Hi
I am really confused over audio interfaces; although i've been reading a lot on the internet and back issues of SOS.

What I want to do is to be able to use 2 phantom powered condenser mics for recording vox and acoustic guitars (say) simultaneously with stereo (preferably) line input (electric guitar)-I'd need midi too (for Absynth).

Most of the reviews and user manuals don't make it very clear;suggesting (to me, at least) that you can have phantom power or not-ie. you can't have them simultaneously.

I've spent most of this year (thinking and) selling off my old gear with a view to buying a new PC for music; current one is over 8 years and I used M-audio 2496 SONAR 2.2xl and various old stuff including fostex x28h....it's time for me to progress but I'm confused!!

As I have not chosen a pc yet I'm less fixated on USB or Firewire-not that I know the difference either.

Any help will be much appreciated

Thanks

Daf

You're asking for a 4-channel audio interface. Boxes are certainly available with both (phantom-powered) mic and line inputs, but at the cheaper end of the market it's not always easy to tell if 4 channels, or just 2 with a choice of inputs are being offered!

My preference is for a simple interface with line in/outs and MIDI, plus an external mixer to take care of microphones, levels and monitoring. If your computer HAS a spare pci slot, it seems silly not to use it, though Firewire works well and USB seems a lot better than it used to be.

All-in-one solutions exist. I'll leave it to people who use them to recommend a nice one with 4 channels and 2 mic preamps.

Morning Daf,
I am not sure if it is just yourself playing and singing or whether more than one person at a time?

If the former then 2 tracks/inputs is all you can use, sing and play? Yes you might like some extra ins for "ambience" mics but I don't think so at this stage!

It is convienient of course to have everything plugged up and ready to go but as EW alluded to, a small mixer can sort that for you. If you really still want 4 in 4 out and still have the 2496 why not get another one(assuming a spare slot)? Or, if you want M'track go APE**** like I did and go for the ESP1010e from Thomans at 135quid!

Dave.

Hi again,

Mostly it will be just me. And mostly it would be me playing ac gtr and singing. Occasionally too just single acoustic instruments (flute, welsh bagpipe) so 2 in would be okay if that was always going to be the case.

But I had it in mind that I'd want to keep my V-Amp and have stereo in from that and sing at the same time. And it's at that point that I get confused about what I can do and whether a single audio interface can run the phantom power for my rode mics as well as the stereo from the V-amp...Maybe I should get rid of the V amp? I dont want to buy more software guitar stuff as I think I have the sound I want. What do you think? Likewise I've got an old sampler that I'd be happy to run into the interface whilst may be recording direct from condenser mics.

Somewhere down the line the rest of the family will want to join in so I may well need more than the two.

I;ve been slimming down my system and getting ready of unnecessary baggage-aiming for a simpler but professional set-up (more professional at least than my current set-up); I'm reluctant to get a separate mixer(cramped bedroom studio) to feed the audiophile and imagined that there'd be many in my boat and that more than two ins with simultaneous condenser/line ins would be pretty normal.

Any other help or more specific reccomendations will be muchho appreciated-thanks

Daf

Quote blastedheath:

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Hi again,

Mostly it will be just me. And mostly it would be me playing ac gtr and singing. Occasionally too just single acoustic instruments (flute, welsh bagpipe) so 2 in would be okay if that was always going to be the case.

But I had it in mind that I'd want to keep my V-Amp and have stereo in from that and sing at the same time. And it's at that point that I get confused about what I can do and whether a single audio interface can run the phantom power for my rode mics as well as the stereo from the V-amp...Maybe I should get rid of the V amp? I dont want to buy more software guitar stuff as I think I have the sound I want. What do you think? Likewise I've got an old sampler that I'd be happy to run into the interface whilst may be recording direct from condenser mics.

Somewhere down the line the rest of the family will want to join in so I may well need more than the two.

I;ve been slimming down my system and getting ready of unnecessary baggage-aiming for a simpler but professional set-up (more professional at least than my current set-up); I'm reluctant to get a separate mixer(cramped bedroom studio) to feed the audiophile and imagined that there'd be many in my boat and that more than two ins with simultaneous condenser/line ins would be pretty normal.

Any other help or more specific reccomendations will be muchho appreciated-thanks

Daf

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Look at THIS.

Thanks Dave & EW,

The Fireface is goin to be beyond my purchase for sure...I really meant professional in comparison to my low budget set-up of recent years.

Dave, i'd not seen that one and will look over the reviews etc., How have you found it?

daf

Hi Daf,
Yes I would like that RME setup as well!

The 1010e? Fine, the mic input regime is a little weird as too are the high Z inputs but no real problem.

I was thinking about one weeks ago because I needed at least 4in 4 out on a PCIe card. At one point I was going for the ESI card alone and use a mixer and other outboard kit but this unit came up at such a low price I decided to give it a do!
I was comforted by the fact that under the Distance Trading Regs' I could try it out and if I had any glitches at all, bounce it back. Needless to say it all went in pretty smoothly. I am now well into building a 12 way breakout box for it because I do not have any desktop space for the unit, one reason I did not go for it originally.

There is an SoS review of the pci version, pretty much the same I think.

Dave.

Are you on a PC or a MAC ? and do you have PCI or are you considering USB or Firewire. For PCI on a budget my M-Audio Delta 66 with an Omni front end has been fantastic (gonna sell it when the mac shows up, see adds)

The Focusrite range look great and good value to

Edited by DAGGILARR (26/09/10 09:30 AM)

Hi

I've got a PC which (8yrs on) is due for an upgrade to another PC (but one specifically for music, I hope...). So, as I am trying to work out what might work for me I havent yet considered whether I'll go for usb or firewire.

I am wondeirng if I could use the dynamic mics that I currently have on eg Saffire Pro 14 to record say voice and electric guitar (this would not be amped-up but plugged straight in)? Would there be enough gain to turn up for my vocals (or say a flute) without introducing too much or any noise?

I used my SM57 and SM58 on my old 4 track and that was excellent sound quality and there was bags of gain and not too much hiss (as I remember). I've got a couple of Behringer Mic100s too-I really was hoping to simplify and 'professionalise' what Im doing butwould I be better possibly using those to boost the signal from the Shure mics int the AI?

It's at this point you can see-I am confused!

What do you think?

Daf

I guess one thing at a time is the approach, consider what you want from the PC if it has PCI slots you have a third option to add to USB/FIREWIRE, next is the interface so good preamps are the primary factor and the right amounts of ins and outs for what you want to do, the mics you have will either cut or not but if you have the right interface and a useful amount of processing power you can decide on the mics later.

--------------------
Strictly an amateur with some nice toys,

"I used my SM57 and SM58 on my old 4 track"

^How exactly? Did the "old 4track" have low Z balanced inputs? As for the Behringer Mic 100's...well I won't condemn them out of hand and ear but realistically they have to be ***t?

If you are looking for AI's with really good pre amps the Focusrite range seem to be well thought of and TC Electronics to boot. Re the flute. I bet you an XLR cable Hugh and Laur...SORRY! Paul, have done a "piece" on recording this instrument. My bet would be a reccomendation for a LD Capacitor. The ubiquitous SM's are ok for what they are but get an LDC (and some wee'er cap mics) and your mic pre noise problems are largely over. And....use 24 bits and don't record TO HOT!

Dave.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for that, very useful. I dont know what the 4 track inputs were but the sm57/58 did sound fine straight into it....they sounded very weak when I put them into a Fostex VF80ex (since got rid of) which was why I bought (initially the behringer mic100s) and then some condenser mics.

The behringer's got a fair review in an old SOS but I'd hope that the Focusrite preamps would be hugely better.

Thanks again for the answers it's helped me clarify what I am going to be doing (spending).

daf

There are many decent audio interfaces that can be had fairly cheaply these days.

I personally like the Focusrite interfaces but there are also good options from M-Audio and Presonus.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 14

http://www.focusrite.com/uk/products/audio_interfaces/saffire_pro_14
M-Audio ProFire 610

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html

Presonus Firestudio Mobile

http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=58

Either of these would be an excellent option for you and are capable of excellent recordings!!