TASCAM US122 Audio/MIDI Interface with Free Software

2 XLR-fed phantom-powered mic inputs with inserts. 2 line level inputs (switchable to guitar level). 16 channels of MIDI I/O.

Overall User Ratings (based on 282 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    2.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(282) (see rating details)
Submitted June 8, 2005 by a customer from netscape.com

"Well worth the money"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
I expect to be satisfied with this product until A)It dies; B)I die: or C)I stop recording.
Sound
It records great, especially with Sony Soundforge...just make sure that when you're mixing, if you're pushing bass then get good headphones, or you won't be able to mix well.
Features
The features are great. It has multiple inputs as well as a very useful USB output. It also does not require standard AC power, as it gets its power from the input and/or output.
Quality
It's made well. That's all there is to say.
Value
If you're going to be using it a lot, it is a great value. Especially if you are in a band, it will help you improve and see what you sound like.
Manufacturer Support
I haven't dealt with the company, as I have had no problems.
The Wow Factor
It doesn't look incredible, but then, I really don't care how it looks. I care how it works.

Musical Background:

Recording/Multimedia

Musical Style:

Contemporary Christian
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Submitted August 11, 2009 by a customer from gmail.com

"Older unit, but still good..."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Its an older unit but still does the job, pretty nifty for a home studio setup. Better than the Behringer unit that was in my price range for sure.
Sound
This thing is leaps and bounds over the factory sound cards in my desktops and both of my laptops.
Features
Its a pretty straight forward interface, not too many features but the balanced/unbalanced selector switch is pretty cool as is the phantom power.
Ease of Use
Super easy to connect, I bought my unit used and found drivers for both my XP and my Vista machines.
Quality
Its used and was used pretty well before I bought it, and it still holds up like a CHAMP.
Value
If you can find a used unit for a decent price then jump on it, if not I can only imagine the current model is completely worth it. I paid 50 for the interface plus a couple extras.
The Wow Factor
I bought it didn't I?

Musical Background:

Hobbyist/Home Engineer

Musical Style:

Everything/Local
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Submitted December 15, 2003 by a customer from hotmail.com

"It works great"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've used it on 4 projects where I decided that I rather have the artist rent a suit than pay for studio time and it's been solid.
Sound
Sounds good, I have M-Audio, Digidesign and MOTU interfaces and they sound better to my ears, I especially like the Delta series from M-Audio which is clean and punchy. However the US-122 is close enough in quality to anything in it's class.
Features
What more can you ask for in a $200 box. Preamps with phantom, inserts, direct monitoring, headphones and line outs with level controls. No stupid power cord with a wall wart (my favorite feature)
Quality
at first the "wobally" knobs bothered me but maybe they designed it that way? dont know. I took one apart and the guts seem simple and solid in layout. havent had problems and I travel with it.
Value
Can't beat it, I have a couple of M-Boxes which are $450 and the US-122 has more features. The M-Box does sound a little better tho. But not by much.
Manufacturer Support
can't say, i havn't had problems
The Wow Factor
Great for anyone needing something portable.

Musical Style:

Alt, Pop, Rap, RnB
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Submitted January 29, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com

"May require some setup, but does what it should for a reasonable price."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
I plan on using this for a few years. As we all know, technology gets better and cheaper with each year. Hopefully this will hold up and still be a great utility piece down the road.
Sound
I bought this product with a bit of trepidation after reading the various reviews and the subsequent frustration with pops, clicks, latency, etc. But since I make my living developing software I'm all too familiar with the conflicts that can occur when installing something new, so I took the plunge since this product had the features I wanted and the price to match. I installed the software, then plugged in the interface and it worked for the most part, but there were the reported pops, clicks, latency issues etc. Fortunately, the documentation that comes with this product helped fixed the issues that were contributing to the problems, you just actually have to read the help. If you are looking for a plug-n-play interface (on XP or XP Home in my case) that just works out of the box without any setup on your part, this may not be for you. But overall the setup was relatively painless and everything works as advertised, including the software. Audio and MIDI sync perfectly and the sound is pretty darn good for two bills.
Features
I was looking for a device with usable software to flush out ideas. I need phantom power, at least two inputs, and MIDI. I looked at many options including firewire devices but they either didn't have these features, or they did and were twice the price. I kept coming back to the Tascam US-122. The interface comes with everything you need to lay down audio tracks and sync to MIDI. The version of Cubase is pretty basic but it works and the Gigasampler while lean on sounds has a nice piano included and it syncs to the Cubase software without issue.
Quality
Pretty stout overall. The knobs as reported have a giggly quality, but work smoothly.
Value
This is the only product in its price range (to my knowledge) with these features. For two hundred dollars you have a complete recording solution including a sampler.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't used it. I ordered the upgraded software (Cubase and Gigasampler 3LE) which is available from the Tascam website and is free of charge if you bought this after August, 2004. The website says it should be here in 2-3 weeks...we'll see.
The Wow Factor
Does what I need it to do. Was slightly larger than I though it would be, but it still fits in my laptop bag and will work well for location recording.

Musical Background:

Former symphony musician, multimedia producer

Musical Style:

Symphonic, Electronic, New Age, Jazz
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Submitted January 30, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com

"An affordable alternative, without loss of too many features or sound quality."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I hope this device will satisfie me for some years, since I'm not planning on building a real homestudio.
Sound
The sound quality is just great... No complaints there!
Features
It does what is advertised, it would be cool though if you could record the left and right input as two completely different tracks (maybe this is possible, but I haven't figured it out yet anyway).
Quality
The phantom power is an awesome feature, it's really handy! I was first planning on buying the us-224 but since this device doesn't have the phantom power, and since the us-122 does it all anyways I went for this model.
Value
Man, this is really a good solution if you already own a good pc (and who doesn't these days?). Although it's normal that it's cheaper than the standalone models, it's not more limited than most of them (except for it's incapability of recording several separate tracks at once).
The Wow Factor
The design is nicely done and compact. Maybe this will never become a problem, but the volume knobs feel pretty easy to break... This might be an illusion ofcourse.

Musical Style:

Punk Rock
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Submitted July 17, 2004 by a customer from mac.com

"TREAT YOURSELF TO A TASCAM GET"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I WIILL NOT BE LOOKING TO CHANGE IT FOR SOME TIME.
Features
ONLY TWO INPUTS, PLEASE LETS HAVE SOME MORE, MABY SOME MEMORY DEVICE BUILT IN SO ONE CAN STORE INFO,
Quality
IT'S BUILT LIKE A BATTLESHIP. A GOOD SOLID PRODUCT .
Value
YES A GOOD PRODUCT AT A GOOD PRICE.
Manufacturer Support
NO I HAVE'NT DEALT WITH TASCAM,
The Wow Factor
IT'S LOOKS COOL ,AS GOOD AS ANY THING PRESENTLY ON THE MARKET TODAY.

Musical Style:

ROCK 'N'ROLL, POP,BIG BAND,(STLL TRYING TO WRITE SONGS)
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Submitted January 4, 2006 by a customer from nc.rr.com

"Hey, it DOES work with Windows XP with SP2."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Plan on using this thing until I need features it doesn't offer. Don't know what they could be so I plan on using it for a long time.
Sound
Sound quality is very good so far. Don't have anything to compare it to though as this is the 1st unit of this type I've used. BTW, I'm using it to record voice with background music for copying to CDs.
Features
Allows me to import music and play it in the background while I record audio. So far thats all I need and it works fine.
Quality
So far so good, nothing broken yet. Will probably be fine as long as my 4-year old stays away from it.
Value
Can't complain but I don't know what to compare it to.
Manufacturer Support
I don't think it exists. I tried to call but no one ever answers.
The Wow Factor
Nothing sexy about it but all the knobs and buttons make it look kinda cool.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

Rock, Broadway
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Submitted October 8, 2004 by a customer from mindspring.com

"The Tascam US-122 works for me."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
So far, so good!
Sound
I use this to record on location. Either fed off a mixing board or with two dynamic mics into the US-122 into an old 366MHZ Thinkpad 600 laptop running WinXP. No problems with clicks, sputters, clanks, static, or bad smells! It does just what I got it for. I don't use the MIDI I/O, so I don't know about that aspect.
Features
Would like to see a multi segment LED level array. Sometimes the pre-amps seem too wimpy, but it's probably my low tech mics! I've always been able to bump a weak signal without gaining too much noise. SPDIF would be nice too, which is a feature on some of the competition.
Quality
Nothing's fallen off yet, but those wobbley knobs are really cheap looking!
Value
I've had mine for almost a year and still think it's one of the better values although there is more competing products now. Lack of SPDIF might be a serious drawback for some, but not me.
Manufacturer Support
They don't seem to offer much or make you feel glad you chose Tascam. Heck, even my discontinued Johnson J Station has better support than this!
The Wow Factor
It's not as sexy as an iPod!

Musical Background:

Long time amatuer musician & newbie recording engineer

Musical Style:

Most of them
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Submitted August 15, 2008 by a customer from gmail.com

TASCAM US122 Interface Customer Review

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Great great sound. Love it.
Ease of Use
I used mine with Window's XP. very easy to use. Having problems downloading software in to Ubuntu. I've been using my tascam fir a couple of years now.
Quality
I get better sound than using a strait mic in to the computer.
Manufacturer Support
I don't know, I haven't used support yet.

Musical Background:

Was an active musician.

Musical Style:

smooth jazz, blues rock, some southern rock, and cross harp.
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Submitted February 27, 2004 by a customer from mac.com

"Mike PreAmp to USB input?: Just the Thing!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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I'm very satisfied with this preAmp. It allows me to do high quality voiceovers for video and slide shows.
Sound
Very good sound quality from Sennheiser MD 421-II microphones. A person at the place I purchased it says that this is due to the fact that the Digital analogue conversion is done outside of the Mac, using much better technology. I don't using the preAmp for MIDI.
Features
It was fine for my purposes. I don't need to tweak voice. If I did, I'd do it by software. Unfortunately, the Cubase software included only works with Windows.
Quality
Solid, heavy duty metal. Feels rugged.
Value
Very good value. I don't know of any comparable items, other than the m-Audio (which sells for $50 less but seems to be less highly regarded)
The Wow Factor
Sleek. Takes up little room. Not overloaded with controls.

Musical Style:

Jazz, Brazilian, Diverse vocal
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Submitted May 22, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com

"DOES WORK WITH VISTA! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
If you're looking to get into home recording and don't have the money for a MOTU firewire interface etc. then this IS the device for you. M-Audio USB interfaces are garbage. My friend bought M-Audio, then saw my US-122, returned the M-Audio and bought the Tascam. I have been nothing less than pleased with the original US-122.
Sound
Very transparent audio in a compact interface. I've used it with XP and Vista using Adobe Audition and on OS X using Garage Band. Previous reviewer obviously didn't have a clue since THIS WILL WORK WITH VISTA! All you need to do is run the driver in XP compatibility mode, end of story. Do some research before you open your mouth.
Features
Phantom Power, two XLR inputs, two 1/4 inputs, LR inserts for analog effects, direct monitoring, and latency adjustment. I have had nothing but great experiences. It's also built like a tank, something that can't be said for the US-122L. Wish it had more than two XLR inputs, but it would cost more money if it did, so that point is moot. For the money, you can't beat it. M-Audio can't hold a candle to it.
Ease of Use
Install the drivers, plug it in, start your favorite recording software, make sure your source is the 122, begin recording. It's as easy as that.
Quality
Like I said, built like a tank. I've used it in the field and in the studio, it's fantastic.
Value
For the money, you can't beat it.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed to contact Tascam, their site is pretty well set up, but no on-site forum is kind of lousy.

Musical Background:

Active Musician and Audio Technician

Musical Style:

Progressive Metal
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Submitted June 22, 2006 by a customer from aol.com

"The little blue recorder"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I am not in the market for another
Sound
Well, all my recordings came out clear and professional. And stll is.
Features
Product came with cubase and gigstudio. Cubase is goo but gigstudio, they shoul have left that out.
Ease of Use
It was simple to hook up and lay down.
Quality
The quality of if was actually ok.
Value
yes
Manufacturer Support
I haven't really needed any support

Musical Background:

active musician

Musical Style:

jazz, gospel
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Submitted June 12, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com

"The Truth About The US-122"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've only had this thing for a few days but I'm already very impressed. I am happy I bought it. For me, $200 is a lot of money but this was worth it. I am a PC technician for HP and I can honestly say IT WORKS WITH XP!! XP Professional at least, XP Home Edition sucks. If you're having problems, look into upgrading. DEDICATE A USB PORT TO THIS DEVICE!! Make sure your PC has the latest BIOS version and an AMPLE amount of RAM (at LEAST 200 or 300 megs).
Sound
For the price, around $200 the sound that comes from this thing is very impressive. I've read about the problems with Windows XP but I've yet to experience them. I am running this on a notebook PC w/ XP professional and it works great.
Features
The box comes with everything you need to record great clear tracks of audio. It has ample features considering the price and portability.
Quality
The only pattern I've seen in reviews is that people either think this thing sucks or they love it. The fact is if your PC meets the system requirements and you half-way know anything about PCs you can make it work. The knobs ARE flemsy but other than that the box is very solid and the performance is great.
Value
Can't beat the price.
Manufacturer Support
haven't seeked support, hopefully won't have to.
The Wow Factor
If you want a simple recording solution and you're interested in using your PC for solid-state digital recording, this device is a very very good investment.

Musical Style:

Metal / Alternative / Hiphop
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Submitted April 28, 2006 by a customer from yaoo.com

"loyal, functional, simple. don't want anything else."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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i am satisfied. i realize my rating system doesnt really make sense, cause when you break this thing down individually, it really isn't that great of a product, but i would never want anything more complicated to record my music. im using a great microphone, so ultimately quality comes from the musician, not what youre recording with. it has been a loyal and functional machine from the start.
Sound
depends. if you record directly into the tascam, it sounds flat and vacant/ one dimensional.. but it has two xlr inputs and four guitar/instrument inputs, so i record either stereo mic or i even plug in a video camera and record through that and ive gotten some quality recordings from it.. just dont play directly into the machine, its terrible.
Features
this is such a bare and functional machine, there were no 'features'..it came with a disk of some archaic recording program, which was useless. all i wanted when i bought it was a way to record my music, and it did that for me. i asked for nothing more, i got nothing more, and im really happy.
Ease of Use
it took me a while to figure out drivers , what to download on the website which they seemed to make unnecessarily complex. im using a mac os x system, thats what it seems made for, dont bother with windows, windows sucks anyway, what are you doing using microsoft, get a mac.
Quality
this is truly a simply machine. its lightweight, it looks like it would break easily. aesthetically its a joke, but again it serves it purpose. its GREAT for on the road, i just stick it in my bag with my laptop and the usb cable and two seconds its up and running off my computers power.
Value
i really just wanted something simple to record my music with, and it was affordable, and its done everything i wanted it to.
Manufacturer Support
this is terrible. Tascam is the Enron of recording companies. luckily i haven't really had any problems with it yet, three years strong, but ive heard the stories
The Wow Factor
its not sexy. it looks a little like alan colmes.

Musical Background:

active musician

Musical Style:

experimental rock, wild sound, foley for film, noise, ambient
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Submitted December 16, 2005 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Plug & Play - I'll hear you later..."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
i will be searching for user friendly "studio" type recording software. something that somebody with a job has time to figure out...
Sound
i wanted something that i could plug into my pc, that would make the rest of the world vanish, and the us-122 does just that. prior to this i had been forced to use mics to record my guitar.
Features
the product came with steinberg cubase le. if you're unemployed, it looks like a great product. if you have a job i recommend starting with audacity freeware - you don't have to hire an engineer to record something, and you will be recording in minutes... someday i'll take the time to learn steinberg cubase le... unless something obviously more user friendly comes along then i will purchase that instead. the software package was something i really wasn't looking for, and right now, something i have no use for.
Quality
it appears to be stout, but i haven't given it the opportunity to break yet.
Value
yes. i would like it more if they lost the bundled "free" software and sold the product alone at it's true price.
Manufacturer Support
no interaction with customer support.

Musical Background:

hobbyist

Musical Style:

folk, country, ballad
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Submitted May 21, 2005 by a customer from sasktel.net

"When Good Products Have Bad Support"

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I will allow another month for Tascam to discover that OS X Panther users have this problem (i'm sure its not just me) and update the driver. If it doesn't happen i'll get something else.
Sound
The US-122 sounds excellent, WHEN IT IS WORKING. There are unknown (by me, and by tascam, as my attempts to get an answer from them have been fruitless) problems with, at least, the Mac OS X driver. This is with a G5, a clean system, and a fresh install of the latest drivers. The unit will stop processing audio after a period of inactivity. Advice from Tascam? Unplug and replug the USB cable. This will restore the audio if you are listening to mp3s, with the snag that it will die faster each time you do that. If you are working in Logic Audio, there is no fixing it. You have to restart. The design of the US-122 is good, and in use it makes sense. It also has nice mic preamps. I would suggest that you research your purchase based on reliability, and the companie's tech support. I can only speak for Canadian tech support, which seemed rather ho-hum about my problem. This was after i spent 20 minutes on hold to a U.S. phone number, only to be told they couldn't help me. The Tascam website is unclear about where the numbers are that are on the site. The U.S. tech support guy was rude, and couldn't wait to get rid of me. Posting on the support discussion board has revealed no answers to my problem. My query has been sitting there for 5 days, and nobody has bothered to reply. So obviously a lot of pros at Tascam are checking that regularly. (thats sarcasm by the way) The only reason i rated the sound so low is because it won't stick around, if it was reliable I'd give it a 9.
Features
Comes with a USB cable. Doesn't need power! That is so nice, although i suppose it could be part of the problems i'm having. The interface on the actual unit is well-designed and seems very logical. The buttons are a little cheap. The "line out" button on mine which i use for control-room volume is starting to have weird little clicks in it. I think the mechanism underneath is pretty solid though. I think it will last. The most useful features are the direct and mono monitoring, phantom power, and i really like the addition of an insert in addition to the two main inputs. There are no "least useful" features, unless it cutting out a few times a day is a feature. There isn't anything on the unit that doesn't need to be there, in my opinion.
Quality
I think the product is put together pretty well. Apart from my small complaints about the rotaries being slightly cheap, i think you could move this around a lot and it would take it. The rubber feet are great, and the unit has some weight to it. The "pletal" exterior seems pretty tough.
Value
Too bad, because its awesome, save for the unreliability and the terrible support. Therefore i can't really say its worth what i paid.
Manufacturer Support
Yes, i tried to deal with them. They were not easy to reach, the website is confusing. They seem to have no problem SELLING their products to countries other than the U.S., but seem uninterested in giving me a hand after they have my money. The Canadian guy i finally got a hold of (working out of Teac) was nice, but offered no support. My problem remains unsolved. This is a company, like so many others these days, who seems to think that users should provide support for their products to other users. LAME.
The Wow Factor
It doesn't have much lust-factor to start with. For me, now its like a fairly sexy girlfriend that i know cheated on me. Even when its working, i can't stop thinking about how it cuts out on me a few times a day.

Musical Background:

active musician, currently scoring a film

Musical Style:

All, minus country.
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Submitted June 7, 2004 by a customer from fatjakeimaging.com

"If it crackles and pops your not using it right"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Best buy for the money, easy to use and setup
Sound
The sound quality is very good,I am doing extensive muti-track demo stuff and it has worked great
Features
Has more and better features than I hoped for when I purchased it
Quality
Knobs are wobbly, but if your not a Gorilla they should do fine. Case was sturdier than I anticipated. Nice and compact.
Value
Kicked a lot of tires, it is the best deal for the money.
Manufacturer Support
Have not needed any
The Wow Factor
Sexy it ain't, but it isn't ugly either.

Musical Style:

Anything that can be played on a guitar
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Submitted July 15, 2005 by a customer from seznam.cz

"It is very well working machine."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I take it. I hope it will work for me a long time yet.
Sound
Clean and flat, full. Noise of preams is the only disadvantige. There is not a large difference between 16bit and 24bit recording. Lower bits are consumed by the noise.
Features
It has all I wanted and also perfectly working.
Quality
In this price class? Perfect. Only disadvantige are potenciometters - its very "light"
Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed yet... But soon. There is a little problem with the left channel (probbebly caused from my side). Fall down from a chair to floor made it hearable noisy.
The Wow Factor
I need good design... This was a comrpmise - functions suttisfy my needs agains the design. But design only in matter of bad look not difficault usage.

Musical Background:

Musician, Hobbyist leading to a profesional

Musical Style:

Metal, Ambient, Jazz, Ethno, All good music made from heart and mind
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Submitted July 15, 2003 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Da Best"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I think i will be using this for a while, its a great product. I strongly reccomend this to any rising musician with a desire to make some really good ameture recordings. I have worked with a Zoom mrs somethingerother and it was really hard to use, had bad effects, bad sound quality, and NO EASE of use. This is your best bet for a cheap recording solution. one thing: HAVE A GOOD COMPUTER. I have a dell Pentium 4 and it works really well.
Sound
This things records great with the adjustable input gain levels. Every you gotta adjust on the usb interface and in the software a lot to avoid sound distortion, but its really easy and even when the levels are in the red, the sound doesnt distort much.
Features
The version of Cubasis this comes with is cut down and simplified, but boy is it useful. It has great effects all ready to use. Just a few clicks and you've got grrrreat reverb, delay, chorus, or other effects. The mixer allows you to adjust 2 frequency levels per channel, and one effect. You will be amazed at how much you can change by adding some gain at or cutting some out at any frequency.
Quality
This thing is durable, looks great, is extremely portable and lightweight. I cant complain here at all.
Value
Awesome value for what you get. Da best!
The Wow Factor
Its just plain awesome.

Musical Style:

Rock, Metal
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Submitted April 29, 2005 by a customer from charter.net

"High hopes and broken dreams."

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I am returning this product.
Sound
Don't know, my iMac G5 doesn't even know it is there... AFTER I installed the drivers!
Features
On paper it does everything I need. Does not work.
Quality
Looks good, but knobs are wiggly... not good for long term durability.
Value
Too much work to make it work. It would have to be free to justify the time.
Manufacturer Support
I am bypassing the support and returning this item for something that works the first time out of the box. I am not an engineer and don't have the time for tinkering when I would rather be making music!
The Wow Factor
Good aethetics. Color, texture, design.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

Pop, Gospel, R&B
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Submitted April 10, 2006 by a customer from gmail.com

"MacIntel Support"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Features
The TASCAM support website now offers a new OS X driver (3.4.0) that's a Universal Binary and should work with the newer "MacIntels." The date on the .dmg file is April 7. My Macs are PowerPC, so I can't vouch for the MacIntel compatibility, but it appears that TASCAM is trying to stay in the game.
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Submitted August 14, 2005 by a customer from comcast.net

"One hell of a product..."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Overall It's a great product. It's everything you could want for home recording on your PC in a single portable package. A lot of people told me about mixers and stuff, but the software comes with a mixer. I don't see any need for that other stuff when I can get it in a software package. This and a couple mic's is all I need for now. Maybe a keyboard for doing instruments that I don't have. For the people who under rated this product because they could not get it to work... I say... Find out why it don't work. It most likely is your computer or something you may have installed on your system. Don't blame it on the product until you know for sure. I had no problems what so ever installing it on XP with SP2. I even left my virus protection running which the manual does not recommend.
Sound
The sound is clean and clear. I am using the MXL 990/991 Recording Set. I includes a MXL 990 Condensor Mic and a MXL 991 Condensor Mic. I use the 990 for voice and the 991 for my acoustic guitar. You need to have good mic's to get a good sound, but I guess that goes for any Interface. Great Sound with these mic's.
Features
It is perfect for me because I just play guitar and sing (well try to sing) as a hobbie. It has many features that I can grow into if and when I get more into it.
Quality
It seems to be built well, but I would still be gentle with it as with any electro-,echanical equipment.
Value
For under $200.00, It's a great deal. It's everything I need in a affordable package.
Manufacturer Support
Did not have to use it so I will give them the benafit of the doubt.
The Wow Factor
I saw it... I did a little research... I wanted it.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

My own
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Submitted January 3, 2006 by a customer from daddydoodle.com

"Had a great 2 month honeymoon. After that, the doghouse..."

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Sounded good... when it worked. Resulted in clear recordings. I was very happy with it for the first 2 months I had it.
Features
Phantom power, easy installation (horrible uninstall) - a cool little box. Paired it with a laptop for location recording and it was great... while it worked.
Quality
There are enough warnings out there. You may get lucky and purchase a good unit, but then again... I would love to trade my unit to someone who wonders what all the fuss is about. Any takers? One side still works, the other doesn't - on two different computers.
Value
$200 for 2 months of good use is no bargain.
Manufacturer Support
They don't respond. If you have a 122 that works then their customer support is GREAT. I purchased Tascam products in the past - never again.
The Wow Factor
Totally unsexy product unless you lust after walruses.

Musical Background:

Former full time musician now saddled with a day gig.

Musical Style:

All forms of noise
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Submitted June 14, 2005 by a customer from adelphia.net

"Buy it, Don't listen to the incompetent."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Meets my portable needs for the foreseeable future. It's an interface. It works and works well what more is needed? If you do know how to use a computer then Why are you looking for an audio interface to it. Don't blame the product if you can't follow simple instructions.
Sound
Awsome audio...This product adds "NOTHING" to your mix, just as it should be.
Features
Does exactly as advertised. This is a very cost effective audio interface for a laptop. Sure you can use this with a desktop but this is designed for portability and it rates a 10 here. MIDI in and out 2 line in/guitar (Left and right channels)2 low Z XLR mike (Left and Right) Also the phone out can be summed by switching to mono if you are running only 1 channel. Again... this is NOT an interface for the band (yes you can MM it but Not what this is designed for)
Quality
Again Tascam gives you your money's worth. Solid built and the pre's are quiet as a mouse. $200 ,, how can you go wrong? Buy it.
Value
Can't beat it...$200 and no need for a power supply, built like a tank and utterly quiet. I am using mine with Cakewalk GT3 as my sound card in my lap top is not supported by GigaStudio24 :(
Manufacturer Support
Can't say. I own several Tascam products and NEVER had to call. They do what they are meant to do.
The Wow Factor
I bought it and recomend this highly. Again quiet as my studio monitor amp. SILENT.. amazing for the price.

Musical Background:

PT Recording Engineer/Musician FT computer engineer

Musical Style:

All Guitar styles and some keyboard
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Submitted November 24, 2005 by a customer from hotmail.com

TASCAM US122 Interface Customer Review

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Sound? It sounded like a good buy. Sounds like lots of people think otherwise. Between Constant Clicks and Pops, I think the sound might be ok.
Features
Features software in a couple sealed cd envelopes. Here's a cool trick: Take a crap in a box. Insert 2 software cds into 2 paper cd sleeves and seal them. Then throw them in the box too. Market your poop as something real cool- let them know they need to open one of the cd sleeves before the poop will act as advertised. PEOPLE WILL OPEN BOTH CD SLEEVES. OOPS! BY OPENING THE EXTRA CD (BUNDLED SOFTWARE) THESE POOR FOOLS (ALL OF US WRONGED CUSTOMERS) RUINED OUR CHANCE TO RETURN THE ITEM TO OUR LOCAL STORE! COPYWRITE LAWS CONCERNING THE RETURN OF PROTECTED MATERIAL PREVENT THE RETURN OF POOP UNLESS THE POOP ITSELF IS BROKEN, IN WHICH THE BUYER CAN TAKE HOME A FRESH PIECE POOP! SAME MODEL POOP ONLY! i wonder if thats why they even bothered to include the so so software....
Value
I suppose I could've gotten car-jacked on the way to the store- A succsessful shopping experiance (no muggings or medical emergencys) results in the not-so-repectable score of 2)
The Wow Factor
I want it to go away and bring with it my regret, fustration, and wasted hours , days, 11 months no tracks recorded!!!!! Brand new HP Desktop.......XP service pack 2, updated, 1 gig ram, optimized (disabled effects, xtra applications,) Pentium 4 3.8 ghz, attempted to use this junk with and without Hyper threading, plugged into 1 of 7 usb ports. 5 open, remainig one mouse / keyboard. Upgraded drivers, programs, all of it... Why can my little brother's 10 year old P2computer play a mp3 track 10x better than my new loaded pc? ANWSER: cause i had this blue us-122crap hooked into my pc. Throw it away, and there is no problem with the computer's ability to play a simple song (pop & click Free)

Musical Background:

fulltime hobbyist

Musical Style:

lottsa stuff
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Submitted May 2, 2006 by jboyz_f

"Beware...it was a total nightmare for me and I REGRET it...will never buy again!"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
The unit was bought to assist me in putting together an album. This project was started about 2.5 years ago...I am no closer to finishing it due to the hassles with the Tascam US-122...a USELESS piece of metal.
Sound
Pops and cracks during recording and playback. Sometimes it just freezes up or lags the timing during recording and playback. Unable to complete any projects with it as it was a very frustrating process of having to record a single track about 30-40 times before it recorded it correctly. Tried using the unit to playback normal music and soundfiles from my computer - pops and cracks there as well - and not just once or twice through the track...I'm talking multiple times - enough to annoy you to the point of shutting it off to stop the migraine that was starting to build.
Features
Came with Gigastudio and Cubase LE. I had no use for these programs at the time of purchase...tried them out at a later date...nothing impressive to pass on. Its ok if you don't already have recording software for your computer.
Ease of Use
Unhappy about the quality of sound playback and recording. The only good thing was the direct monitoring which allowed for the zero-latency, but it failed miserably when it came to listening to any sort of sound...constant pops & cracks.
Quality
Robust...built to be portable...excellent size...good weight.
Value
Only good for use as a paperweight or door stop...it's the worst purchase I've made and I regret listening to the Music sales guy who convinced me that it would run like a dream.
Manufacturer Support
Had the unit for almost 3 years. Received no support from the Tascam Service people (yet I contacted them consistantly in the first year). After the warrenty ran out...tried to persist with using it but I've had enough...it's not worth the headaches I've been through.
The Wow Factor
Appearances are deceptive. Looks good and has detailed info on what it can do...but I have had nothing but nightmares with this...not to mention the lack of product support. I will be steering clear of the tascam products in future due to my experience of lack of product support.
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Submitted May 19, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.co.uk

"Cheap as chips but at what cost."

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
May take it back
Sound
The sound is quite good clear and transparent.
Features
o.k
Quality
It seems quite robust and durable.
Value
No it dont matter how cheap it is it needs to work.
Manufacturer Support
Emailed and phoned - nothing
The Wow Factor
Now knowing how awkward it is no!

Musical Style:

metal rock indie
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Submitted February 17, 2006 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Compact and a good value. Hard to setup, but you will like it."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
For my purpose, one track at a time recording, it's great. It's a compact, good quality job that will step you into recording.
Sound
At first, sound was terrible. it was a little buggy getting going, but it was because it didn't like my setup. after tweaking, reinstalling other sound card drivers, reboot w/o us122, reboot, reboot, it is working great now. I use cubase se, and sound output sounds a bit cracklypoppy thru cubase se,not enough to throw you off, but once you export the file to wav, it's crisp and clean. Standalone, sound output is very good. Just thru cubase a little crackly.
Features
You will need a stereo 1/4" plug to (whatever else your using, i suggest a 3.5mm socket, not plug). either that or a long rca cable (l +r) will work. Can use mono 1/4" and plugger straight into your amp using mono on! That's kinda cool.
Ease of Use
Not very easy to get it going, but once it's going, it's actually quite nice. Setup is a 3, ease of use is, 8.
Quality
Seems pretty rugged. Pots are clean and move smoothly.
Value
It does what I want, and I was able to afford it. Later can plug a board into it, has 2 ins, so left and right, so it's somewhat scaleable. It's a nice little interface.
The Wow Factor
It looks sexy, and it's portable.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist, active musician.

Musical Style:

contemporary christian, alternative
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Submitted May 28, 2006 by a customer from musician.org

"Totally inferior in all ways."

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Sound
This product is absolutely infereior. Tascam refuses to claim responsibility for a product that cannot deliver a clean track. It is not road worthy.
Features
Gigasampler was completely useless and it was very difficult to get a serial number.
Value
It is the cheapest.

Musical Background:

Active Musician, Rcording Engineer and choir directoer

Musical Style:

All
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Submitted December 17, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Why the US-122 and Tascam sucks."

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Does not support XP SP2. Can't use it. Want to buy mine? Cheap?
Sound
It used to work on my old computer (drivers were installed pre-XP SP2). It sounded OK then.
Features
Does not support XP SP2. Therefore, useless piece of crap. Anyone want to buy mine? If you have old XP or older OS it might work for you.
Quality
Does not support XP SP2.
Value
Does not support XP SP2.
Manufacturer Support
Does not support XP SP2. Tascam sucks! I'll never buy another one of their products! They are STILL selling this and it STILL doesn't work with XP SP2. If I were a lawyer, I'd file a class action lawsuit against these idiots.
The Wow Factor
Does not support XP SP2. Any other features are moot.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Country
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Submitted October 6, 2003 by a customer from juno.com

"The Worst"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Sound
Not as advertised. Impossible to install. No support from anybody.
Features
Not Mac compatible.
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Submitted May 26, 2006

"BUY SOMETHING ELSE"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Even though I now own an alesis IO unit, I feel my blood pressure rising, thinking about this product. It's absolute junk and 50 dollars more than it should be - if it actually worked.
Sound
The sound of HISS and FRYING is not a pleasant sound. This machine has a serious design flaw. A flaw that could be rectified with a couple diodes. If you happen to pull or insert a mic with the phantom power on, you will kill the unit. No matter what, it's not the greatest thing to plug or unplug with phantom up, however it should not KILL the preamp. That's a heck of a penalty for something that will ineveitably happen at some point in time. This is an issue that was resolved with phantom power shortly after it was invented. How could Tascam screw this up? They also try to deny the problem when you call to them. More on that soon.
Features
Well, the features are good. Too bad they don't work.
Ease of Use
When it worked, the drivers were crappy. They aren't even certified and required reinstallation. frequently, pluggin the usb in would make the system thing the thing was brand new and needed firmware. Ironically, the system seems to know something there.
Quality
it's JUNK JUNK JUNK. The knobs should be the giveaway. They feel loose. The problem though is the preamp section more than anything.
Value
How can something have any value if it doesn't work?
Manufacturer Support
HAH HA HA HA. Support is AWFUL. I had to listen to the same machine telling me when Tascam goes to lunch, and then "Good Bye", before getting to a "everyone is busy". Finally I got someone live who had the gall to tell me that I probably wouldn't get helped that day because it was so close to the end of the day. This is a MISERABLE company. They seriously inspire postal thoughts.
The Wow Factor
I want it - to jam down some tascam phone support person's throat.

Musical Background:

musician, engineer

Musical Style:

Classical/scoring for film/rockabilly
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Submitted April 14, 2006

"Good starter card, easy to set up, good quality recordings."

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
It is a good starter sound card for recording. Not dificult to set up at all.
Sound
Very nice, no complaints.
Features
Its worth the money, The software alone is over $100
Ease of Use
Very easy to use great intro recording unit, it has everything you need to set up a home Computer based studio
Quality
Very good, no complaints.
Value
Yes, like I said before, its worth it just for the bundled software.
Manufacturer Support
If you have a few days to wait on the phone, otherwise the support is awefull.
The Wow Factor
Its a BOX

Musical Background:

Active musician

Musical Style:

Disco and retro dance music
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Submitted January 23, 2006

"Solid, easy to use bit of gear"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
It's a great, easy way to get two tracks into a laptop through a USB port.
Sound
Mic preamps are a little noisey - best to use condensers with it because they have more output. Also, I don't think it's a good box to use with software syths - playback latency isn't good, and I've heard this from other sources. Latency isn't a problem with overdubs, BTW, because of the direct monitor dial right on the box. Recorded sound is good provided your mic signal is hot enough.
Features
I really like the knobs on the box for adjusting levels - if a signal starts clipping you just turn a knob instead of clicking through lots of junk. There's virtually nothing to the software, basically just an driver with buffer settings.
Quality
seems very well made, mine's traveled back and forth to various theatres with me.
Value
It's a crowded market, depends on what you need
Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed it - this should be a n/a.
The Wow Factor
They really should leave the term "sex appeal" out of the description of this category. I'm glad I have it.
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Submitted November 1, 2005

"The US 122 SOUNDcon"

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I am disapointed with this product and similar products have shown to have similar problems.
Sound
I have used this product to record instruments and pre recorded sounds. The problems are as follows, pops and crackles are common place. Secondly, there is a loss of recorded sound - silences appeared during sustained chords. The software bundle was faulty and TEAC / Tascam provided little support. I am still working out the problems. Compatibility is a problem - it is not reliable even on the same chipset.
Features
It needs balanced outs. For home recording it would be better to have the "card" as part of the computer where speaker outs were at the rear and imputs on the front of the computer.
Quality
The volume controls need improvement they are not robust.
Value
It is not value for money.
Manufacturer Support
Support is less than helpful.
The Wow Factor
It is ok.
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Submitted July 10, 2005

"Avoid this product - unstable & unsupported."

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Avoid this product. In my experience it is unstable and unsupported.
Sound
Sound is good.
Features
Great hardware. If only it worked.
Quality
There are many reports of audio stutters with this unit. My US122 loves to stutter. It stutters during modem use with my Intel 865 motherboard, and it stutters always with my new nForce4 motherboard. I get blue screens after heavy use with Sonar or NI products. Oh, and don't try and suspend your computer - it will hang.
Value
If you are lucky and don't have issues (and don't mind big latency) this could be for you. Otherwise, you will have a unit that causes you days of lost productivity. I am giving up on mine and buying a Presonus Firepod.
Manufacturer Support
TASCAM simply don't respond. Frontier respond but don't do anything. For example, Frontier confirmed five months ago that their unit prevent standby under WindowsXP, but haven't fixed it. In response to blue screens, Frontier just say the unit is well behaved. No investigation. In response to stuttering - it's a problem with my (industry standard) hardware. With no recommendations on how to fix it. Avoid this unit.
The Wow Factor
Looks good. Causes pain.
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Submitted March 16, 2005

"Not for a keyboard player!"

Overall: 1.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Maybe it is a nice interface for a singer or a guitar player, but for a keyboard ts useless
Sound
I do care about latency (i'm plaing keyboard) and 21 msec is far not enough! (other sound card on the same money gave 2 msec)
Features
Cubase is a good gift.
Quality
Solid construction.
Value
260 Euros for this lattency!
Manufacturer Support
Where should I search for the drivers?

Musical Background:

Hobbyist
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Submitted March 14, 2005

"Does not work on Windows XP SP2, PERIOD."

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
OK, I got it to work. Dear me, that was the most difficult install of any driver ever. Here is the deal, as of version 3.30 of the drivers. If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2, you ABSOLUTELY MUST remove the service pack before doing anything. I think it's rather outrageous that the box doesn't state clearly that it won't work on SP2. Even the web site doesn't have any bulletin about this. I tried this on two different machines, and know what I'm doing, so I'm absolutely certain about this. THE TASCAM US-122 DOES NOT SUPPORT WINDOWS XP SP2. PERIOD. It's quaint that some people think SP2 is not worth installing, but it's not kosher that Tascam doesn't warn people about this. If you did try to install it on SP2, like me, you will have to remove Service Pack 2 (add/remove programs) and ONLY THEN do the whole "clean uninstall" procedure, as per the CleanWin2k_Eng.pdf file on the Tascam CD. You will need to do everything stated there, including removing the registry entries, and then reboot and continue installing. Sadly, this requires some knowledge of Windows, and most end users, I believe, will be thoroughly screwed at this point. If you can't follow that document, you cannot install, period. You will have to return the unit. I suggest getting something from MAudio instead. The US-122 hardware may be good, but these are some of the worst drivers I have ever seen for Windows. That Tascam does not warn you about problems with SP2 is an indication that the company has a very serious customer support problem. I've decided to keep it for now, because I simply don't feel like shipping things back and dealing with customer service on the phone, and I *did* get it to work. But I'm angry and disappointed. I don't recommend anyone buy this product right now.
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Submitted February 7, 2005

TASCAM US122 Interface Customer Review

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
it sucks it worked once it is so hard to youse and it breaks it blew it self up mabey it was something i did maby i dont know how to work it but fore the people that want something simple to use forget it!
Quality
horrable
Value
worked once
The Wow Factor
no
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Submitted December 28, 2004

"didnt work well with XP."

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
it turned on. good sound came out of it so its not a total piece of junk. it just didnt work out for me and my system. i hate it when you buy something and when you get it you realize for it to work properly, you need to buy a new this and that or upgrade your whatever. i will be returning it tomorrow.
Sound
clear, good sound quality but it only makes the latency and crack issue that more apparent.
Features
enough basic features - nothing fancy.
Quality
i would have to say poor. it looks a bit cheap and its near impossible to use if you have XP (which nobody seems to tell you).
Value
i am returning it tomorrow.
Manufacturer Support
havent dealt with them and i'm not even going to try.
The Wow Factor
heed the warnings of other reviewers. all of the complaints seem to be saying the same thing - good sound, impossible to poor ease of use with NO support unless its works perfectly from the start. i read the good reviews and skipped over alot of the bad. i guessed if it sounded good enough, i could figure out whatever problem arose. i was wrong.
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Submitted December 6, 2004

"Tascam... looking out for the little guys."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
You can do any better at this price. If you ignore every other post on these review boards, take it from me. I've been using this for almost a year and despite all these sexy new firewire products coming out, I dont see much reason to upgrade (other than it being USB) because it sounds spectacular if your doing everything right. And the features, again, are very useful. everything is there for a reason. Keep in mind that I only use this for audio recording (not midi) and I use an Apple which may not be the case for most. If your using an apple and you dont wanna soend big money. Just buy this. Its all you need for a long time unless you got a lot more money to throw at one these new gorgeous firewire audio interfaces/control surfaces.
Sound
I havent had any clicks, pops, or funny stuff going on in the sound and for this im eternally greatful. It records the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH.
Features
This thing comes with more features than you can shake a stick at. lol. Any new comer to audio will not be dissapointed. But dont ignore the upset Windiws XP users. Im using an apple.
Quality
Great. I swear to everything thats good and holy, I spilled orange juice all over this thing (cleaned it up as soon as possible of coarse) and it still sounds FANTASTIC. I charge people for demo recordings using this and you wouldnt know whether it came from my bedroom or the studio downtown (unless you were a seasoned expert). I always record at 24/16 or 24/48 and it always sounds terrific.
Value
For the money... no contest. This is it.
Manufacturer Support
doesnt apply to me.
The Wow Factor
Its not something people will "marvel' over but its certainly not something to be ashamed of having on your desk. The features on this little device pay for itself so f*ck how it looks.

Musical Style:

Hip Hop, R&B
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Submitted August 18, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Feature packed audio/midi interface!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Sound
Solid all the way...
Features
This device has analog inserts! No other similarly priced audio/midi interface has anything even remotely similar...
Quality
Built like a tank
Value
would buy it again in a heartbeat
Manufacturer Support
(haven't needed any -- that says it all)
The Wow Factor
Mmmmmmm, yeah!

Musical Style:

electronomo
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Submitted August 6, 2004

"Plug'n'Go for most applications - less good for 'the tricky stuff'"

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Let down by lack of true duplex performance. I'll probably hang on to it, but for how long depends on when better features are available in a standalone USB powered competitor - so far there isn't one.
Sound
Transparent - just what you need in a audio pass-through device.
Features
Poor, almost featureless control panel. Non-existant full-duplex facilities. No optical in/out. Zero latency monitoring needs much more explanation in the flimsy printed manual.
Quality
Sturdy, well built and road-proof. As a frequent laptop studio backpacker, I can tell you that when you are stuffing all your gear in a bag, the so-called 'wobbly knobs' come into their own: precisely because of their forgiving nature, they don't drill holes in other equipment when they get jammed up against stuff during a journey. That, surely, is their whole purpose! Any bunch of jackasses can make a solid knob - TASCAM/Frontier have come up with exactly the equivalent of 'bendy' car ignition key fobs. Wobbly by design, don't you see?
Value
About right considering the competition.
Manufacturer Support
TASCAM support merits at least a '2'. Rather than a '1'. Admittedly there is no support whatever [generic return emails? Deduct 3 points]. Premium rate 'help' line? Oh, per-lease. But at least the website is honest - downloads limited to one XP update and no 'help or support' options - and certainly no "always lively Users Forum" that they brag about in the printed US122 manual.
The Wow Factor
Chunky, but sits on the desk firmly and is weighty enough not to slither around when stuffed with jack plugs/XLR plugs/MIDI plugs and phono outs. The 'wobbly knobs' should prevent any damage from guitar necks or mic stands. Proper hands-on volume in and out and monitor controls rather than fiddly software based.

Musical Style:

all styles
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Submitted April 13, 2004

"Excellent Product"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've been using the US-122 for quite some time and its operation has been flawless. For personal home studio work, this device is an excellent value.
Sound
It produces clean, clear sound with none of the clicks and pops that others have mentioned. This may be due to the fact that I have a USB port dedicated to it (as specified in the documentation).
Features
For my purposes, the XLR input, audio input, and MIDI IN and OUT provided all the connectivity I require. I have no need of recording multiple inputs simultaneously.
Quality
The construction is excellent. While some have said the knobs feel loose, I think that's really nitpicking. I suppose you could break one if you went out of your way but it would take some doing.
Value
For $200 or less, this device is tough to top, particularly given that it doesn't need its own power supply. Just freeing up an electric hook-up is a savings to me.
Manufacturer Support
Unknown. I have had no need of support.
The Wow Factor
The appearance is pretty good and logical but it would be tough to make a USB interface particularly sexy.

Musical Style:

Rock / Electronic
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Submitted February 17, 2004

"I've been waiting for something like this"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Just like my Bahringer mini-mixer, this unit seems to be one of those "Swiss Army Knives" for the home recording enthusiast. No doubt, eventually I'll upgrade every piece of my gear. But, as far as the US122 goes and looking far down the road, I don't see the need.
Sound
I use Audition (previously Cool Edit Pro). At first I experienced a latency problem, however, after adjusting the buffer numbers, monitoring while recording is right on. The sound quality seems to be very good.
Features
Lots of features for such a low cost interface. Phantom power was a real surprise and it's very convenient that it gets its power from the USB port.
Quality
The body of the unit is very sturdy. As others have mentioned, the control knobs feel loose, but not a big deal.
Manufacturer Support
I haven't needed to contact Tascam on this unit. I also own a Tascam 788. For that unit, support was outstanding. Great people to deal with.
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Submitted January 26, 2004

TASCAM US122 Interface Customer Review

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
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Sound
It OK but on my computer (HP AMD/1.3GHZ w/ 512MB RAM) running ACID PRO 4, Cubase SX it had clicks and pop, sometimes it would stutter, other times it just crashed the system.
Features
Nice Layout of controls
Quality
It was good at first until the ASIO problems started, the product is now broken after one week when the mic stand tip over and knocked the cable out. I would think it would take more than that to break it! Also NONE of the software it came with worked.
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Submitted January 4, 2004

"Cheap...Easy...Clean...Small...took me to another level"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Perfect....I love it....tascam made it simple for the home recorder. Run on PentiumIII 350 256mbram win2000 I have a feeling that the people giving bad reviews on this product don't know a computer from their backside and just never got it hooked up and tweaked right. This product was MORE THAN SIMPLE to install and get up and running in Adobe Audition and Cool Edit Pro. I have only used it for recording vocals so far. The phantom power seems great for my rhode mic (48v). You can even put compressors or whatever to it because it has analog inserts. It has taken my recordings to the next level for almost no cash. I have NO CLICKS AND POPS or any other noise. The clarity of the playback sound that comes out of it is way above my stock sound card. When I use it as a sound card with TraktorDJ I can adjust it for zero latency and it works perfectly.
Features
Wish it had two separate rca outputs
Quality
Solid and heavy and larger than I would have expected. I like it and I DO LIKE THE CONTROLS that most people say they don't like
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Submitted October 8, 2003

"Asio troubles otherwise excellent."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Sound
sounds good but i cant get less than 70 ms of latency without the asio. WARNING I couldnt get the asio drivers of this product to work with BUZZ.
Features
Excellent erognomic industrial design.
Quality
excellent materials and erogonomics. In and out is logical and efficient.
Value
excellent except for the fact that the asio drivers are incompatible with buzz tracker. THey work with live and COol edit pro though!
Manufacturer Support
good customer service. i waited for 2 minutes till i got tech service.
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