HELP!!... Looking to buy an Audio Interface...

[Nav]

No EMU products though...
The best thing under 700 bucks...

I also need to know what would help my current setup also

I have..
RodeK2 microphone W/ Preamp
EMU 1616M (I'm selling this!!!)
and my laptop...
anything else to make my quality better or anything to help my sound?

Thanks in advance.

[cwenger]

Nav,

It's difficult to suggest anything without more information.

What do you intend to do? Are you tracking vocals? drums? synths?

What DAW software are you using?

Do you need eight+ simultaneous ins/outs, or are you doing stereo recording, or multi-tracking yourself?

Do you need future expandability?

Are you working with MIDI, or exclusively recording audio?

Are you syncing to video?

There are myriad solutions to your problem. Help narrow them, please.

Without any other information, I'd suggest the Onyx 400F.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Onyx400F/

It has 4 great preamps, four additional line ins (for your K2 and pre) and will work with any DAW software but PT.

Best,
C

[brianbfw]

As with anything, in that department you pretty much get what you pay for.

My first setup was a PC running sonar using an E-MU sound card using an SM-58. I play classical and flamenco guitar, so it was a basic setup.

although it was just fine for recording ideas, i defitenly didn't have a pro setup.

fast forward 6 years later, and my setup now is Earthworks QTC 1, Mac Intel Pro, Digital Performer, UA-610 Tube Preamp, and the Apogee Symphony System, (rosetta 200 converter and Symphony Soundcard). that alone set me back about 8K, but it's more than worth it. I basically get a pro sound now, my recordings are coming out as good as CD's i have in my collection.

I'm now able to record everything at home for my CD's.

Of course, this is on the high end, you certainly don't need to spend 8K to get a great sound, but there is point where your recording gear and chain will limit the sound you can get.

As the other commentor above said, it's best to get a very clear definition of what you want to do in your studio (ie what instuments you want to record, what type of music), etc and then go from there.

I went down alot of wrong paths, and made some costly mistakes, because i didn't know enough about gear to make the right choices. the sweetwater staff was very helpful

brian
bfwmusic.com

[web01169]

you want an M-Audio firewire 410 or 1418

[wfhscoyotes]

If you think you might need more I/O later on, the MOTU 828mkII has a load of expansion capability. But its a little out of your price range.

I'd go with the M-Audio interfaces mentioned above or the Focusrite Saffire (great preamps).

[Rad]

FW 410 needs a bit of modding (Black Lion audio) to sound good which costs extra 200$. I don't know if it's worth it and not instead buy a more expensive, but better interface w/o modding

[beauty123]

Thank you all for this valuable thread!


__________
Network Performance Monitoring Software (http://www.top-10-business.com/top/5081-network-performance-monitoring-software.html)

[jpleong]

I can *almost* fully recommend the TC Electronic Konnekt 24D. It's TC's first Firewire interface and so is having some teething issues but those are being worked out. I own one and it sounds absolutely fantastic. The preamps are great, the effects are great, and the I/O is fabulous. If you're not in a hurry, wait for the next release of drivers and the Konnekt should be amazing.

Otherwise, I can recommend the Focusrite Sapphire.

JP

[stateman85]

i have the alesis multimix firewire mixer (16 channel) and it has worked great for the year i've had it. i run logic express on my mac and ive had no problems... the only thing is with logic express you can only record 12 tracks simultaneously, but i get around it. but the multimix works great for an audio interface for me.

[mzuela]

I might be a little late in adding my .02, but here goes. I have been using an M-Audio Firewire 410 and know several other people who use them. Each of us have had many successes with them, but also problems. They a bit cheap inside and will eventually start doing weird things. One of the headphone jacks went out on mine very soon after purchase, and I sent it back for repair, and when I got it back it was doing other weird things. Now every time I plug in I have to mute and unmute the main channel in the 410 software before it will send out a signal. And I do have the latest drivers for both the piece and my trusty Mac. I finally said 'enough' and ventured out to find a similar product. I talked to three totally different pro audio people at three different stores and they all said exactly the same thing. MOTU ULTRALITE! I was looking for something small, bus powered, with lots of outs, and they all pointed me to this piece without hesitation. Build is rock solid, and so far drivers are too. I would highly recommend. I also have an Alesis Multimix Firewire 12, and it works really nicely if you want more ins and the ability to have a standalone mixer. However, every now and again the drivers drop the audio signal and I have to restart the device. I would NEVER use it in live performance, except as an analog mixer. However, I have used the Ultralite from my machine in live performance and have had no issues. Hope this helps!