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Sound card / audio interface recommendations
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View this Thread in Original format
| david.michael |
I need an audio interface which meets the following criteria:
- Ability to adequately record vocals via mic. I may be interested in recording guitars/instruments in the future, but only one at a time.
- Ability to use on both my home PC (DAW, for producing) and my notebook PC (for DJing).
- Need to be able to use with Traktor (need to be able to monitor my mixes separately from the main output).
- I do not have any synth hardware, so this is not an issue at the time being as my studio is all software.
- I'd like to keep the price in the lower hundreds if possible. The MOTU Traveller gets me off, but I don't think I can get away with spending over 800 bucks. :)
- I'd prefer Firewire; however, my notebook PC does not have Firewire ports. Are there any down-sides to using a PCMCIA Firewire card and then plugging into that? Or should I look into a USB option? How much "worse" would USB be than Firewire, and would it be noticeable?
- I don't need craploads of inputs... I don't see myself ever needing to record more than one thing at a time. I just want it to sound nice when I do.
Looking for recommendations to do this in the cheapest possible way without sounding like ass. Thanks! :) |
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| Eldritch |
Check out the E-MU USB2.0 interfaces. They're pretty affordable and have very low noise levels.
I have an E-MU 0404 PCI card and I'm really happy with it. |
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| wood0292 |
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
- I do not have any synth hardware, so this is not an issue at the time being as my studio is all software.
- I'd like to keep the price in the lower hundreds if possible. The MOTU Traveller gets me off, but I don't think I can get away with spending over 800 bucks. :)
- I don't need craploads of inputs... I don't see myself ever needing to record more than one thing at a time. I just want it to sound nice when I do.
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I have the Traveller and it definitely rules, however if you aren't using any HW and only need a couple ins/outs it may be overkill. I am a big fan of MOTU and Echo products, and if I were in your situation I would probably go for one of their smaller options.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
- I'd prefer Firewire; however, my notebook PC does not have Firewire ports. Are there any down-sides to using a PCMCIA Firewire card and then plugging into that? Or should I look into a USB option? How much "worse" would USB be than Firewire, and would it be noticeable?
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If you do go Firewire even if you had an onboard port, the companies usually suggest a PCMCIA card that supports OHCI for better performance(a Texas Instruments or VIA chipset). I had to go buy one for my PC and my laptop, but they were only around $20-30 each. I would look into what the companies have to say about using onboard USB, as you may have to go buy a card anyway(and if you prefer firewire then you should go that route). My experience with on-board anything is that most companies will go for the cheap chipsets, and if you are using the ports to interface to an audio device you want it to be solid. |
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| david.michael |
bump
| quote: | | If you do go Firewire even if you had an onboard port, the companies usually suggest a PCMCIA card that supports OHCI for better performance(a Texas Instruments or VIA chipset). |
Please note that as stated above, I need to be able to use this both on my laptop (with no Firewire port) and on my desktop PC. |
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| fr0st |
| Mbox 2pro if you can swing it the converters are rather nice and the preamps sound excellent for the price. |
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| Allied Nations |
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
bump
Please note that as stated above, I need to be able to use this both on my laptop (with no Firewire port) and on my desktop PC. |
Yeah., he just said you need to get a firewire pcmia that supports OHCI for better performance. |
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| echosystm |
USB cards are crap, unless you buy a really expensive one.
Get a firewire card + Presonus Firebox. |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by Allied Nations
Yeah., he just said you need to get a firewire pcmia that supports OHCI for better performance. |
Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking he was referring to getting a PCMCIA sound card, not PCMCIA Firewire card. That makes more sense then.
Thanks for the info, guys. |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by echosystm
USB cards are crap, unless you buy a really expensive one.
Get a firewire card + Presonus Firebox. |
Looks perfect, but...
| quote: | | FIREBOX suggested Retail: $499.95 |
is that what they really go for? Is there a cheaper alternative?
edit- Answering my own questions. Looks like it is more in the 300s range on eBay, that's closer to my budget. :) |
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| Allied Nations |
| No experience with the Firexbox, but have read some very shift reviews online... |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by Allied Nations
No experience with the Firexbox, but have read some very shift reviews online... |
Does "shift" mean bad or good?
/dumb_american |
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| Allied Nations |
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
Does "shift" mean bad or good?
/dumb_american |
I meant shifty... :p |
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