KVR Audio

plastic · Post by **plastic** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:35 pm

I risk now sounding like NI spam, but I'm blown away by the build quality of the Komplete Audio 6. It's metal, heavy, solid, with nice pots.
I also got the older Presonus Firebox (which is obsolete unfortunaltely, because firewire is dead). This one is also very nice.
But I've seen other interfaces in pretty much the same price range, which are total plastic crap.
Especially the Tascam iu2, I couldn't believe how bad it is, not only that it feels like a toy, the pots are also scratchy.
Somehow it's really important to check out gear at a local music shop, on pictures everything looks the same and fine, and the feedback in forums and online stores is near worthless, because every product has fanboys.
For example, the user feedback at thomann.de is puzzling, every product has 5 stars and seems to be the greatest thing ever, according to the feedback. Even if it's obviously shit.

Michaelogoe · Post by **Michaelogoe** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:46 pm

Now somehow I risk sounding like Tascam spam but need to share my experience for all non Ipad iOS users!

I had my IU2 here
http://www.thomann.de/gb/tascam_iu2.htm ... tAoddl8AqA
for £80

NI Komplete 6 goes for £180
same shop:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/native_instrum ... udio_6.htm

The £100 makes the difference in quality but for iphone/ipod users Tascam IU2 is a neat - yet cheap solution. Still better than irig or even apogee jam (IF you need MIDI and audio!)

My 5 cents

Mike

PS. There are some issues with some apps and IU2, but for what I use all works flawlessly!

Iphone 4s
ios 6 with Beatmaker 2, Garageband, Loopy, Funkbox, nlog midi synth

plastic · Post by **plastic** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:03 pm

The main reason why I returned the Tascam iu2 is because it didn't work with my iPad 3. There is some compatibility issue, clicks & pops hell with all apps, but it wasn't documented.
If it had worked I would have kept it, but IMO the build quality is really ridiculous.

edit: interesing, it dropped from 155 eur to 99 eur within a few months. But I also heard it's discontinued.

Tim Webb · Post by **Tim Webb** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:11 pm

Is the NI Audio 6 class-compliant? I have an old NI Kontrol 1 sitting here, it would be the perfect little iPad interface for audio and MIDI, but it is sadly not compliant at all!

Derek Buddemeyer · Post by **Derek Buddemeyer** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:09 pm

Tim Webb wrote:Is the NI Audio 6 class-compliant? I have an old NI Kontrol 1 sitting here, it would be the perfect little iPad interface for audio and MIDI, but it is sadly not compliant at all!

I use apogee jam and it is great for guitar and bass. I also have Griffin StudioConnect, but I do not like it at all. I am Interested in the Alesis io dock....anyone have any comparisons..,I am using ipad 3. Then again I might hold out until amp dock releases. I just know that the moment I make a purchase, something more bright and shiny will come out the next day....lol

Michaelogoe · Post by **Michaelogoe** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:37 pm

plastic wrote:The main reason why I returned the Tascam iu2 is because it didn't work with my iPad 3. There is some compatibility issue, clicks & pops hell with all apps, but it wasn't documented.
If it had worked I would have kept it, but IMO the build quality is really ridiculous.

edit: interesing, it dropped from 155 eur to 99 eur within a few months. But I also heard it's discontinued.

Yeah I think people soon realised the build "quality" was not worth the original price tag.

no clicks & pops on my set up mentioned previously, but I did not buy the interface until iOS6, as I know iOS5 had loads of issues.

edit: Maybe now that Audiobus is upon us some interface hardware company can figure their act out and release some quality audio + MIDI interface for all iOS forms? At least 2ins 2 outs please

AudiobusApp · Post by **AudiobusApp** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:17 pm

So... is that NI brick compatible with iPad/iPhone or not? We really gotta get our hands on some good audio interfaces, ideally with MIDI capabilities.

Peter - IK Multimedia · Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:41 pm

For us we've got the StealthPlug that works with Camera Connection Kit on iPad and iRig STOMP isn't 30-pin but has much higher sonic quality than its predecessor. I wish WE had something new and shiny tomorrow (like was mentioned above as a viable fear) but it will be more than one "tomorrow" before we do.

iPlogger · Post by **iPlogger** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:55 pm

The NI Komplete 6 looks interesting. I'm looking at the PreSonus AudioBox 1818vsl. It's more than I want to spend but I need 8 analog inputs. But everything I've read sounds very positive.

Derek, I'd be cautious with the Alesis I/O Dock. Many report issues, though for others it works fine. I highly recommend reading the forums and digging in to it to be sure it will meet your needs. I personally do not like the idea of having a form factor that is specific to a certain size, or specific to the 30-pin adapter. What will you do if you upgrade to iPad 4, 5 or ? which uses the lightning connector. Likewise, this is a concern I have with the AmpDock, unless maybe they have this planned out to handle both types of connectors.

plastic · Post by **plastic** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:20 pm

OK I just tried the Komplete Audio 6 with the iPad 3.
It works, through a powered USB hub. Plugged directly into the camera connection kit, it doesn't work.

But I think it's a bit over the top, to get it just for the iPad, it's portable but not exactly light weight.

But for a laptop it is as good as it gets, impressive low latency. I run it with 64 samples on a crappy netbook and there are no dropouts. But the CPU load increases of course.

Another note, regarding the Line 6 Mobile In, that I also got.
I hate it. The dongle construction is so crappy that a slight touch makes the plug sliding out, losing connection.
You'd have to gaffer tape it to the iPad to get a stable connection.
Other than that, it works, and the Mobile Pod app is quite nice for guitar sounds. And there is also a line-input.

Audio interfaces, built quality