User reviews: Tascam US-122

11/24/12

ammar_yk's review "Tascam Us-122 ( horrible choice to consider)"

When i first purchased the Tascam US-122, I was expecting it to work extremely well with my computer which is running windows 7. The price of the product attracted my attention as it looked like a solid mic pre-amp for my home studio recordings.

Utilization

The tascam US-122 is compatible with almost every single daw the industry has to offer. It allows you to record to Mono channel condensor mics and it also includes Phantom power. THe product also offers jacks for you to plug in your guitar. I found that the customer support was horrible for this device.

Getting Started

There was one major issue that i found with this product and that was regarding a static noise coming through my speakrers through direct monitoring through the interface itself. I thought that my computer was too slow but i was wrong. I did some research on the internet and i realized that it seems to be a latency issue with the product. Not just my interface but many other simliar models of Tascam have simliar problems. I believe this to be a compatibility issue.

Overall Opinion

THe recording quality this product offers is superb but the static noice that you get in your headphones through direct monitoring gets very annoying. I would not recommend anyone to buy this and would recommend them to buy either an m-audio interface or a steinberg interface as an alternative

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05/01/12

JeffTadashi's review "An old interface that can do it all"

Characteristics

The Tascam US-122 is one of the few usb audio-midi combination interfaces on the market. It features two xlr inputs, two line level inputs, direct input monitoring, and a stereo line-level output with level control. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, although due to its age, is not officially supported by the newest operating systems.

This is a great portable interface that can do a little of everything. I mainly used it with my live laptop setup to play synths and keyboards, which is perfect with this unit, since it can process MIDI and audio at the same time. I've also used it to record guitars and microphones on the fly.

Utilization

The drivers on Tascam audio interfaces, in general, can be problematic. Sometimes they work seamlessly, but sometimes they just don't work on certain operating systems or computer setups. I've owned three different Tascam audio interfaces, and each one has different drivers that seem to work the best on different setups. Unfortunately, the US-122 did not function with my new Mac OS 1.7 laptop, but it has worked fine for me on Windows XP laptops. Since this model is discontinued, there will likely never be updated drivers to better support newer operating systems.

The US-122 can record and playback two channels at once (stereo). I've used it with SONAR almost exclusively, and I've had no problems on my Windows systems. The drivers are not as low latency as some of the newer interfaces out there, but it was certainly fast enough for playing live keyboards for live shows.

Getting Started

General setup is fairly easy: Install the drivers from the Tascam website or an included cd, plug in the interface via usb, and start using it through a DAW or standalone soft synthesizer. One of the advantages of this interface is that it is simple to use, especially with MIDI. All of the routing goes though one interface, so it is fairly easy to setup.

Overall Opinion

Overall, this is a versatile, portable audio interface that can be useful for many different applications. It may be a bit dated, but if you can find a good deal on this unit used, and you own an older operating system, this interface may be perfect. I owned this interface for several years, and it has served me well.

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01/11/10

moosers's review

Characteristics

The Tascam US-122 is a compact USB audio interface with both audio and MIDI capabilities. This is aimed for the user who wants a small audio interface to build a small home studio around. The US-122 has two XLR mic inputs and stereo 1/4" connections as well. It also has a MIDI input and output and 1/4" outputs for monitors and headphones. In total, you've got the ability to record two tracks at once, whether it be by mic or direct line.

Utilization

The make up of the Tascam US-122 interface is very straight forward. Everything is clearly labeled and easy to understand, as it is indeed catered for those who are new with audio interfaces and computer recording. You can use the interface with pretty much any software, but I've used it with Cubase. Since I wasn't using this within my own recording rig, I'm not sure about the specs that I used with it, but I do know that the interface ran smoothly and that I didn't get any latency will using it on a Mac Book lap top. This only has the capabilities to record two tracks at a time, but I was able to run a bunch of pre-recorded tracks along with it as well.

Getting Started

The process of getting the Tascam US-122 up and running is one that I wasn't involved with as it was already set up when I tried using it. However, judging by looking at it and from what I know about audio interfaces, I would say that this should be a fairly simple process to set up depending on what type of configuration you're running the interface with. I've never had a need to check out the manual for the US-122, so I can't say anything about its make up...

Overall Opinion

While I can't say that the mic preamps on the Tascam US-122 have all that great of a sound, for those who want a low priced audio interface to get your home recording studio up and running, I believe that this should be tried out and investigated. I love how compact it is, as it makes it easy to move from place to place if you wanted to get a mobile studio going. It also has a good amount of features for such a small interface. This is definitely a good budget audio interface to check out if you're looking for one to get started with.

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12/10/08

M Elise's review

Characteristics

This is an inexpensive USB powered external audio interface for your computer; the purpose of which is to replace your computer's built-in sound card and provide superior sound and better audio hook up options. It features two XLR mic inputs with phantom power option, two quarter inch line/guitar in jacks, two quarter inch insert jacks, adjustable input levels, RCA line out jacks, midi in/out, headphone out jack, headphone level knob, line out level knob, direct monitor level knob, switch for mono or stereo monitoring, and plenty of LED lights that help you see whats going on. The unit is solidly built and is housed in a metal case.

Utilization

When I first installed this on an old G3 Imac there where a few timing issues but I was able to resolve them by adjusting the buffer. I once tried to install this on a friend's PC laptop and was never able to get it to work. It could have been the laptop or it could have been the US-122s software. I don't know.

Getting Started

I only used this unit briefly to make multi-track recordings. I have never had any problems. In recent years I use it occasionally to input cassette and LP recordings into my computer for conversion to audio CDs and MP3s. The unit works nicely with no issues. I like the unit ergonomically with its knobs on top, small size, and strong construction. Its easy, clear and straightforward to use. The unit sounds good but not as good as my Motu 828 Firewire audio interface. I can hear the difference but I don't know how to describe the difference. The US-122 is powered completely by USB so it makes sense that the amplifiers are not as sophisticated as a unit such as the Motu 828 which is powered by more juice.

Overall Opinion

I bought this when it first came out and at the time it was a ground breaking product for its price range. Now Tascam has a newer version and there are many other similar brands on the market. I have not heard or used any of these. However for my needs I have no reason to ever abandon this unit in favor of a newer one.

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10/12/08

bpmccauley1's review

Characteristics

The choice to purchase the Tascam US-122 was really easy for me, it was cheap and would allow me to record two tracks at the same time. When this interface was purchased I was very new to the world of recording my own music and I was looking for exactly what this little guy had, good price and decent features, like the ability to be completely portable with my laptop, recording on the go is a must for me.

I am an acoustic musician so you won't find me plugging my guitar directly into the US-122, instead I use my MXL990 and 991 to mic my guitar. Additionally I use this with a Dell Inspiron 6000, 2GB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive.

Utilization

Once this thing was finally at my home, getting it to work for the first time was a bit difficult, at the time I chalked it up to my inexperience but have since realized that it was definately the product.

I had a very hard time installing the software for this thing on my computer. There were definate issues with Windows XP Professional and Home. It was crazy, I finally found a forum online that explained to me what I needed to do. I had to install the software, and cancel the setup, this process had to be done 3 times, then on the thrid time for some reason it would work, crazy if you ask me.

Then I had to try and follow the crazy instructions on how to set up my computer to work with the interface, you know changing sound ins, AISO...that kind of thing. For a beginner at the time it was definitley frustrating.

Once I got everything working, I had to learn how to use Cubase LE (the bundled version that came with the US-122)...again this recording software and the instruction manual that came with it was less than beginner friendly. All of the instructions were in professional recording language (not surprisingly really), but I had to go and look up definitions of most of the words in the manual. Again, maybe just because I was a beginner, but I'm a pretty intelligent guy, seems to be that it should not have been that difficult to figure out.

Getting Started

All of that being said, once I did get things figured out, this product is really great. I've owned it for several years and I've used it often. It is the only recording interface that I use. I've even trusted it to record some other bands in the area. Granted you aren't going to be recording drums with this thing since you can only record 2 tracks simultaneously, but for acoustic stuff or a few instruments this thing is great and you can take it where ever you go as long as you've got your laptop and a mic you've got a recording studio.

The digial sound that actually comes back out from my computer and to my ears is really way better than I could have imagined for the price of the unit. I think I got mine for around $150 or something like that, definately worth it.

Overall Opinion

Like I said I've been using the Tascam US-122 for several years now. I will admit that I definitley had many, many issues to iron out before I could get the thing to work properly, but once I got everything worked out I was really happy with the product.

I would definately suggest that if you are looking for a cheap way to get some tracks laid down with very decent quality to buy this product.

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03/08/08

EyeLWait4U's review

Characteristics

The TASCAM brand US-122 interface quite simply allows you to use two line level inputs and two line level outputs to record professional sounding audio into your personal computer be it a PC or MAC brand. It's simple to use, easy to install (literally about 20-30 minutes) and it is really affordable. We purchased it on sale for about $185.00 at a local music shop shortly after it was released on the market.

Utilization

Here are the facts: Most any computer has a crappy sound card. I don't care if you bought yours for 200.00 or more dollars. It is still crappy and produces good audio for your playback on the computer but not professional for professional audio recording. Now, I know, I know...you don't want to buy anything else. I get that. You've already spent too much money now to create you home studio. I did too. But, imagine a professional CD you produce that sounds great the first time, no pops, no clicks, no hisses and is CLEAN sound.

Getting Started

Note: This also instantly accepts non-powered microphones and it powers them with built in trinkle power (phantom power) and it also accepts guitar levels instantly. It features headphone and separate volume control and also full MIDI for your audio recording/keyboard and sequencing. It's not cheap plastic but steel. Buy you. You'll be glad you did.

Overall Opinion

Buy it! You'll be glad you did.

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12/20/04

MGR/Jason Bentley's review "Tascam US-122 USB Recording Interface"

I purchased this unit from http://www.GearTree.com for $180 including free shipping. all I had to do was call for a lower price. I purchased the unit because I needed a portable easy to use audio interface for demo recording.

I love the fact that this unit comes with phantom power, 2 XLR inputs, and is powered bu the USB connection. These features make portability a snap - use on your laptop and bring it home for power editing on your PC. It works equally well on a Mac.

I prefer faders for audio volume, but cost and space likely caused Tascam to include knobs instead. No big deal.

Quality is rugged duty, and the unit has rubber feet that allow it to stay put. Knobs are plastic and might be vulnerable if handled roughly.

Great piece of recording equipment, affordable. You can\'t beat this deal - especially the price I got from http://www.GearTree.com.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

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07/12/04

MGR/Frank Luke's review "Tascam US-122"

I acquired this unit from "savedbytechnology.com", after trying equivalent M-Audio box. The M-Audio box was not sensitive enough to pick my Markley Humbucker pickup on my acoustic guitar.

The device works pretty well as advertised, though the laptop I'm running it off of doesn't like Cubasis VST or Gigastudio, both of which are included the Tascam. I'm told it may have something to do with the Hyperthreading processor I have. (Dell 5150 with 3.06 HT P4, 512 meg ram, 80 Gig hard drive). As a result, I'm using N-Track version 4, without any difficulty. This unit works very well if you want to do some home recording, and do multitrack recording. Cost: $267 CAD.

Pros: The device is easy to use, and the USB works well, though it should be all on its own bus, not sharing one with devices like printers, PDA\'s and so on.

The level controls work well, and one could even hook this device up to a power amp while at the same time, record what you are playing. This device also is small: carrying it around is not difficulty.

The US122 also has a guitar tuner, which works very well: so far none of my other laptop based tuners work as well as this one does.

Cons: There is a lag between the input and output, so it takes a bit of fiddling around to get the buffer sizes right to reduce the lag time. I think that the exact buffer size will depend on the machine that you are using. Note: this is not for use with a machine that doesn\'t have some horsepower to it.

A word of warning: when swapping mics and other inputs, make sure that you turn down all level controls to zero, and power off the phantom mic power. Otherwise, if the connector slides over the contacts inside the plug in such a way as to short the plug, you could blow the channel. This mixer is not like an analogue mixer: it is not forgiving of sloppy work with cables and attaching or disconnecting inputs.

Finally, the Hyperthreading processor may not like the packaged software such as Cubasis VST and Gigastudio 24. I use N-Track, and the software works pretty well right out of the box.

One can\'t deny the quality and sturdiness of the US-122. It is in a cast aluminium case, so it is light, and also well protected in the case. The volume knobs feel flimsy, but some other people have checked this and found that the volume controls are actually quite good.

Bottom line: if you are doing your own home studio recordings, this device along with the right software will do just fine. It also helps that you deal with a reputable distributor, and in this case, that means \"savedbytechology.com\"

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

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12/21/03

MGR/Joe Franko's review "Tascam US-122"

Guitar Center, 199.00

A great unit. Has inputs for mics, line, guitar, and midi. Truly a way to get music into my laptop. And totally portable, which is the greatest thing about it. Runs off the usb power, so no hunting for a wall wart.

So far the only thing not to like is that it doesn\'t come with a sound generator!

Great steel construction, though the nobs seem a little flimsy.

Highly recommended!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

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12/13/03

MGR/Chris's review "Tascam US-122"

I picked this up at Long and McQuade in Toronto for about $340 Canadian. I've been playing for quite some time now but never got into recording before. I was told this was a good unit.

It\'s a breeze to use. I had it going within a half an hour, and I\'m no computer whiz. This thing is loaded. 2 XLR inputs, phantom power, stereo inputs and outputs, and the sound quality is excellent. I\'ve used it for heavy metal guitars, clean acoustic guitars, vocals, etc. It does it all. I also like the fact that it\'s completely portable and self-powered via USB.

The only negative comment I have about it is the software that comes with it. The bundle versions of Cubasis and Gigastudio really suck and is a pain to use. I prefer to use Cool Edit instead. But as far as the unit itself goes, I have no complaints at all.

Solid steel construction, nice big volume knobs, and 4 rubber feet on the bottom to hold it still. A very solid well built unit.

If you are thinking about getting into recording on your PC, BUY THIS UNIT! You wont\' regret it. For the money, it can\'t be beat and as long as you\'ve got a good computer with a good recording program like Cool Edit, you can do anything that those $1500 units can.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

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Tascam US-122

Tascam US-122 user reviews ( 5/10) - 30 user reviews