USB interface question.
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Posted on May 28, 2011 06:18 pm
Oudis
Member Since: May 28, 2011
Hello everybody,
First of all I’d like to say hi to everyone here; this is my first posting.
I’m new to home recording. Perhaps in a year (or less if I’m lucky) I’ll have turned a spare room I have into “my studio”, and will need more... sophisticated equipment. However, in the meantime I’d like to buy some very basic home recording equipment.
What I need is an inexpensive USB interface, something I can connect to my PC to make very simple recordings of the songs I’m composing, both to work on them and to practice in order to tackle more complex projects in the future. I plan to record my guitar and my voice, many times (but not always) at the same time; then add very basic percussion (congas, for instance) and maybe a keyboard. I’m thinking of the final product merely as “musical memos”.
I don’t need anything fancy, just an interface that allows me to plug one microphone (either condenser or dynamic) or maybe two at the same time; and later perhaps something else. I’m thinking of something from U$D 75 to U$D 150 (I don’t want to spend much money now since this year I’ll have to invest a lot in my studio).
I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Oudis
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J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
May 28, 2011 10:43 pm Hi Oudis, and welcome to the HRC.
Do you plan to run a keyboard or need midi at all on the interface?
If you don't need midi, take a look at the Line 6 Pod Studio UX1 which is about $150. (formerly known as the toneport series)
www.zzounds.com.../item--LINPSUX1
It is pretty bare bones, but if you only need 1 mic, it might be a good start, and there's several folks around here who have some nice experiences with the UX1/UX2/KB37 interfaces.
There's also the GX which is very very minimalist, but is about $50 less than the UX1. Not sure about outputs on the GX, or if it's just the one guitar (line) input. But the UX1 definitely has 1/4inch outputs.
And of course the line6 stuff comes with the podfarm software for guitar/amp modeling goodness, which sounds like it might be up your alley if you're recording guitar.
The PreSonus Audiobox might be worth checking out. They usually make pretty decent stuff, and it would have midi support as well.
Beyond Line6, the Tascam US122 and 144 MK II's and the US 200 might be worth checking out. All have midi support.
The Roland Tri-Capture and Yamaha Audiogram6 look new, but I haven't heard much about them yet.
And I'd say steer clear of the Lexicon stuff. I've heard too many stories of people having problems with the Lexicon Omegas/Alphas/Lamdas.
Hope that helps!
