Comments on: Cakewalk UA-1G USB Audio Interface Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 27 May 2012 00:39:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Aenn http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-144634 Aenn Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:06:24 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-144634 Yes, the RCA connectors are line-in and line-out. To digitise LPs, you have to set the sampling rate to maximum - 96 KHz/24-bit, otherwise LPs will have a dead sound, like CDs. It also works for playing the same, there're some classic LP records floating around the 'net in 96/24 FLAC. Never tested it with a guitar, unfortunately, but the mic/guitar in works fine with any professional dynamic microphone. The minisocket headphone output and microphone in also work as optical S/PDIF in/out. Sound quality is miles above any consumer soundcard. Instrument separation, phase accuracy, it's all there. Very good for software synthesisers or any kind of sound work, obviously. UA-1G really is the best value for money, but unfortunately Roland has already killed the interface. At last check there was one merchant on Amazon selling it. Yes, the RCA connectors are line-in and line-out.

To digitise LPs, you have to set the sampling rate to maximum – 96 KHz/24-bit, otherwise LPs will have a dead sound, like CDs. It also works for playing the same, there’re some classic LP records floating around the ‘net in 96/24 FLAC.

Never tested it with a guitar, unfortunately, but the mic/guitar in works fine with any professional dynamic microphone.

The minisocket headphone output and microphone in also work as optical S/PDIF in/out.

Sound quality is miles above any consumer soundcard. Instrument separation, phase accuracy, it’s all there. Very good for software synthesisers or any kind of sound work, obviously.

UA-1G really is the best value for money, but unfortunately Roland has already killed the interface. At last check there was one merchant on Amazon selling it.

]]> By: KevinW http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-144631 KevinW Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:44:59 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-144631 I'm looking for a solution that will allow my son to record his guitar tracks as well as digitize audio from LP's. I take it the rca jacks are line in? I.e. any turntable with a preamp will work with this external sound card? I’m looking for a solution that will allow my son to record his guitar tracks as well as digitize audio from LP’s. I take it the rca jacks are line in? I.e. any turntable with a preamp will work with this external sound card?

]]> By: Paulo http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-128033 Paulo Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:21:08 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-128033 Hey Frank, I'll buy one direct from you, if you have them still. I live in South Africa and it's really diifcult to buy this sort of gear online (Amazon etc won't sell electronics to us down here, go figure...) Cheers, Paul Hey Frank,
I’ll buy one direct from you, if you have them still. I live in South Africa and it’s really diifcult to buy this sort of gear online (Amazon etc won’t sell electronics to us down here, go figure…)

Cheers,

Paul

]]> By: viocaia http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-127682 viocaia Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:33:36 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-127682 Hey Frank,,I should be interested by one or two interfaces..but I'm in Norway..can you post here? Thanks Hey Frank,,I should be interested by one or two interfaces..but I’m in Norway..can you post here?
Thanks

]]> By: Sidhe Priest http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-127464 Sidhe Priest Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:18:04 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-127464 Frank: a bit of advertising could be done for that. Or a "group sale". Contact me at my website or directly at s-priest - at - portafi.com Frank: a bit of advertising could be done for that. Or a “group sale”. Contact me at my website or directly at s-priest – at – portafi.com

]]> By: Frank Bird http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-127463 Frank Bird Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:52:08 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-127463 Got a bunch of these for sale from the UK, we bough them for a project which didn't come off. Thinking of banging them on Ebay. Would anyone be interested ? Got a bunch of these for sale from the UK, we bough them for a project which didn’t come off. Thinking of banging them on Ebay.

Would anyone be interested ?

]]> By: Vance http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-127160 Vance Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:14:37 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-127160 I would like to know how to connect the the UA-1G to an Amp such as a Marshall MG100HDFX head or a PA. I want to use the Cakewalk software as an effects processor. Can you help me out. Would I run the line out through the FX Return and then the FX Send to the Line in? I am looking gor some in put so I don't blow anything up like my computer or amp I would like to know how to connect the the UA-1G to an Amp such as a Marshall MG100HDFX head or a PA. I want to use the Cakewalk software as an effects processor. Can you help me out. Would I run the line out through the FX Return and then the FX Send to the Line in? I am looking gor some in put so I don’t blow anything up like my computer or amp

]]> By: Sidhe Priest http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-122692 Sidhe Priest Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:20:44 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-122692 Thanks! Thanks!

]]> By: Extreme_Boky http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-121954 Extreme_Boky Sun, 30 Oct 2011 07:40:50 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-121954 there's a screw beneath long plastic strip that covers IN LED, PEAK LED & OUT LED... lift the plastic strip carefully... you'll be able to put it back in no probs...it has “long-lasting” glue applied, so multiple removals are ok. Boky there’s a screw beneath long plastic strip that covers IN LED, PEAK LED & OUT LED… lift the plastic strip carefully… you’ll be able to put it back in no probs…it has “long-lasting” glue applied, so multiple removals are ok.

Boky

]]> By: Sidhe Priest http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-106434 Sidhe Priest Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:07:40 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-106434 Blas: Set the CPU scheduling to "background services" in the system control panel. Both the readme and manual mention this. Once the driver gets more CPU time, most dropouts and latency problems go away. Also check whether there's anything running that's hogging the CPU/file operations (like an antivirus), and don't bother saving to a USB drive, record to the internal hard drive (the readme mentions that too). Basically check for any interference (USB, hard drive, PCI bus, etc.) that can draw resources away from the interface. Blas:

Set the CPU scheduling to “background services” in the system control panel. Both the readme and manual mention this. Once the driver gets more CPU time, most dropouts and latency problems go away. Also check whether there’s anything running that’s hogging the CPU/file operations (like an antivirus), and don’t bother saving to a USB drive, record to the internal hard drive (the readme mentions that too). Basically check for any interference (USB, hard drive, PCI bus, etc.) that can draw resources away from the interface.

]]> By: Sidhe Priest http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-106431 Sidhe Priest Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:25:01 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-106431 Ah, bother, only 48 KHz. Which is nasty. Anyway, this is a great thing just for playing music. A lot cleaner and more detailed/spatial sound than most common soundcard. For a MIDI musician, this is essential too, as it has low latency (real latency range is something like 3-20 msec.) and supports 96 KHz. They have saved on the headphone output, it's not as loud as it could be, but it does drive AKG K-240 Studio. Extreme_Boky: how does one open the thing up? There're no visible screws. Ah, bother, only 48 KHz. Which is nasty.

Anyway, this is a great thing just for playing music. A lot cleaner and more detailed/spatial sound than most common soundcard. For a MIDI musician, this is essential too, as it has low latency (real latency range is something like 3-20 msec.) and supports 96 KHz. They have saved on the headphone output, it’s not as loud as it could be, but it does drive AKG K-240 Studio.

Extreme_Boky: how does one open the thing up? There’re no visible screws.

]]> By: Sidhe Priest http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-105459 Sidhe Priest Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:53:06 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-105459 Question - you can't do live guitar effects at 96 KHz, right? By the specs it looks like the card can only do that at 88 KHz/24-bit max. Question – you can’t do live guitar effects at 96 KHz, right? By the specs it looks like the card can only do that at 88 KHz/24-bit max.

]]> By: blas http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-99014 blas Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:10:15 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-99014 -I found noise and latency unbearable. -Using a dell 1550 (4GBram, 500GBSATA, Win7 64x) -I used it on sonar le and ableton live both in guitar or vocals using a mic, but just couldn`t cause the quality was too low. Any advice? I would appreciate. -I found noise and latency unbearable.
-Using a dell 1550 (4GBram, 500GBSATA, Win7 64x)
-I used it on sonar le and ableton live both in guitar or vocals using a mic, but just couldn`t cause the quality was too low.
Any advice? I would appreciate.

]]> By: Janet Cloninger http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-95758 Janet Cloninger Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:08:34 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-95758 @David Flowers I meant to say this earlier... My husband read and re-read your article for days. Just thought I'd let you know that he bought the Cakewalk as a result of your great article. He was using the Cakewalk just a couple of nights ago. @David Flowers I meant to say this earlier… My husband read and re-read your article for days. Just thought I’d let you know that he bought the Cakewalk as a result of your great article. He was using the Cakewalk just a couple of nights ago.

]]> By: Steven http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-95747 Steven Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:40:36 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-95747 Just a typo, thanks. Not like calling him Tommy repeatedly anyway. Yes, double-M Just a typo, thanks. Not like calling him Tommy repeatedly anyway. Yes, double-M

]]> By: Janet Cloninger http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-95729 Janet Cloninger Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:23:34 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-95729 @Steven It's actually Tony Iommi. @Steven It’s actually Tony Iommi.

]]> By: Steven http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-95720 Steven Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:47:43 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-95720 Sorry. This was a very amateur review. Amateur writing, basic knowledge of the subject at best --- but worst was the totally contrived writing. You called Black Sabbath's guitar player "Tommy Iomi". It "brought you back" and la da da... His name is TONY IOMI. And you were just spewing a poorly woven fictional tale of regaling in the "tones of yore".... I can't believe the comments were other than from your close friends and family trying to boost this artificial nonsense. Average audio interface, average/entry level daw, software. Pretty bad writing. Sorry. This was a very amateur review. Amateur writing, basic knowledge of the subject at best — but worst was the totally contrived writing. You called Black Sabbath’s guitar player “Tommy Iomi”. It “brought you back” and la da da… His name is TONY IOMI. And you were just spewing a poorly woven fictional tale of regaling in the “tones of yore”…. I can’t believe the comments were other than from your close friends and family trying to boost this artificial nonsense. Average audio interface, average/entry level daw, software. Pretty bad writing.

]]> By: brothier http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-89679 brothier Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:50:28 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-89679 Hi, Please can you tell me if the knob volume works only for the input volume or if it works for the output contol volume too. Dan Hi,
Please can you tell me if the knob volume works only for the input volume or if it works for the output contol volume too.

Dan

]]> By: bell http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-87334 bell Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:22:05 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-87334 hi thanks or ur review! im really curious into buying this, but i dont know which is better, this device or the LINE6 POD GX? they both come at same price, and my needs are basically recording heavy and clean guitars + singing + tracks i make at FL studio. any advice? hi thanks or ur review! im really curious into buying this, but i dont know which is better, this device or the LINE6 POD GX? they both come at same price, and my needs are basically recording heavy and clean guitars + singing + tracks i make at FL studio. any advice?

]]> By: Richard Wolfe http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-73350 Richard Wolfe Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:37:42 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-73350 Dear David ,LOved your comments on Audio interface but my problem is that mycomputer XP will not accept UG1.When I use cubase LE and I go to control panel for Sounds, the moment I call up UG1 on audio instead of Realtek I cannot record voice or hear play back.This is most annoying When one has just finished 16 tracks say and are waiting to download audio for mixing.Any Ideas?Thankyou in anticipation .Little wolfe in France. Dear David ,LOved your comments on Audio interface but my problem is that mycomputer XP will not accept UG1.When I use cubase LE and I go to control panel for Sounds, the moment I call up UG1 on audio instead of Realtek I cannot record voice or hear play back.This is most annoying When one has just finished 16 tracks say and are waiting to download audio for mixing.Any Ideas?Thankyou in anticipation .Little wolfe in France.

]]> By: B-Dub http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-59461 B-Dub Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:55:32 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-59461 Looks like that's just analogue, though, not digital as the original question may have pertained to Looks like that’s just analogue, though, not digital as the original question may have pertained to

]]> By: B-Dub http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-59460 B-Dub Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:39:35 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-59460 "...as far I can read in the manual – it can only record OR Playback but not both" I believe this is the case at 96kHz level only. It is full duplex below that and should record and playback. “…as far I can read in the manual – it can only record OR Playback but not both”

I believe this is the case at 96kHz level only. It is full duplex below that and should record and playback.

]]> By: Rolf http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-57769 Rolf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:50:09 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-57769 @ Mike: Digital Send/Receive The UA-1G is a very affordable Entry-Leven Device for Home Studio and as far I can read in the manual - it can only record OR Playback but not both. Many People use it for Recording Instruments at home and others for Audio Playback (with foobar2000 and ASIO for bit-exact audiophile Playback). For 40-50 bucks it better than all the Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB and Creative USB crap. Just sayin :-) regards Rolf @ Mike: Digital Send/Receive

The UA-1G is a very affordable Entry-Leven Device for Home Studio and as far I can read in the manual – it can only record OR Playback but not both.

Many People use it for Recording Instruments at home and others for Audio Playback (with foobar2000 and ASIO for bit-exact audiophile Playback).

For 40-50 bucks it better than all the Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB and Creative USB crap. Just sayin :-)

regards

Rolf

]]> By: Alan http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-57738 Alan Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:55:24 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-57738 This Device has AKM DA & DIR? "A-to-D and D-to-A chip is AK4556 (very high quality device designed for portable audio) DIR is AK4114" Wow. I just ordered it because I search a small USB Audio Interface for my Notebook and alle the Creative & NoName & Cheapo Crap uses low-fi DA from VIA, ESS, Realtek..........AKM is good. Thanks for the review and the comments...very helpful. cheers Alan This Device has AKM DA & DIR?

“A-to-D and D-to-A chip is AK4556 (very high quality device designed for portable audio)
DIR is AK4114″

Wow. I just ordered it because I search a small USB Audio Interface for my Notebook and alle the Creative & NoName & Cheapo Crap uses low-fi DA from VIA, ESS, Realtek……….AKM is good. Thanks for the review and the comments…very helpful.

cheers

Alan

]]> By: Mike http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/comment-page-1/#comment-57682 Mike Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:17:31 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=17356#comment-57682 Can the UA-1G be used as a digital send/receive? I was disappointed that the UA-25 routes the digital input to the digital output. Thoroughly pointless and rendering the UA-25 incapable of use for digital send and receive. So, can you send the UA-1G digital output to a hardware reverb (e.g. Lexicon MX-series) and then record the resulting digital input to the DAW? Can the UA-1G be used as a digital send/receive? I was disappointed that the UA-25 routes the digital input to the digital output. Thoroughly pointless and rendering the UA-25 incapable of use for digital send and receive. So, can you send the UA-1G digital output to a hardware reverb (e.g. Lexicon MX-series) and then record the resulting digital input to the DAW?

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