help: m-audio fast track MKII USB vs Tascam US122 MKII USB

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Member Since: Sep 09, 2012

background: my focus will be vocal recording and my current setup includes pc + berhinger xenyx 802 mixer + technica at2020 mic (also have a mxl v67g) and i want to add a cheap audio interface to my setup and i have come down to two options ie m-audio fast track MKII USB and the Tascam US122 MKII

questions
i. which is better as far as sound quality for vocal recording goes m-audio fast track MKII USB vs the Tascam US122 MKII

ii. can i connect these audio interfaces to a berhinger xenyx 802 mixer?

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Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


Sep 09, 2012 03:58 pm

Hmmm, out of curiosity, have you checked out the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2? It's only about $30 more, and will probably be a good step or two above that tascam and m-audio unit.

us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i2

As for sound quality, I have no idea what the built-in pres on the m-audio and tascam are like. The converter chips probably get the job done. Probably not as clean or quiet as the focusrite unit though. I would probably go with the Tascam over the m-audio fasttrack stuff though. It looks to be a more flexible unit, period.

Yes you can connect the xenyx. You'll need to run the control room output or the main output into the Line inputs on the Tascam or fast track. But that is still just a stereo mixdown from the mixer. If you want individual channels for the vocal, it would be better to just go straight through the audio interface.

Of course, both those units (Tascam and the focusrite) have 2 XLR inputs for mics like your Xenyx, as well as a few line level inputs.

The fast track only has one XLR input and a single line input on it with the outputs being RCA? Uh yeah, go with the Tascam.

The Tascam has 2 XLR inputs and 2 Line Inputs (so you could send the stereo mix from the Xenyx into the Tascam) Plus one of the inputs on the tascam is switchable to Hi-Z should you want to record a guitar DI. It is just a more flexible unit all around.

If you can afford $30 more (or find it cheap somewhere) Get the focusrite scarlett 2i2. IMO, focusrite makes some of the better interfaces out there, up there with Echo, Motu, and Pre-Sonus.

If you got the tascam or the focusrite, I'd say don't even bother going through the mixer, and just go straight into the audio interface. It's one less piece of hardware in the signal path to add noise.

Well, unless you are specifically using the onboard FX or EQ for the vocal work, but you can do the same to the track in the DAW after recording, so....*shrug*

Hope that helps.

Member
Since: Sep 09, 2012


Sep 10, 2012 05:01 am

Thanx a lot... :)

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