Opinions and Exp. with Audio Interfaces
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Posted on May 01, 2008 10:14 am
ouncesmusic
Member Since: May 01, 2008
so im in the process of building a pc that is really going to be the center and take off of my music production hobbie/career, and from what i understand firewire and/or pci is the way to go, so, i plan on adding more in the future with equipment and would like to do less upgrading (out wit old stuff i might have picked up and in with new), basically i wanted some ideas about audio interfaces combined with mixers for something i can stick with for a while, im talking like where i will be able to charge people to record in my studio, price is not so much an issue, im more concerned on reliablity and professionalism keeping in mind the "home studio" theme, any suggestions? stories? problems? gimmie anything, im all ears, thanks
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 01, 2008 10:25 am I've been tinkering with this for a few years (2000), and I think if I were starting out now, I'd really look at 1 or 2 Motu 8pre.
They have preamps built in, are firewire, and can be added too, as well.
I'm currently using ESP1010 (PCI) with a mixer, and to be honest, I'd rather just go with a direct connection now, instead of using a mixer for preamps. One less item in the chain. I do all my mixing in the PC, so the mixer is just for preamps and monitoring.
Welcome to the HRC.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
May 01, 2008 02:43 pm Part of this answer depends on how many inputs you think you will need.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 04, 2008 06:13 am from my experience dont by a Lexicon Omega whatever you do.
i got a Tascam US1641 its good so far.
has 8 XLR's and and some 1/4 inch jacks.
potentilay 16 inputs.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 04, 2008 06:32 pm Ya, like coolo stated it really depends on how many channels you want to record at once. If your only going to be recording yourself one instrument at a time then a pretty simple interface with a small mixer would work good. Even a small interface with built in pre amps as pjk suggested would be good as it would eliminate the mixer. I do prefer to have a mixer with sub outputs though for heading into the interface when needed but that is maybe not what you will need.
If you are going to be doing big projects were you might need more inputs to record a drum kit then a bigger interface would be needed.
Deon, just a bit of info for you on the Tascam unit. It does indeed have 8 each of the XLR and 1/4" inputs, but only 8 of either in combination can be used at one time for only 8 channels in at once. Youcan however add 2 more channels of digital input with that unit.
But I must agree to stay away from the Lexicon units as they have been problematic for many users here.
I myself and a MOTU and ESI pusher using ESI at the moment but if change or expansion is needed would probably switch to MOTU.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 05, 2008 10:31 pm noize, thats a bit of a bummer, i havent used it for anything else but 2 at a time to date. Im sure there was someone here saying a while back he was doing 10+ at once. dunno.
oh yeah i see what you mean, 8 plus the other 2 digi for 10.
thats cool.
10 should be enough for a good drum mix.
could possibly double up in the same input for overheads or something? toms even?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 05, 2008 10:47 pm You know Deon, I think I may be wrong on that one. Being that it is USB 2.0 it could very well be able to utilize all 16 channels at once.
OK, just checked it out. It will indeed use all 16 at once. Nicely done for Tascam. And the bandwidth is pretty decent on USB 2.0, in fact it is faster then the firewire so that is a bonus right there.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 06, 2008 08:02 am oh sweet as then. yeah i've read the manual and stuff and to be honest i still cant see how its does 16 at once.
on mine i've got;
front panel 1 to 8 xlr,
9 and 10 are 1/4 inch.
On the back there are a further 4x 1/4 inch, 11,12,13 and 14.
then there are another 4x1/4 inch jacks that say 1,2,3,4 balanced line out.
so far that's 14 ins. and saying that have just realized that there is the digi in and midi in. so thats 16 in total, though i was kinda only just counting the mic inputs.
so mics in is 14.
also the 1/4 inch i think would require some pre's before using them for mics as there are no vol. controls n stuff.
i guess i should get off my buttocks and try them out first.
what would you use the "digi in" for instrument wize?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 06, 2008 10:04 pm Deon, the S/PDIF digital input is actually a stereo pair on one connection. So that is 2 more channels for 16 total audio channels in. The midi is strictly midi data so that isn't for audio at all.
As for using the digital input, it can be used for digital decks such as CD or the old school DAT or R-DAT which was an early version of digital tape which lead to the Alesis ADAT type recorders. But S/PDIF will also allow connection of other equipment such as some signal processors that can pass digital in and out.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 06, 2008 10:42 pm ok cool.
yeah i remember the adat also. was only a young tacker when i did some recording at a studio using it. think it may have been one of my first ever recording experiences.
