bruce Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 (navigating carefully on the righteous side of the dividing line that separates the IT-audio world from all the rest of that computery nonsense...:D ) Bottom line - has anyone tried the Behringer UCA202? I have a windows laptop with a dodgy audio connector. Repair is not practical - internally it's in the most inaccessible location (and Toshiba, externally it's in a bloomin stupid place too. On the front, so if you're using it on a table the headphone cable catches on your left wrist, and if you're resting it in your lap - it is a laptop, after all - the plug sticks into your belly. But I digress - this isn't a Toshiba focus group). The laptop is used at home for audio playback (winamp), occasionally on a gig for pre-show music, and even-more-occasionally for sound effects playback using SCS. Don't think it's ever been used for recording. So, I was considering getting an all-singing-and-dancing interface, with balanced XLRs, but that's probably overkill for the use it's going to get. When browsing through the various options, I came across the Behringer UCA202 - a USB-connected box with unbalanced inputs and outputs, on RCA connectors. It also has a headphone socket and a s/pdif output. And it's only about 20 quid..... Has anyone tried one of these? Any comments on it? Any other models I should be looking at? Comments would be especially welcome from people who have actually seen the unit, rather than the "it's behringer, so it must be <insert your preconceptions here>" brigade... Brucehttp://www.behringer.com//UCA202/UCA202_medium.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 I have a Behringer BCA2000, which is a Behringer USB interface, though rather larger than the unit you want, and can confirm it works Ok. I'm told the earlier Windows software was buggy, but the current stuff seems to work Ok. The problem I have is with the PC I use it with, which has a buggy high speed USB implementation, which I am told is common (something to do with a VIA chipset, IIRC), which means I need to set the interface to operate in full speed mode rather than high speed. I also have a Eiderol interface that looks a lot like yours, a UA-1A, and that worked fine also. The advantage of the big Behringer is that it has six audio output channels, which is a bit handy for theatre work, and SCS supports multiple WDM drivers so it would also work for you. One pair of the outputs is balanced (albeit on TRS jack rather than XLR, the other four are on phono unbalanced), with a big output fader, so for simple shows I dont need to bother with a mixer, just go balanced stereo out to main PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Any other models I should be looking at? I'm a fan of the Griffin iMic, although it doesn't appear to be as well specced as that Behringer one, certainly in terms of inputs / outputs. It's only got two sockets, 3.5mm stereo jacks; the input is switchable between mic and line level. What it lacks in terms of outputs, it makes up for in size (it's absolutely tiny!) and the fact that it works seamlessly with both OSX and Win XP, without needing drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Beesley Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Hi Bruce, I have used the following and found them both to be good quality and great for plug & play use. Phonic Digitrack Art USB Phono Plus The ART unit has the advantage of being a phono pre-amp and a few more input.output options. HTH Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 (and Toshiba, externally it's in a bloomin stupid place too. On the front, so if you're using it on a table the headphone cable catches on your left wrist, and if you're resting it in your lap - it is a laptop, after all - the plug sticks into your belly. But I digress - this isn't a Toshiba focus group).You'd be surprised how many laptops make exactly the same mistake. Or possibly you wouldn't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 You'd be surprised how many laptops make exactly the same mistake. Or possibly you wouldn't... Actually, I wouldn't. Last year I had to give opinions on laptops from a dozen mainstream manufacturers, as part of the process to determine preferred suppliers for laptops for UK universities. It's amazing how they all make the same mistakes :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Boogie Man Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Hi Bruce, I may be missing something, ( it has been remarked upon :D ) but if your only going out from the laptop whats wrong with the stereo headphone jack? or is this the bit thats fubar? if your only coming in occasionaly in stereo hoe about th line in with say wavelab on the end?baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 but if your only going out from the laptop whats wrong with the stereo headphone jack? It's broken - dodgy connector. And virtually impossible to get at to repair. and anyway - it's not going to be the best quality output in the world - even the most basic external box will suffer from less interference... I'm a fan of the Griffin iMic, although it doesn't appear to be as well specced as that Behringer one, certainly in terms of inputs / outputs. It's only got two sockets, 3.5mm stereo jacks; the input is switchable between mic and line level. Interesting. To me, the main disadvantage of that is that it still uses 3.5mm jacks. Virtually ANYTHING is prefereable to them....(apart from possibly 2.5mm jacks :D ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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