Thomann currently offers the TC-Helicon Go Twin Audio & MIDI Interface for 59 € a ripoff of the well-known IK Multimedia iRig Pro Duo I/O
In 2019 I reported about the new TC-Helicon (MusicTribe) mobile audio interfaces. Interesting, these whole series are bold copies/clones of the well-known IK Multimedia iRig series. The same features, the same design, and even near in the same price range. Not pretty and doesn’t make sense to me. Why should you buy a product that is a copy for the same as the original. There are no new features or improvements.
The plan to sell large quantities of this interface did not work out. Since today Thomann is offering the Go Twin interface which is a copy of the IK Multimedia iRig Pro Duo I/O for just 59€ instead of 129€. If you have no problem with that fact, you can get a solid audio and MIDI interface for little money
TC-Helicon Go Twin
The Go Twin features two audio channel inputs with built-in microphone pre-amplifiers, stereo output on a 6.3 mm jack, headphone input, and a MIDI interface in/out on minijacks. With the dual pre-amp input, you can eighter record instruments or microphones in either mono or stereo. That’s handy. The interface is powered by USB, via an additional DC 5V power plug, or via 2x AA-batteries.
The Go-Twin can be used with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. However, some customers report that it doesn’t work with Android. So no guarantee that it will work. It ships with the matching minijack MIDI cables and all cables for the respective devices including USB to lightning. However, the copy has a tiny advantage. The TC-Helicon version does not use a proprietary connector but just a classic USB cable.
The large software bundle with virtual instruments (SampleTank 4 SE…), effects (AmpliTube 4, mic room…), mixing & mastering plugins (Brickwall Limiter, Opto Compressor…) remains exclusive for the original.
For the current price of 59 € (regular 129€), you get a solid 2 channel audio and MIDI interface. If you are looking for a cheap audio interface, have no problems with original vs clone, this could be a good deal.
More information here: TC-Helicon
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So, is this what the “SuperPartner Relationship” between Hans Thomann and Uli “The Copycat” Behringer is all about? Flooding the market with cheapo clones?
https://www.thomann.de/blog/en/thomann-music-tribe-partnership/
Not impressed, rather gutted…
don’t know but probably they have an overstock of these interfaces
does anyone has it? seems reviews on thomann are mixed at the best
While I’m sometimes weary of Behringer, TC-Helicon is an old company with long pedigree matching or surpassing IK. Yeah, this is definitely very similar to the iRig Duo, but I’m not going to draw any wide conclusions about the company as a whole. They’re often industry leaders in niche function pedals and effects units. Their vocal multi-effects pedals define their own market, for instance. I’ll give them the odd product to borrow.