PC USB interface? Roland UA-30 or Ego U2A

[appsman]

I want to get tracks from my VS-880EX into my PC for editing. It seems that the easiest way would be to get a USB box like the Roland UA-30 or the Ego U2A. I don't want to crack open my PC (I *could* do it, but if I can get going faster for an extra $100 over the price of a PCI card that I have to install, then that's preferred).
So, for a PC with Win98, which is preferred out there. It seems that the
Roland works fine with Mac, but from what I am reading on BBs, it seems iffy for many PCs. I looked at the Edirol site and I DONT have one of the listed OK USB controllers in my PC (I have a Compaq Presario with a 450MHz K2 and some sort of "AVI"??? USB controller). I have not heard of compatibility problems with the Ego U2A, but maybe its only because fewer people are actually buying it, so there is less discussion. Roland has a headphone jack and maybe better software, but if its going to be buggy, then I'd like to know now.

Can anyone shed any light on this decision? Or does anyone have a better way to do what I am trying to do? I really wish that the VS-880EX had a .wav file format. Then this would be easy.

Thanks in advance.

[mfine]

i had a similar situtation a few months ago. i was looking for a USB audio interface for my laptop. initially, i tried the ego U2A but had skipping/stuttering problems which i now attribute to my laptop rather than the U2A.

next, i tried out the Roland UA-100 which i still have. it works fine with my Windows desktop PC system. i was gonna buy the roland UA-30 but it is not ASIO compatible, meaning it won't work with Cubase. if u have Cakewalk or Cool Edit you shouldn't have a problem with the UA-30 or the Ego U2A. another option i looked into was the Tascam US-428- a little pricier but i've heard good things about it. plus, it comes with Cubasis so it's a good deal i think.

[mfine]

whoops, ah right, the roland ED ua-30 and ua-100 won't work if u don't have right the USB controller chip so better to look at the Ego and Tascam.

[appsman]

Yes - I have a Compaq with and AVI USB controller, so I was told no go on the UA-30. So I got the U2A, but now it won't install, apparently because I have Win98 and not Win98SE and the USB audio drivers are not there. Does anyone know if I can get them somewhere and add them?

[mfine]

i would think they would be available on the microsoft site.