On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:04:09 +1000
"Jesse Zola" <jesse.zola(a)gmail.com> wrote:
  On Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 10:28 PM, alex stone
<compose59(a)gmail.com>
 wrote:
  A quick Q. A friend is building up a little linux
box for testing
 apps. (He's putting his toe in the linux waters for the first time.)
 He'd like to use a cheap usb audio unit for sound. Any
 reccomendations, or experiences?
 He did mention he was looking at some sort of Behringer unit.
 I appreciate this is a vague Q, but he's looking for something
 stable, rather than cutting edge.
 Any help or tips would be appreciated.
 Alex. 
 Would it be this?
 
http://www.behringer.com/UCA202/index.cfm?lang=ENG
 I tested it once and it worked with 64 Studio. Seems a bit limited but
 it is cheap.
 You didn't say what your friend wants to record. If he wants to use
 mics he'll need something with pre-amps built in or else a separate
 mixer or pre-amp unit. And for guitar either a DI box or something
 with "Hi-Z" input.
 I guess the next step up and a big jump in price would be something
 like an Edirol UA-25 or Presonus Firebox (firewire). 
I own a UA-25 and it works rather well. The weaknesses so far: not
that much gain at the output. It's only powersource is USB, so this
might be a problem, depending on the machine's USB.
It's rather easy to drive the limiter too hard.
I haven't tested Phantom power or Digital i/o.
I think I read that the newer version (UA-25something) is not supported.
Best regards,
        Philipp