Need your advice

[theelkbugler]

Hello all! I am new to this forum and also new to recording as well. I'll tell you my little tale then I'll get to the questions. Bear with me because I probably don't know what I'm talking aboutt
I bought a Phonic Firefly 302 tried to hook it up to my girlfriends Mac Desktop and it never worked. I couldn't get any audio signal. So I tried to hook it up to a PC and it still didn't work, it wouldn't even recognize the device. I read on a Phonic Forum that some Mac desktops have a high voltage running on their firewire and it fries those Firefly's. It would recognize the device but I couldn't adjust any of the channel input levels. Could it be fried?
So I bought this thing from the Twister Group and I will say their customer service has been excellent. They have given me the option to send it back and get another sent to me or refund my money.
In the meantime I have been looking at the Tascam 122 US. What should I do? I know both of these units are bottom of the foodchain but at my level of recording it is all I can afford really. Is there any other unit that is better than these that is in the same price range? If not which one of these do you suggest the Firefly or the Tascam??

Thanks so much for your help and advice.

[brandondrury]

would recognize the device but I couldn't adjust any of the channel input levels. Could it be fried?

If the Firefly is fried, I wouldn't expect any computer could detect it at all. I'm guessing you are safe.

I know both of these units are bottom of the foodchain but at my level of recording it is all I can afford really.

I've heard KILLLLLLER recordings made with the US 122. So don't rule it out.

I don't know much about the Firefly. If all things are equal, you have to go with your gut. It's always a guessing game to a certain degree with this stuff.

Brandon

[theelkbugler]

Brandon,
Thanks so much for your advice and I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as I go further with this process. I might just ask for a refund and go with the Tascam 122L. It seems that more of these are out there and advice is more available. Although I have heard that some Mac people have trouble with these. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks Again!