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Published on 08/14/10 at 08:21Audio interface with:
-USB 1.1 jack for power
- 2 XLR / TRS jack with preamp and phantom power +48 V There is a button Hi-Z input 2 for ability to connect directly to high impedance instrument (guitar or bass for example).
- Stereo output format or RCA jack line level.
Includes a compressor-limiter. There is a switch behind that lets you choose the type of compression you want (there are 4) and a button to switch to change the threshold (Threshold). There's not much of a real knob compressor, and makes it not very flexible but can always use the limiter (it is always better than to saturate when operating in digital).
-A switch behind the boiboite to choose between sampling 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz and 96kHz for recording and to read (this interface does not work in full duplex at 96kHz, USB 1.1 required).
On the packing box, there is writing "Direct Box function for a pure sound on stage." I do not see how it can serve as a direct box and I can not use it either to a box used to convert a line level signal via the output jack.
In terms of software it came with Cakewalk Production Pack which includes:
A small software-computer music Sonar 8.5 LE that I find ugly (but who cares) and not very practical.
-Virtual instruments such as Cakewalk sound center that is a sound bank, Rapture LE, which is a synth and Instrument Drum Studio is a virtual battery.
I can not run Cakewalk Sound Center and a general way, I think all software of this pack and less interesting than those you can find in the competition for this price range in audio interfaces . But I think the hardware really not bad, I'm going to 7 / 10.
UTILIZATION
I plug this interface in a micro broadband capacitor (T-bone SC400), a dynamic microphone (the SM57), and sometimes my guitar into the input 2 with Hi-Z button down (it was mainly to test ). The buttons load the gain (called "SENS" on this interface) never miss the race. I also branch cables MIDI input and output and everything works fine.
I plug in a small notebook HP Pavilion dv6 with T4200 processor (2 core running at 2GHz) and 3 GB of RAM. I'm using software version 3.66 REAPER is deemed not to overload the PC.
I was trying to run that in 44.1 but I know that if you want to change the sampling frequency, you must disconnect the USB, change the frequency switch and reconnected.
I have for now is no stability problem except with the Cakewalk sound center that I was doing at the same time buger REAPER and audio interface. The driver is at version 1.0.0 and allows to choose between greater stability and low latency without any indication from the size of the buffer used. With the default setting (size of the buffer to 288 samples), I managed to register with the headphones and three audio track 2 track MIDI no effect (aside the virtual instrument for MIDI tracks) with a latency imperceptible to me. After adding a dozen large effect, the sound card does not crack or hardly at all cases (cons level latency, no longer even tried). The UA-25EX and introduces no noise preamps are of good quality for me who do not know anything.
In terms of ergonomics, the metal case feels solid, the buttons a little less but it can go. The many buttons on the back are not very practical for this size but I think we can not do otherwise. I just find it unfortunate that the level of the headphones and stereo output is set by the same knob (it's not practical and it forces me to turn my amp that is out all the time).
I'm going to put 9 / 10 because in this price range is very good anyway.
GETTING STARTED
The instalation of the driver is no problem. The driver that is on a CD and does not take much more than a minute. With a PC running on Windows 7, with REAPER version 3.66, everything works perfectly. The driver's window adjustment may be missing an estimate of latency. The manual contains 58 pages that gives me one approter some precision on the compressor and all the "live monitor". But it is in English. "For those who are upset with the language of Shakespeare", the same manual is in French in PDF format on one of the 2 CDs.
The software "Cakewalk Production Plus Pack" were also easy to install. There's just the sound Cakewalk Center who want to walk in any way with me and makes me all buger (if anyone can help me for that matter). I'll put 8 for this (I want to get too much either).
OVERALL OPINION
I must say that I write this review while I use it for some days only and that I had not before any other audio interface.
This one seems to be an excellent choice when one wants to get into the home studio wanting to start small. She will preamp, compressor / limiter, sound card and midi interface without introducing noise. It can even sampling at 96kHz if you like and y 'is not much for this price (although I see myself not too much interest on the other hand) and in addition it has a good mouth. Afterwards, it's true I find the offer of software rather bof: he had put the fact that house.
I find quite good value for money. I is not writing this review with experience but I do not regret buying me time.
-USB 1.1 jack for power
- 2 XLR / TRS jack with preamp and phantom power +48 V There is a button Hi-Z input 2 for ability to connect directly to high impedance instrument (guitar or bass for example).
- Stereo output format or RCA jack line level.
Includes a compressor-limiter. There is a switch behind that lets you choose the type of compression you want (there are 4) and a button to switch to change the threshold (Threshold). There's not much of a real knob compressor, and makes it not very flexible but can always use the limiter (it is always better than to saturate when operating in digital).
-A switch behind the boiboite to choose between sampling 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz and 96kHz for recording and to read (this interface does not work in full duplex at 96kHz, USB 1.1 required).
On the packing box, there is writing "Direct Box function for a pure sound on stage." I do not see how it can serve as a direct box and I can not use it either to a box used to convert a line level signal via the output jack.
In terms of software it came with Cakewalk Production Pack which includes:
A small software-computer music Sonar 8.5 LE that I find ugly (but who cares) and not very practical.
-Virtual instruments such as Cakewalk sound center that is a sound bank, Rapture LE, which is a synth and Instrument Drum Studio is a virtual battery.
I can not run Cakewalk Sound Center and a general way, I think all software of this pack and less interesting than those you can find in the competition for this price range in audio interfaces . But I think the hardware really not bad, I'm going to 7 / 10.
UTILIZATION
I plug this interface in a micro broadband capacitor (T-bone SC400), a dynamic microphone (the SM57), and sometimes my guitar into the input 2 with Hi-Z button down (it was mainly to test ). The buttons load the gain (called "SENS" on this interface) never miss the race. I also branch cables MIDI input and output and everything works fine.
I plug in a small notebook HP Pavilion dv6 with T4200 processor (2 core running at 2GHz) and 3 GB of RAM. I'm using software version 3.66 REAPER is deemed not to overload the PC.
I was trying to run that in 44.1 but I know that if you want to change the sampling frequency, you must disconnect the USB, change the frequency switch and reconnected.
I have for now is no stability problem except with the Cakewalk sound center that I was doing at the same time buger REAPER and audio interface. The driver is at version 1.0.0 and allows to choose between greater stability and low latency without any indication from the size of the buffer used. With the default setting (size of the buffer to 288 samples), I managed to register with the headphones and three audio track 2 track MIDI no effect (aside the virtual instrument for MIDI tracks) with a latency imperceptible to me. After adding a dozen large effect, the sound card does not crack or hardly at all cases (cons level latency, no longer even tried). The UA-25EX and introduces no noise preamps are of good quality for me who do not know anything.
In terms of ergonomics, the metal case feels solid, the buttons a little less but it can go. The many buttons on the back are not very practical for this size but I think we can not do otherwise. I just find it unfortunate that the level of the headphones and stereo output is set by the same knob (it's not practical and it forces me to turn my amp that is out all the time).
I'm going to put 9 / 10 because in this price range is very good anyway.
GETTING STARTED
The instalation of the driver is no problem. The driver that is on a CD and does not take much more than a minute. With a PC running on Windows 7, with REAPER version 3.66, everything works perfectly. The driver's window adjustment may be missing an estimate of latency. The manual contains 58 pages that gives me one approter some precision on the compressor and all the "live monitor". But it is in English. "For those who are upset with the language of Shakespeare", the same manual is in French in PDF format on one of the 2 CDs.
The software "Cakewalk Production Plus Pack" were also easy to install. There's just the sound Cakewalk Center who want to walk in any way with me and makes me all buger (if anyone can help me for that matter). I'll put 8 for this (I want to get too much either).
OVERALL OPINION
I must say that I write this review while I use it for some days only and that I had not before any other audio interface.
This one seems to be an excellent choice when one wants to get into the home studio wanting to start small. She will preamp, compressor / limiter, sound card and midi interface without introducing noise. It can even sampling at 96kHz if you like and y 'is not much for this price (although I see myself not too much interest on the other hand) and in addition it has a good mouth. Afterwards, it's true I find the offer of software rather bof: he had put the fact that house.
I find quite good value for money. I is not writing this review with experience but I do not regret buying me time.