El cheapo usb interface wanted, suggestions?

UncleGoatLips

I just want to jam on my laptop every now and again so I went and got myself Overloud TH2. I can't use the mic input because the lag is just too hectic, so I'm thinking of getting a USB interface like the NI ones, I just don't want to spend that much.

I'm thinking of the Behringer GUITAR LINK UCG102, I think they should be about 300 bucks:

Anyone with experience on this? Is there anything out there that could be a good alternative?

chris77

I have one. No latency issues and a breeze to use. Only gripe is through 'phones it's quite noisy. The hissing doesn't get recorded though, so I suspect it has to do with the h/p socket or something. Maybe mine's just a dud, I don't know. But at that price, it's hard to complain hey.

giggsy

Got one too - does the job got pretty cheap... Seen them on Bid or Buy for R200 (postage is probably at least R50 though)

doc-phil

I would rather go for a Line 6 toneport... the equivalent of the discontinued toneport GX which is what I have. It costs a bit more than the Behringer above but it does come packaged with a stand-alone only version of Gearbox which is a decent amp-modeling software (not as powerful as Guitar Rig but pretty good none-the-less).

UncleGoatLips

Naah, I don't want to spend more than a couple hundred bucks just to be able to jam on my laptop.

Seems like the behringers are about R450 ish. here's a copy, damn, a behringer copy? now that's something... ?

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/40795427/Guitar_to_USB_Interface_Link_Cable_for_PC_MAC_Recording.html

Maybe I should just fork out the R450, just to be sure.

UncleGoatLips

Something like this too risky?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TConnect/

giggsy

UncleGoatLips wrote: Seems like the behringers are about R450 ish. here's a copy, damn, a behringer copy? now that's something... ?

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/40795427/Guitar_to_USB_Interface_Link_Cable_for_PC_MAC_Recording.html

Ha! I just assumed that it was a Behringer!

VellaJ

UncleGoatLips wrote: Something like this too risky?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TConnect/

Good question. I've been looking for pretty much exactly what you're looking for on this thread. My question about the cable you mentioned is, is it meant to be plugged straight into the guitar, or into the amp? I see it has no pre-amps, so I assume you need to go through the amp?

UncleGoatLips

Remember it's not analog so it's about the audio to digital converter which is also built into this one, I'm not sure about drivers etc.

BluJu

Hmmm, that looks a bit dodgy. I've got my cousins M audio jam lab lying around somewhere. I can ask if he'll let it go to a GFSA member for cheap?

VellaJ

It may be a bit more than you're willing to pay, but I'll put it on here for interest's sake...

I was at Mediatech last week and was looking for such devices. Came across this, the Roland Duo Capture:

If I remember correctly, I was told there that it retails for about R850, and includes software (Cakewalk LE(?) )...

I'm going to be enquiring with Music Mate at the end of the month about getting this in for me, I'll let you know of anything along the lines of a major breakthrough ?

McDangerous

I'll +1 the Line 6 POD Studio series. Got the GX (the cheapo one) Thursday, and I've been rocking my socks off. I realise it's quite a bit more cash (paid R1250 for mine from Music Connection in Randburg) but it really is worth it. You get the POD farm software package, with which you can build a massive variety of tones easily, the RiffWorks drum and practice recording software, as well as Ableton Live Lite full featured recording software. So, even though you're paying a bit more, you're getting a lot more as well, and the recording quality really is top notch. I've made some basic recordings with RiffWorks within a couply of hours of having it, and it already sounds awesome.

I'd really recommend it, and I researched the whole USB-interface thing a lot from a budget perspective, and the Studio GX has the absolute best Price vs. Performance ratio.