interfaces

[gunslinger]

I just downloaded N-track, I am TOTALLY new to Computer recording, Been using a Yamaha minidisc, for the last few years. Anyway, Can I use a Tascam us-122, or US-224 interface, or can you guys recommend me a decent "cheap" USB/Firewire interface? Thanks for your help.

Also Can I used Drumkit From Hell with N-Track?

[crankz1]

Unfortunately ... you won't find a cheap (under $400 to $500) firewire interface. Well .... possibly on eBay.
I wouldn't recommend a USB interface unless you only plan to do very small numbers of tracks.

Is this a laptop you intend to use?
Detailed specs on the computer you intend to use will be beneficial in helping you.

I don't know much about Drum Kit from Hell, but if it is drum samples accompanied by a VSTi sampler ... then yes you can use it. n-Track supports VSTi's and DXi's. If they are loops ... you would pry have better luck creating the drum track with a wave editor or Acid and then importing the wave file into n-Track.

-Ken

[gunslinger]

I've got a 1.2 gh processor, with 120gig 7200 rpm HD, 256 meg ram.
I only want to record 1-2 tracks at a time, with a total of may 8-12 tracks. nothing major, just stuff for me and some friends to screw around with. I am interested in the USB because pretty soon I will be buying a laptop and want to put the N-track on it as well so it will be portable.

[crankz1]

Here are some options ....
Edirol FA-101
And these

[gunslinger]

Alright I have another question. This may be a stupid question but I'm gonna ask none-the-less.

How come everyone says that the USB interfaces are so bad?, when there's new products showing up all the time, i.e. M-box, Mackie Spike, Lexicon Omega. Are the things not worth buying either?

Anyways, I think I've decided to go ahead and just get a sound card like the M-audio 2496 and a small mixer for now, then when I get used to recording and get a little under my belt then jump up to a larger system. Is that card worth it or do you know of any others I should look into?

Thanks for all the info.

[crankz1]

Half a dozen to one .... six to the other. Some people have good results with USB and some don't. The fact that many people DO have troubles with USB interfaces, is enough for me to not want to take my chances. All in all .... you get what you pay for ... and most USB interfaces are at the lower price scale of the external options.
I think the manufactures of these USB interfaces just blindly jumped on the USB band-wagon, as it is now a common connection on all computers, without having concrete proof that these units would perform to expectations.
It's marketing .... If you build it .... they will come. And they do, because it's a cheap alternative. But then you have the fact of all those unsatisfied customers whom are having troubles. Why put yourself in that position?

-Ken

[mrx]

Originally Posted by crankz1

Half a dozen to one .... six to the other. Some people have good results with USB and some don't. The fact that many people DO have troubles with USB interfaces, is enough for me to not want to take my chances. .
-Ken

Ken's exactly right.

Seems to be a Windows thing - over the years, everything from digital audio to MIDI glitches was blamed on Windows not being a 'music platform'. USB is just one more thing contending for attention from the system - fine for tranfersing pictures from a digital camera, but often unreliable for realtime audio.

I used one of the m-Audio interfaces - well respected, great reviews, etc., and it couldn't even reliably handle one track in Cakewalk. Their tech support guy, while remaining true to his employer, still basically agreed with Ken's post that the stuff is not always as reliable as they'd like.

[JasonSpatola]

But then you have the fact of all those unsatisfied customers whom are having troubles. Why put yourself in that position?

People say the EXACT same thing about n-Track, man.

[crankz1]

Originally Posted by JasonSpatola

People say the EXACT same thing about n-Track, man.

Yeah I suppose that is also true, but you have to wonder exactly what their troubles are and what the cause is.
This holds true with just about any program let alone soundcard ..... just look around .... somewhere somebody is having some kind of problem with just about any of the multitude of options there are out there.
Achieving the perfect DAW setup can often times be hit or miss. The best advice is to research and find someone who has the perfect setup that works for ones same needs and mimic that setup. That in it's self can be a risk, unless you see with your own eyes that this other persons DAW performs without a hitch.

[JasonSpatola]

Originally Posted by crankz1

The best advice is to research and find someone who has the perfect setup that works for ones same needs and mimic that setup.

Or steal it!