The build quality seems good at first glance. It features a metal casing with an industrial look. The unit feels sturdy. However, the finish leaves something to be desired. For instance, the LED indicators are not evenly placed in their sockets. Some LEDs sit further back than others. Another area of concern is the USB ports. They are somewhat flimsy and don't secure the USB cable very well. On my unit, there are 3 ports with this issue.
The unit is cooled by a fan. When running 3 - 4 USB MIDI controllers, there's no problem. However, when more devices are connected, or if power-hungry units such as phones or computers are involved, the fan starts to run. For live use on stage, it's not an issue, but in a studio setting, it's a different story. Although the fan can be easily replaced with a better one, it shouldn't be necessary.
The unit employs a USB B to USB A connection to link with the computer. With most new computers (let's face it - we all use Macs for live performances) running USB-C/Thunderbolt, this can be rather annoying. Resorting to dongles or unconventional cables is not the most optimal solution.
Despite these issues, the unit is reasonably good for the price. You can't really expect a professional piece of equipment at this cost. Personally, I'm looking to replace my unit with a more reliable one.
