Tapco by Mackie Link.USB 2-Channel USB Audio Interface

Combo mic/line/instrument inputs. Includes Mackie's Tracktion 2 Music Production Software

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

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"A good minimal product"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
There aren't too many features in the link.usb, but it's not meant to be an all in one peice of gear

Quality:
The only problem I find is that the Phones knob is too close to the jack, so when it's in the horizontal position it's kind of hard to grip and turn properly. I tripped over one of the XLRs plugged into this thing and it hit the hardwood floor from about 3 feet up, and it's still truckin.

Value:
If all you need is a preamp (or two), chances are that this thing is a good fit for you. The software is actually pretty decent. It's not protools but it's very intuitive and easy to use. For tracking and recording I've switched from Audition to Tracktion.

Sound:
I'd say it sounds pretty good, especially since it's a budget piece of equipment.

Ease of Use:
Pretty easy, I had a few hitches starting up but messing with a few settings got it up and running and it hasn't failed me since.

Overall:
I use this on my laptop and my desktop (both PCs), I think the best feature of this thing is the fact that it's bus powered. If you plan on recording to your computer, just think of this as a decent preamp with free (full functioning) software.

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"Good for basic home recording, does what it's supposed to do"

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
Simple design & rubber casing nice to have, as is swing-out stand (if desktop space is limited). Unit is USB buss powered, so no wall-wart worries. Neutrik inputs are inconveniently located on the on the back of the unit. Inclusion of Tracktion 2 is very cool -- my previous experience was with an older version of Logic, and I much prefer Traction's interface and workflow.

Quality:
Not the beefiest-feeling device. Knobs are a bit small and feel flimsy, but are functional.

Value:
Good bang-for-the-buck. It's a simple, portable two input I/O device with USB connection and solid software included; nice combo with a laptop PC. Biggest beef I have is with slight latency when recording, but no FireWire connections are available in this price range.

Desirability:
Simple and functional, but not elegant or awe-inspiring.

Sound:
Have used for 6 months and have been pleased with input and output sound quality - crisp & detailed, works well with DI tracks of guitar, bass, and vocals. Preamps have good range, as do headphone and L/R outs to my monitor amp. Haven't used the unit's phantom power, as I have a tube pre for my condenser mic. USB 1.1 connection means some latency when recording.

Ease of Use:
Easy with WinXP. Install software and driver, plug it in, go. Had one problem with LinkUSB driver, but full uninstall & reinstall remedied this.

Support:
Dealt with manufacturer once via email -- response time was 2-3 days, emailed reply was not comprehensive, but the suggestion worked. Tapco's web site is not the most user-friendly, and it's hard to find info on driver updates and user forums.

Overall:
Satisfied with it now as it does what I need: mixing and home recording of single/dual input tracks. If/when I replace this, I'll go with a more substantial I/O device or mixer with more inputs and faster data transfer. Size / portability is nice.

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"Snap,Crackle,Pop"

Overall:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Comes with Tracktion which is indeed easy to use. Seems like a good program for the person who will be recording live instuments (as opposed to a lot of MIDI and whatnot).

Quality:
It is constructed well. However, the second unit I tried was missing the "power on" LED.

Value:
Inexpensive but unusable. I am going to spend more to hopefully get more.

Desirability:
It's good looking. The inputs should be in the front though.

Sound:
I experienced pops, glitches, and shocking bursts of "white noise" during playback (the sounds were not recorded). To solve the audio glitch problems, I became a hermit for a week and tried everything suggested on the Mackie site and a number of other computer audio websites (IRQ settings, PCI latency settings, disabling unused devices, etc.). No changes whatsoever. I felt that perhaps I had a defective unit, so I exchanged it for another. The second had the same problems so I returned it too. I *think* that the problems I experienced were the fault of the Link USB; I acknowledge that my computer might have had something to do with it, but I really don't think so. BEWARE!

Ease of Use:
Easy to set up and use.

Support:
I never dealt with them directly. Mackie has a lot of useful troubleshooting info on their website. (Although it didn't fix the problem I had). Tapco had nothing helpful.

Overall:
Terrible audio glitches render this attractive and affordable interface useless.

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"just a bad product if i wanted somethign just for recording then i would have gone with something less expensive."

Overall:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
I Want It:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
Quality:
quality of this produc is ok the knobs feel like they are ready to fall off but it still holds up.

Value:
not worth the price. had many noise when recording that were unbearable but when its in playback it was nice. i only use it to record and have the outputs coming out of my computer. only would pay 50 beacuse its only good for recording

Desirability:
don't want it

Sound:
it sounds nice and comes out good and better than everything i experienced.recording woth this product is really good. but when its in recording the output is just straight horrible. nothing wrong with my computer or software must be the faulty connect but don't know why it does it.

Ease of Use:
really easy to use quick to connect it and setup..

Overall:
this product is only good for recording but you going to have the output different because this output on this product is just really horrible only when its in playback does it sound good.

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"Clicks, pops, and by the way Tracktion sucks"

Overall:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Value:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
 
 
 
Value:
go with firewire

Sound:
Sounds good but makes popping, glitchy noise when in playback and recording

Ease of Use:
too many bugs

Overall:
I'm getting the presonous firebox

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