Tascam US-16x08 Rackmount USB Audio/MIDI Interface for Recording, Drum Recording, 8 XLR/8 1/4" Inputs, 8 Outputs, Control Software,Black

I bought this five years ago so it has held up very well. If you're just starting out and don't know anything about audio interfaces and DAWs you might feel overwhelmed at first as I did, but it didn't take long to get running using the basic features. I'm currently using it with Windows 10 on an older HP laptop with an Intel Core I7 dual core processor and 8 gb of RAM for tracking, and an older desktop PC with a Intel Core I7 quad core processor and 16 gb of ram for mixing and mastering and it works fine with no issues. The connections are pretty convenient with 8 XLR and 2 line/instrument inputs on the front as well as a headphone output. There are 6 more line inputs on the back and 8 line outs. Also it has midi in/out which I haven't used so I can't comment on that. So this unit provides a total of 16 inputs and 8 line outputs. Two of the line outputs are dedicated as the main left & right output to powered monitor speakers. There is a volume control for those on the front which is very convenient. That leaves 6 outputs that can be used as needed. Depending on your DAW that gives you a lot of options to run some outboard gear, create submixes for monitoring or whatever. It did take me some time to figure out how to apply some of the I/O features and your results may vary depending on your DAW setup but if you have some home recording experience you'll probably be fine. The knobs feel pretty solid despite being plastic. They should be fine if you don't knock this around. Rack ears are provided if you want to use a rack mount. I have mine in a rack case with a patch bay so all the Tascam's back panel connections can be accessed from the front of the rack. Highly recommended.I have not tried these last two features but the manual says it is capable of running as a 16 channel mixer using the Tascam US 16x08 Settings Panel application on your pc as well as a stand alone 8 channel mic preamp when not connected to a computer.What I don't like about this is the gain controls for channels 1-10 on the front panel are a bit small and placed close together so you have to be careful when adjusting levels to make sure you don't accidentally move one of the adjacent knobs. Not a huge issue if you don't have fat fingers like me.Anyhow bottom line is this is a great interface for a good price.

Today is September 3, 2020I have been running 2 Presonus Firestudio Project sound interfaces daisy chained together since c. 2013. I was using stock HP's bought from their website. The last one I bought was in 2014. It was time to upgrade.I got a new WIN 10 Solid State PC for recording my music in August 2020 and installed my "system" on it. The drivers on the presonus' starting glitching badly a few weeks after use - I was using driver version 1.7.1. That is an old driver. So I updated the drivers (following all the proper uninstall procedures - deleted folders and ran C Cleaner) and used the newest driver 1.7.6. Works but glitches. Then I spent a day freaking out and installing every version of Universal Control, until I realized it was time for a new sound interface. The Firestudio Project has been discontinued for five years now.I read several customer reviews before purchasing anything on amazon. A couple of reviews had me a bit worried at first regarding WIN 10, but I went ahead and bought the thing. It is $270 right now and is the only affordable interface with 16 inputs.(I also bought 8 JOLGOO XLR male to TRS female to use my existing recording snake cable, fyi.) Another $60.**TECHNICAL NOTE: This interface is replacing 2 Presonus Firestudio Project interfaces that are connected to a 48 channel mixer with 8 subgroups. (Subgroup 1 - 8 are connected directly to channels 1 - 8 on interface 1, and direct outs are connected from the drum mics to interface 2. The outputs from interface 1 were returned to channels 41 - 48 on the mixer for monitoring purposes. Interface 2 had no outputs connected to the mixer. )After installing the software and rebooting, the interface synched up correctly, plays all my audio files, runs correctly in Sonar X2 and the MIDI is faster than ever. I going to have a beer to celebrate. Oh yea, since I am running subgroup level (+4dbu) into microphone level inputs, I have to turn down the mixer subgroup faders down - 6 db. And, the routing on the 16x08 is a bit different than the Firestudio, but any engineer can figure it out easy.NOTE 2: A reviewer on sweetwaters site had mentioned that the crispiness on the top end was lacking. Maybe it's due to the Blackfin audio DSP processor in the interface. That is a 32 bit processor! Bypass it by clicking on 'true mixer bypass' (its in the newest drivers I guess, 'cause it isn't shown in the ref manual.)This information is honest, and I was not incentivized to say this. Writing this took a hot minute. This is to aid other audio engineers.If, in the future the interface behaves in a manner that is contrary to this review I will write another review.Have a great day.