new usb audio interface (replacement for echo audiofire4)

[Muratti]

i was using echo audiofire 4 but i got a new laptop i7 with no pcmcia or pci card and no firewire slot...so the point is that i cannnot use my echo audiofire 4 anymore....and i am looking for a decent but not too expensive audio interface and i got my eyes on those:

1. ROLAND UA-55 QUAD-CAPTURE
2. NATIVE INSTRUMENTS KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
3. TERRASONIQ PHASE X64

i will do mostly mic/piano recordings on my i7 laptop with windows 7...so which one would you reccomend?

[LarryKingsShoes]

Greetings!

Is there a particular reason that you're looking at those interfaces (feature sets, perhaps)? I don't have experience with any of those but I thought I'd recommend taking a look at the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6. It's very flexible and sounds great, in my opinion. If you are interested in expanding, you can add a bunch of external preamps (8 input ADAT, 2 SPDIF inputs, and 6 line ins on the back).

I'm not an expert in the area of interfaces, I'm merely sharing my experiences. It's been a solid interface and I'm impressed by the sound quality. For what it's worth, I'm currently using it with my HP laptop with an Intel i5 and Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. There haven't been any driver troubles and the included software package is nice. I can't believe how useful the Scarlett Compressor and Reverb have been!

Good luck with your search!

Sent from my ADR6325 using Gearslutz.com App

[qbury]

I owned the Komplete Audio 6. It sounded great to my ears. It was comparable to the Gina 3G I had and should not have sold. The downside is the phantom current output is weak. (Confirmed with NI). I have a CAD M179 that's a current hog, 8ma. It didn't work. I do have an external pre that I could have used but I chose to return it. Other than that I'd have kept it. If your mic draws from 2-5ma there should not be a problem. My other mics worked.
No experience with the others you mentioned.

[Muratti]

thanks for your reply....i will also consider the scarlett, i have read some good reviews....terrasoniq is actually a german factory, successor to terratec...it makes very good and reliable audio products...

[occidental]

I'm also looking for a replacement for my Echo Audiofire 4. (My Thinkpad T61 has that damn RICOH firewire chipset!) I need a solid USB 2.0 interface.
I was considering Tascam but read too many negative reviews. Emu seems to have decent reviews but current drive support may not be great.
Right now I'm looking at :
Roland UA-55
Focusrite Scarlett 18i6

Both of these look like quality-built boxes. I'm leaning towards the 18i6 but it seems they put it on the market before all the drivers were squared away. Lots of bitching about this one, understandably. I'd be upset as well.
I'm trying to find reliable reviews for the Roland UA-55, but there aren't many, so I haven't read many complaints yet.
I think both Focusrite and Roland will update drivers and support these products for the next few years.
There's also M-Audio, but I'm not a big fan of their products. Kinda cheap.
I'm leaning towards the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6. Even though I'll be putting my machines (I make The Techno) through a Mackie 1402-VLZ first, recording just 2 channels, those extra inputs on the 18i6 are very attractive.
Oh, and I definitely want to spend less than $300.

Anyone have Roland UA-55 experience, recording to a PC laptop running Windows XP?
Will Focusrite finally get its shit straight with the Scarlett 18i6?

Am I missing some other amazing, sub-$300, USB 2.0 interface that isn't Tascam, Emu, or M-Audio...?

[RhythmLion]

Echo audio is coming out with a new line of usb interfaces. Hopefully they are as good as their firewire products.

[omtayslick]

Originally Posted by RhythmLion

Echo audio is coming out with a new line of usb interfaces. Hopefully they are as good as their firewire products.

Interesting. Any further info on this?

[occidental]

I ended up getting an NI Komplete Audio 6. I love it! The drivers are rock solid, the pre-amps are decent enough, and it handles MIDI well. My only complaint is that the headphones output is a bit quiet, which is fine with my Sennheiser HD595 headphones but sometimes annoying with my high resistance Beyerdynamic DT770s, which require a hotter signal.
Komplete Audio 6 works great with Reaper.

[RhythmLion]

ECHO2 ( 2 In /4 Out) will start shipping this MAY. ECHO4 ( 6 in /6 out) this summer, this is according to Marcel from Echo. I just got the Audiofire 8 because i've read the great reviews it has been getting but my pc is not recognizing it at all. I've tried everything, i'm waiting for an email from Echo to see how I can resolve this.

[djproducer1]

Does anyone had any experience with TERRASONIQ PHASE X64 USB 2.0 on WINDOWS 7 OR LION on MAC? I bought before a month ago but at he moment when am running at MAC under Lion software it crashes.Although in Windows 7 works fine but sometimes crash.
I ve hearded that working fine with Linux but am not find so much information at Terrasoniq department.

[yosefTux]

Originally Posted by occidental

I'm also looking for a replacement for my Echo Audiofire 4. (My Thinkpad T61 has that damn RICOH firewire chipset!) I need a solid USB 2.0 interface.

I've got an Ideapad with the RICOH FW, and it works just great with the Presonus FSMobile, which iirc uses the DICEII chipset - which is notoriously picky. I did have to turn off the wireless adapter, but that's a known conflict on just about any computer. My point here, is don't give up on FW until you audition some of them. Personally, I would go for RME or MOTU. IMO Focusrite would be a lateral move.