Can anyone recommend an audio device for Garage Band?

Question

For the past three years I used Windows and Cubase LE with my Tascam US-122 for multitrack recording. A month ago, I finally switched to MAC (so good!) and my US-122 worked pretty good with GarageBand, except for a milisecond recording latency issue that I was almost willing to live with. Also, my US-122's headphone jack no longer worked so I decided to try the newer tascam US-144 so I could use head phones and to see if it would cure my latency issue. The headphones are ok, but now I get buzzing and hissing when I play back multi-track recordings in both GB and Cubase LE. This is so annoying I haven't even tested the latency problem. I'm ready to send back my US-144 and get something that is known to work well with the MAC OS and GB and eventually Logic Express. Any recommendations?

Answer 1

I "second" Hangtime's recommendation for a Firewire interface. Generally, Firewire interfaces are more reliable, although they are also usually more expensive. If you are serious about recording, and plan to migrate to Logic, it may be worth it for you to spring for a Firewire interface.
You might want to check out the selection on a major retailer's site like Sweetwater Sound. Their website is www.sweetwater.com, and they have just about everything, so it's a great place to check out what's out there. Their sales reps are also pretty knowledgeable (well, some are), but if you call them, make sure they don't sell you anything you don't want!
Budget is obviously a key factor in making a decision. If what you're after is rock solid performance, I've found RME interfaces (the Fireface 800 or the smaller Fireface 400) absolutely rock solid. Apogee's Ensemble and Duet offer very good sound quality sound for the price, but are still more than twice as much as interfaces offering similar features (but not the sound quality). For interfaces at a lower price point offering great bang for the buck, I like M-Audio and Presonus.