Deals On Gear and Software

[Lunkhead]

Today's stupid deal is a 6-in audio and MIDI USB interface from Tascam, with a copy of Cubase LE4, for only $99! Down from $249!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

It seems like kind of a crazy deal. I'm tempted to buy it even though I don't need it at all. The interface is a bit weird in that it doesn't appear to have any mono 1/4" outputs like what I am used to seeing and using for hooking up monitor speakers. The only outputs are RCA, S/PDIF, and two headphone outs. It's cool that it has two headphone outs instead of just one. One is 1/4" and the other is 1/8", which is another kind of odd thing about this interface.

I'm guessing it's old and possibly discontinued or soon to be discontinued, and that getting drivers for new OS versions could be an issue at some point. That's kind of what happened with the two other interfaces I bought through the stupid deal (the Tascam FireOne and the Alesis iO|26).

[fluffy]

The interface is a bit weird in that it doesn't appear to have any mono 1/4" outputs like what I am used to seeing and using for hooking up monitor speakers. The only outputs are RCA, S/PDIF, and two headphone outs.

That's actually pretty normal for Tascam. A lot of their stuff (especially their US series) is designed for the home recording enthusiast rather than the audio professional.

It does look like a great deal on a nice backup interface for those times that I need to do some recording but don't have FireWire available, so I'll probably pick one up too.

[ken]

I have to agree this is a really good deal. Be sure to double check that there are drivers that will work with your system before you buy.

Ken

[fluffy]

Tascam's US-series devices are usually class-compliant, and the only driver (if any) is to set some of the more fiddly mix routing options. I just looked at the US-800 Mac "driver" and it looks like it's just a standalone app to manage that stuff. I don't know how it is on Windows though.

[ken]

It seems to support Windows xp/Vista/7.

Tascam doesn't seem to support legacy products very well, and I know Glennny was pissed when he couldn't find a Win7 driver for his Tascam FireOne.

Again, I think this is a pretty great deal.

[fluffy]

FireWire drivers are a much huger pain in the ass than USB (especially on Windows), so it's less surprising that the FireOne would stop working with an OS update. I'd be really surprised if a driver is even necessary for the USB devices.

[king_arthur]

Just ordered one of these for myself. With the transition from XP to Windows 7, I'm retiring the XP machine that had the soundcard that could do MIDI out, so this gizmo should let me do recording on the computer (instead of sending MIDI to a synth and recording the drums onto a standalone workstation).

I've also purchased an updated version of Band In A Box, which now apparently comes with a "Real Drums," "Real Guitar," etc. - .wav samples rather than connecting to a MIDI interface. I don't know if the new BIAB lets you record any audio tracks or not, but this gizmo seems to come with cakewalk or something, or I'll figure out how to make it talk to audacity and export .wav files from BIAB for whatever I want to keep from that...

Thanks for the tip on this!

Charles (KA)

[fluffy]

Today's deal is $19.99 for an AKG dynamic mic that normally goes for $39.98 on MF and has an MSRP of $199.99. I can't see how these mics are worth the MSRP, but for stage use they're pretty good and they're well worth the normal price of $40 - and half off that is an even better deal.

I'd buy two if I didn't already have a buttload of mics.

[Spud]

Hey, those are our stage mics!

[ken]

If you are needed cheap vocal/instrument mics, I suggest you look at the GLS dynamics. They are always $30 and are great for the money.

http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/mercha ... icrophones

Ken

[fluffy]

FireWire drivers are a much huger pain in the ass than USB (especially on Windows), so it's less surprising that the FireOne would stop working with an OS update. I'd be really surprised if a driver is even necessary for the USB devices.

I finally got around to trying the US-800 out (after it arrived last Friday). The included "driver" is in fact just a mixer app, but for some reason my work Mac isn't recognizing the device, panel or not. This needs further investigation.

[ken]

I tried out my US800 last night and it worked just fine. I downloaded the drivers from the Tascam Website and had them installed and began tracking in a few minutes. I needed to tweak a few things, but once I did BSS was tracking 6 inputs without issue. And I think the tracks sound pretty good too. I hope a lot of people were able to take advantage of this deal.

[fluffy]

Oh, yeah, I forgot to follow up that the problem I was having seems to be common on the Mac, but as long as it's connected when you boot up it should be fine. Apparently it has something to do with a 64- vs. 32-bit kernel, at least on Snow Leopard (which is what I'm still running at work due to IT policy fun).

[ken]

Forget the stupid deal of the deal. Now you get STUPID DEALS OF THE WEEK!!!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pages/stupidweek


Ken

[Lunkhead]

Wow, that is really awesome. I'm tempted to get one of these Tascam solid state stereo field recorder gizmos for $50:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... 9000000000

[Manhattan Glutton]

All of a sudden, I need a saxophone.

[king_arthur]

Looks like most of the prices aren't quite as stupid as they used to be, other than that saxophone... but I already have one of those, I've just never learned to play it...

My Tascam USB interface has supposedly been shipped, should be here soon. Who knows, maybe I'll wind up turning into one of those computer-based recording guys.

Charles (KA)

[Lunkhead]

Moonlight Special is a $66 dollar overdrive pedal that looks interesting:

http://www.moonlightspecial.com/

Going Today has a $20 A/B switcher, which is probably not useful for most folks here as it seems like something that's more suited for live performance than home recording:

http://www.goingtoday.com/

Ditto for the Stupid Deal's $15 music stand, although it looks like a much better stand than the cheap $15 chrome stands I bought at a local music store. It looks like it's less likely to fall over and like charts would be less likely to fall off of it.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

[ken]

Today's Stupid Deal is a pair of M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe Active Monitors for $149. I know people around here are always looking for cheap monitors, so here you go. Don't forget to buy the appropriate cables to hook these up as well.

Ken

[Lunkhead]

Looks like they don't have the stupid week page anymore, unfortunately. I hope you guys bought those saxophones while you had the chance.

[Lunkhead]

This deal looks intriguing. It's a Bugera "1960 Classic" 150W (!) tube guitar amp head for $250, down from $350.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

Reviewers say this is a very loud head that, in spite of some reliability issues that may be mostly addressed by replacing the tubes, does a great job of reproducing the classic hi-gain guitar tones of the 60's (Hendrix, Page, Clapton, etc.) on a low budget.

[Paco Del Stinko]

But yikes - 150 watts? Holy face peel, Batman!