PreSonus Audiobox USB

[Frolid]

Any of you guys ever use it? Likes? Dislikes?

 

[thiswaythatway]

I returned the one I bought because I was getting popping and clicking noises in the background and their tech support was a joke. One of their suggestions was to shut off my WIFI. Um...NO.

 

[lespaul3013]

I've got one...been using it for about 2 months now - love it!

Depends on the application though...

For me...all I'm doing is using it to make scratch tracks and demos for potential songs...so nothing super high quality - if you're doing anything more than that, I'd recommend something like the Focusrite stuff running with Firewire. USB 2.0 is fine, but if you wanna do pro quality recordings you're better off with Firewire, Thunderbolt, or even USB 3.0

 

[polaris20]

I've got one...been using it for about 2 months now - love it!

Depends on the application though...

For me...all I'm doing is using it to make scratch tracks and demos for potential songs...so nothing super high quality - if you're doing anything more than that, I'd recommend something like the Focusrite stuff running with Firewire. USB 2.0 is fine, but if you wanna do pro quality recordings you're better off with Firewire, Thunderbolt, or even USB 3.0

interface bandwidth has nothing to do with converter quality. There are plenty of good interfaces running USB2.0 that will floor Focusrite stuff, like RME, Apogee. There are very few true Thunderbolt interfaces on the market, and there aren't any USB3.0 specific boxes I've seen yet, except for the RME MADIFace.

 

[Elethan]

I've got one (44vsl model) that i've been using for a couple of months. Think it's pretty well built, and has some good converters & quality preamps (for it's price range anyway).

I've been using it live (routing metronome to the drummer and some backing tracks to FoH) and also for a couple of demo recordings. Can't really fault the thing, even compared to an older firepod i've had for ages (with which i've had some connection issues due the shabby nature of firewire interfaces these days). That's mostly why I went for USB and a smaller size with this unit (mobility and connectivity).

There's only one issue that's annoying me: the 44vsl model has 4 routable outputs - problem is outputs 1&2 are just mirroring main L&R outputs... so less routing flexibility

 

[lespaul3013]

I've got one...been using it for about 2 months now - love it!

Depends on the application though...

For me...all I'm doing is using it to make scratch tracks and demos for potential songs...so nothing super high quality - if you're doing anything more than that, I'd recommend something like the Focusrite stuff running with Firewire. USB 2.0 is fine, but if you wanna do pro quality recordings you're better off with Firewire, Thunderbolt, or even USB 3.0

interface bandwidth has nothing to do with converter quality. There are plenty of good interfaces running USB2.0 that will floor Focusrite stuff, like RME, Apogee. There are very few true Thunderbolt interfaces on the market, and there aren't any USB3.0 specific boxes I've seen yet, except for the RME MADIFace.

I'm not too technical - so I don't necessarily know what all that means...all I know is that all the couple of guys I know who do very nice pro recording stay away from USB 2.0 (aka. they use Macs... )

Just my $0.02...

 

[Frolid]

Sounding like I shouldn't expect anything grand from USB 2.0, but it'll get the job done if you're on a small budget?

 

[polaris20]

I've got one...been using it for about 2 months now - love it!

Depends on the application though...

For me...all I'm doing is using it to make scratch tracks and demos for potential songs...so nothing super high quality - if you're doing anything more than that, I'd recommend something like the Focusrite stuff running with Firewire. USB 2.0 is fine, but if you wanna do pro quality recordings you're better off with Firewire, Thunderbolt, or even USB 3.0

interface bandwidth has nothing to do with converter quality. There are plenty of good interfaces running USB2.0 that will floor Focusrite stuff, like RME, Apogee. There are very few true Thunderbolt interfaces on the market, and there aren't any USB3.0 specific boxes I've seen yet, except for the RME MADIFace.

I'm not too technical - so I don't necessarily know what all that means...all I know is that all the couple of guys I know who do very nice pro recording stay away from USB 2.0 (aka. they use Macs... )

Just my $0.02...

Ah. Well, that's pretty much changed (though it used to be that way). Macs don't natively come with FW anymore, so companies like RME and Apogee have gone to USB2.0, which is perfectly fine, provided the drivers are good.

Sounding like I shouldn't expect anything grand from USB 2.0, but it'll get the job done if you're on a small budget?

The Presonus and Focusrite boxes are both fine on USB2.0, but yeah the USB2.0 boxes from Apogee will be better. However, depending on your recording environment, you'll notice that first before you'll notice converter quality.

 

[lespaul3013]

Sounding like I shouldn't expect anything grand from USB 2.0, but it'll get the job done if you're on a small budget?

Apparently it doesn't make a difference

All I know is that I love mine - gets the job done...Studio One is pretty cool as well

 

[Elethan]

Yea well, the thing is the interface doesn't really matter that much unless you're dealing with high bandwidth requirements - it's simply not the case with any of the units in the audiobox range, not even the 1818VSL. I haven't done the math, but unless you're recording 8+ simultaneous channels @ insane sample rates (such as 192KHz), pretty much any USB 2.0 (or better) interface will do.

With modern USB devices you should be fine, provided you've got properly written drivers and such and no hidden computer problems. So no worries there

Thing is, i've looked around for quite a bit and couldn't find any other better deal than the 44vsl (for my needs at least and considering the price range). It will definitely get the job done and get it done well. If you're still in doubt, maybe you can check one at a local store or something?

 

[Frolid]

Thing is, i've looked around for quite a bit and couldn't find any other better deal than the 44vsl (for my needs at least and considering the price range). It will definitely get the job done and get it done well. If you're still in doubt, maybe you can check one at a local store or something?

Yeah, all we have is a pawn shop. And they hardly have good things here

 

[lockharj]

I have had it for close to a year and its a great little box. I upgraded from a tascam and these preamps are way cleaner. If you are on the fence vs focusrite not much I can say, they pair up very similarly. ONLY issue I've had is a crappy USB cable that wiggled in my computers port and added some noise.. very easily replaced. Good luck!

 

[kasperjensen]

I have used their Project studio FW interface for a while, and its probably the best gear purchase I have made. Ever.

 

[Charvel_King]

Word of warning!

I had the Presonus USB2.0 and I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to use it for guitar direct in. No matter how low I set the input level it always clipped. Everytime. I spent hours trying to figure it out.

After some research turns out the device adds around 20dB of gain to the signal. So is poorelh designed for using I that manor.

There instructional video shows it being done and it looks very easy. Very misleading.

Sold it after months of frustration.

 

[polaris20]

Word of warning!

I had the Presonus USB2.0 and I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to use it for guitar direct in. No matter how low I set the input level it always clipped. Everytime. I spent hours trying to figure it out.

After some research turns out the device adds around 20dB of gain to the signal. So is poorelh designed for using I that manor.

There instructional video shows it being done and it looks very easy. Very misleading.

Sold it after months of frustration.

That's weird; that's actually one of the few that haven't clipped for me. The Steinberg UR22 is a great interface, but it clipped with a guitar direct, so did the Focusrite 2i2. The Roland Duo Capture EX does not, however. Plus, it works with an iPad, which is really cool.