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Taking this thread into a slightly different direction, I think it would be most wonderful if they next wave of laptop computers came with a touch screen - and that audio applications became touch-screen smart - so that interfaces are again something you can manipulate on the fly, and without a mouse. Are there any developers here who can tell us about the state of this kind of development? David Kirkdorffer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rainer Thelonius Balthasar Straschill" <rs@moinlabs.de> To: "Looper's Delight Mailing List" <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 11:57 AM Subject: quest for an audio interface for laptop music applications I've decided to go laptop. At least to compile one setup that is entirely laptop. Now I need an USB audio interface - my Phase26 wouldn't do here. I'm looking for a laptop-based system with maximum portability. My requriements: Hard requirements: (1) at least one phantom-powered mic in and one Hi-Z in or two phantom-powered mic ins (2) two analogue 1/4 or XLR outs (3) headphone out (4) USB Would-be-nice: (5) a pair of SPDI/F connectors (6) a MIDI pair (7) possibility to create an effect send/return (8) no wallwart necessary (9) bus-powered (A) symmetrical outs (B) USB2 (C) ADAT connectors (D) 24/96 I've come up with a few devices: M-Audio Fast Track Pro Edirol UA-25 Mackie Spike Lexicon Omega Alesis IO/2 Tascam US-122 Behringer BCA2000 The requirements tracking matrix looks like this: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D Price M-Audio Fast Track Pro X X X X X X X X X X X 229 Edirol UA-25 X X X X X X X X X X X 225 Mackie Spike X X X X X X X X 229 Lexicon Omega X X X X X X X 278 Alesis IO/2 X X X X X X X X X X X 159 Tascam US-122 X X X X X X X 208 Behringer BCA2000 X X X X X X X X X X X 195 Ok, so what is the conclusion? The price is a standard in the 200-230ˆ range - the only exceptions being the Alesis and the Lexicon. The Behringer does win the flexibility price, with its lots of outputs, its 1in-2out-MIDI interface and its ADAT connector. Plus it's the only device with USB2, hence it can transmit in 24/96 both ways (if that's what you need). And it's the only device where you could create an external effects send/return (e.g. to put your favourite outboard/stompbox stuff into the setup). And it's cheaper than all competitors safe for the Alesis. The Alesis on the other hand is the cheapest, and that without standing behind the Edirol/M-Audio/Tascam competitors that much. Finally, the Lexicon looks the most "professional", with the most powerful included mixer and micpres that at least have a fairly "pro" (sic!) name. But you can't power it via the bus AND it uses a wallwart... So, I'm as wise as before. Any suggestions? Any experiences with the three devices I mentioned in the last paragraph? Any words on the other devices (Edirol, Tascam, Mackie, M-Audio) that should make me reconsider? Any other products I didn't even think about? Thanks, Rainer