Topic: TASCAM US-200, US-600 - new audio interfaces announced at NAMM

[sunjan]

Finally some insteresting gear trickling in from NAMM.

No pictures or MSRP yet. With the focus on MIDI, maybe this gear is more for studio use? The US-200 is bus powered. 

http://tascam.com/news/display/595/

Affordable Multichannel USB 2.0 Solutions for Modern Music Production

Anaheim, CA – (January 13, 2011): TASCAM, an industry leader in digital interfaces, has launched two stylish, lightweight, units perfectly suited for mobile musicians and home recording enthusiasts: the US-200 and US-600 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interfaces. Each has a MIDI input and output, and each uses USB 2.0 for high-speed, low-latency conversion. Both interfaces have a ¼” stereo headphone output with zero-latency direct monitoring, switchable in either mono or stereo.

The US-200 is a two-in/four-out interface with a pair of XLR/TRS combo jacks feeding high-quality microphone preamps with phantom power. Input 1 can be switched to instrument level for direct recording of guitar and bass. Four RCA outputs are included on the rear panel. The US-200 is bus powered from the USB input, removing the need of a wall-wart supply.

The US-600 is a six-in/four-out interface with four XLR/TRS combo mic inputs, two on the front and two on the rear panel. S/PDIF digital in and out are available for direct digital connection to external preamps, drum machines and processors.

Both the TASCAM US-200 and US-600 include a copy of Cubase LE5, Steinberg’s latest 48-track workstation software with MIDI tracks, plug-in support and dynamic automation for polished mixes.

Features:

US-200 Features:

    * 2-in/4-out USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface
    * Two mic preamps with phantom power, XLR/TRS combo jacks
    * Four unbalanced RCA outputs
    * MIDI input and output
    * Signal Present and Overload meter LEDs on each input
    * Line Out/Phones level control
    * Monitor mix level control and Mono/stereo switch for direct input monitoring
    * Instrument (high impedance) switch for input 1 with indicator LED
    * Includes Cubase LE5 48-track workstation recording software

US-600 Features:

    * 6-in/4-out USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface
    * Four mic preamps with phantom power, XLR/TRS combo jacks
    * Two unbalanced RCA outputs
    * S/PDIF stereo digital input and output
    * MIDI input and output
    * Signal Present and Overload meter LEDs on each input
    * Line Out/Phones level control
    * Monitor mix level control for direct input monitoring
    * Mono/stereo monitoring switch for input 1/2 and 3/4
    * Instrument (high impedance) switch for input 1 with indicator LED
    * Includes Cubase LE5 48-track workstation recording software

[sunjan]

Looking at the "big brother" Tacam US-800, standalone operation is confirmed:
http://www.tascam.de/en/us-800.html

I assume this is valid for -600 and -200 too, given the similar architecture.
Both the 800 and 600 have a street price around $200.

[goodcooker]

I picked up a US800 for $204 at Guitar Center. I wanted to buy at a local store with a full return policy.

After fooling around with it I think it sounds fine and it's only real drawback would be a quirk where the driver needs to be un/reinstalled if you switch which usb plug you put it into. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me but it's cheap, sounds good and other than that one quirk works fine.

Works fine on Windows7 and with Wavelab6, Audacity and CD Wave Editor as an I/O device.

Haven't tried it in standalone mode yet but it only has one unbalanced stereo output and one SPDIF out. Don't know if the digi out works in standalone mode. Might be handy for taking six direct outs of the SBD and bussing them down to stereo for two channels of my DR2d and running a separate pre for the mics on the other two.

Need to read the manual.