Us122 Vs Ua 5 Vs Echo Mia Vs Maudio2496, which one to go for ? Options

[k4444k]

hi people, it's a newbie

i am deciding to get my first interface for recording my own stuff, i need to record vocal, guitar and midi........ however, i'm with a tight budget (within US$250)....

my system is a 1.25dp running OSX only, guess i will go for Cubase SX as my sequencer

after an extensive research of interface, i've got the following choices i guess......

Tascam US 122
Edirol UA 5
M-audio 24/96
Echo MIA

firstly, i'd like to sort out the compatability with OSX, any experienced user can state their opinion on their drivers ?

secondly, should i got for an USB or PCI ?
USB seems not really good at audioi, is PCI's better (portability is not a big deal for me)
but i've read quite a few tutorial saying that it's better to get an External soundcard in order to avoid the radiation within the MAC, any idea ?

as i've got a Behringer mixer, do i really need the interface with XLR input ? (US122)

i will monitor the audio with headphones, should i go for the USB interfaces output headphone plug ? (the PCIs haven't got it)

as i will do a lot of overdupping, should i go for the USB with zero-latency direct monitoring ? (not PCIs as well)

However, i've read quite a lot of user having bad experience with the USB interfaces
(both UA 5 and US 122),



Can anyone give me advice on choosing ? or any suggestion of other interface ?
any help would be greatly appreciated, cheers ~~~~

This post has been edited by k4444k: Thu 3 Jul 2003, 13:38

[scientificbox]

if your using the behringer mixer, direct monitoring and headphone output shouldn't be an issue. unless you're really sold on cubase check out the emagic 6/2 production kit, it's priced a bit lower than cubase sx + the interfaces you mentioned and from what i've read, should be more stable under os X than cubase.

my choice for an under $250.00 audio interface would be a used M Audio delta44. they sound pretty good and work well with every major piece of music software. if you only need stereo i/o they audiophile card would be even cheaper. you could add an edirol or m audio midi interface and still stay under budget.