MAudio Audiosport Quattro 4x4 USB Audio/MIDI Interface

No longer available at zZounds

MAudio Audiosport Quattro 4x4 USB Audio/MIDI Interface, Front and Back

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

Mac and Windows drivers are now available online at the Midiman website.

Overview

Professional 4-in/4-out audio interface with MIDI and USB
Professional USB audio is now a reality with the USB Audiosport Quattro, the ultimate USB audio interface for the individual with professional recording needs. With the Quattro you can now use your laptop, iMac, or any USB-compatible computer to access the world of digital audio. The Quattro couples today's latest technology with pristine A/D/A converters to bring you an indispensable recording tool that is easy to use and delivers the sound quality of systems that cost many times more. Perfect for any application that requires portability and high quality audio, the Quattro delivers the promise of USB audio convenience and performance to computer-based recording.

Features
Multi-track recording and mixing without PCI card installation.

Zero-latency direct monitoring, greatly simplifying the process of recording and overdubbing.

Balanced 1/4 in. TRS connectors to ensure that your signal will always be clear.

Selectable input and output levels support guitar/keyboard/line inputs, and allow for compatibility with all of your equipment, both professional and consumer.

1x1 USB MIDI interface

More professional connectivity than any other USB audio interface, via the Omni I/O (not included).

Need More Connections Add the Omni I/O
If the convenience of USB appeals to you but you need more professional connectivity, simply add the critically acclaimed Omni I/O (given a 10/10 "Ultimate Buy" rating in Computer Music magazine.)… read more With the Omni I/O as its front end, the Quattro gains 2 pristine mic preamps (given Pro Audio Review's highest rating), an additional 8 inputs to its mixing section, 2 headphones sends, an FX send and return, dedicated monitor outs and record outs, auxiliary input record bussing, and more. The result is a truly professional and portable music production system with connectivity rivals larger and more expensive systems. No other USB audio interface on the market has the ability to do so much for your music production.

Specs

Performance
Dynamic Range (Direct Line In to Line Out): 105dB

THD+N (Direct Line In to Line Out): <0.002%

Dynamic Range (Mic In to Line Out): 107dB

THD+N (Mic In to Line Out): <0.002%

System Requirements (Mac)
Native USB compatibility

96kHz Operation OS 9.1 or higher 128 MB RAM

48kHz Operation OS 9.1 or higher 64 MB RAM

System Requirements (PC)
Windows 98SE / Me / 2000 (SP4) / XP (SP1)

For 96kHz operation: Pentium III 500mHz w/ 128MB RAM

For 48kHz operation: Pentium II 400 w/ 128MB RAM

***All MAudio USB products send or receive version 1.0 USB information but can be used with version 2.0, though will not take advantage of the additional 2.0 benefits.

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 401-658-5765

User Manual

Reviews

(81 ratings)

Submitted July 25, 2004 by a customer from lechery.nl

"Rugged design, with powerful sound. But support is not what should be expected."

Overall:

(see rating details)

This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.

A year ago this was the only USB soundcard I was able to buy. It offered everything I wanted to have. And it worked in an instance in my Win98 machine. After upgrading to WinXP Pro, I really wished I had better support from M-audio. But... When I need to upgrade, At first it would be my computer, and not the Quattro...

Sound
The sound is just superb in combination with the correct monitor setup. I own a set of Edirol MA-10A monitors which allow you to really tell the difference between a cheap sound-card (Creative Soundblaster clone) and a more expensive one. The sound the USB-Quattro generates is just Fine! Nice 'n' warm!

Features
The only thing I really miss with this device is a volume slider possibility. The Creative Soundblaster comes with a really expanded set of settings, but the Quattro just has a small control panel with the only option to set which setup you want to use like Frequencies and the amount of In and Out ports to use. But in combination with Nuendo or Cubase this is sufficient. Only to use the correct bit and buffersettings help a lot!!! There are no guidelines for setting up the ASIO settings correctly... therefore... This can be improved!

Quality
I own the Quattro device now for one year. And it still is in "just bought it" fashion (only dust needs to come off it). A rugged device (dropped it a few times). It works under all circumstances!!!

Value… read more
What the product offers (what they tell you on the box and in the store) I really must say... value for money. But for the price I paid, I expect better support (troubleshooters in Windows and more information in the "knowledge base").

Manufacturer Support
The website of M-audio offers you little or no support when you want to set up the device. They offer support for installing the XP drivers... and this works correctly, but only this is not enough. The site tells you to download a "Beta" driver, but this one cannot be found. Then, the ASIO or other setup options are not available on the "knowledge base" and it seems to me that the Quattro is a product they want to support 100%. Maybe they improve this in the future! The manual only offers the most "basic" things you need to know for this device. Also not enough.

The Wow Factor
The design compared with some other USB sound cards is good. My aim was to get a rugged design, ease of connection and nothing more. And that is what I got. The only thing what could be better is also have the MIDI ports on the backpanel in stead of the frontpanel.

Musical Style:
Rock, and techno

12 of 15 people (80%) people found this review helpful. Did you?