Tapco Link.USB

The TAPCO Link USB is a two channel audio interface with low latency monitoring with the ability to power itself using the USB port. This is the ultimate mobile studio interface. The TAPCO USB has two microphone pre amps and each pre amp has phantom power for your don censer microphones. The price of the TAPCO Link USB is very low and affordable. Only downside is I feel that its lacks warmth in its recordings and does have a little recording latency but most of us didn’t care about the latency , but the warmth was a issue for me. The TAPCO will be an interface that you will out grow. I think it’s a perfect interface for a beginner or someone who is just doing music for fun, but once you get more in depth and get some better microphones you will outgrow this device pretty quickly. It doesn’t have the specs to keep up with your upgrades.


UTILIZATION

You can use this on multiple platforms though, I only used it on a Windows XP system at the time, for it to be a cheap device, it does use very little amount of CPU which is great if you are into running a lot of plug ins and effects. You don’t want your interface to use a lot of CPU and this one doesn’t.


GETTING STARTED

Installing it was simple and only took a few minutes, and it does come with a music production software but I wouldn’t dare to use it. Its called Tracktion Music Production software. Most people never use the software that comes with the interfaces unless its pro tools or Abelton. But just in case you are new to recording it does come with something so you can record right out of the box.


OVERALL OPINION

The lacking warmth of the TAPCO USB is the deal breaker for me, warmth is key for our recordings and I think that maybe we are just to advanced for a interface like this. That doesn’t mean that its not a decent interface, but you will eventually out grow it.

+ +, The absence of external power supply prices
- Use for tinkering with a Mobile P4 512 ram dell inspiron 3G
Used with micro-project studiot, Oktavia, neuman tlm 103, Shoeps cm5,

UTILIZATION

No-problem installation
-No problem compatibilitbr />-config is too easy (a little too simple)
- The manual is the height of drivers (too simple)

GETTING STARTED

-Drivers are stable

"I use Cubase SX and I find that the card when my computer ram crak on pieces in gourment processor (the limits are felt quickly asser)
- Latency 21 ms unforgivable .... Lowest
- J between two records in same time or two tracks simultaneously

OVERALL OPINION

I ais the past week
-The absence of external power supply and the rapid installation of the points are positive, not really perform asio drivers (too much latency) and the limits of use with large pieces in cubase
- I board an RME Multiface audio quality performance irrprochable ..., I board a day before trying 896 motu firwire some problems with cubase in large pieces, a 2 input preamplifier prsonus firewire not bad at all but need to supply it with an external audio m same defect as the presonus ...
-Q report. P is the price we have pay the Chinese??
-Has the exprience I can be to wait for a test (latency), but the price is so good attractions with euro 150
I believe that it will serve me any fawns and especially for listening any songs recorded live configuration stro ....

The price (149 in toto) is excessive and included Traktion attracted me in any of the fawn I do not need Tech pramp top micro instruments of death and killing is only one homestudique use!
I have an apple power book g4 1.5 GHz 12 "and is recognized without driver IMMEDIATE same for my old pc: the unseen in the computer world!
I have my Mackie HR624 connct a purring sound is very clean!

UTILIZATION

I have not had even so ... besoind emanuel

GETTING STARTED

With Traktion that comes with it is happiness, I lowered the latency 6 ms on mac does not move: with BMD included!

OVERALL OPINION

I really like the look of this card throws: the suport chrom which allows the vertical stability is unique and fantastic food by usb!
I use it since February I believe, I do not regret this purchase price is the ratio quality lev for the moment!

Aim: To equip myself with a portable stereo with registered digital computer portable.Pour associated with classical instruments (cello, flute, singing ...)
Specifications and the price of analog Link.USB were sufficient to acquire a purpose test amateur (the THD in the bandwidth, the S / B and the rate of common mode rejection are not shown). OK 24bits/48khz the 2-way, power supply 48v power supply and USB microphones incluse.Logiciel Tacktion2 fourni.Il just have to plug in microphones and
M40-300 laptop Thoshiba 512M Ram CeleronM 1.5 Ghz, OS WinXP.
No evidence found on the Toshiba laptop-compatible Link.USB

UTILIZATION

Material very well presented, clean finish.
Paper clear instructions, and for the pdf.
Connected in the first PC PentiumIII 800Mhz WinXP had to remove the sound card (AC97 return to!) To work without any apparent problem.
With the Toshiba was very painful and unusable by trying all possible and imaginable deactivations (even when purchased a PCMCIA-USB) ... It was a last resort (the BIOS not allowing any latitude adjustment) that I resolved to try to move from managing "ACPI", chosen by the basic WinXP for this notebook, the old direct management "PC standard" (non-ACPI PIC HAL), without resettlement and risk of non-reboot.
And then ... all is good with Tracktion2 + Link.USB, minimum latency! But dixit MS WinXP operation is not validated in this basic configuration ACPI.Il no longer active management ACPI: l power the laptop no longer works automatically, such as the sprinkler.

GETTING STARTED

Software Tracktion2, English, simple to use fast enough.
Latency 2.6 ms Track 48khz stereo. A test more extensively in 1.3 ms.

OVERALL OPINION

Very good quality / price ratio, to be confirmed for use.
I do not know any other model.
It would be better to be aware of compatibility problems that may be encountered. It takes some time and a bit of knowledge to solve this type of problem with the diversity of computer systems.