Line 6 TonePort?

[PetersReviews]

Have you seen this yet? Line 6 is introducing a USB interface that will have guitar amp software AND mic preamp software. Now I know some of you are tone snobs like me and won't exactly go for this but I think it might be a good tool for the project musician. What do you think? If anything, it looks cool.

 

http://www.line6.com/toneport/

[Dylan Walters]

Cool concept, but damnit, why the hell aren't more manufactures using USB 2.0 instead of 1.1? USB 2.0 has been standard on systems for at least 2 years now, yet, almost all of the new interfaces on the market are still on 1.1 .

[Anderton]

Well if you just have a couple of ins and outs, I guess USB 1.1 can handle it fine. But yeah, USB 2.0 is soooo much better. It's just that a lot of "legacy" machines are still stuck on 1.1, and I assume a company like Line6, making a relatively inexpensive device, don't want to write off that crowd.

[Robman2]

May they survive...

 

I always hope for great new things from them, this does look cool.

 

They did tear off the COSM branch of Roland's tree and ran it into the POD forest, now VOX seems to be the hot piece.

 

I hope this helps them out.

 

Rob

[Dylan Walters]

True, true, Craig. However, AFAIK, USB 2.0 is still backwards compatible with USB 1.1., plus, ad add-on card is only about $15 these days. Even if you are only running stereo the extra bandwidth from USB 2.0 could help with better latency and lower CPU utilization.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I kind of suggested something similar to Line 6 on a warranty card registration questionare ("what products would you like to see from Line 6 in the future?") years ago - IIRC, a while before the rackmount effects modelers were released. I suggested a rackmount unit that modeled classic mic preamps and outboard processors and possibly a 2" tape modeler... Focusrite beat them to the modeled preamps / comps, but I'm really not that surprised to see Line 6 release a product of this type... but IMO, a "Pro" version, with digital I/O for use with a variety of interfaces, would be a more attractive option for some people. Maybe they'll decide to make something like that, but I have not heard any rumors that would indicate they're considering it.

[PetersReviews]

I have high hopes for this unit but since it's the first of it's kind for Line 6, I'm a bit hesitant. I was one of the people who hated the first POD but I like the newer stuff.

I have the feeling that I'd play with the mic preamp sims and then go back to the most simple, clean, direct input into my computer.

I'll definitely be checking this out when it comes out!

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

[timmyo]

Is it definately USB 1.1 ? I couldn't see a specific statement of that . . .

[PetersReviews]

I couldn't find information on that either but I think it's USB 2.0, at least I'm hoping. I've been looking for a good USB interface and this looks pretty good.

Anyone have any other recommendations for a USB interface? I liked the Lexicon Omega because it looks like the only one that records 4 inputs at one time.

 

 

Originally posted by timmyo Is it definately USB 1.1 ? I couldn't see a specific statement of that . . .

 

[timmyo]

If I had the cash I'd get Focusrite Saffire and a Firewire PCI card

[audioguru]

Originally posted by Dylan Walters Cool concept, but damnit, why the hell aren't more manufactures using USB 2.0 instead of 1.1? USB 2.0 has been standard on systems for at least 2 years now, yet, almost all of the new interfaces on the market are still on 1.1 .

 

Actually - USB 2.0 Full Speed isn't much better than 1.1 in terms of *streaming* -- it does perform better in bulk data transfter applications (like using your digital camera, for example).

 

I think it would be more accurate to say that USB 2.0 has been *available* for 2 yrs -- but not necessarily the standard... many computers (at least on the PC side) have been sold in the last 2 yrs with 1.1 USB. And for manufacturers designing products at the lower end of the spectrum, that has to be taken into account: guys who are on a budget may not want to spend $1k to buy a new computer w/ 2.0 (or even another $50-$60 for a USB 2.0 PCI card)... they want to plug & play. USB 1.1 has plenty of bandwidth for streaming 44.1k/48kHz audio -- our little Lexicon Omega does 6 channels of it just fine (4up/2back).

 

Furthermore, there's some issues with USB 2.0 bus data transfer bottlenecks when streaming (just had a discussion with one of our intrepid SW Eng types about this exact issue this morning).

 

It sort of depends on how much you want to spend, what do you need it to do, etc. My feeling is, yeah, 96k is cool and all -- but EVERYTHING in your system needs to be 96k to keep from downsampling (which degrades audio more than just sampling at 44.1k) -- and fer cryin out loud, most ppl are listening to MP3's.

 

From a manufacturer's perspective, everything costs money... which means the user pays for it... so the question comes back to: who's going to buy it, and for how much?

 

Another $0.02 in the jar.

 

TGB

[cynics1207]

This is a uk leading magazine editor reply to me,

 

Hi Ken,

I just reviewed the Saffire unit and it seems very good for the price, particularly the mic preamps, which are based on the Focusrite Green series. If you can't afford RME or one of the other big interfaces, then Saffire seems like a good choice and the included plug-ins are pretty good too other than the guitar amp simulator, which is somewhat rudimentary.

 

And i've just place my order after reading all this review...

 

Saffire Reviews

 

Play - UK Magazine - July 2005

 

"Combining the I/O control in SaffireControl with the kind of pre-amp quality you'd expect from Focusrite, and the awesome tracking and monitoring plugs that require zero CPU from your computer, means it's true - you really can simulate a professional recording session in the comforts of your own bedroom, and all for under