Tapco Link.USB Audio Interface

Tapco, the budget line from Mackie (and the name of Greg Mackie's audio products company before it was give his surname) came back on the scene a couple of years ago introducing affordable audio and recording products, from mixers to monitors and now portable USB audio interfaces. The Link.USB is one of their latest offerings, and after a couple of months of testing, it has found a place in my arsenal of products for audio production.

The Link.USB features a 24-bit/96k recording device that is bus-powered, and even provides phantom power for condenser microphones. Ahhhhh, bus-powered! That's the bomb, folks. When you can carry around a great sounding, affordable recording tool that doesn't require a frickin' wall-wort power supply, plug it into your PowerBook or MacBook Pro and have an instant interface, it's a really good thing.

Even better, when that interface sports two high-quality mic preamps, with XLR and 1/4" combo mic/line/instrument input jacks, balanced 1/4" low-latency monitor outputs, a stereo headphone output (with some actual balls in it) plus separate mix and monitor volume controls, you get a really well designed, highly-functional, great sounding interface.

Now for certain, this is aimed at an entry-level market given its price-point and other features, but what I'm most enthused about using it for is stereo field recording and live stereo concert recording. Its a given that an affordable recording interface with these features is going to be of interest to those starting out or on a budget and needing to get some basic tracks going, but to be able to take this with me for professional field projects is a big plus. Pull out the laptop, plug in the USB connection, fire up your favorite recording software, plug in the mics, set your levels and hit record. It's that simple. When I recall the small rack of stuff I once had to carry around to do those kind of stereo location recordings before, with a DAT recorder, power unit, stereo mic preamp, etc to now do better with what I can put in a backpack, it really amazes me.

Link.USB comes with the Tracktion 2 Music Production Software plus the Dynamics Suite plug-ins and the Final Mix CD Mastering plug-in from Mackie. I wrote a review of Tracktion last year, which you can read here on appleproaudio.com, where I found it to be an excellently thought-out program that was easy to learn, easy to use and full of features.

The Link.USB is housed in a rubber-cheeked case measuring about 2"x8". You can lay it down on the rubber to keep it from sliding around when you're using it, or put and twist out a chrome "swivel foot" that stands it up on its side. Chrome "roll bars" help protect the knobs from breaking off should you drop it or shove something on top of it in your pack.

Link.USB 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
-Mac and PC Compatible (just like my MacBook Pro and Core Duo iMac!)
-Convenient, collapsible swivel-foot for desktop operation
-Includes Mackie Tracktion 2 Software
*Note: 96kHz sample rate support (WDM, uni-directional)

System Requirements
-OS X (10.3 or later)
-Power Mac G3 (600 MHz or faster), G4, or G5 processor
-256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)
-35 MB hard disk space

No drivers are needed for this device with OS X. Now that is truly "plug-n-play," folks. Maybe the fine folks in Woodinvile, WA could let the fellows in Redmond, WA see that in action some time!? The Link.USB even features a Kensington Security Slot to help prevent theft just like you have on your PowerBook or MacBook or iBook.

Size this deal up: Link.USB is a 24/96 recording device which works with any software and also comes with its own multitrack application and requires no additional electrical power connection. That's a hell of a bargain for $140 street price. The software is worth that alone. Actually, the software sells for exaclty that as a stand-alone product, but it comes with a fat bundle of plug-ins. So, you can either buy the Trackton2 software all by itself with the plug-ins, or you can get the exact same software with fewer plug-ins and this lovely, portable and rugid audio interface. Either way, the folks at Tapco have put together a no-lose proposition.

We're not fans of giving everything we get to play with our highest five-star rating, but given that we've already given that to Tracktion2 by itself, and given the wonderful sound, stability, low latency and reliability of this Link.USB, we just don't have any other choice. Five stars it is! So, whether you're just starting out and need a great and very affordable solution to record with, or even if you're a pro needing a wonderful, lightweight but high quality stereo field recording solution to partner with your notebook, the Tapco Link.USB will fill either bill. Good work, Tapco!