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Powerful Audio Interface for a Reasonable Price
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| phantom limb |
Hey Fellow TAs,
I am currently in the process to purchase an audio interface for a reasonable price and I would greatly appreciate your expertise/experience in this matter. I hope to use it in my home studio to record guitar and vocals. Please feel free to inform me if something I'm looking for is a good or bad idea. Here are my guidelines for an interface:
1. Must use a USB link (don't have firewire ports)
2. Must handle audio at 24-bits
4. Must have mic inputs and 1/4-inch inputs (for guitar)
3. Must have pre-amp capabilities that work well and phantom power (I haven't purchased a mic yet, but I hear that condenser mics are some of the best and they require phantom power)
4. Would be nice if I could use the interface as a substitute for my soundcard (although with USB, I understand there will be lousy latency issues)
I have looked into Native Instrument's Audio Kontrol 1, which looks pretty solid, but appears to have a lot of driver problems according to their forums. Plus, it is slightly pricey at 300 (USD). I also checked out M-Audio's Fast Track Pro, which seems to have everything I need, but does it come with phantom power? It says in its description on their website, but not in the specifications. Anyone have any experience with it? I also hear that its pre-amps are weak.
I look forward to your comments. Thank you for your time, everyone.
P.S. Any mic recommendations would be appreciated as well... |
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| phantom limb |
| No responses? Not even from some of you, who love to share your two-cents? It deeply saddens me... |
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| echosystm |
I would advise against the Mboxes. They are really not very high quality for the price.
budget microphones are an easy choise: Rode NT1a or Studio Projects B1. They're both decent general use condensors.
I would strongly suggest you avoid USB to be honest. There are very few budget interfaces that use USB, which aren't crap quality. If there is any chance you can put a firewire adapter in your computer, you will get much better products. If not, I think the Edirol UA-101 and EMU-0404 are "OK", but you would certainly be better off with an Echo/Presonus firewire card. |
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| Eldritch |
Echo Audiofire 4. Great card with good pre-amps for a small price. It's a firewire interface though.
Limiting yourself to inferior audio interfaces just because you have no firewire ports is kind of dumb, no offense.
Just get a firewire PCI card (or PCMCIA card, if you have a laptop). It's worth it. |
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| alanzo |
How come it has to have USB? Why not a PCI card? Do you use a laptop or are just afraid to open up the case?
I've been using the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 for 5 years now... perfect for a simple setup. |
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| phantom limb |
| quote: | Originally posted by alanzo
How come it has to have USB? Why not a PCI card? Do you use a laptop or are just afraid to open up the case?
I've been using the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 for 5 years now... perfect for a simple setup. |
Sadly, I am working off a laptop. The Audiophile would have been a better and cheaper choice if I had a desktop. |
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| phantom limb |
| quote: | Originally posted by Watts
I have only used the Mbox and it seems to be alright. I can't find my version online so here's the newest one:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--DGDMB2 |
I believe echosystm has a point... |
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| phantom limb |
| quote: | Originally posted by echosystm
I would advise against the Mboxes. They are really not very high quality for the price.
budget microphones are an easy choise: Rode NT1a or Studio Projects B1. They're both decent general use condensors.
I would strongly suggest you avoid USB to be honest. There are very few budget interfaces that use USB, which aren't crap quality. If there is any chance you can put a firewire adapter in your computer, you will get much better products. If not, I think the Edirol UA-101 and EMU-0404 are "OK", but you would certainly be better off with an Echo/Presonus firewire card. |
Thank you, echosystm! I appreciate the wealth of information you have shared. You are the man now dog! ;-) |
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| phantom limb |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eldritch
Echo Audiofire 4. Great card with good pre-amps for a small price. It's a firewire interface though.
Limiting yourself to inferior audio interfaces just because you have no firewire ports is kind of dumb, no offense.
Just get a firewire PCI card (or PCMCIA card, if you have a laptop). It's worth it. |
This I will definitely consider. I am going to need to work through a big pros-and-cons list to make sure that firewire would be worth the costs. Also, it has me considering to purchase a cheap desktop and just turning it into a music production workhorse. This would resolve a lot of my problems. Thanks for the help. |
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| phantom limb |
| quote: | Originally posted by palm
Echo audiofire. |
It appears the feeling is almost unanimous about an echo audiofire. I will probably get a firewire laptop card. Is there a really good one out there? I am not sure if some I find during a google search will be the most reasonable. Thanks for the help. |
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| echosystm |
| quote: | Originally posted by phantom limb
I will probably get a firewire laptop card. Is there a really good one out there? |
If youre going to buy a firewire controller, you might as well get one with a Texas Instruments chipset. History has shown these are the most reliable.
http://www.siig.com/ViewProductList.aspx?catid=244
Most SIIG cards come with a TI chipset, but you better double check before you buy. :)
Also, make sure you get the right type of card: older laptops use PCMCIA, newer laptops use Express Card. |
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