Line6 Interfaces. Do Higher End Models Sound Better?

[Robert W]

Am using an old UX1 and was wondering if the higher end Line6 interfaces sound better.

 

[MatrixClaw]

Not really.

 

[mva801]

Just bite the bullet and get something decent. You won't regret it I promise.

 

[Mashreef]

Line 6 interfaces sucks big time
get sth else like focusrite,roland,rme,presonus etc

 

[He's Dead, Jim]

What would you guys recommend for a replacement for the UX1, preferably with one XLR and one instrument input and some sort of pad or Hi-Z input for an active pickup guitar? I'm not in a band so multiple inputs don't really make financial sense. I know I can go on Google, but I thought I'd solicit your input as well.

 

[bryan_kilco]

Honestly, something cheap and simple .... M-Audio Fast Track .....they came out with new stuff now, I think Avid either owns or has collaborated with M-Audio.

I have the FTP and I love it for tracking stuff at home. I still need to do a proper comparison between that and my Profire 2626 though.

 

[He's Dead, Jim]

Well I mean, I'm open to buying a new DI box, but it needs to sound markedly better enough that it's worth buying a new one. Do the M-Audio ones pass that threshold?

 

[AD Chaos]

If the instrument (guitar) input is a concern to you, I'd look at a Roland Quad Capture, the auto-sens input level function seems nice for laying guitar tracks and the like.
NI's Komplete Audio 6 looks interesting also, they spec the instrument input at 1M ohm, so I'm guessing you really can't go wrong with it.

I've tried a Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 and had to take the knobs to zero and set input to low to avoid unbearable clipping, even with a passive, mild-gained stock pup on an entry-level Ibanez (a GIO, if memory serves well). Focusrite ones seem to be a 'hit or miss' in terms of whether your guitar-pup choice is going to work along with it or not (only the 56 comes with a dedicated built-in pad), so personally those wouldn't be my first choice, if you have no way of trying them first. The Saffire Pro 24 DSP, however, seems interesting because of VRM.

I cannot comment on the actual quality of those two interfaces I mentioned at first (haven't personally tried them), so take it with a grain of salt. I've tried other 'budget' interfaces, but none to my liking so far. I'm always on the look for which cheap interface to recommend to my students, it's not an easy choice at an 'entry' level I think (for PC, at least).

I think once USB 3.0/3.1 and (hopefully?) Thunderbolt budget interfaces start showing up, it may become easier to choose a safe bet (Firewire can become sort of a PITA if your motherboard decides not to play along with it).


*I can't comment on newer M-audio offerings or Presonus, haven't tried those.

 

[deLuther]

Don`t get new M-Audio M-Track, it`s just Alesis shit in new box. AVID continues old traditions of M-Audio with AVID Fast Track Solo/Duo.
Fast Track Mobile Pre sounds more natural with passive pickups than UX2, on Line 6 passive pickups sounds like active because of strong high-pass.
Active pickups at 9 V have less peak output than most passive humbuckers and you can always use guitar volume as padding device without sacrifice to tone.
Avid Fast Track Solo/Duo can handle levels up to +15 dbV (+17.2 dbu), almost as previous Fast Track C400 (+16 dbV/+18.2 dbu), so it enough in most cases.
Presonus VSL interfaces have very large input levels because signal can be significantly reduced.
M-Audio Profire 610/2626 handles levels up to +22 dbV (+24.2 dbu).
Focusrite Pro 14/24/24 DSP have significantly less levels due to high minimum preamp gain and no Pad.

 

[harls]

I just upgraded from the UX2 to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and the improvement has been vast. I play a 7 string LTD with active EMGs and the built in pad button still leaves plenty of headroom. The mic pres and DIs are significantly duller and more lifeless in the UX2 by comparison.

 

[Robert W]

The M-Audio MobilePre seems plentiful on eBay. Going for +/-$50.

 

[onqel]

I'm a Roland Quad-Capture user and I think it's very good for the price! I'm not using the auto-sens feature that much on guitar, but rather on bass when there's slapping or other high peaks involved

 

[rvs0002]

Borrow another interface if you can and record the same guitar part with both of them. Have someone there that can play back the samples in a blind test. 75% chance you won't hear much of a difference. Now build a small mix (drums, bass, your guitar tracks). Have your helper pan them left and right. 95% chance you won't be able to tell a difference, or at least enough of one to make it worth spending more money on another interface.

Now take your extra cash and buy more room treatment and take your girl out to dinner. Both of these things will provide much more return on investment than a new interface.

I had a UX2, a pod and a PreSonus 1818VSL. Which interface I used to record guitars made about 0.0007% of a difference in the mix, and I could eq that difference out pretty quickly.

Andy once had me send him a clip of my voice recorded through either my UX2 or my Pod X3 (can't remember now which) that I was bitching about being low quality, tweaked it and sent it back to me with a clip of Warrell Dane singing the same thing tracked through some sweet studio gear of MUCH higher quality. He made both of them sound pretty fucking sweet. Showed me straight away that pre's are fun to spend money on if you have disposable income, but there is such a minimal difference in pre's from reputable companies (Line 6, PreSonus, Mackie, M-Audio, etc.) and going from them up to the big boys gets you MAYBE a TINY bit of clarity/detail and SOMETIMES a little less noise, but really nothing that jumps out of you in a mix. Those two clips from Andy really took away my urge to spend more money on gear and spend more time recording and mixing. Saved me a lot of cash over the years.

That is my opinion anyway, YMMV. Just food for thought. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck with your music!

 

[Christian WUFU]

^Any chance you still have those clips? I'd love to hear them.

Honestly though, I think that the Line 6, and Presonus stuff color the sound in a nasty way. Obviously some corrective EQ can fix that with vocals and such, but why would you want that if you are trying to capture an accurate DI of a Bass or Guitar? A decent mid-level interface and DI box go a long way IMO

 

[Robert W]

Borrow another interface if you can and record the same guitar part with both of them. Have someone there that can play back the samples in a blind test. 75% chance you won't hear much of a difference. Now build a small mix (drums, bass, your guitar tracks). Have your helper pan them left and right. 95% chance you won't be able to tell a difference, or at least enough of one to make it worth spending more money on another interface.

Now take your extra cash and buy more room treatment and take your girl out to dinner. Both of these things will provide much more return on investment than a new interface.

I had a UX2, a pod and a PreSonus 1818VSL. Which interface I used to record guitars made about 0.0007% of a difference in the mix, and I could eq that difference out pretty quickly.

Andy once had me send him a clip of my voice recorded through either my UX2 or my Pod X3 (can't remember now which) that I was bitching about being low quality, tweaked it and sent it back to me with a clip of Warrell Dane singing the same thing tracked through some sweet studio gear of MUCH higher quality. He made both of them sound pretty fucking sweet. Showed me straight away that pre's are fun to spend money on if you have disposable income, but there is such a minimal difference in pre's from reputable companies (Line 6, PreSonus, Mackie, M-Audio, etc.) and going from them up to the big boys gets you MAYBE a TINY bit of clarity/detail and SOMETIMES a little less noise, but really nothing that jumps out of you in a mix. Those two clips from Andy really took away my urge to spend more money on gear and spend more time recording and mixing. Saved me a lot of cash over the years.

That is my opinion anyway, YMMV. Just food for thought. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck with your music!

Wow! That's probably the single most definitive response I've ever gotten on this subject. Thank you for your candor.

 

[kvoid]

I have a Toneport KB37. It's a UX2 with a keyboard MIDI controller. Everything on this interface has gone to shit over the years. Half the MIDI keys do not work. The headphones pot is scratchy and has to be fiddled with to work properly (extremely frustrating). The mic pre's never had enough gain to record any vocals with a dynamic mic. I once tried to use my SM7 on a really loud growler and let's just say that was one of those hilarious what-was-I-even-thinking situations. I still use it as my " mobile" rig, connected to my laptop. In short, it is a piece of shit, and I applaud Line6 for having the common sense not to dabble in the recording interface world anymore.

Sell it if you can and almost ANYTHING you buy will be an upgrade. I had a lot of fun with a Zoom R8. The pre's on that rape anything Line Sux has ever done.

 

[rvs0002]

^Any chance you still have those clips? I'd love to hear them.

Honestly though, I think that the Line 6, and Presonus stuff color the sound in a nasty way. Obviously some corrective EQ can fix that with vocals and such, but why would you want that if you are trying to capture an accurate DI of a Bass or Guitar? A decent mid-level interface and DI box go a long way IMO

I do have them. I'm out of town right now but will post them when I return. They are only about 20-30 seconds each but it's all I needed to hear to know mic and pre are the least of my worries!

They are also good for reminding me if as busy as Andy is and can do that for me, I need to make a little time every now and again to help someone else that needs it.

There have been several members on the board that have helped me as well over the years, so to those I haven't talked to in a while, thanks again!

/touchy-feely-rant

 

[rvs0002]

Wow! That's probably the single most definitive response I've ever gotten on this subject. Thank you for your candor.

No sweat, good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[Alphanumeric]

+1 on the roland, the autosens, great level, great drivers, best pre's for the low USB range, get some of the most popular sims, those pre's will color decently, considering price. The ones that come with the competitors, focusrite, presonus ... stay away.

Please don't give money to line 6 through their recording line, they make no effort for you, don't give it to them.

 

[7string]

I have the NI Komplete Audio 6 and think its pretty high quality for the price. I wanted 4 TRS outs so I could reamp without unplugging my monitors. That requirement really narrows down the choices. I also have thier older Audio Kontrol 1 and got good use out of it. It had some driver bugs with Youtube. But they have still been updating drivers even though it is discontinued.

I don't think the specs are as good as DeLuther recommends. But I think the DI input sounds good and I've never noticed any clipping. My guitars are passive and my basses have EMG's.

My biggest gripe about the KA6 is that its doesn't have the separate 1/2 and 3/4 output volume pots like the AK1 had. But, I suppose its easy enough to use the software faders.