Cheapest quality-sound interface to record a 3 mic drum setup?
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Posted on Jul 30, 2008 07:50 pm
audio-apprentice
Member Since: Jul 30, 2008
Hey everybody! I am a guitar player/singer who has been researching for weeks now about what interface i want to get for my birthday next week. My budget is $200, and i'm mainly recording guitar and vocal tracks but want the option to record 3 inputs at once for that decent drum sound to add in.
I really like the tascams 122 and 144's and the lexicon omegas interfaces a lot. I just came across the toneport ux2 and became intrigued with all its options. Think I'm going with this.
Newbie question, but these all mostly have 2 inputs, is there a way to use both the XLR inputs and simultaneously record with one of the lines. I read somewhere that someone suggested this. Can this really work?
What interface would you all with experience suggest?
I also have access to my schools recording studio once in awhile, so i might just record drums there when its time for those tracks, so i can buy a better quality interface for my house.
thank you so much for reading!
Matt
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jul 30, 2008 09:06 pm I think it's only 2 input channels on the UX2, so it's 2 xlr, 2 line, or one of each.
If you can work with PCI, then the delta 44 offers 4 line inputs. You'd need 4 preamps, but a small mixer will give you 4 preamps, and let you connect the preamps to your delta inputs. You'd have to make sure you get a mixer capable of doing this, but they're around. A mixer with channel inserts on 4 preamp channels would work.
This may be a bit over the 200$ mark, but not much.
If you're looking for usb connectivity, with over 2 inputs, for under 200$, then you may be looking for awhile. The ebay/used market may be your best bet, as I can't think of anything in that range.
The UX2 may be the ticket, and you'd maybe have to make due with 2 channels. EZdrummer and jamstix can do a pretty decent job of making drum tracks, but they're over 100$ each, so that may be out.
Oh yeah, welcome to the HRC.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 30, 2008 10:11 pm I would highly recommend staying away from the Lexicon stuff. It seems as though they have been plagued with problems as of late. I can think of at least 3 threads here recently with folks having trouble with that.
A couple people here use the Tascam units and they work well. Once you get them installed an running.
For absolute ease of use and a lot of bang for the buck the UX-2 is a great deal. I use one here as well as several other higher input interface, but I fall to the UX time and again. I love the mic pre models and the guitar and bass amp models as well. I have found a lot of uses for it, even though I do use a fully loaded POD xt as well.
If you have access to a place to record drums that might be an excellent start for sure.
Jul 30, 2008 10:34 pm Yeah...welcome to HRC.
Tell us a little bit more about your setup, specifically about the computer that this will be hooked up to. (And the recording software that you will be using.) That makes a bit of difference in terms of what I would recommend.
Although I must also agree that the Toneport is a great unit...
Jul 31, 2008 03:18 pm Hey thanks pjk, noize2u, and guitarjim for the quick responses, and the welcomes, it's nice to know ppl out there are more than willing to help you figure things out.
I am using just a simple toshiba satellite laptop with windows xp 1.6 gHz 504 MB of ram. And for recording, i use cool edit pro2. Like i said, i'm a music business and recording tech major at Millersville Pa who can do the drums at our school studio, its just to get time is a biotch there, so i guess i will go with just 2 inputs to get a quality sound for my guitar and vocals.
I def will stay away from lexicon then, and i think the UX-2 will be great for me, although the only thing that initially held me back from the impulse buy was ppls complaints about the poor quality of its preamps. I know this is one of the main things that affects the quality of sound.
So i'm going now i think for the UX-2, unless anyone knows of an interface in the same price range with far superior, possibly studio-like-sound. I read somewhere that the quality of sound difference is minimal between many of these devices. So with all the extras that the toneport offers a guitar player, i think i'd be foolish to not to pick this one up. If its good enough for Noize2u, i believe it serve me well for many a projects!
Oh yeah, i read that the emu0404 has great sounding pre-amps, does anyone know about them?
thanks again everyone
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jul 31, 2008 03:34 pm The pre-'s in the UX2 are fine and dandy for a $200 interface. Many a good song has been recorded on them.
Jul 31, 2008 04:07 pm Get the KB37 and it's a UX2 with a MIDI controller thrown in for good measure...rockin cool unit.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 01, 2008 08:51 pm The E-mu pre's are no better then any other in that price range. And that said, the thing is a PITA to get installed and the control panel is not very user friendly at all.
As for the mic pre amps on the UX unit. Well the thing is that you have some killer mic pre models in it that to me were more then worth the money. I found them to be astonishing emulations of the real thing. And there are some very high end units modeled in there.
Aug 02, 2008 01:44 am Thanks so much guys...dB Masters i didnt even know of the kb37 untill you mentioned it. Wow, what a bargain, a UX-2 with a midi controller for the same price basically. Since theyre both made by line6 im guessing that everything is the same quality in the kb37 as the ux2 so...With everybodys advice, this is now a nobrainer for me Toneport kb-37 all the way!
I was at drexel universities room d studio half of the day today with my buddy and we took a jam band/hip hop track of Bodega's, and added in some synth hits through a midi controller. Definately a nice option to have.
Peace, Love and Hair-grease everybody
