Audio Interface?

[mtown408]

I want to buy a grace design model 101 but I want to know what audio interface I should buy.

Will it matter what interface I buy since Im not going to use it for me to record on just for me to record trough my computer?

I asked this on the other forum but didnt get enough information. What do you guys think

[scrubs]

How many inputs do you need (i.e. do you forsee needing to record more than one or two channels, simultaneously, in the future)? Mac or PC? Laptop or Desktop? What is your pricerange?

[mtown408]

Originally Posted by scrubs

How many inputs do you need (i.e. do you forsee needing to record more than one or two channels, simultaneously, in the future)? Mac or PC? Laptop or Desktop? What is your pricerange?

well i just want to know will it matter what interface i buy since i wont use an interface to record just to record thru my computer since im recording off a grace design

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by mtown408

well i just want to know will it matter what interface i buy since i wont use an interface to record just to record thru my computer since im recording off a grace design

It will not matter as long as that interface has an analog input (line in).

The grace is a mic pre, and it will be used instead of the mic pre on your audio interface, so you'll want to bypass the interface's pre and go right to line level input.

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by mtown408

well i just want to know will it matter what interface i buy since i wont use an interface to record just to record thru my computer since im recording off a grace design

What exactly do you mean when you say you are recording "through the computer?" You're still recording to the hard drive of your computer, right, or am I missing something? It seems that you want to plug the grace into your computer to record, right? Well, in that case, what really matters are the quality of the Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converters in the interface. Better converters = better recording. Crappy converters = you've wasted your money on a decent preamp only to trash the sound (i.e. -- don't buy a soundblaster).

[mtown408]

Originally Posted by scrubs

What exactly do you mean when you say you are recording "through the computer?" You're still recording to the hard drive of your computer, right, or am I missing something? It seems that you want to plug the grace into your computer to record, right? Well, in that case, what really matters are the quality of the Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converters in the interface. Better converters = better recording. Crappy converters = you've wasted your money on a decent preamp only to trash the sound (i.e. -- don't buy a soundblaster).

what interface do you consider my price range is $400 and im using a pc

[scrubs]

If you have a PCI slot, you could probably find a Lynx One card for around $400. Echo makes a 2-input firewire interface called the Audiofire 2 that sells for about $200 and would serve you well. The mackie onyx firewire is probably overkill, but looks neat.

[Mises]

Originally Posted by mtown408

what interface do you consider my price range is $400 and im using a pc

Lynx and the Delta line of interfaces are the two top rated generic (i.e. low cost, for a better way of phrasing that) kind of interfaces. Much better that Soundblaster. They've done thousands of tests (you can find the specs on the Internet) and the Delta and Lynx cards always win out.

Usually the Lynx card is rated slightly better... I was always a little partial to the M-Audio Delta myself because it has straight 1/4 inch balanced inputs/outputs which are more appropriate for professional audio applications, whereas the Lynx interface cards often have all kind of whacky rediculous input connectors like unbalanced RCA connectors and such which are useless crap.

Both models are well within your designated price range.

The AudioFire (made by a company called Echo) is also looking like a fantastic choice for people on a budget. I was only recently made aware of this company Echo, but supposedly, their interfaces sound great, and are a fantastic price.

[dickiefunk]

Lynx or Echo! I've recently bought an Echo Layla 3G and it's awesome! It has stacks of Ins and Outs including ADAT and the A/D D/A converters are superb! The Lynx is more expensive with a lot of less features but Lynx make some of the best cards out there!