All user reviews of 5/5 for the Tascam US-122

I purchased this unit from http://www.GearTree.com for $180 including free shipping. all I had to do was call for a lower price. I purchased the unit because I needed a portable easy to use audio interface for demo recording.

I love the fact that this unit comes with phantom power, 2 XLR inputs, and is powered bu the USB connection. These features make portability a snap - use on your laptop and bring it home for power editing on your PC. It works equally well on a Mac.

I prefer faders for audio volume, but cost and space likely caused Tascam to include knobs instead. No big deal.

Quality is rugged duty, and the unit has rubber feet that allow it to stay put. Knobs are plastic and might be vulnerable if handled roughly.

Great piece of recording equipment, affordable. You can't beat this deal - especially the price I got from http://www.GearTree.com.

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

I acquired this unit from "savedbytechnology.com", after trying equivalent M-Audio box. The M-Audio box was not sensitive enough to pick my Markley Humbucker pickup on my acoustic guitar.

The device works pretty well as advertised, though the laptop I'm running it off of doesn't like Cubasis VST or Gigastudio, both of which are included the Tascam. I'm told it may have something to do with the Hyperthreading processor I have. (Dell 5150 with 3.06 HT P4, 512 meg ram, 80 Gig hard drive). As a result, I'm using N-Track version 4, without any difficulty. This unit works very well if you want to do some home recording, and do multitrack recording. Cost: $267 CAD.



Pros: The device is easy to use, and the USB works well, though it should be all on its own bus, not sharing one with devices like printers, PDA's and so on.

The level controls work well, and one could even hook this device up to a power amp while at the same time, record what you are playing. This device also is small: carrying it around is not difficulty.

The US122 also has a guitar tuner, which works very well: so far none of my other laptop based tuners work as well as this one does.

Cons: There is a lag between the input and output, so it takes a bit of fiddling around to get the buffer sizes right to reduce the lag time. I think that the exact buffer size will depend on the machine that you are using. Note: this is not for use with a machine that doesn't have some horsepower to it.

A word of warning: when swapping mics and other inputs, make sure that you turn down all level controls to zero, and power off the phantom mic power. Otherwise, if the connector slides over the contacts inside the plug in such a way as to short the plug, you could blow the channel. This mixer is not like an analogue mixer: it is not forgiving of sloppy work with cables and attaching or disconnecting inputs.

Finally, the Hyperthreading processor may not like the packaged software such as Cubasis VST and Gigastudio 24. I use N-Track, and the software works pretty well right out of the box.

One can't deny the quality and sturdiness of the US-122. It is in a cast aluminium case, so it is light, and also well protected in the case. The volume knobs feel flimsy, but some other people have checked this and found that the volume controls are actually quite good.

Bottom line: if you are doing your own home studio recordings, this device along with the right software will do just fine. It also helps that you deal with a reputable distributor, and in this case, that means "savedbytechology.com"

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

I picked this up at Long and McQuade in Toronto for about $340 Canadian. I've been playing for quite some time now but never got into recording before. I was told this was a good unit.

It's a breeze to use. I had it going within a half an hour, and I'm no computer whiz. This thing is loaded. 2 XLR inputs, phantom power, stereo inputs and outputs, and the sound quality is excellent. I've used it for heavy metal guitars, clean acoustic guitars, vocals, etc. It does it all. I also like the fact that it's completely portable and self-powered via USB.

The only negative comment I have about it is the software that comes with it. The bundle versions of Cubasis and Gigastudio really suck and is a pain to use. I prefer to use Cool Edit instead. But as far as the unit itself goes, I have no complaints at all.

Solid steel construction, nice big volume knobs, and 4 rubber feet on the bottom to hold it still. A very solid well built unit.

If you are thinking about getting into recording on your PC, BUY THIS UNIT! You wont' regret it. For the money, it can't be beat and as long as you've got a good computer with a good recording program like Cool Edit, you can do anything that those $1500 units can.

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

Universalis a good walk with several of my computers
audio + midi
use for home studio

UTILIZATION

Installation under Windows XP superb, and trs well as S2 W98
CLICKS ETC with my old computer (5 years, 128mb ram, AMD 450Hz), but with computers rcentes: no problem!

GETTING STARTED

Using absolutely no problem with my last computer, a TRS well, breathless etc.
It is a card a little minimalist, but once installed it is almost forgotten.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 8 months, to beginners with a W98 computer, I had little problem, do not also speak other notices (cracking ets) since installing XP on a computer r cent, it works perfectly.
qualitprix report: trs well!
Number of entries: the weak point for me.

I bought this interface to record one (or two) guitars with effects in real time.
I took the tascam because in an emergency, c'tait only available in my price at my local dealer.
On my Xp1800 +, MSI motherboard chipset Via, never had a problem. Same on my laptop XP-M 2500 + (via chipset).

I use it to record everything that goes through my head is saying, microphone, guitar, bass, keyboard, again via jack. Everything goes well trs.
I test only once for MIDI, I had no particular bp.

UTILIZATION

Installation nickel on my two machines, recognition by Windows XP a little long.
Configuration: there is no or almost: rglage buffers only, and it fits me dpouill trs well as ca.
Manual: uh, one case there are any, it is frankly useless.

GETTING STARTED

Drivers trs stable, occasional updates, I've never not of significant amlioration through them.
I use Tracktion and Buzz, I get latencies inaudible, so good trs.
The sound quality is nickel, dcrochages few times in the sound when I really put a lot of VSTs / BuzzMachines, but one look at my monitors Systm makes me think it just my CPU, no the map.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a little over a year and a half, I love the ease of use, it brance, we plug the guitar, and it works.
What I do not like? the knobs a bit "cheap".
I have been able to test an M-Audio (remember the model, dsl) and an Edirol (FA-101 firewire), trs is good too, but much more complex and ultimately less direct, less "rock".

I achect around 300 euros the era is a bit expensive, but hey, it works well even trs, so I'm not complaining, and ultimately, the choice I would do certainly .

Note: although there are tools for prvus I never russi run linux the card often, Maoist alternative, abstain.

TASCAM brand recognition, the option noon can connect a groove box, is the use of branchemlent my computer to my korg, I have a dell computer last generation with only 1 GB of RAM, connected USB

UTILIZATION

Installation without problem, but that takes time

GETTING STARTED

Little or no latency with the ASIO option

OVERALL OPINION

For two and a half years and I am very happy, the south is an option that I recognize the unique and the most comfortable with this kind of machine is that I connected to my computer it recognizes it at each cost, no need to reinstall, but good computer and shortcomings of a computer to another toujpours ca change, at least I have no problems in two I never reinstall and it works just as well especially in midi
I try the Edirol but I did not like her, and the price was too high while the tascam at the time was more affordable
for the value I found this product very well, with the experience I remake that choice, I even advised a friend

The choice to purchase the Tascam US-122 was really easy for me, it was cheap and would allow me to record two tracks at the same time. When this interface was purchased I was very new to the world of recording my own music and I was looking for exactly what this little guy had, good price and decent features, like the ability to be completely portable with my laptop, recording on the go is a must for me.
I am an acoustic musician so you won't find me plugging my guitar directly into the US-122, instead I use my MXL990 and 991 to mic my guitar. Additionally I use this with a Dell Inspiron 6000, 2GB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive.

UTILIZATION

Once this thing was finally at my home, getting it to work for the first time was a bit difficult, at the time I chalked it up to my inexperience but have since realized that it was definately the product.
I had a very hard time installing the software for this thing on my computer. There were definate issues with Windows XP Professional and Home. It was crazy, I finally found a forum online that explained to me what I needed to do. I had to install the software, and cancel the setup, this process had to be done 3 times, then on the thrid time for some reason it would work, crazy if you ask me.
Then I had to try and follow the crazy instructions on how to set up my computer to work with the interface, you know changing sound ins, AISO...that kind of thing. For a beginner at the time it was definitley frustrating.
Once I got everything working, I had to learn how to use Cubase LE (the bundled version that came with the US-122)...again this recording software and the instruction manual that came with it was less than beginner friendly. All of the instructions were in professional recording language (not surprisingly really), but I had to go and look up definitions of most of the words in the manual. Again, maybe just because I was a beginner, but I'm a pretty intelligent guy, seems to be that it should not have been that difficult to figure out.

GETTING STARTED

All of that being said, once I did get things figured out, this product is really great. I've owned it for several years and I've used it often. It is the only recording interface that I use. I've even trusted it to record some other bands in the area. Granted you aren't going to be recording drums with this thing since you can only record 2 tracks simultaneously, but for acoustic stuff or a few instruments this thing is great and you can take it where ever you go as long as you've got your laptop and a mic you've got a recording studio.
The digial sound that actually comes back out from my computer and to my ears is really way better than I could have imagined for the price of the unit. I think I got mine for around $150 or something like that, definately worth it.

OVERALL OPINION

Like I said I've been using the Tascam US-122 for several years now. I will admit that I definitley had many, many issues to iron out before I could get the thing to work properly, but once I got everything worked out I was really happy with the product.
I would definately suggest that if you are looking for a cheap way to get some tracks laid down with very decent quality to buy this product.

The TASCAM brand US-122 interface quite simply allows you to use two line level inputs and two line level outputs to record professional sounding audio into your personal computer be it a PC or MAC brand. It's simple to use, easy to install (literally about 20-30 minutes) and it is really affordable. We purchased it on sale for about $185.00 at a local music shop shortly after it was released on the market.

UTILIZATION

Here are the facts: Most any computer has a crappy sound card. I don't care if you bought yours for 200.00 or more dollars. It is still crappy and produces good audio for your playback on the computer but not professional for professional audio recording. Now, I know, I know...you don't want to buy anything else. I get that. You've already spent too much money now to create you home studio. I did too. But, imagine a professional CD you produce that sounds great the first time, no pops, no clicks, no hisses and is CLEAN sound.

GETTING STARTED

Note: This also instantly accepts non-powered microphones and it powers them with built in trinkle power (phantom power) and it also accepts guitar levels instantly. It features headphone and separate volume control and also full MIDI for your audio recording/keyboard and sequencing. It's not cheap plastic but steel. Buy you. You'll be glad you did.

OVERALL OPINION

Buy it! You'll be glad you did.