Behringer FCA202 Sound Card
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- Output Mode: Stereo
- Card Interface: FireWire (IEEE 1394)
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Form Factor: External
- Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): 100 dB
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Inexpensive audio interface for basic tasks
Pros
Small and versatile unit
Cons
A little bit difficult to set up in MS Windows
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Its low price and small dimensions make this unit a good deal for the home-recording musician.
In August 2006 I purchased this small audio interface (1.10" x 6.10" x 4.53") to connect my notebook with my mixer.
Until today I am very satisfied with the device. Being a user of Apple's LOGIC I found no trouble in setting up the interface. No installation of any software was necessary (the same applies for Garage Band). In Mac OS X it allows you an easy configuration via the audio application.
Attention PC users: MS Windows requires you to install drivers before you connect the unit to the computer. Unless an ASIO driver is used, the set-up might be tricky, too.
Additionally everybody should consider the following system requirements:
PC
Intel or AMD CPU, 1 GHz or higher
min. 512 MB RAM
6-pin or 4-pin FireWire interface
MS Windows XP SP2
MAC
G4/G5 or Intel Core Duo, 800 MHz or higher
min. 512 MB RAM
6-pin or 4-pin FireWire interface
MAC OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) or higher
The connection via FireWire works flawlessly and supplies the interface with power, too. Therefore the included external power adaptor has not seen much use so far.
Due to the size of the unit (as well as the price), the number of hardware connections is limited. On the front panel you will find a socket for headphones (via 1/4" TRS jack), a level control to adjust the headphone volume as well as two light indicators. The power LED indicates that the equipment is ready to operate. The FW (FireWire) LED lights up as soon as the FCA202 is correctly connected by a FireWire cable to a computer that is in operation.
The rear panel offers two audio (one IN/one OUT), one power and two FireWire connections. Additionally it is equipped with a lock port for a Kensington security lock, which is helpful for travel and performances on stage.
The FireWire sockets are 6-pin types and the fact that the FCA202 offers two is actually helpful in case the computer has only one FireWire socket. This way another device can be connected to the set-up.
In terms of audio connections it offers one balanced/unbalanced OUT and one balanced IN. Both are fitted for 1/4" TRS jack plugs. This sort of limits the number of connectable instruments, even though a mixer (in my case a Behringer UB1622FX-Pro) can solve this problem quickly.
From my point of view this interface serves any home-recording musician (especially if you use a Mac) and the artist on stage who wants to hook up his notebook to other devices. Needless to say, it is not suited for more complex tasks or even professional studio use due to its limited inputs and outputs. But this is not the purpose of it anyway, which allows me to recommend it for the mentioned tasks.
Until today I am very satisfied with the device. Being a user of Apple's LOGIC I found no trouble in setting up the interface. No installation of any software was necessary (the same applies for Garage Band). In Mac OS X it allows you an easy configuration via the audio application.
Attention PC users: MS Windows requires you to install drivers before you connect the unit to the computer. Unless an ASIO driver is used, the set-up might be tricky, too.
Additionally everybody should consider the following system requirements:
PC
Intel or AMD CPU, 1 GHz or higher
min. 512 MB RAM
6-pin or 4-pin FireWire interface
MS Windows XP SP2
MAC
G4/G5 or Intel Core Duo, 800 MHz or higher
min. 512 MB RAM
6-pin or 4-pin FireWire interface
MAC OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) or higher
The connection via FireWire works flawlessly and supplies the interface with power, too. Therefore the included external power adaptor has not seen much use so far.
Due to the size of the unit (as well as the price), the number of hardware connections is limited. On the front panel you will find a socket for headphones (via 1/4" TRS jack), a level control to adjust the headphone volume as well as two light indicators. The power LED indicates that the equipment is ready to operate. The FW (FireWire) LED lights up as soon as the FCA202 is correctly connected by a FireWire cable to a computer that is in operation.
The rear panel offers two audio (one IN/one OUT), one power and two FireWire connections. Additionally it is equipped with a lock port for a Kensington security lock, which is helpful for travel and performances on stage.
The FireWire sockets are 6-pin types and the fact that the FCA202 offers two is actually helpful in case the computer has only one FireWire socket. This way another device can be connected to the set-up.
In terms of audio connections it offers one balanced/unbalanced OUT and one balanced IN. Both are fitted for 1/4" TRS jack plugs. This sort of limits the number of connectable instruments, even though a mixer (in my case a Behringer UB1622FX-Pro) can solve this problem quickly.
From my point of view this interface serves any home-recording musician (especially if you use a Mac) and the artist on stage who wants to hook up his notebook to other devices. Needless to say, it is not suited for more complex tasks or even professional studio use due to its limited inputs and outputs. But this is not the purpose of it anyway, which allows me to recommend it for the mentioned tasks.
