TC Electronic Konnekt 8

(Originally written by karl.vdb/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Which technical specifications motivated your choice?

I needed a sound card I could use in standalone mode (I wanted to upgrade my system combining an M-audio PCI card with a Yamaha MG10/2 mixer, which has an average sound quality).

The number of inputs is ideal for me.

What do you use it for?

Home studio application with Sonar 8 PE and as standalone device.

What's your setup (motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive,...)?

Motherboard: Asus M2N

CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4000+

Ram: 3 GB

HDD: 160 GB

Windows XP SP2

DAW: Sonar 8 PE

Do you use it with other instruments or systems (mixing console, preamp, DtD, ...) and what's your setup?

I connect it directly to my MP8 digital piano (I only use the audio functions, the Midi is connected directly to the computer via USB).

I didn't buy the 24D version because Sonar 8 offers lots of good plug-ins.

UTILIZATION

- Did you have any problems during installation?

No problems at all, just install, connect, update the drivers and configure it... Perfect!

- Did you have any incompatibility problems?

No

- How complicated is the overall configuration?

Very easy compared to my previous M-audio

- Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?

Yes (I only miss descriptions about the DPC)

GETTING STARTED

Is the driver stable?

Very stable up to now. I was a bit worried because of several reviews I read, but fortunately the interface was updated and it is now very reliable.

- Are they up-to-date?

??

- Which software do you use?

Sonar 8 PE

- What's the latency of your system?

11.6 ms

- How many tracks can you record/playback simultaneously ?

??

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you been using it?

Three days only and I'm fully satisfied (I will update this review in the future).

- Which feature do you like the most / the least?

Ease of use and audio quality

- Did you try any other models before buying it?

I only compared it with my previous system (M-audio 1010LT + Yamaha mg10/2 mixer) and the Konnekt is much better.

- How would you rate its value for money?

Very good!

- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?

Yes, for sure

Buy the brand in mind that the A / DD / A would follow, it is. The two headphone outputs and the analog volume useful.

Use for the home studio with laptop (hp dual core 1.66 ghz, 1G ram)

I use it with my headphones and my speakers DT880 KRK RP8.

UTILIZATION

Installation is hassle-free. I buy her beginners, the primary drivers stage (dcrochache, etc.) but then TC comes out again and the latest version has more worries.

too simple to take in hand, the menu on the map is standalone understand in 30 seconds. and the software is efficient and clear. even if sometimes ... I prferais software less beautiful and more stable drivers sometimes start the log for a session on a squence can cause problems. but expect future version (I Fully confident in TC track is their first product called "public" and then they feel bossent)

GETTING STARTED

Drivers stable since the latest version, at least in my case
and often put day
use with Ableton Live 6 and a bunch of vst
24-bit 44.1 kHz: 5.2 ms
24 bit 96 Khz: between 8 and 11 ms
with an average of 20 audio or MIDI tracks running

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since November 2006.
I like to grate the volume for the analog speakers.
I made my choice only with the characteristics and price and brand. in the area of ​​price and perfect for my use (and sometimes electronic record "any land,")
exprience with, of course that I take the same. it says it lacks an optical SPDIF inputs and outputs numriques (damage)

the passage is the same as the 24d without dsp.

For my home studio, to replace a mixer and a sound card USB Behringer U-Control UCA202 (which also is excellent in terms of value for money and stability!) And a USB MIDI interface.

I had the mic and something to connect my MIDI synth and Line out.

All on a modern PC connected between another to serve as DAW. Core 2 Duo E6600 overclocked 3.2 Ghz, 2Gb ram fast HZ, 3 drives (10000rpm Raptor 320Gb + Samsung 500Gb +)

UTILIZATION

Installation very fast and almost successful the first time: the hardware driver was not found immediately. I pointed the driver on the new installation directory and bingo, it rolls.

Everything works impecable. The doc is reduced to its simplest form, it's a shame. A manual explaining the route would have been welcome.

GETTING STARTED

Not much back yet. But I must say that the sound is really clean, detailed and most profound. No breath. This is the top.

I have not pushed the latency just tried: in standart 15ms for sample 768, 5ms and 10ms for 512 to 256.

OVERALL OPINION

For two days I'm having really with this interface.

I thought long and hard choice. If I had a little more in, I fell for the Konnekt 24D.

First comment: it is beautiful. Yes, I insist, it is beautiful. Nothing to do with the firebox or FA66 etc. .. all of which are smaller, which are just a few boiboites knob and connector. Here, none of this: the box is wider and much heavier. It really inspires confidence. In addition, the front is like no other, a piece of metal / plastic perforated and printed: it is a translucent surface with a thick plexiglass. Very classy. The diodes appear transparent and are beautiful. The endless knob can be assigned to all other settings and diodes that are all around you give into the visual setting. Both self-driven interface that soft. Great art!

From the Behringer U-Control UCA202 to 35roros is another world. Top! Having manipulated the firebox, almost the same price, I can say that I can not return to this type of card.

Price not given to around 349 Eur averaging from 30 to 50 EUR or more than FA66 Firebox and sisters. But the quality of the housing of convertissuers (best) Vallent much more than that! I think this is currently the best interface for this award.

I do it again this election if I did not have 150 euro to take over her big sister Konnekt 24D, which is the same card with hardware effects and more.

I said it was beautiful? especially on!
Come on, I go back!

Bought to replace my UA 4FX to have an additional input for recording guitar / vocals and bass. I also wanted to enjoy the quality Tc electronic, famous for its converters and preamps.

I have an Acer Aspire WLMi:
Pentium M735
1024 MB RAM
80 GB HDD
Monitoring speakers Tascam VL X5
I also bought an adapter PCMCIA / Firewire to connect the Konnekt 8

Unpacking the product is very good impression, both sober and robust, all-aluminum. It is sufficiently supplied connectors for use home studio:

2 input jack / XLR used simultaneously
And line inputs on the back of the bike
Midi in / out
SP / DIF
Output Jack 6.35

At this price the TC could have provided an additional line input on the front, I know I ask much, but the quality is largely the appointment. 9 for features.

UTILIZATION

Unfortunately it will drip pan in this section. I bought this card knowing, and I check my cost that it was risky to plug this interface on a laptop.

First uncertainty: the compatibility between the firewire card and the Konnekt. So I plug in the logs after following instructions carefully (installation of drivers before connecting the card). First drama interface is not recognized by the PC (it appears with a big exclamation mark in my device manager). I installed version 1.03 comes with the card, I decided to install the version 1.10 downloaded from the TC. I unplug the card I install the driver and I reconnect the card, still nothing. I'm starting to get scared and I think in any case come in threes, so I support the latest version 1.20 drivers.

With suspicion and fear of manipulation I try a third time. I unplug the Konnekt and I install the new driver. A message appears on my screen like "an older version of drivers was detected want to uninstall it?". Naturally, I click YES and the second tragedy: the uninstaller removes lead and a fart all the files on my computer. I realize after a few moments and I hasten to turn off my PC without precaution. Once turned back on, several software from my PC had disappeared or were damaged. Fortunately, the uninstall program files had attacked first so no source program had disappeared. Still, something strange occurred, the Konnekt was recognized by the PC and the control panel worked fine.

After a few hours familiarity with my new interface (and resettlement of logs which lost a lot of plug in), the beast works very well.

My case is certainly very isolated (especially compared to uninstall) but I think it illustrates that the Konnekt is a good product but a product very young. It will take some time to have stable drivers no longer know what kind of mishap.

GETTING STARTED

I use it only for 2 days but for now the drivers are very stable and will no doubt be frequently updated.
I had some problem with Nuendo but it was more about the false manipulation '
I get a latency of 5.8 ms in 256 samples than enough for my work. It records up to two simultaneous tracks.

OVERALL OPINION

Finally, I found that this product is very good, it is very intuitive. Perfect for me who wanted an easy to use interface. The black dot is the installation. I had tried any other products except my Edirol UA 4FX. The is the day and night. My choice is oriented toward the interface because it seemed to possess the best technical features. The value for money is good, it would have been excellent with no concern for the installation.

YES I do it again this election but in a year or two when the drivers are stable.