If you are going to start recording on your home computer, I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a good audio interface. Not having a good interface is like buying the best Les Paul on the market and then plugging into an old, frayed cable—you can just see trouble brewing.
That’s why I’m going to spend a couple of weeks going over some of the interfaces I like the most. Last week we looked at the portable Pocket POD, which gives you an inexpensive way to begin dialing in your tone; this week we’re continuing with another Line 6 product, the TonePort UX2. The UX2 is specifically designed for recording to a computer. With its USB connection, getting started with the UX2 is literally as easy as plugging it in.
There are a few things to consider when looking at an audio interface. For instance, how many inputs will you need? Will you need mic inputs? What kind of software comes with the hardware? These are all questions you should consider before buying.
It’s almost a certainty that once you start recording your killer riffs, you will want to add some vocals. Whether it’s you singing or a friend, imagine how mad you’ll be when you realize you have no inputs for a mic on your brand new audio interface.
This is one of the reasons I like the UX2. It has two guitar/bass inputs, two XLR mic preamps inputs, two 1/4-inch stereo line inputs, a 1/4- inch stereo monitor input, and two 1/4-inch footswitch jacks for sending MIDI commands to recording programs (start/stop, punch in/out, etc.).
It also has an S/PDIF stereo output, 1/4-inch balanced line outputs with master volume knob, and 1/4-inch headphones output with independent volume knob.
What does all of that mean for you? You have lots of options.
The TonePort UX2 will allow you to lay down a nice rhythm track and then add bass and vocals, all using the same device. This brings us back to the last big consideration for an interface—the included software.
The UX2 comes with Line 6’s GearBox modeling software, which includes 16 guitar and five bass amp/cab models, 29 stompbox and studio effects (up to 10 at once), and six models of high-end studio microphone preamps.
This is where things really start getting fun. Having all of those tones for your guitar just a mouse click away means that you can lay down as many tracks as you want in your recording— giving you a full, rich sound. It also means that you can add effects and preamps to the vocals, all in the same package.
The TonePort UX2 gives a clear, crisp signal to your computer, whether you’re recording an instrument or vocals. With the included software and priced at $199, the TonePort is a good buy that will last you through years of recording.