Tapco by Mackie Link.FireWire 4x6 Audio Interface
No longer available at zZounds
Capture your ideas -- wherever you may be.
Overview
The Link.FireWire 4x6 audio interface is an ultra-portable and superb-sounding recording solution for musicians, composers and producers. The extremely versatile 4-input/6-output format provides the ultimate in connectivity, and since the Link.FireWire 4x6 is bus-powered and compact, you can easily take it with you. With Link's superior sounding, low-latency 24-bit/96kHz operation, dual Mackie mic preamps and the included Mackie Tracktion Music Production Software, your next project will come together quickly.
Superior Sound Quality
For the Link.FireWire 4x6, we started with two of the best mic preamps available in any audio interface at this price range. These Mackie-designed preamps will capture the subtle nuances of any sound you throw at them. Any Mic, Line, or Instrument input is connected via 2 Neutrik XLR/TRS combo connectors. This exceptional sound is preserved all the way to your computer thanks to modern 24-bit/96kHz digital audio converters. These same converters supply superb quality sound to both your headphones and S Series Active Studio Monitors.
Small... But Mighty
All that great sound potential is cleverly packed into a compact case less than 2 in. high and 8 in. long. Link.FireWire 4x6 tucks comfortably alongside your laptop when you're on the go, and connects with a single FireWire cable when you're ready to get busy. It's bus powered, meaning it draws its juice from your computer for no-sacrifice recording and mixing, no matter where you end up. And with… read more a unique swivel-foot design, you can stand the Link.FireWire 4x6 on its side in tighter workspaces, then stow it when it's time to go.
Fully Functional Good Looks
Link.FireWire 4x6 sounds and looks great, and it's designed for complete roadworthiness and functionality. The Link.FireWire 4x6's soft rubber side-cheeks protect it from accidental impact and serve to lessen the likelihood it will slide off your desk during minor earthquakes or other natural phenomena. Silver side rails act like tiny roll bars to protect its precious knobs from being sheared off while in transit. The TAPCO Link.FireWire 4x6 -- it's hard working, smart, and sexy—just like you.
Simple, Powerful, Tracktion
The Link.FireWire 4x6 includes Mackie's Tracktion Music Production Software; the easiest program out there to get you started using your computer to record. And once you've mastered the basics, there's plenty of room to grow with Tracktion's truly professional feature set. It even comes bundled with a great assortment of plug-in effects, including Mackie's Dynamics Suite to help you keep the mix tight, plus Mackie's Final Mix CD mastering plug-in for when you're ready to share your music with the world.
Features:
4-input/6-output
Superior sound quality
Low-latency 24-bit/96kHz operation
Mackie-designed high-headroom/low-noise mic preamps
48V phantom power
Dual combo mic/line/instrument inputs
Main Line outputs
Stereo headphone output
Stereo S/PDIF I/O
Complete front panel control of all I/O
Ultra-portable with FireWire bus power
Includes 12V power supply for computers that don't have bus power
Includes Tracktion Music Production Software
Mac or PC compatible
ASIO2, WDM, and Core Audio compatibility
Kensington Lock Port
Collapsible swivel-foot for easy transport read less
Superior Sound Quality
For the Link.FireWire 4x6, we started with two of the best mic preamps available in any audio interface at this price range. These Mackie-designed preamps will capture the subtle nuances of any sound you throw at them. Any Mic, Line, or Instrument input is connected via 2 Neutrik XLR/TRS combo connectors. This exceptional sound is preserved all the way to your computer thanks to modern 24-bit/96kHz digital audio converters. These same converters supply superb quality sound to both your headphones and S Series Active Studio Monitors.
Small... But Mighty
All that great sound potential is cleverly packed into a compact case less than 2 in. high and 8 in. long. Link.FireWire 4x6 tucks comfortably alongside your laptop when you're on the go, and connects with a single FireWire cable when you're ready to get busy. It's bus powered, meaning it draws its juice from your computer for no-sacrifice recording and mixing, no matter where you end up. And with… read more a unique swivel-foot design, you can stand the Link.FireWire 4x6 on its side in tighter workspaces, then stow it when it's time to go.
Fully Functional Good Looks
Link.FireWire 4x6 sounds and looks great, and it's designed for complete roadworthiness and functionality. The Link.FireWire 4x6's soft rubber side-cheeks protect it from accidental impact and serve to lessen the likelihood it will slide off your desk during minor earthquakes or other natural phenomena. Silver side rails act like tiny roll bars to protect its precious knobs from being sheared off while in transit. The TAPCO Link.FireWire 4x6 -- it's hard working, smart, and sexy—just like you.
Simple, Powerful, Tracktion
The Link.FireWire 4x6 includes Mackie's Tracktion Music Production Software; the easiest program out there to get you started using your computer to record. And once you've mastered the basics, there's plenty of room to grow with Tracktion's truly professional feature set. It even comes bundled with a great assortment of plug-in effects, including Mackie's Dynamics Suite to help you keep the mix tight, plus Mackie's Final Mix CD mastering plug-in for when you're ready to share your music with the world.
Features:
4-input/6-output
Superior sound quality
Low-latency 24-bit/96kHz operation
Mackie-designed high-headroom/low-noise mic preamps
48V phantom power
Dual combo mic/line/instrument inputs
Main Line outputs
Stereo headphone output
Stereo S/PDIF I/O
Complete front panel control of all I/O
Ultra-portable with FireWire bus power
Includes 12V power supply for computers that don't have bus power
Includes Tracktion Music Production Software
Mac or PC compatible
ASIO2, WDM, and Core Audio compatibility
Kensington Lock Port
Collapsible swivel-foot for easy transport read less
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars.
(19 ratings)
Submitted March 3, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Vaporware"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Depends. If all features are complete, I will keep it for a very long time, otherwise, If I have to buy a new interface for my next paying gig (which demands the use of at least 4 outputs) I will be forced to sell this and buy a sound interface that really has at least 4 outputs.
Sound
Sounds good. There is audible low level whine with the phantom power turned on. Must be the power inverter used to generate the 48V interacting with the A/D converter... Doesn't look like any company can manage to make a low ripple 48V power supply out of 5V at this size/price point. I've never seen one. On the plus side, the noise is really low level. Also, last gig I used it with unbalanced cables and I got hum. I imagine this hum goes away if I use a balanced cable. The unit does have TRS outputs. Otherwise a DI box should handle that. Just realize you probably need balanced cables or a DI going into the PA as this box is not grounded.
Features
The Link.Firewire is advertised as a 4.6 interface. When you get it home, you will likely have a 2x2 interface. And it will remain so until the engineers at mackie/tapco get around writing the software to support the full feature set. Assuming that happens. According to the manual, when the full 4.6 feature is completed, the unit will expose 2 stereo input pairs and 3 stereo output pairs which will be hard wired to their respective connectors. This means that the output for the headphones… read more will not be the same as the outputs on the back, unless your software DAW mirrors those outputs for you. This would be fine by me. Though, some other sound cards (like the Echo indigo DJ) have a mixer applet that allows rerouting the software outputs to their physical counterparts. You should take that into consideration because the manual states the the switch to full 4.6 is irreversible. But the sad part is that, the feature does not actually exist as of this writing. and you are gambling on whether the company will get around to finish that before your next paying gig.
Ease of Use
Only a few knobs. Couldn't be easier.
Quality
Physical quality appears fantastic. Very well put together. Sound quality is acceptable, though there is very low level power inverter whine. Software quality is good, but there is not much software there. The software applet only has a few settings. Much of what the software should be does not exist. It seems like one of the better chinese made pieces of hardware. I think it will last more than long enough for the 4.6 support to become available.
Value
I think I got what I paid for. I got a 2 in and 2 out interface that has super low latency and sounds pretty good. As such that is not such a great value. It would be a good value with the missing (but advertised) features. Hopefully it will become a good value at some point in time.
Manufacturer Support
I got a very polite and timely response notifying me of the lack of 4.6 support as of this writing. The support guy seems friendly enough.
The Wow Factor
Lots of sex appeal. I bought it because of that, without taking the time to investigate whether the features were really there. Beware of its sex appeal.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Jazz read less
Sound
Sounds good. There is audible low level whine with the phantom power turned on. Must be the power inverter used to generate the 48V interacting with the A/D converter... Doesn't look like any company can manage to make a low ripple 48V power supply out of 5V at this size/price point. I've never seen one. On the plus side, the noise is really low level. Also, last gig I used it with unbalanced cables and I got hum. I imagine this hum goes away if I use a balanced cable. The unit does have TRS outputs. Otherwise a DI box should handle that. Just realize you probably need balanced cables or a DI going into the PA as this box is not grounded.
Features
The Link.Firewire is advertised as a 4.6 interface. When you get it home, you will likely have a 2x2 interface. And it will remain so until the engineers at mackie/tapco get around writing the software to support the full feature set. Assuming that happens. According to the manual, when the full 4.6 feature is completed, the unit will expose 2 stereo input pairs and 3 stereo output pairs which will be hard wired to their respective connectors. This means that the output for the headphones… read more will not be the same as the outputs on the back, unless your software DAW mirrors those outputs for you. This would be fine by me. Though, some other sound cards (like the Echo indigo DJ) have a mixer applet that allows rerouting the software outputs to their physical counterparts. You should take that into consideration because the manual states the the switch to full 4.6 is irreversible. But the sad part is that, the feature does not actually exist as of this writing. and you are gambling on whether the company will get around to finish that before your next paying gig.
Ease of Use
Only a few knobs. Couldn't be easier.
Quality
Physical quality appears fantastic. Very well put together. Sound quality is acceptable, though there is very low level power inverter whine. Software quality is good, but there is not much software there. The software applet only has a few settings. Much of what the software should be does not exist. It seems like one of the better chinese made pieces of hardware. I think it will last more than long enough for the 4.6 support to become available.
Value
I think I got what I paid for. I got a 2 in and 2 out interface that has super low latency and sounds pretty good. As such that is not such a great value. It would be a good value with the missing (but advertised) features. Hopefully it will become a good value at some point in time.
Manufacturer Support
I got a very polite and timely response notifying me of the lack of 4.6 support as of this writing. The support guy seems friendly enough.
The Wow Factor
Lots of sex appeal. I bought it because of that, without taking the time to investigate whether the features were really there. Beware of its sex appeal.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Jazz read less
29 of 35 people (83%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
No longer available at zZounds
In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer