Summary
This is an easy-to-use microphone interface for audio and video editing programs on the PC or Mac.
Target Apps
Any project where you need to record voiceover or narration on a budget
What It Costs You
$199 MSRP ($150 street)
What's Cool
Easy to use, easy to hook up, easy to take with you
What's Missing
Included Traction editing software is difficult to install successfully, and once it is, there’s a big learning curve
Specs
- PC: Windows XP SP2, Pentium 3 or better; 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended), 40 MB hard disk space
- Mac: OS X 10.3 or later Power Mac G3 (600 MHz or faster), G4, G5, 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)
A Flexible, Portable Computer Audio and MIDI Interface
By Marc Franklin
January 1, 2007 Source: Studio Monthly
One thing that I feel has been missing from NLEs is a simple and efficient way to record voiceovers and narration. In my old linear edit system, where the audio went through a Mackie 1402 VLZ mixer, all that was needed was to plug a microphone and cable into one of the plentiful inputs. With NLEs, though, it’s not so simple. While most computers have a microphone input, it’s generally an unbalanced 1/8-inch jack that’s not meant to take a lot of abuse. Furthermore, you’re stuck using a consumer microphone or using a number of adapters to step down from XLR to 1/8-inch.
Another gripe I have with this setup is the lack of control over input levels. Normally it’s done with a virtual slider you drag with your mouse. I’ve always found that interface difficult to work with. For audio, I’ve preferred faders or rotary dials on mixers. There are a number of high-priced offerings from Digidesign, Yamaha and Mackie that will give you the tactile feel you want while recording, but will set you back a few hundred to tens of thousands dollars. For those of us who don’t have that kind of money to spend on control surfaces and high-quality balanced inputs, the Tapco Link.USB could very well be the right choice.
A Powerful Little Box
Colored to match Tapco’s "Caterpillar" color motif (black with yellow highlights), this little box of useful connectors and controls gives you more than two independent channels of microphone, line and instrument level inputs through high-quality Neutrik balanced combo XLR, 1/4-inch connectors. It also features left and right 1/4-inch monitor outs, as well as 1/4-inch stereo headphones out. It connects to a computer through a USB 1.1. The connection allows you not only to record, but also monitor simultaneous playback while recording. Essentially this box is an external sound card. It replaces your computer’s built-in sound card in all related applications.
The input gain controls are two rotary knobs. There are three other rotary controls: the mix, monitor level and head phone volume. To protect the front controls, there are two metal loops. The top and bottom of the unit have a rubber cover to keep it from sliding off a desk. If you’re short on space, it has a built-in stand that lets you place it vertically. It also has a red LED that indicates the phantom power is on and a yellow LED for indicating power. The Link.USB can record at sampling rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz at 24 bits and ships with Mackie’s Traction 2 (PC and Mac) software for recording and editing.
On the Move
Aside from the useful pro connections on the Link.USB, portability is another huge advantage. The USB interface makes it simple to move the Link.USB from computer to computer. At my production company, I have three HP workstations and a notebook for the field running Adobe Creative Suite Premium 2, Adobe Premiere Pro 2, Adobe Audition 2, and Sony’s Vegas Pro 6, Sound Forge 8 and ACID XPress 5.
Once I put it to work, I found the Link.USB simple to set up and even easier to use. The unit also worked well interfacing with Adobe Premiere Pro 2. While I had known there was a way to record a VO direct to the timeline, I’d never done it. This test gave me the impetus. Setting it up in Premier Pro was just as simple as any of the other audio programs. Just go into the audio preferences, change the setting from default to Tapco, and you’re in business. You must then open the (virtual) mixer in Premiere Pro and choose the track you want to record to by clicking on the microphone button on that track. You then hit record to put you in "record pause" mode, place the timeline counter where you want the narration to start, and hit play. It’s that simple.
Adjusting the input gain on the fly with the knobs was much easier than using the "virtual faders" that are used to control gain in Premiere Pro, and it would be the same for any other program with a similar GUI. I also tried the Link.USB with the other programs I mentioned earlier (including Microsoft’s Sound Recorder), and it worked flawlessly with them all.
Hard Facts on Software
The Link.USB’s drivers install only with the Mackie Traction 2 multi-track audio editing and mixing software that comes in the box. The Traction 2 software has been most interesting. Despite the fact that it came in the box with the Link.USB, I had a hard time getting it to recognize the hardware. I contacted the company’s tech support, tried all of their suggestions to get Traction to work, but it wouldn’t.
Finally, the solution came to me through a friend who suggested I use a free downloadable audio editing program called Audacity from Behringer, a European-based company and a competitor of Tapco. Thankfully, it worked great.
Just for fun, I decided to try Mackie tech support one more time. As I was on the phone with them, the Traction suddenly started working with the Link.USB on my laptop. I have no explanation for this.
I did have the same problem with the software once I tried it on my Xeon workstation. After working with other tech-support staff, and trying things such as uninstalling, reinstalling, unplugging and then re-plugging in the hardware (while toggling some settings), it finally saw the device. According to tech support, this is a problem that occurs for some users, but not for others. All said, it was a most convoluted installation process.
Traction 2 has a very unique interface. I’d say that while it’s nice to have it in the box, it’s overkill if you just need to record narration; Traction is more for mixing music.
The Bottom Line
In the end, I have to say that I love the Link.USB. It offers the flexibility to use it in just about every audio and video editing software one could hope for on the PC. (The Link.USB will also work on a Mac, though I wasn’t able to test its compatibility with that platform.) The only exception on the video side was with my outdated Avid Xpress DV 3.5, but that may have been due to my not finding a hidden menu. Its small size, light weight and powering off the USB bus make it convenient to take it with you if you need to work on location or to move from computer to computer. If you need to do narration, voiceovers, sing a duet or record a Podcast, the Link.USB is the solution for you.
This little box of connectors and controls gives you more than two independent channels of mic, line and instrument level inputs through Neutrik balanced combo XLR, 1/4-inch connectors.
Comments (19) for "Tapco Link.USB"
1.
Recently I picked up of of these. The outward look was slik but upon closer inspection I could see it looked like it not fit together just right. When I tried to use it it was a total failure. I tried everything, my computer far exceeds the basic requirements. Anyway I had to send it back, the seller quickly offered to exchange it and sounded like this had happened several times in the past. I hope the new one I get works. Jury is still out
Posted by scotty on Monday, February 19, 2007 @ 10:19 PM
2.
i bought the tapco interface last week and when i hooked it up between my laptop and mixer the tune comes out but there is a static type noise also,what is the problem,all my cables seem to be alright
Posted by james o brien on Monday, April 2, 2007 @ 08:18 AM
3.
this does a good job generally but hisses when i use it in logic which does my head in. And where do I download the drivers?
Posted by Swampy on Saturday, January 12, 2008 @ 01:52 PM
4.
The static was driving me mad. I found going into the volume option and muting the wave output completly fixed it and i could work hiss free, bliss.
Posted by Tim Crimes on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 @ 03:44 PM
5.
Has anyone tried to use this with PowerPoint to record narrations?
I bought this along with a condenser mic to record PowerPoint narrations (on a PC with XP Pro) for a class I am teaching - I assumed the Tapco box would show up as a secondary microphone input via USB. For some reason I cannot get PowerPoint to recognize this as a microphone - since I cannot use PP\\\'s buit-in recording software, it makes things too hard to record PP narration (IE, it is too much of a pain to use secondary software like Traction b/c I would have to record a file for each slide, then go to PP and insert the audio for each slide, then record the timings...what a pain and not a solution!)
Posted by Anony on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 @ 11:37 PM
6.
Nevermind - you can't use "set levels" in MS PowerPoint - the levels are set with the dials on the box!!! (Crazy me...) Use PCM w/ 44 kHz or 48 kHz mono to record voice - it seemed to work great for me!
Posted by anony on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 @ 11:18 PM
7.
i bought this tapco sound card and have had a hiss when i connected to my pc and its even worse when i record from a piece of hardware
were is my wave out put?
Posted by Fred on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 @ 07:57 PM
8.
I experienced only one issue where I got hiss about a year ago, after updating the drivers it went away. What Software are you using with it? I use Adobe Soundbooth and Audition trouble free. Also make sure the mic / instrament button is in the correct position, and that you aren't using phantom power on something that doesn't need it.
Posted by Marc Franklin on Thursday, June 5, 2008 @ 12:45 PM
9.
I have just taken delivery and am struggling with latency. I\'ve tried Traktion but it doesn\'t recognise the drivers at all. I\'m using audacity where the drivers work but I\'m getting around half a second latency through headphones plugged directly into the link!
Posted by Jimbo on Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 10:43 AM
10.
Fred 7.
The wave output is in your volume control panel, go to programs,accessories, entertainment and click on volume control.There will be an advanced option if wave is not already there.
Jimbo 9.
Try and instal 'ASIO4ALL' you can download it for free and it is supposed to improve latency by a large amount.
Good luck guys, wish me it to cause I think I'll go for this box myself!
Posted by Psilas on Saturday, August 16, 2008 @ 10:34 PM
11.
I have been using the Tapco Link Usb for 3-4 months now, and it works great for audio recordings. I am a professional musician, and I use it for home recordings. However, troubles arrive when I want to use MIDI. I have an electronic drumkit, and a cheap Casio keyboard connected to my pc as midi input devices. I use Cubase SX3 as my studio program. I can record midi files and route them through VST instruments to get great sound, but I can NOT get midi sounds through the tapco device. That means, when I record midi, the only monitoring I get is the onboard sounds from my drumkit and keyboard. Playing live through VST instruments makes way too much latency. The troubles seems to be in making the XP synth (MS GS Wavetable) communicate with the tapco link usb. I have tried several workarounds, including MidiYoke, and some soundfont players, but it doesn't work properly. Does anybody have any tips, tricks and suggestions? I'd be grateful, because the tapco unit would've been perfect, if it could play back midi properly...
Posted by Raymond on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 08:49 AM
12.
i just bought a tapco recorder and i got everything to work except when i record i can't hear anything out of my speakers please help
Posted by Jake Shortt on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 @ 05:06 PM
13.
I have no midi output signal via the TAPCO only from my internal soundcart.
solution: sometime it works when reconnected the UDB plug.other solutions? please mail me.
Posted by bob on Sunday, March 29, 2009 @ 12:47 PM
14.
hallo, can anyone advise where I can download a Windows Vista driver for the Link USB? Also can I download the driver without having to download the awful tracktion software? All help gtratefully received. Best wishers, arthur.
Posted by arthur russell on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 @ 01:22 AM
15.
I keep getting hiss clicks and pops? Where do you get the drivers???
Posted by kevingen on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 @ 01:54 PM
16.
Hallo! I used Tapco linkUSB for 3 months. In the beggin I had problem with ASIO compatibility in Vista (hiss,click...)- only advice from official support center tapco was to switch to WDM drivers!!! so after installing back XP ASIO is working properly, but the lowest latency I gained was around 24ms, too much for live monitoring with effects. About MIDI, I'm using midi to usb interface and live playing with VSTi is with no problems (in XP), but I have big delay after recording midi in Cubase SX3, when I switch key on my keyboard, recorded note appears 0,5-1s later... so I have to move all recorded MIDI tracks back to proper place manualy! Funny! Isn't it?! My oppinion is that tapco have GREAT TEAM in software department, when I realize that "great" support of drivers and the fact that driver alone can't be installed without Tracktion :D I'm absolutely dissapointed about this product. (sorry for my english :)
Posted by monosos on Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ 03:09 PM
17.
Hi, can anyone help with the delay that occurs..when recording a new track (T2) over my backing music..i can't hear track 1 and the recording has a 1 second delay...am using adobe audition 3.0 have had the same problem on my work comp. using adobe sound booth...HELP!!
Posted by Lae on Saturday, August 8, 2009 @ 12:21 AM
18.
I bought my Tapco before yesterday from our local dealer. I hooked it up to my computer but it just isn't making sounds! My computer detects it properly and everything seems perfectly fine, even after installing the drivers n all, I can't get it to record or respond to my equipment! I tried everything! Help!
Posted by Moe on Monday, May 31, 2010 @ 12:47 PM
19.
Hi. i have recently dusted of my Tapco Link USB and tried it with Cubase. LOTS of hiss and very high gain. I downloaded ASIO4ALL driver. At first it made the sound a little dull by comparison, but after recording some tracks with guitar and vocals, and using the EQs on Cubase it sounds very clear and natural, and WITH NO HISS! Fantastic. And as a bonus, the latency / sample size is much better too, than the "full Duplex Asio Driver" that Mackie reccomend. P.s. If you contact Mackie via their website they will send you a link to thier drivers, if you want them.
Posted by thelongdog on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 @ 02:22 PM
