Tascam US1641 USB 2.0 Audio and MIDI Interface with digital Connection - Macintosh and Windows Review

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(More customer reviews)I looked at virtually every multiple mic interface on the market and couldn't find anything to touch this in features and/or price... so I bought it.
Wow!This thing rocks! I connected up 8 microphones for Kick, Snare, Hi-hat, Tom 1, Tom 2, Tom 3, Left Overhead and Right Overhead... all those mics plug into the 8 XLR mic sockets at the front of the unit. Got some really great 20ft XLR mic cables from Amazon for only $6.95 each (Whirlwind LowZ Microphone Cable (20 Foot) I then plugged in my bass guitar into one of 2 switchable line/guitar 1/4" mono inputs on the front.
Each of the 10 front panel inputs has a volume control knob and red/green led. The drummer hits each drum individually one by one so I can adjust each vol control so that it just occasionally clips red but mostly stays green.
After adjusting the six individual drum mics I now get the drummer to play the whole set and I adjust the left and right overheads mics so they don't clip (go red). That's it! The mics are setup ready to record.
I took the main output from the back of the unit to my monitors and there's a volume control on the front of the unit to allow you to turn down the monitor while recording... then you turn it up to listen back... so in effect, the unit has it's own monitoring control.
Two headphone jacks would've been nice, but I used a Y-adapter 1/4" Headphone Splitter to split the output allowing me to plug in the two headphones for me and the drummer.
I now setup recording on my laptop (HP TX2500z) using the supplied Cubase LE4 software which is really easy to use - buy yourself the The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recording with Cubase. There's no specific book for version LE4 but this idiot's guide worked great for me.
A note about my notebook - It's a tablet PC laptop HP Pavilion tx2500z 12.1" TOUCH-SCREEN Notebook with a great touch screen - so you can arm/disarm or mute/unmute your record channels/tracks just by touching the screen buttons with your finger - it's just like a real mixing desk with real tactile switches - it's really cool!
You may need to tweak your laptop for audio recording to get the best results otherwise you will hear artifacts (odd noises) when recording if the laptop is struggling to find the necessary processing power. I tweaked my laptop and it was just amazing to see the difference in performance. You can Google "Tweak Vista for audio recording" to find the information on how to tweak.
I also replaced my 5400rpm drive with a 7200rpm drive Seagate 500 GB 7200RPM 2.5" Drive - it's real easy to do... Google "Upgrading laptop hard drive". As well as getting a faster speed drive I also made it a 500GB to replace the 320GB drive that I had - so lot's more space... and very low cost too!
RESULTS!!!!!!!!!!!
Well... Let me tell you, I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the results obtained with this unit! The Tascam 1641 is an amazing piece of gear and Amazon's price is just out of this World at only $299...
It's like having a whole recording studio in a box - the mic pre's, the mixing desk (vol controls), the signal LED's, the monoring vol control, headphone controls, etc... AND the software - all for $299 - You can't beat that!
The actual sound that I got was totally professional - I couldn't have done better if I was in a top-notch recording studio. I am 100,000% satisfied!
GO FOR IT!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!



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Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)This device is great for those who just want to get sound in and out of the computer conveniently without plugging in too many audio cables. It is nice to sit down at a desk, plug in the USB hub, and get sound in and out right away. I used mine to connect out to my ADS monitors and in from my run-of-the-mill Behringer 802 mixer.
Key word "used." After a few hours of listening to the device, both recording and playback, I realized that it actually sounded worse than the headphone output on my laptop. Now, realize that I am a stickler for audio quality - your needs may vary - but for those with good ears this may be useful information. The sound is dead and lifeless, without much clarity or image. It seems as though a veil lies between me and the music that I can't get rid of.
This, my good-eared friends, is the problem with a cheap DAC. That's the Digital-to-Analog converter, and it's what takes the bits from your computer and decides how to make sound waves out of them. Devices such as this one are cheap for a reason - the DAC chips and op-amps and components in the signal path are cheaply bought and cheaply constructed, and you'll get that signature veiled Behringer (oops, am I generalizing?) 'cheap' sound.
If you have good ears and know you will be able to hear a difference - do yourself a favor and invest in a good DAC and ADC instead of this. You will thank yourself many times later on for it. There are many options in the $100-$200 range that those with good ears will (unfortunately for our wallets) require.
So this review is mainly targeted as a warning to folks with discerning ears. However, if you're just looking for simple input and output and aren't running it to a good set of monitors or doing serious recording, then this will do just fine. If you know you won't be able to hear the difference, there's obviously no point in spending any more than this. Enjoy!
(As a side note - if you're wondering why I care so much, let me put it simply: I think I end up listening to and enjoying more music when it sounds remarkably real. It's way more enjoyable. That's all. If you can avoid it, I suggest staying blissfully unaware of this fact; it's way cheaper.)

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The UCA202 provides two analog mono inputs and outputs (for monitoring), USB connectivity and an additional S/PDIF optical output for direct analog-to-digital conversion. The stereo headphone output features a dedicated level control and lets you listen to both the input and output. For a fraction of the cost of many USB audio interfaces, you can have state-of-the-art digital conversion, world-class recording and editing software, and hassle-free connectivity between your PC or Mac Computer and any piece of audio equipment.

Options Galore When used as a professional interface between a mixing console and your computer, myriad options become available. Some of these might include connecting the UCA202 RCA outputs: to the TAPE INPUT jacks of your mixer; to powered monitors or to the input channels on the mixer. Connecting to the mixer input channels allows you to use the Aux Send feature of your mixer to build an extremely versatile monitor mix for recording sessions. These are just a few of the possibilities; let us know how you use your UCA202.
No Drivers Required The UCA202 works with your PC or Mac computer without the need for any setup or driver installation.
Powered via USB Because the UCA202 is powered by the USB bus, no external power supply is needed. That's one more outlet for all your musical toys.
High-End Audio Quality The UCA202 features high-resolution 48 kHz converters for high-end audio quality, and the additional S/PDIF optical output allows for direct digital conversion.
Tons of Free Software Behringer provides a heap of free software available via download, to let you get the most out of your UAC202 right out of the box.
KRISTAL Audio Engine KRISTAL Audio Engine is a powerful multi-track recorder, audio sequencer and mixer--ideal for anyone getting started with recording, mixing and mastering digital audio.
Audacity Audacity is an easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems.
energyXT2 This amazing DAW (digital audio workstation) makes it easy to manipulate your audio and MIDI files, and turn song ideas into stunning CD or web-ready recordings. energyXT2 includes built-in synthesizers, a drum machine, and internal multi-FX processor.

What's in the Box Behringer UCA202 U-Control Audio Interface, User's Manual

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Pyle-Pro - U-CONTROL USB-Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)This products does the job of converting any analog turntable cassettes or any other analog device to digital to your computer I just got some cassettes to my computer and onto MP3 USB drive once I get an iPod I will get all up in I tunes thanks to this product I can throw out all my old cassettes

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Mackie Thump TH-15A 2-Way Powered Loudspeaker Review

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(More customer reviews)I have now had my Mackies for about four months. For me they are perfect (so far).My partner and I have a "midi assisted" duo" and play small to medium size clubs each week. I have been using a pair if Behringer active 12 inch speakers on stands for a few years and a Peavey cabinet driven by a separate power amp. The lows were not really clear on the Peavey cabinet (with a JBL speaker in it) driven by a QSC amp. I am replaceing it with the Mackie Thumps. The lows are now very clear and it has quite a bit of power (more than I need right now).That eliminates carrying the heavy Peavey cabinet and the QSC power amp I was lugging around.
The Mackie is actually a bit lighter than my much smaller Behringer speakers. So far I am very pleased. A few weeks ago we played a very large room going 50/50 with a DJ who also used our system. We were playing for several hundred people (300-400). The Mackies worked great. No break up or distortion and I was pleased that I never had to turn them up more than half way. Great purchase at a great price.
(FYI Note: One reviewer wrote that "Mackie bought Tapco". Tapco stands for Technical Audio Products Company a company which was founded by Greg Mackie in 1969. In 1977 he left Tapco after selling TAPCO Corp. to Electro Voice. Mackie started another company called Audio Control that only lasted a few years. Greg Mackie started Mackie Designs in 1988. By 2003 Mackie also started making mixers under the old TAPCO name once again. The first mixer in 2003, was the Tapco 6306 which actually came out as "Tapco by Mackie". The bottom line is Mackie didn't buy Tapco (the name was no longer in use), Greg Mackie just started using his old company's name on some modals made by Mackie Corp.Tapco equipment is designed and run today by the 1969 founder and designer of the original Tapco line. I often suspect that the TAPCO name is used to test market some Mackie gear. TAPCO Thumps were out about two years before they stopped making them under that name and started calling them Mackie Thumps.)

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Shure PGDMK6-XLR 6 Drum Mic Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently purchased this set of microphones and all I have to say is... I love them!! Definitely a very good buy!

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