Hosa Tracklink gives guitarists one-cable USB recording
Who needs an interface when you've got this?
Thanks to the launch of Hosa's Tracklink, recording your guitar into a computer might just have got a little bit easier. This is a 10-foot cable that has a 1/4-inch mono jack on one end and a USB plug on the other.
That pretty much gives you the 'nutshell' explanation of the product; simplicity could well be the Tracklink's biggest strength. Many guitarists now record through a dedicated audio interface, but this will suit those who would prefer a one-cable solution.
The Tracklink is a plug-and-play USB 2.0 device - no drivers are required on Mac or PC - and should be compatible with pretty much all the major DAW software. The press bumph states that it enables you to record at CD quality, so we're guessing that we're talking 16- rather than 24-bit. An indicator light confirms that the thing has been hooked up correctly and also indicates recording status.
Although the Tracklink will probably be of most interest to guitarists, it can also be used with any instrument that has a 1/4-inch mono output, so bassists and keyboard players might also like to take a look.
The Tracklink has a retail price of around $41, which doesn't sound too bad at all.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.
“Slicker than ever and although some of the improvements are quite nuanced, the incoming Sonarworks SoundID integration and monitoring extras will no doubt be suitably welcomed”: Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 review
“A brilliant piece of kit that’s more than a match for the demands of the modern producer/engineer”: Universal Audio Apollo x4 Gen 2 review