Mackie Spike XD-2

Great convertors and mic pre-amps. Solidly made, and quite good front and rear panel features.
I'm using it in a bedroom studio with a laptop. I have studios in most rooms, so for 50 bucks I thought to indulge myself. ( you can never have too many studios)

Connections; spdif in and out, 1/4 inch jack and xlr in's. 2 x 1/4 inch jack monitor out, and USB in, and power supply (supplied) in. Useful front panel selector switches and knobs.
I use it with a Toshiba Sattelite laptop and Altec Lansing VS4221 home sound system. Yamaha headphones.

UTILIZATION

Drivers seem OK, but I've only had it set up for a few hours. I haven't tried very many multiple tracks yet, only 3 or 4 just to test it, but latency seems workable-around. Guitars and basses plugged directly into the guitar input sound great, and not lifeless, like plugging them via a D/I box into a desk. (10 out of 10 for the guitar input)
At first, I couldn't get any input signal showing in VST at all, until I eventually disabled my laptop internal sound-card because presumably, the two had IRQ conflicts. I use Nuendo or VST, and I dislike Tracktion a lot and think that it looks horrible. I haven't used the Spike midi in's and out's yet, but presumably they'll work.

GETTING STARTED

The online manual was needlessly silly sometimes, and instead of the jokes, I'd have much preferred it to tell me to disable my laptop sound-card. Setup is nothing like as simple as the Echo soundcards (Mia, Layla, Darla, Audio-fire )for example, but the sound is just as good, and I like the mic-pre's and the D/A converters very much.
One slightly annoying thing, is that because it's USB Version 1, it won't tolerate a USB hub, and it has to have it's own dedicated USB port. But once I sussed that out, I was up and running (eventually) The onboard SHARC processor is interesting, although I didn't use the onboard EQ, gates, and compression at all, preferring to use the FX and processing in Nuendo/SX. The XD-2 processing panel is quite useful though, and the internal presets and configurations are varied and very well thought out.

OVERALL OPINION

I disliked the laborious setup and the time wasted in absolute frustration trying to get the thing to be fully operational.. It took me almost a full day to figure it out and to eventually get it to work properly, but for 50 bucks, once working, it's probably the best sound-card I've ever owned (for the price.) Perseverance certainly paid off.

I have six 20-bit Layla soundcards and 3 x new Lyla 3gs, and a RMI Hammerfall lightpipe card which drives 3 x 8-channel Soundscape optical to t-dif converters. I also have two Soundscape Mixtreme 192 cards which go to and from Tascam Desks... The Mackie Spike sounds just as good as any of them.

The sound is very detailed, and possibly slightly warmer than the Echo Layla 3G D/A converters, and the top end is detailed and the bottom end, solid and warm. The mid range is clean and not at all smeared or washy.
If I could get another one for the same price, I certainly would. It is important for prospective buyers to realise that the Spike only runs on Win XP and that it is no longer supported by Mackie. Having said that, the Mackie site still allows relevant Xd-2 software and firmware downloads and an easy new-user re-registration, if you're buying a second-hand Spike.

I use Windows XP exclusively, although if I ever changed to a different Windows OS, I would install XP on another bootable partition, just to be able to use the Mackie Spike.

Conclusions; Excellent and unbeatable value for around $50 to $100 bucks or £50 / £70 quid or so, and if you still use Windows XP then IMO there's nothing anywhere that sounds any better, especially for that price.

This is the top for a live affordable price.
No latency.
It is easy to use,
which for me gives me more time to practice!
Everything is included (drivers, software, connectivity impressive).
In fact it has a pramp 2 between which is the sound card.
No need to console, or software pramp expensive.
The quality is exeptional sound recording as in reading.

UTILIZATION

You just have to install what is included,
and go!
In just a few click you can do the number of tracks you want.

GETTING STARTED

Everything is stable.
No update for the driver,
only for Tracktion.
I have used only two mites in check,
8 in reading, no problem.
I do not noon.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months,
no regrets, even that I recommend.
Javais essay in two m-audio format (pci / usb)
the galre!
I am of not having the usb2,
but I probably would not see any diffrence as given your exact.
A bit expensive but what is included,
Do not hesitate.

Super sound card.
A MIDI input, one MIDI output,
Two output Left / Right Monitor
Two XLR Jack
SPDIF connection

This card is great for the professional. Person, I urtilise for recording enthusiasts and it suits me perfectly.
I have not noticed any latency.
I am running Mac OS X Tiger on a PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz PowerPC proc, 512 MB RAM
A small regret, however, she did not soties RCA or XLR. Too bad but ...

UTILIZATION

No problem with the installation, no compatibility, configuration gérérale is very easy, the manual is in English! But I do not need.

GETTING STARTED

No need for drivers to mac so no problem. However, I instllé other bundled software, no problem
Not made to put in long days, no problem.
An all very small latency. I do not hear it, I said because it is marked in cubase.
With two pre-amplified inputs is two records together.
SPDIF with it depends on the number of sound cards connected

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost one and a half years and I am very happy.
Amplified on the inputs, there is one position instrument, hight pass, low pass, and a phantom power supply. A must.
It besion to a power supply electric.
I tried a creative before this one, I prefer the mackie.
Meters
Good value
A little big for the laptop anyway.
Ability to mix between USB and Direct.
Very happy.
With experience, I would take maybe a smaller map.

- What technical specifications motivated your choice?
and well connected in the usb, in the rglages faade, one between the 48v, small LED handy, the case mtal and of course the renowned brand.

- For what purpose?
I record with my Fostex VF160, I rebalance on a spike with cubase and I can add MIDI and taken additionnal audio.

- What is your config (motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?
2.8Ghz Celeron 2.4Ghz grow, 1GB of RAM memory, asus motherboard, sata cate, Windows XP LSD 3.5

- Which instruments or Systmes (console, prampli, DTD ...) you use it and how connections? ...
With a recorder Fostex VF160 numrique, sound module Alesis D4 drum, compressor / gate, equa paramtrique collection outdoor, microphones ...

UTILIZATION

- Installation is it without problem?
No worries

- Have you experienced any incompatibility?
Not

- The configuration gnrale is easy?
Yes

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
You just have internet!

GETTING STARTED

- The drivers are stable?
yes, no problem!

- Are they often put day?
No update since I bought it.

- What software do you use most often?
Cubase, Soundforge, T-racks

- What you get lag?
Quite low. I tried to drive drumkit from hell with my Alesis D4 module's pads and electronic, I am the ultimate test, and there is a lightweight dcalage between the impactor and the sound .. . but hey that's not what I was looking at dpart!

- How many tracks you get record / playback simultanment? ...

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
2 months

- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
The best: the buttons and faade, I / O Favila accessible, pramplis, the company with the 48v, the control software of the card, low cut filters ...

- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
No, but I read lots of advice and I chose to turn Mackie

- How do you report qualitprix?
Excellent! I got promotion on a site in German 149 instead of 250!
- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
Eyes closed!