Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I need to point out that this is an *audio* interface first and foremost.Some of the other reviews only mention its MIDI capabilities.It is *also* a MIDI interface, but the primary purpose of this box is to facilitate the recording of audio.It has some great AD/DA converters to that end, along with the capabilities for very high sampling rates (unlike USB1 interfaces).
Another review also talked about using it as an external sound card.You certainly can do that, but it's a waste of money - other products exist that do the same thing better for cheaper, and without as much bulk or an external AC brick to deal with.No, if you're going to buy this box, buy it to record audio and/or MIDI.
If you're still confused as to why this thing exists, the bottom line is if you need it, you know it.This is a category of device designed for "advanced amateur" home recordists and musicians, who want to record their instruments and make their own demo tapes and need top quality and certain features that don't come stock in a standard PC sound card.
Now, as for this product vs. others in its category - I've only had it for a day, but so far, it does what it's supposed to.What you're really paying for are the DACs and the software, both of which are extremely important to home recording.The hardware other than the DACs is kind of cheap and flimsy, but it works.It's not going to stand up to abuse, though - it's all plastic, with gritty-feeling knobs and buttons and a thin plastic casing.One nice thing is having level displays on the box itself, which is something that some budget interfaces lack.Everything does work like it should.
A big question in audio interfaces is the actual interface itself between the box/card and your computer, which affects latency.I wanted something that I could use with any computer that I use, be it my laptop, my desktop, or a computer at my office.That ruled out PCI, which offers the best latency (but requires a breakout box if you want things like hardware level monitors), and it ruled out firewire too, because my laptop doesn't have the ports.I felt USB 2.0 was a decent compromise; it's not quite as good as firewire and definitely not as good as PCI, but it's a lot better than USB 1.1.If you can use PCI, though, Emu also offers a PCI version of this interface - just be aware that you'll be giving up a few features, plus the obvious portability.If you want USB 2.0 for the same reasons I did, this is honestly one of the few audio interfaces out there that can use it.(Most manufacturers assume you're either a pro, in which case you want firewire, or you're a total budget amateur, in which case you want USB 1.1.)There is definitely some latency when monitoring your recordings through the PC, but on the plus side the box does offer zero-latency hardware monitoring directly through the box.
The software bundle is pretty amazing for the price, and it's another big reason why I bought this model.It actually ships with at least three (by my count) full-fledged recording apps: CuBase LE, Ableton Live and Cakewalk LE.Don't let the "LE" designations scare you - they're totally feature-packed apps, just with fewer tracks and VST instruments than the full versions.Do you really need 96 recording tracks for a home recording?24 should be enough.But the nice thing is these apps also give you an upgrade path to the full versions if you so desire, so you end up saving money vs. buying the full app by itself.This unit also comes with Amplitube LE, which is a plugin for Cubase that models a variety of guitar amps so you can really get that perfect sound that you're looking for - I've been having a ton of fun with this.
I give it four out of five stars only because of its questionable durability.This is not the interface you want if you plan to carry it around in a gig bag all over the place.Also, it does have an external power brick (a small one) - though that's what enables the phantom power for the mic inputs, so it's a good tradeoff.Still, if you want something really portable, look elsewhere (though you'll probably have to give up phantom power).But if you want a good all-around interface for not a lot of money, with a great software package and pro-level audio quality, and you plan to keep it on a desk most of the time, this unit is definitely worth a look.
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Product Description:
Premium 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters* (A/D: 113dB SNR, D/A: 117dB SNR) deliver unmatched USB audio fidelity. E-MU XTC Class-A ultra-low noise Mic/Line/Hi-Z preamplifiers (-127dB EIN) with 48V phantom power and ground lift switches enable you to plug microphones, keyboards and guitars straight into your computer with professional results, while the built-in analog soft limiting circuit lets you record a hotter signal without fear of clipping. Comprehensive digital I/O with optical and coaxial S/PDIF (switchable to AES/EBU) and MIDI In/Out to easily connect all of your digital studio gear and instruments. Ultra-low latency USB 2.0 drivers offer accurate timing and playback of your recorded audio and software instruments.Hardware zero-latency direct monitoring (mono/stereo) allows you to record and overdub with no annoying delay. Plug-and-play operation with hands-on control of all major functions like master level, direct monitoring, preamplifier controls and more. Cross-platform support (Windows XP/x64 and Mac OS X) and compatibility with most popular audio/sequencer applications (Windows: ASIO2, WDM, MME, AC-3 and DTS Passthru; Macintosh: Apple CoreAudio and CoreMIDI).
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