A really cheap interface for a friend

[John_C]

A friend of mine wants a USB audio and MIDI interface for doing very basic recording. Obviously there are many different interfaces that fit the bill, but what are peoples experiences of the under £150 interface market?
What works and what sucks?

 

[Jind]

Maybe something like M Audio Fast Track MkII - seems like M-Audio's interfaces are pretty reliable and it also happens to have phantom power on such a cheap interface, something in the sub $150 crowd you are not that likely to come across.

 

[kramer1309]

maybe a tascam us144L for 150$?
Ordered one myself..

 

[ballstix]

Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, seriously. $200 USD and it's still got two preamps.

 

[kramer1309]

one problem with that: usb1.1
oh, and read sticky..

 

[Metaltastic]

Cheap M-Audio interfaces are pretty dodgy in the reliability department (and I doubt the sound quality is stellar, especially from a company that makes the Audio Buddy ), my friend got a Presonus Audiobox USB that's been working out well for him

 

[mick thompson]

An M-Audio Jam Lab off ebay and a USB to MIDI Adaptor off eBay - thats the cheapest way i can think

Although i have a jam lab here and i hate the dam thing... its terrible - it seems to create a terrible clipping noise very easily when using hot pickups in your guitar and its hard to get a decent volume out of the thing... but they are piss cheap

In fact i might put it up for sale in the for sale section

 

[wolfhalen]

tascam us-122l

I have a tascam us-144 and it's pretty good. the 122 is the same but it doesn't have spidf, which I never use anyway

it has two mic inputs 1 phantom power and instrument input.

The latency could be better, but I can still play live guitar vsts, so I am happy