Tascam US-122 Reviews

[brandondrury]

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Is The Tascam US-122 The Right Audio Interface For You?
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Tascam US-122 Description
If you want to form a bridge between your music and your computer, there's a new solution that combines affordability and ease-of-use with powerful capabilities and excellent built-in compatibility with your computer: the US-122 from TASCAM and Frontier 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-122 excels.

It includes drivers for compatibility with ASIO, WDM, GSIF and Apple Core Audio (OS X) software systems, so you can turn nearly any USB-equipped computer into a powerful audio recording system. Plus, the US-122 represents an excellent mobile recording solution. Since it's self-powered via USB, no separate power supply is required for operation, making it perfect for mobile recording systems based around laptop computers…just plug in a couple of condenser mics and go! The US-122 is packaged with two valuable music production software tools at no added cost: Steinberg Cubase LE recording/sequencing software and TASCAM's GigaStudio 3 LE sampling workstation software.

Right out of the box, you can install the software, plug in the US-122 and begin creating and recording new music. With its compact, ergonomic design and rugged steel chassis, the US-122 meets the needs of everyone from hobbyist musicians through advanced professional recording engineers and producers. If you're into the creative advantages of computer recording, here's the tool that gets your ideas into your computer!

[Vain Melody]

Quality: 8
I have such limited experience in recording, but I can get decent sounds out of it. I have had one for almost 3 years. Although it has phantom power you will get a better sound using a decent mic preamp instead. Unless you need better than 44.1/48 kHz, this will work fine.


Reliability: 6
Occassionally causes the system to crash - which you think would be a horrible problem except that it has only done this once or twice during a recording. Since I'm only ever recording myself I can live with that. But holy #$%@! it pisses me off when it happens.

The regular US122 (not to be confused with the US122L) only runs at USB 1.1which is MUCH slower than 2.0. My stability issues may in part be due to this device.

Overall Rating: 7
Only suitable for recording up to two tracks and has some reliability issues. You are probably better off buying a newer 2.0 device. If you are on a tight budget and only plan on recording yourself/friends then one of these might be suitable.

I purchased an EMU-0404 which appears to have superior sound quality.

[garww]

Ya, mines alright. One channel is out, now.

[vashuba]

not bad for what it is(price/performance). i need more power! huh HUH!!!