Usb interfaces

[Geek99]

What can people recommend ? I assume some do midi and some don't ? Not looking to spend huge amounts
What are peoples experiences with windows 32/64 bit drivers ? A common whinge on the Amazon reviews

Thanks

[NancyJohnson]

I guess you have to ask yourself what you want to use it for...if you just want a straight and simple interface to capture anything that works off a 1/4" jack plug or an XLR, I can highly recommend the Presonus Audiobox USB. No MIDI though.

Edited December 28, 2014 by NancyJohnson

[lowdown]

Audio & Midi in/out
Steinberg UR22, really good value.
Very solid drivers.
Review.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/steinberg-ur22.htm

Google search will give you £99.00.
You also get a trimmed back version of Cubase with it (AI 6).

Edited December 28, 2014 by lowdown

[geoffbyrne]

Ahem.... <<Shameless plug>>

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/251092-digidesign-mbox2-mini/page__fromsearch__1

<</Shameless Plug>>

[MilkyBarKid]

A bit more inflation would be useful. How many channel of audio and how many midi channels. What's your budget. There are a huge number of devices out there.

One thing which is really important is whether manufacturers continue to support new operating systems with drivers. I think there's a new windows is on the way, so I'd check whether the manufacturer is planning to offer drivers for that.

You can waste a lot of your life mucking around with this stuff so I'd steer away from anything with at the bottom end of the market.

[LiamPodmore]

Anything Focusrite is usually a solid choice on the lower end of the market. As MilkyBarKid mentioned always check for driver support as well, not just for future OS releases but some interface have pretty rubbish drivers as well.

Liam

[0175westwood29]

i have a behringer mixing desk/usb interface cost about 69 quid, four channels with 2 having mic pre's it works really well!

however have been looking at getting the akai eie interface but am happy with what i currently have

andy

[spacey]

Zoom b3.
You get an effects box, drum machine and usb interface with cuebase all in one.

[chriswareham]

Drivers and support from future operating systems won't be a problem if you buy a device that uses "class compatible" interfaces. There are standards for USB and audio interfaces that mean compatible devices don't require proprietary drivers. Alternatively, switch to Linux, where even things like my old Yamaha UX-96 still works despite not being entirely class compatible. I use a package called Ardour (not the same as Audacity) which is an open source and free equivalent to Ableton Live or Logic.

[Geek99]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1419774050' post='2642583']
Zoom b3.
You get an effects box, drum machine and usb interface with cuebase all in one.
[/quote]
I have the b2.1 but never got it to work properly on windows 7 64. I now have a windows 8 laptop so maybe I should try again

[ambient]

Shameless plug

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252108-focusrite-scarlett-2i2/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252108-focusrite-scarlett-2i2/[/url]

[bubinga5]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1419754522' post='2642368']
I guess you have to ask yourself what you want to use it for...if you just want a straight and simple interface to capture anything that works off a 1/4" jack plug or an XLR, I can highly recommend the Presonus Audiobox USB. No MIDI though.
[/quote]confussed. ? i have a Presonus Audio Box USB and it has midi.

[MilkyBarKid]

Chris - could you explain "class compatible" to us and which devices have it, and whether it relates only to audio devices. It would also be of interest to know how that will affect configuration software provided by manufacturers.
Thanks mbk

[lurksalot]

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1419795945' post='2642784']
I have the b2.1 but never got it to work properly on windows 7 64. I now have a windows 8 laptop so maybe I should try again
[/quote]

I spent a lot of time trying to make my zoom kit ( b2.1 and the 9.1) work as an interface , it does , BUT , volume levels , playback levels and latency issues made it a real PITA , get the proper kit , it will make the whole process much , much easier and straightforward.

[3below]

Explaining Class compatible is quite a vast task - [url="http://www.usb.org/developers/defined_class"]http://www.usb.org/developers/defined_class [/url] , [url="http://www.usb.org/developers/compliance/"]http://www.usb.org/developers/compliance/[/url] Expanding on Chriswareham's reply earlier, 'class compatible' means that the manufacturer should have designed and implemented the USB interface in accordance to the standards / specifications that have been defined and published. It should also mean that the USB interface performs to the specification / standards. The use of open standards should make software and driver implementation (if needed) much simpler. Class compliant devices should just 'plug and play'. Notice I use should, not everyone plays fully by the rules

I would suggest looking at devices that are USB 2 (or even 3) class compliant. In my recent pre-purchase internet searching I found that most major manufacturers seem to state this in their specifications