Edirol UA-25

dead easy to use if you have any technical know how.

there is a comprehensive manual if you dont know what some of the features are - phantom power on xlr's - hardware setting sample rates etc.

i cant fault the sound. i expected it to be worse than similar m-audio products which i love. i also expected problems becasue its usb.. but it has really stood up to all my demands without faulter.

i have an intel motherboard with USB2 ports built in it.

ive used standard mics with xlr cables to record guitar amps like sm-57's, ive also used phantom powered mics.

one thing i did notice was that with phantom powered mics that the 'sens' knob was inoperable whilst phantom power was enabled - i presume this is normal operation.

the limiter on the inputs is really nice - i have been unable to make them distort which is a good thing.

the hi-z feature is only on one of the inputs - would have been nice to have it on both inputs, hi-Z option enables you to plug your guitar directly into your daw and apps like guitar rig/amplitube - with my experience of it - it sounds great.

i have not used the digital in/out

the direct monitor switch works well to compare what live input signal is being sent to your daw and the processed signal being sent back from your daw.

the headphone preamp works well. volume knob on the front.

the only thing i can fault is the fact that the headphone volume is controlled by the same knob that contols the volume of the other outputs (rca / quarter inch). which can be annoying in certain setups.

i would gig on it. i even take my laptop to recording sessions - plug 2 xlr mics in and record straight into ableton live.

i have had it for at least 18 months without an issue.

never needed to contact them.

i highly recommend it for a good allround simple external soundcard.

i would buy another one if it was stolen.

the only thing that bugs me slightly is that i cant use protools with it. so if you want to use protools you better look at something from digi or m-audio.

Once you install the drivers, read the manual and fool around with the settings, it work quite well.

This unit sounds very clear and monitoring is crystal clear as well. I also have a Tascam DP01 and my near feild monitors buzz like crazy through the Tascam ( no ballanced outputs). The Edirol has ballanced outputs which keaps the signal clean.
Haven't tried vocals through this but I have micked acoustic guitars and the sound quality was equally clean.

Never had a problem with it. Don't spill beer on it and it should last a long time.

Never had to deal with them.

I play mostly rock, fusion and blues and some acoustic stuff as well. Been playing for, man like 30 years now. It does the job it was designed for, easy to use and good sound quality.
If it were stolen I don't think that I would buy the same one. Now I play drums and some keyboards, so I would need more than 2 inputs.

Like I said , easy to use and sound quality is very good.

Easy as pie to use. Plug in and record.

If you want to use ASIO, download the drivers separately. No prob, though. Stable, too.

Gain knob is a bit sensitive near the top. It's increasing slowly as you turn it up then WHAM huge gain. All the USB capture devices seem to do this. I think it's just because the pot is linear and we hear on the log scale

I've tried it on my laptop and my desktop, and on both there was a crazy high-pitched whine, probably due to the 48V phantom capacitor charging. It transfers to the audio tracks. I think my computer has not got enough power on the USB port to run it properly, or I got a broken one. Some other people have had this happen to them. There's also this low squealing on the track, like tires on smooth pavement. This is a bit quieter.

I will never get something USB powered for sensitive audio applications again. My UA-5 is MUCH quieter (same thing only has an external power supply).

I like the limiter. It's not a compressor, just rolls off the loud response smoothly to avoid distortion. Still adds harmonics!

These things are pretty dang durable. I've stepped on my UA-5 and the 25 is more solid than that. I don't think I'd take it gigging with me, but maybe.

didn't need to

Good for capture if you think your USB bus has the nutz required. Mine is too noisey.