M-Audio 410 :) Firewire... :(
- Thread starter JoaoM.
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Do you have an USB2 Port? This will do with any of these http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=USBinterfaces or any other brand usb interfaces.
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
Firewire is preferred for certain- you will get better performance with multi-channel audio than USB2, especially on a Mac.
If you have a PC it is less of a concern particularly if you are just running stereo in and out.
The Firewire 410 is a decent but dated interface.
M-Audio driver support can be patchy also.
I have a Firewire 610 here that I use for location recording and it has been fine, if a little unremarkable.
USB is, as nosuch says, going to be a better option- you could get a firewire card for your laptop but there is no guarantee that it will work.
How is your laptop specced? (brand/model/processor/ram etc)
If you have a PC it is less of a concern particularly if you are just running stereo in and out.
The Firewire 410 is a decent but dated interface.
M-Audio driver support can be patchy also.
I have a Firewire 610 here that I use for location recording and it has been fine, if a little unremarkable.
USB is, as nosuch says, going to be a better option- you could get a firewire card for your laptop but there is no guarantee that it will work.
How is your laptop specced? (brand/model/processor/ram etc)
asus notebook
Windows Vista 32bits
4g ram
pentium dual-duo core t4300 2.10 ghz
I hope you can help me out I'm for a long time trying to decide what should I buy for like 300$ and I can't decide if I go for audio usb interface or a multitrack recorder.
I loved the tascam dp-008 and I was almost buying it until I found it records only 16bit, and Zoom R16 seams great too many inputs for me and a little bit out of my budget. :neutral:
I'm lost...
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
All of these would work within your budget.
Digidesign M Box Mini
TASCAM US-1641
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra
Cakewalk UA-25EX
Focusrite Saffire 6 USB
Digidesign M Box Mini
TASCAM US-1641
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra
Cakewalk UA-25EX
Focusrite Saffire 6 USB
songofthewind
Tele-Meister
If your laptop has an expresscard (or other cardbus) slot, you can buy an Apiotek or other brand FW cardbus adapter. This has two FW sockets and one USB socket, which you can plug your M-Audio interface into. I use one of thes without problems. Make sure you get one with the Texas Instruments chip in it.
That's the problem my laptop on has usb input, and input and external monitor port.
It's very simple in inputs. No slot card input. :neutral:
I don't want to waste to much money but when I try to get 24bit of a multitrack it gets expensive.
If I'm going to give up from the digital multitrack recorder I want to get 300$ for the interface and a good microphone.
Focusrite or Cakewalk + SP B1 or Rode N1a
Which has better preamp and I could get better quality sound?
Ok I could buy an interface with only 1 xlr input but it really as to be with GREAT sounding and it has to fit in my pc specs.
Help this studio noob, please!
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
Why is it a problem to have more inputs?
Just don't use them.
I mostly record stereo in and out (or mono) but my converters do 16 channels- it is useful to have for the times I track analog drums.
The MBox Mini only has on XLR input but you can easily pair another preamp with it- they start from $40 or so.
The quality difference in terms of analog/digital conversion and mic preamps are pretty negligible at this end of the market.
They all sound more or less decent enough- nothing is immediately better sounding than anything else- at least not by any large margin.
I'm not looking down on them or anything- they do the job for the price you pay- but obviously the more you spend the better the converters, the better the preamps.
The thing to be concerned with, the variation that occurs is in the driver support.
Just don't use them.
I mostly record stereo in and out (or mono) but my converters do 16 channels- it is useful to have for the times I track analog drums.
The MBox Mini only has on XLR input but you can easily pair another preamp with it- they start from $40 or so.
The quality difference in terms of analog/digital conversion and mic preamps are pretty negligible at this end of the market.
They all sound more or less decent enough- nothing is immediately better sounding than anything else- at least not by any large margin.
I'm not looking down on them or anything- they do the job for the price you pay- but obviously the more you spend the better the converters, the better the preamps.
The thing to be concerned with, the variation that occurs is in the driver support.
But I pay more for the same specs with more inputs, even more if they are xlr.
I need to get something and I want to be sure that I buy the right thing. :neutral:
Apoge One is good? And does it works on Windows Vista?
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
I gave you a list of units at the $300 price range- they sound pretty much the same regardless of the number of inputs.
The A/D stages in the budget interfaces are relatively cheap for the manufacturers to buy- if they put in 2 converters or 16 it means very little in terms of manufacturing cost.
I've done a lot of testing over the years and trust me you aren't getting any improvement in terms of audio quality when you look at a stereo interface at $300 compared to something like the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra which does 8 channels at once.
The A/D stages are almost (or actually are) identical as are the surrounding electronics.
There are a couple of exceptions to this- the Apogee Duet and One are a big step up but they are Mac only.
To get a big step up in terms of audio clarity you will need to spend above $1000 so I've given you a bunch of options around $300 that will work.
In your situation I'd probably just get the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra or the Mbox Mini.
The Mini i a bit of a bargain as it comes with Protools LE.
I really don't like the Mbox Mini because it only have one xlr input.
I was trying to get for 300$/350$ for the interface and the SP B1.
I really don't know what to do... :neutral:
I saw some videos, fall in love for the Apogee One sound and price, and then... BAM... not for windows user...
It's possible to install Mac OS on my pc (specs)? Because I was going to format it and install windows XP, I could get the Mac OS on it instead. Or it's better for me to leave Mac OS away from my pc?
(PS: I think it's better for me to ask this in other post.)
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octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
I really don't like the Mbox Mini because it only have one xlr input.
I was trying to get for 300$/350$ for the interface and the SP B1.
I really don't know what to do... :neutral:
I saw some videos, fall in love for the Apogee One sound and price, and then... BAM... not for windows user...
It's possible to install Mac OS on my pc (specs)? Because I was going to format it and install windows XP, I could get the Mac OS on it instead. Or it's better for me to leave Mac OS away from my pc?
(PS: I think it's better for me to ask this in other post.)
Why is the Apogee One so much more appealing?
It also has only one mic pre (which is why it is called 'One').
You cannot legally install Mac OS on a PC.
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
Cheap and "great" quality sound and I liked the built in condenser mic.
It isnt that cheap if you have to buy a new computer, if you know what I mean.
I love Apogee converters though- I run a Symphony system here in the studio.
Thats way I was thinking on installing Mac 10.5.7 OS with "alterations" on my pc just for tryout it in other memory partition of my pc for recording music with Apogee.
how on earth could you judge the sound of a converter from looking at internet videos?
octatonic
Poster Extraordinaire
Sorry, Joao, not making light of your dilemma, but Nosuch hit my funny bone with that one. I've asked myself that question a thousand times when reading gear-quest posts. It reminds me of when I was a young man and chose a car from looking at a picture in a magazine.
Here's the deal: Right now you're trying to get started in recording and need some minimal gear to do so. When you're my age, you won't have that gear any more than I have that car in the magazine. You start with what you've got and build from there. Maybe in a year you'll be able get a Mac, but this is now, and you want to get going on some tracks, right?
Jim (octatonic) gave you good advice: At this point, it's not worth stressing over marketing devices like YouTube clips and gear reviews — for all practical purposes, the options on his list are all pretty much the same basic product with a narrow range of differing bells and whistles (like number of inputs and so forth). All you're looking for is a tool to start bringing your music to life, right? Good music on crappy gear sounds better than crappy music on great gear.
Sorry, Joao, not making light of your dilemma, but Nosuch hit my funny bone with that one. I've asked myself that question a thousand times when reading gear-quest posts. It reminds me of when I was a young man and chose a car from looking at a picture in a magazine.
Here's the deal: Right now you're trying to get started in recording and need some minimal gear to do so. When you're my age, you won't have that gear any more than I have that car in the magazine. You start with what you've got and build from there. Maybe in a year you'll be able get a Mac, but this is now, and you want to get going on some tracks, right?
Jim (octatonic) gave you good advice: At this point, it's not worth stressing over marketing devices like YouTube clips and gear reviews — for all practical purposes, the options on his list are all pretty much the same basic product with a narrow range of differing bells and whistles (like number of inputs and so forth). All you're looking for is a tool to start bringing your music to life, right? Good music on crappy gear sounds better than crappy music on great gear.
I understand. Wise man!
Give me just one answer and it will solve all my problems.
Is it important to record 24bit or I'll be just fine with 16bit?
Thanks,
JoaoM.
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