features. As with all Pro Tools systems, it also ships with a variety of free bundled software tools and plug-ins. From beginning to end, Mbox places you in an ideal position to realize any project.EnhancersWhile Mbox is fully functional in and of itself, many products are available to increase the scope and performance of your Mbox-based Pro Tools LE environment. High-powered RTAS (... ... Read more

Features

• USB Audio I/O with ProTools LE Software. 2 analog
• ins & outs, featuring Focusrite mic pres; S/PDIF;
• 48V phantom power; Hi-Z Input; 2 TRS Inserts;
• Balanced/unbalanced connections; Headphone out;
• USB Powered; source select & gain per channel.

Reviews (4)

Pres don't have much headroom, but OK for pop recording
I had high expectations for the Mbox, mostly because of the Focusrite pre-amps, but was very disappointed.Tried it for recording classical chamber music w/ small diaphram omni spaced pair in a hall that has really outstanding acoustics.Biggest problem is the lack of headroom - makes it next to impossible to set good levels for music with a large dynamic range.Also had intermittent problems with stutter, which may be solvable with different cache settings, but I'd already decided the package wouldn't be right for me, and wanted to return it before wasting more time figuring how to tweak it.Plan to try the Presonus Firebox, once it's been reviewed.If it's anything like their Firepod, the pres should be excellent, and the firewire interface should be more stable than USB.

solid package, awful customer service, compatibility issues
I never got to use this package, but it looks pretty solid. PLEASE check this page before you buy Digidesign's Mbox package:

http://digidesign.com/compato/xp/mbox/

I tried installing on a brand-new Dell desktop with 512MB RAM, twin SATA 160GB hard drives, and a 2.8 Ghz processor.It didn't work.The above-referenced page (which I wish someone had told me about before the purchase) informed me of a chipset compatibility issue which effectively makes the entire package useless on my computer.Digidesign's customer service is WORSE than you've heard; I sent them numerous e-mails asking if there was an update coming that would fix the problem, and I NEVER heard back from them.So I have no idea when or if there's a fix in the works.

For what it's worth, I sold the Mbox and bought Cubase SE and a PreSonus Firebox, and am very happy with my setup (but it was more expensive than the Mbox package).So, go ahead and purchase this one, just make sure your equipment will work with it first!

Oh yes, one other thing: someone somewhere complained about ProTools needing 2 hard drives to function properly... don't blame ProTools; any decent recording package is going to want a separate drive for data.

Digidesign proves again why they are the best
The Mbox is fantastic, hands down.Along with my Powerbook, it gives me a 100% portable recording studio.The microphone preamps are very good, especially for such a streamlined interface.Along with the included Pro Tools LE software, this product combination is absolutely dependable and flawless.No, Pro Tools will not work with another interface, and no, the Mbox will not work with any other software.That said, the advantage is that you will never have configuration or communication errors with this product.I plugged it in and was up and running in less than 10 minutes, and half an hour after the box was opened, I had put together a four track a capella recording and was mixing in reverbs.Combined with the fact that it is the most lowest priced Pro Tools package on the market, this is a no-brainer for anyone doing music production.I use it in combination with Final Cut Pro to do my soundtrack work, and also use it at clubs to plug directly into the mixing board for live recordings.If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Works pretty flawlessly
This box is sweeet! I've been doing digital and audio musicmaking for about 12 years, I used to work exclusively in analog (4-track Tascams). I finally broke down and got this to use on my pc laptop. This thing allows me to hook up my old XLR Shure mics, my electric guitar and just about anything else I want.

The interface is idiotproof, I was hesitant about getting into the whole digital thang, but now I'm sold. I can take this baby, my laptop (PC), my guitar and a microphone and I've got my own recording studio. It comes with Protools, which is pretty good, although I prefer to work in Audition . . .( I used to be a CoolEdit fiend). The thing I like about this is it's portability. It's 1 lb if that, and I've brought it all around the country doing shows . . . I'm setup in less than 30 seconds. Awesome.

For the amount of circuitry that must be in this thing, I've never had any problems. It's well worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description

Designed by TASCAM and Frontier Design Group, the US-224 is the newest innovation in interfacing and control for your computer audio and MIDI system. Portable and incredibly affordable, the US-224 connects your audio to your DAW software via a USB port that's compatible for both Mac and Windows computers. It's also the complete solution for your portable recording needs, at a price that won't slow you down. Since it's self-powered via USB, you can connect it to your laptop for a complete studio you can take anywhere.The US-224's cool purple control surface gives you more than just mouseclicks for your DAW software. Like it's big brother, the immensely popular US-428, the US-224 gives you real tactical controls like faders, transports, mutes and solos, panning and more. Plug in a guitar, mic or keyboard and get two channels of audio I/O in 16 or 24 bit quality, as well as 16 channels of MIDI I/O. Best of all, it's USB...just plug in and go. No cards to install, no need to take your computer apart.The US-224 comes with a custom version of Steinberg's Cubasis VST for Windows and Mac OS. With eight channels of audio and 16 MIDI tracks, it's a perfect all-in-one setup for anyone getting into the world of computer audio recording. High-quality 24-bit audio with two inputs and two outputsSelf-powered USB interface compatible with Mac and PCFour faders, transport/locate controls, data wheel and more for control of DAW parameters16-channel MIDI In/Out interfac... ... Read more

Features

• Eight channels of audio and 16 MIDI tracks
• 16-channel MIDI In/Out interface
• Four faders, transport/locate controls, data wheel and more for control of DAW parameters
• Self-powered USB interface compatible with Mac and PC
• High-quality 24-bit audio with two inputs and two outputs

Reviews (2)

Excellent little audio interface
Works flawlessly under OS X. Nice and compact, great sound quality. When I upgraded to OS X 10.4 (from 10.3), it seemed to stop working. I emailed Tascam support and got a reply in a few hours. As it was, I resolved the problem before I got their reply (a second reboot after re-installing the drivers fixed it). Anyway, I was really pleased that they responded so quickly. Makes it all the more likely that I'll upgrade to the FW-1884 instead of switching brands.

Really good but it could be a big pain to setup and maintain
This is the first attempt I took at multitrack recording.I didn't realize how hard it was to setup computers for recording audio.If you are expecting to just plug this into your computer and instantly have a home recording studio, you may be painfully suprised.

I have read several reviews on this particular product and it seems like there have been mixed reviews.Some people got it to work flawlessy on the first try, some couldn't get it to work at all, and others got it to work after lots and lots of frustration.

The last scenario would be me.Ever since I set this up I've been having problems with it skipping during recording.It's really annoying.That is the only problem I've had though.I have revamped my whole computer several times to try and get it to stop skipping and I haven't had any success yet.

My computer has much better specs than what the minimum requirements on the box say too.If you are not very computer literate, I definitely would not recommend this product.If you are like most people who have used this product, you're gonna have problems that need fixed and you're gonna have to know your way around the computer to be able to fix them.

If this intimates you, I would suggest getting a stand alone multitrack recording unit instead.There are lots available.They have all the same capablities of this program, but you won't have to plug it into a computer.You just plug in your intruments, plug into a wall, and start recording.I've never used one personally but I imagine they would be less of a pain since they are already set up to work properly without any gliches.The only downside is that you won't have a nice big screen to navigate around your songs with.Many of the affordable standalone units have a little screen for you to try and see what's going on.I imagine that would be pretty annoying.

There are lots of websites around that have been made by people who are very experienced in the art of home recording.I would do my research before jumping into buying this.Make sure that you see all your options.I didn't do as much research as I should have.If I were to do it over, I think I would have got a standalone unit.

Once you get this thing to work right though, it is really good.You can get some really high quality recordings with it.The price is really good compared to other options also. ... Read more

Product Description

For the traveling musician, the PCR1 offers the vast majority of options you've come to expect from a high-end sound card as well as a 25-key controller that feels great under your fingers. The PCR1 draws its power directly from the computer, so now you can compose, sequence, record, playback your music anywhere you can take your computer. After all, the beach is a much more inspiring place to write than your living room.The mobile DJ will appreciate that the PCR1 can use the same control maps as its big brothers in the PCR series of keyboards. Over 80 control maps for various applications & hardware devices are already available for download from the Edirol website. The PCR1 measures just 1-3/16 inches thick & weighs a mere 2 lbs. 11 oz and comes with its own gigbag, making it easy to carry from place to place with your performance rig. It also includes a Kensington lock port, so that you can keep it from getting up and walking away while you're busy diggin' through crates of records.The home-recording musician will love the PCR1 for its 24-bit/96kHz audio performance capability & the very light foot-print it leaves on your desktop. Whether working with software synths or powerful sequencing applications, the PCR1 offers an incredible set of features and superior quality in the most tightly compact keyboard & audio interface available. The PCR1 is equipped with: Extremely compact, light-weight design:The PCR-1 is just over one inch th... ... Read more

Features

• 25 assignable controllers - The PCR-1 offers 8 assignable knobs & 6 assignable buttons. There is a shift button to change the function of the 8 knobs & 3 of the 6 assignable buttons for a total of 25 controllable parameters
• RCA Input, RCA, 1/8 Headphone/Optical output
• Includes PCR-Editor & Gigbag

Reviews (1)

Awesome right out of the BOX
I purchased the PCR-1 and it came in from shipping just a few days ago.

Here's a few things that might be good to know for someone considering to buy one of these:

1.With my Windows XP laptop, it was a delight to open the box, put in the CD, install the drivers (NOT digitally signed by Microsoft but it shouldn't be a problem) and just plug it into the USB.

2.The setup instructions are actually very readable and easy to understand in the provided manual.It guided me through setup and optimizing the performance and everything was ready within 5 minutes.

3.Opened up Fruity Loops and right out of the bat everything was set - I didn't have to "configure" a single button on the PCR-1.Yup - just press DEC (B1) or INC (B2) to select a track, and use the keyboard to play / record.

4.Headphone monitoring is actually 0 latency.I used to get frustrated with using a SoundBlaster Platinum Pro 5.1 on my desktop with a Midiman 4x4 and my Korg Karma - the setup was never functional to my liking, and I would have to press a key on the Karma like half a second before I heard a sound on my speakers. This is so much better.Now I can use the sounds on my Karma, but have a lot more control over the software, plus I can go ANYWHERE with just my laptop and the PCR-1!

5.Reason responds pretty well to the PCR-1 also.I will play around with it a lot more. Without the PCR-1, Reason is the most unreasonably difficult software to use for composing directly.

6.The USB power thing actually works.There are no power surges, (and mind you laptop USB hubs aren't that great), and the device does not keep disconnecting and reconnecting like the stupid SoundBlaster USB MP3+.

7.Cons - no cons yet - just went to the Edirol website, downloaded new drivers and preset patches for my software - which I haven't had to install yet.

The only thing I haven't messed around with is the Editor software.I am sure it will be easy to use as well.

Later,
Tesh ... Read more

Product Description

24 bit 96khz 4 X 4 Audio card ... Read more

Features

• The Delta 44 includes everything you'll need to input and output 4 channels of analog audio from your computer, at an affordable price and at the pinnacle of 24-bit/96kHz fidelity
• The system is configured as a PCI host card connected to a sturdy external analog audio break-out box
• Break-out box provides 4 analog 1/4 audio input and output jacks, compatible with balanced or unbalanced, +4dB or -10dB signal levels
• Also included is Delta Control Panel software which controls the Delta 44's extensive routing, monitoring and mixing capabilities
• D/A specs - 103dB (A-weighted) dynamic range, 0.0015% THD @ OdBFS

Reviews (3)

Does not work with G5
DO NOT--- I repeat, DO NOT buy this pci card if you have a Mac G5.It is filled with pops and clicks.It IS NOT a reliable way to record/listen to audio.At first, it worked great with my pc, but when I had them alter the software for Mac G5 (for $50) it does not work hardly at all.Buy a firewire audio card if you have a G5.

Exactly what I was looking for
This card/box works perfectly for me, and does exactly what I need it to do.The software allows you to mix your channels down individually, and the quality of sound that is captured from the inputs and outputs is unbelievable.The 4 in/4 out was perfect for me as well, since I use a mixer to mix down all my tracks/instruments, I can send out two stereo outputs (a total a four LR) from my mixer in the main mix and from the alt mix.This card is exactly what you need for digital recording.

pops and clicks
This card is terrible.Do a search for Delta 44 and "pops and clicks" and you'll find hundreds of other people with the same problem as me: pops and clicks in the audio when recording.I have spent HOURS on the phone with them and tweaking my system and nothing works. ... Read more

Product Description

The UA-25 is a powerful USB Audio/MIDI interface designed to offer premium sound quality, rugged durability, and complete portability to the computer-based audio engineer. The UA-25 is compact enough to travel anywhere you can take your computer. It is designed using high-grade aluminum for the chassis, which offers two benefits: 1) The UA-25 can withstand hard impacts that are normally associated with traveling or working in the field, and 2) The aluminum is an excellent shield against high-frequency interference from other electrical components. The UA-25 is USB Powered, so you never have to plug it into a wall socket, but it manages to power condenser microphones with 48V Phantom Power. The Seasoned audio professional will love the UA-25 for its ability to output audio at +4dBu from the balanced 1/4â outputs, making it the best portable audio interface to pack between the field and the studio. ... Read more

Features

• USB Audio and MIDI interface

Reviews (1)

good entry-level unit
I recently got into digital/software recording, and was looking for an audio capture interface to perform tracking using PC software.Edirol UA-25 was an impulse buy for me, but for the most part, it paid off.

There are many features provided on with the interface.While the 24bit/96kHz I/O advertisement is misleading, tracking in 24-bit at 44.1kHz presents relatively few problems and the sound quality is acceptable.

In addition, the digital I/O allows uncompressed PCM stereo to be sent directly to recording software, allowing zero-latency recording (meaning, you will only have latency from your software, not from the unit).However, direct monitoring will be disabled if you plug in digital input (so you'll be forced to use software echo to monitor from your PC).

There are several (relatively) minor drawbacks.First, only one of the analog inputs provides a Hi-Z switch, meaning that you either have to use a direct box or two Lo-Z inputs to record a stereo signal or two audio sources.Not a big deal for me (I record digital signal from my floor processor), but annoying enough if you want to get into more sophisticated functions.

The hardware limiter, which applies light compression to the analog signal, is less than it's made out to be.An instrument-level guitar signal will be too soft playing single notes, but playing full chords will cause clipping even when the limiter is enabled.Because you can't define the parameters of the compression, you still have to reset the input trim for different parts of the song.Again, not a major issue, but leaves more to be desired.

Finally, the unit operates in 24-bit exclusively.On one hand, that seems like a positive feature.However, you must remember that having a 16-bit soundcard in addition to the UA-25 may prevent your software from operating in 24-bit due to compatibility issues.Using an old SoundBlaster Live Value, I ran into numerous bitrate conversion and dithering issues that cause nasty "digital noise" which sounds like clicks of a CD skipping.Make sure your other hardware is capable of 24-bit processing, before adding a UA-25 to your system - otherwise you may have to disable it.

The unit is USB-1, not a later version.This is more than enough to process two analog inputs and two-way MIDI in real-time, but again I ran into compatibility issues.The unit uses USB power exclusively, so having other USB-powered devices might cause less-than-perfect operating conditions.I bought a USB 2.0 4-port self-powered hub to deal with this issue, but unfortunately UA-25 produced loud, distorted, noisy signal when plugged into it.I'm guessing that happens due to legacy USB configuration, as none of my other USB devices had comparable problems.

Overall, I don't regret getting the UA-25.It allows me to do what I need to do - record a stereo guitar signal, either analog or digital.It'll also allow vocal recording when I get around to it, plus I can record direct instrument straight into my software.However, I highly recommend examining the market for alternatives to deal with the problems I presented above.
... Read more

Product Description

24 bit 96khz 6 X 6 Audio card with digital I/O ... Read more

Features

• The Delta 66 includes everything you'll need to input and output 4 channels of analog audio from your computer, at an affordable price and at the pinnacle of 24-bit/96kHz fidelity
• The system is configured as a PCI host card connected to a sturdy external analog audio break-out box offering 6 inputs & outputs(4 analog, 2 S/PDIF )
• Break-out box provides 4 analog 1/4 audio input and output jacks, compatible with balanced or unbalanced, +4dB or -10dB signal levels
• Also included is Delta Control Panel software which controls the Delta 66's extensive routing, monitoring and mixing capabilities
• D/A specs - 103dB (A-weighted) dynamic range, 0.0015% THD @ OdBFS

Product Description

Now compatible with ProTools M-Powered SoftwareFireWire 410 is a FireWire-compatible audio/MIDI interface that has it all - power, flexibility, compact size and low price. Its 4-in/10-out configuration with preamps is perfect for personal recording, routing discrete outputs to a mixer, or directly driving a surround sound system. The on-board ASIO 2-compliant mixer and software control panel provide total routing flexibility - including monitoring with external effects. You also get ultra-low latency software monitoring and zero latency hardware direct monitoring - and two headphone outs with independent level controls let you collaborate with a partner anywhere, anytime. FireWire 410 can even be completely bus-powered for total mobile operation*.Features2 x8 24-bit analog I/O192kHz output (output 1 and 2 only; 96kHz on others); 96kHz inputDigital I/O w/ S/PDIF, AC3 and DTS (coax and optical)1 x 1 MIDI I/OPowered via DC supply or FireWire bus*Dual mic/instruments preamps w/ gain control (66dB available gain) and phantom power2 headphone outs w/ individual level controlsLow-latency software monitoring; zero-latency direct hardware monitoringAnalog outs can directly drive up to 7.1 surroundSoftware-assigned level controller for tactile control of all input and output levels2 convenient high-speed FireWire ports * requires 6-pin FireWire portIncludes Maximum Audio Tools containing a great collection of software ... ... Read more

Features

• 2-In / 8-Out 24-bit analog I/O
• On-board ASIO 2 compliant mixer and software control panel provide total routing flexibility -- including monitoring with external effects
• Ultra-low latency software monitoring and zero-latency hardware direct monitoring
• Two headphone outs with independent level controls
• Can be completely bus-powered for totally mobile operation

Reviews (3)

Beware Mac Users
I bought this soundcard and have been wrestling with the drivers non-stop for two months... nothing seems to work. Crackles and a high level of whitenoise in the background.

Tech Support responds very courteously and quickly, however, their advice is to reinstall the drivers... Gee who would have thought of that. I've only done that about 100 times... Sometimes the meters on the driver interface are dancing wildly when no sound is going through it... Sometimes when I reinstall the meters behave normally. That's the only thing "fixed" by reinstalling - however the fix is always temporary...

I get the impression that the tech support knows that there are some problems with the driver and with the unit. Hot swapping has blown a lot of firewire boards - including mine (replaced it and now I never hotswap).

I have had nothing but problems - my ipod's system software is trashed if ever I plug it into the firewire port beside the 410. It took me three times to realize that the problem was the 410 not the iPod. This was just salt in the wound... Solution from Tech support - "don't plug an Ipod OR ANYTHING ELSE into the firewire port if the 410 is plugged in also. But, whatever you do, don't hot swap the 410 or it could blow your board!" Thanks a lot. So I have to shutdown. Unplug the 410, plug in the iPod and restart just to sync my iPod... so much for the convenience of firewire.

Tested the 410 in my powerbook in an attempt to isolate the problem... bad idea. Now my once rock solid powerbook doesn't recognize the firewire card and the wireless PC card would not talk to the airport base station. Solution: reset basestation, clean reinstall system software to reinstall drivers for the PC cards (native to OS 10.3). Thanks alot.

I have read reports of people having problems with this unit. It only seemed like a fraction. I hoped I wouldn't be one. I am.

If I had a G5 that was dedicated to music, I bet I could get this soundcard to work great. But, unfortunately, I have a G4 (maxed out with RAM and the hottest processor I can put in it). And I use it for writing, photos, video, games AND music.

For any mac user who is not making a dedicated music work station, I would highly recommend that you steer well clear of the 410 and of M-audio products just to be safe. There are other options out there that don't have the same problems.

terrible compatibility problems, terrible support
m-audio does not have forums on their site.

there is a reason. their drivers are unreliable and highly incompatible.

absolutely refuse to provide any documentation nor do they accept returns.

if you value the stability of your computer, stay clear. stay well clear

M-Audio Firewire 410 - Versatile & Powerful yet Power-Hungry
This is an excellent audio interface for the money if you already have a firewire card.However, on my Mac it would not operate on the same bus as other firewire devices.To run firewire hard drives or DVD burners while using the Firewire 410, it may be necessary to purchase a separate firewire card, or perhaps a faster Firewire 800 card would allow all devices to operate on the same bus.

That said, the Firwire 410 is a stable and speedy alternative to slow USB and outdated PCI devices.The eight analog outs allow for multitrack monitoring and surround sound editing, while the two analog ins provide the opportunity for high quality recording. (Although there are four analog in jacks, you can only use two of them at any one time.)

The digital coax and optical outs will drive 5.1 surround and beyond while watching DVDs, and the ins allow for pure digital input.Throw in a midi in and out, as well as two headphone jacks with separate level controls, and you've got a versatile and portable interface for a fraction of the cost of higher end firewire devices from Motu and Digidesign.

Amazingly, it can also be used without a computer for live recording.My only pet peeve is the very bright blue power indicator which flashes on and off when it is turned on without a firewire cable connected, or when the firewire connection is lost.For mobile recording in a club setting, a bright flashing blue light is not desirable.Some concertgoers may have flashbacks to blue light specials of their youth or think the cops are coming.Seriously, if it bothers you, you can always stick a piece of electrical tape over it.I've had mine a couple of weeks, and have only used it with the computer, but I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description

The Indigo IO offers stereo 1/8" analog input and output on a Type II Cardbus card powered by your notebook computer. 24-bit/96kHz converters ensure pristine sound. Also included is a 6' audio cable for RCA or 1/4 ' connections. ... Read more

Features

• Hardware Features
• 1 stereo 1/8
• 1 stereo 1/8
• Supports full duplex 2 channel in, 2 channel out operation
• High quality headphone amp

Product Description

Digital audio card for noise-free, pro-quality recording and mixing. ... Read more

Features

• 2 - 1/4
• 2 - 1/4
• S/PDIF 24-bit I/O
• MIDI I/O
• Multiple sample rates from 8-96kHz

Product Description

Ifyou want to form a bridge between your music and your computer, there's a solution that combines affordability and ease-of-use with powerful capabilities and excellent built-in compatibility with your computer: the US-122 from TASCAM andFrontier Design Group. The US-122 features two XLR-based, phantom-powered mic inputs. As one of the only small computer interfaces with analog inserts, you can use the US-122 to place hardware devices (compressors, etc.) into the recording signal chain. Two line-level inputs on balanced 1/4" TRS jacks are included, and are switchable to guitar-level for direct instrument recording into your computer. The US-122 also provides a dedicated control for adjustable zero-latency direct monitoring, providing a sonically pure reference point before entering DAW processing. Its two line-level outputs provide control for levels, and a dedicated headphone output is also included.In addition to audio interfacing, the US-122 gives you 16 channels of MIDI I/O for use with synthesizers and other sound generating equipment. The MIDI I/O is also handy for synchronization and automation with external devices. For compatibility with a wide variety of computer systems, the US-122excels.It includes drivers for compatibility with ASIO, WDM, GSIF and AppleCore Audio (OS X) software systems, so you canturn nearly any USB-equipped computer into a powerful audio recording system. Plus, the US-122 represents an excellent mobile recording solution. ... ... Read more

Features

• USB audio/MIDI computer interfacing
• Mac and Windows compatible
• Two XLR-fed phantom-powered mic inputs with inserts
• Two line level inputs (switchable to guitar level)
• 16 channels of MIDI I/O

Reviews (2)

"Click OK anyway"
This product does not meet the "Microsoft standards", and your computer will tell you this as you are installing the product.Of course, this is probably not mentioned in the product description.What are the Microsoft standards?Well, I don't know, but I would assume that a quality product would meet them.It says in the instruction manual that during installation, it's okay to tell your computer to install the software even though it doesn't meet the standards.This happens if you update the driver, too.Of course, the warning on your computer will say how this could damage your computer.

not bad, but be prepared to work
This unit looks great, and it has features that would be awesome for an amateur musician, IF everything worked straight out of the box. The problem is, you'll probably need to spend a lot of time working with this to get it right.

Here are my main two tips if you buy this unit:

First, I suggest you get the free asio4all drivers (windows only) which are much better than the included Tascam ASIO drivers.

Second, DO NOT plug/unplug mics while the phantom power is turned on. You WILL fry your unit. ... Read more

Product Description

This USB version of the Audiophile 2496 PCI card delivers pro quality with great dynamic range and S/N ratio. Includes 2 1/4" I/O, 2 RCA I/O, headphone jack, S/PDIF, and MIDI, with 24-bit/96kHz audio fidelity. Perfect for digital transfers and mastering, LP/cassette-to-CD transfers, as well as computer-based home theater and hi-fi systems. AC-power allows it to produce higher-quality audio signals than bus-powered USB interfaces. PC/Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 24-bit 96 kHz multitrack recording
• MIDI recording and playback
• Digital transfers and Digital mastering
• LP/Cassette-to-CD transfers
• Analog Inputs/Outputs (I/O), S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O provide connectivity to both digital devices and the world of MIDI

Product Description

Lexicon has taken a whole-system approach to desktop recording. Omega Studio is an integrated computer recording system that includes the Omega 8x4x2 USB I/O mixer, ProTracks Plus⢠32-track recording software and Pantheon⢠world-class Lexicon reverb plug-in. Omega Studio contains all of the components necessary to transform your computer into a professional 24-bit recording studio. Whether you are a guitarist, keyboard player, vocalist, instrumentalist or an audio engineer, Omega Studio provides all the I/O mixing, recording and effects you need to make your next project sound like it came from a professional studio.Omega Studio HardwareDifferentiating itself from standard computer I/O boxes which are typically based on a patch-bay paradigm, the Omega 8x4x2 USB I/O mixer is based on a mixer paradigm and includes input, output and mixing functions that support a variety of tracking/monitoring applications while requiring no additional mixing hardware. The Omega I/O mixer provides 8 inputs which are assignable in pairs to any of 4 simultaneous record channels featuring ultra-transparent, high-resolution analog to digital converters to capture your performance with pristine 24-bit quality. Two of the inputs feature extremely low-noise dbx® mic-preamps with 48 volt phantom power and TRS insert points. Four TRS active balanced line inputs accept up to +22dBu signals to allow interfacing to either unbalanced or professional high-output level balanced equipment. ... Read more

Features

• Microphone Inputs (2) Female XLR Pin 2 Hot
• Input Impedance 664 Ohms balanced
• Phantom Power +48 Volt
• EIN -118 dB @ 51 dB gain (150 Ohm source impedance) -120 dB A-weighted
• Maximum Input Level -2 dBu (150 Ohm source impedance)