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TAPCO Link.USB Description
The Link.USB is TAPCO's highly portable computer audio interface for connecting two channels of high-quality audio from the real world into your Mac or PC computer using a common USB connection. As cost-effective as it is compact, Link.USB doesn't chintz out when it comes to sound quality. It features pro-level 24-bit/96kHz fidelity and premium-grade mic preamps. Link.USB comes complete with beginner-friendly Tracktion 2 Music Production Software and Final Mix CD Mastering Plug-in, both courtesy of Mackie.
Exceptional sound quality
For the Link.USB, TAPCO started with two of the best mic preamps available in any audio interface at this price range. With combo mic/line/instrument inputs, these Mackie-designed preamps will capture the nuances of any sound you throw at them. This exceptional sound is preserved all the way to your computer thanks to modern 24-bit/96kHz digital audio converters on the way in, as well as the way out to headphones and your S Series Active Studio Monitors.
Small, but mighty
All that great sound potential is cleverly packed into a compact case less than 2-inches high and 8-inches long. Link.USB tucks comfortably alongside your laptop when you're on the go, and connects with a single USB cable when you're ready to get busy. It's bus powered, meaning it draws its juice from your computer for no-sacrifice recording and mixing, no matter where you end up. And with a unique swivel foot design, you can stand the Link.USB on its side in tighter workspaces, then stow it when it's time to go.
Looks Ain't Deceiving
Not to make a fuss, but TAPCO are darn proud of the Link.USB's sound quality, utility, AND appearance. The Link.USB has soft rubber side-cheeks to protect it from impacts, and keeps it from sliding off your desk if the earth suddenly spins off its axis. Silver side rails act like roll bars to protect its precious knobs from being sheared off while in transit. The TAPCO Link. USB—it's hard working, smart, and sexy—just like you wish everyone else is.
Simple, Powerful, Tracktion 2
The Link.USB includes Mackie's Tracktion 2 Music Production Software. It's the easiest software out there to get you started using your computer to record. And once you've mastered the basics, there's plenty of room to grow with Tracktion's truly professional feature set. It even comes bundled with a great assortment of plug-in effects, including Mackie's Dynamics Suite to help you keep the mix tight, plus Mackie's Final Mix CD mastering plug-in for when you're ready to share your music with the world.
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Features
- Two-channel 24-bit/96kHz USB audio interface*
- Combo Mic/Line/Instrument inputs
- Mackie-designed high-headroom mic preamps
- 48v Phantom power
- Low latency direct monitoring
- Bus powered for extreme portability
- Mac and PC Compatible
- Convenient, collapsible swivel-foot for desktop operation
- Includes Mackie Tracktion 2 Software
*Note: 96kHz sample rate support (WDM, uni-directional)
Specifications
- Frequency Response
- Any Input to Monitor Output: +0, –0.5 dB, 22 Hz to 22 kHz @ 48 kHz SR
- Any Input to Phones Output: +0, –3 dB, 30 Hz to 22 kHz @ 48 kHz SR (600Ω load)
- Distortion
- THD + Noise (1 kHz, –1 dBFS @ 48 kHz SR)
- Mic Input to Monitor Output: < 0.005%
- Dynamic Range
- Mic Input to Monitor Output (48 kHz SR, A-weighted): 100 dB
- Input Impedance
- Mic Input: 3 kΩ
- Line Input: 20 kΩ balanced, 20 kΩ unbalanced
- Instr Input: 1 MΩ
- Output Impedance
- Monitor Output: 200Ω
- Headphone Output: < 1Ω
- Crosstalk
- Monitor Output (1 kHz, Left to Right) –70 dB
- Headphone Output (1 kHz, Left to Right) –80 dB
- Maximum Input Level
- Mic In (XLR): –2.2 dBu
- Line In: +4.5 dBu
- Instr In: +5.4 dBu
- Maximum Output Level
- Monitor Output: +4.2 dBu
- Heaphone Output: 18 mW into 600Ω
- A/D and D/A Conversion
- 24 bit, 44.1/48/88.2/96 kHz
- Dimensions
- Height: 1.7 in/43 mm
- Width: 6.1 in/155 mm
- Depth: 6.8 in/173 mm
- 7.6 in/193 mm with handles
- Weight
- 1.4 lb/0.6 kg
Hook Up Diagram
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Reviews
- TapeOp (pdf, 459Kb)
- Keys Magazine (PDF, 141KB, Deustch)
- Future Music (PDF, 1.36MB)
- Apple ProAudio
- Music Tech (PDF, 426KB)
- GuitarGearHeads.com
- Singer magazine (PDF, 528KB)
TAPCO Link.USB Reviews
Tapco Link
Toby Flintoff
July 17, 2009
Rating: 6/10
Gotta give it 6 stars for value for money.
Quality of mic preamps is good.
However... and it\'s quite a big one. If you\'re PC user, you\'re pretty much retricted to XP forever. Tapco are not good at driver updates. You get a lot of brush-off from their tech support, but no real answers.
Play with ASIO4ALL and you can get below 12ms latency on a decnet laptop.
It about what you expect for £149 and maybe a little more.
Tapco Link. USB
Steve
October 26, 2008
Rating: 5/10
I\'ve had this card for about 3 years now, and I must say it has served me pretty well. Latency is low and perfectly fine for making tunes with a midi keyboard and vst instruments.
The problem lies with compatibility. For some reason it just does\'t get on with my Acer Aspire 5620 laptop - I sometimes get a really excruciating crackling noise when I listen to music and browse the internet at the same time (it doesn\'t like pages with a lot of flash or animations going on) which is REALLY annoying when going on myspace, youtube etc. Had I known more about soundcads at the time, I would have sent it back, but I always assumed the fault was with my computer.
Tapco are a great make, I have actually just bought the blend 6 mixer and a Korg hardware synth (the R3...amazing!) to add to my setup. The mixer is very high quality and does the job brilliantly. However the audio inputs on the soundcard are very noisy, and I\'m getting noise and hum whenever the soundcard is plugged into it. This isn\'t acceptable, as I have invested about £500 on studio outboard, and now realised my soundcard is just not up to the task. As you can imagine, once I layer up a synth bass, pad and lead the noise is then amplified x3...making for disapointing results.
Like I say The tapco mixer is great. I think the real problem lies with their software department. The drivers for this card havent been updated since the day I bought it, which is frustrating as a driver update would probably have solved my compatibility issues. As a rsult I\'m using Asio4all drivers, which should really be a last resort as it is just a general driver for any audio card. Oh yeah sometimes when I have a lot going on in cubase/ableton, audio just stops all of a sudden and is replaced by white noise...VERY LOUD white noise that is VERY painful. The only way to recover is to stop everything, exit the program, unplug and replug the soundcard. This got me on two occasions when I was DJing with ableton at a free party. NOT GOOD!
I realise now when shopping for a soundcard, a good idea is to go with a company that is serious about driver updates. The problem with windows is that certain PCs dont like certain soundcards, and no one really knows which unless you are lucky enough to find someone on a forum with the same laptop and soundcard you are looking to buy. For that reason I cannot reccomend this card for anyone using an Acer laptop!
Otherwise its not bad for the money I guess (although when i bought this it was £130)...If I could just have trouble free operation (perfectly possible on most pcs/macs) I would have been a lot happier. That said the issue with noisy inputs means I will now be getting rid of this and looking for a no frills firewire solution with low noise levels...and hopefully I\'ll get some long needed reliability thrown in for good measure.
Tapco
Richy Vasquez
September 7, 2007
Rating: 9/10
This soundcard blew all my expectations out of the water, I thought I would be getting crap preamps on a £100 soundcard, but they bring the best out of my Rode NTK mic (possibly better than the old Edirol interface it replaced that cost a lot more!)
The Tracktion software is ok, but I prefer my trusty copy of Cubase, but it seems to work well and get a decent latency.
Overall a quality product, well built, and excellent value for money - Well done TAPCO!
TAPCO Link.USB News
-
TAPCO Link.USB Special Offer
Dolphin Music are offering the fantastic TAPCO Link.USB for a special price of only £69.
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NAMM 2007: TAPCO Introduces Link.FireWire 4x6 Audio Interface
Adding to its growing range of high-value recording and live sound products for the audio novice and music hobbyist, TAPCO is pleased to introduce the Link.FireWire 4x6 Audio Interface a four-input, six-output FireWire interface for both Mac and PC.
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Soundcard / Audio Interface Buying Guide
Dolphin Music's Buying Guide to Soundcards
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