Echo Mona

I got it at Guitar Center for under 800 dollars but I think it was a returned item.

Its extremely easy to use. It basically has 4 guitar/balanced/xlr inputs at the front with trim tables. It has 4 LED readouts to tell you if your clipping. It also has phantom power (to power your condesor microphone).

The back has a number of line in and out (I use it primarily to drive powered monitor speakers).

The quality of the pre-amps is excellent. You'd have to go into major bucks to beat these. The analog/digital converters are best in their class, unless you want to spend alot more.

The unit allows up to four inputs recorded at the same time. Also, there's a "guitar" button for each input that turns the input into an excellent Hi-Z input. Just plug in your guitar or bass 1/4 inch mono plug and rock on!

Unit has an attractived burnished aluminum face plate and is rack mountable (although no one would likely bother to rack mount it).

Also it has a PCM board that installs in your PC and a cable running to the "break out box".



Maybe a little pricey but hey, the quality remains long after the price is forgotten!

The burnished aluminum face plate easily shows off your grubby finger prints (so wash your hands after the pizza!).

The manual attempts to explain how the software mixing/monitoring and bussing works, but like all hardware units, the manual is written by severe hardware geeks with little chance of us common folk understanding whatever it is they are talking about. Therefore, the power of the software mixing and multiple inputs and outputs etc. etc. is likely to be unused by us overly rich amateurs that can afford such a unit without truly understanding it.

Luckily, the software practically runs on autopilot.

The construction and quality is high. This, my friend, is the best unit you can buy, unless you want to spend alot more money. Don't be fooled by cheaper cards and breakout boxes.

Go on, you know you deserve an Echo unit. Its top of the line Mercedes for the serious recording amateur (and maybe the professional too).

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

4 XLR jack sym pramplifies 6 XLR + SPDIF + 8 inputs 8 outputs adat
4 VU meters for input headphone jack with volume + + phantom power
IDAL home studio

UTILIZATION

I use a G4 1ghz bipro
the instalation is super fast without any problem
interface card and simple but effective trs
say anything

GETTING STARTED

I use it to catch all kinds of styles and sounds and wholesale and trs prcis with great dynamic range (110dB with input)
the pramp are effective not need to use ext periph for the sound
Brief has been

OVERALL OPINION

I had the opportunity to work on many systems and sounds of Sart whether the Midiman 10/10
the RME, the motu 828 mk2 and 1296, the digidisign 001 and 002 for me mona is the best in sound and dynamics
You have to test.