USB Audio Interface

[phriq]

Hey Everyone,

I am looking to get an Audio Interface. I have been using Cool Edit Pro as my DAW now for about 6 years and am quite accustomed to it. However, I have thought about upgrading to Pro Tools LE (for windows). Does anyone know if there is any small Interface (between 150 and 300 dollars) that supports both Cool Edit and Pro Tools LE?

If not, for a small acoustic artist that wants to record at most 4 tracks, should I stick with Cool Edit or should I try to teach myself Pro Tools? From what I have been told, different DAW's will not change sound that much, just how you interact with it (is this correct?). I am fairly proficient as to working with Cool Edit, and have only used Pro Tools LE for a total of maybe 5 hours and am NOT very familiar with it at all... is it worth learning a whole new DAW?

Please also if you know any good interfaces for that price range for both DAW's I would appreciate it greatly!

Thanks!

-Chris

[TeyshaBlue]

The Yamaha MW10C is a pretty nice little interface. The price is in your range as well. I had an earlier generation of this little mixer/interface and it worked great.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ion?sku=637172


The Tascam US 122L is a player as well at half the price of the Yammie.

Good luck.

[SonicAlbert]

If you want to use PT LE you need to buy either a Digidesign interface or an M-Audio interface that works with PT LE. Neither of the interfaces mentioned by the previous poster will work with ProTools LE.

A Digidesign interface will work with both PT LE and other DAW software. However, interfaces other than Digi and some M-Audio will not work with PT LE.

So a Digi Mbox Mini, or a used Mbox would be your most likely options if you are set on using ProTools.

As far as other USB interfaces for Cool Edit or other DAW's. The USB interface that I own (in addition to my firewire interfaces) is the Tascam US-144. It's available for around $150 or a little less, and I've found it to be reliable and to sound good.

[TeyshaBlue]

Originally Posted by SonicAlbert

If you want to use PT LE you need to buy either a Digidesign interface or an M-Audio interface that works with PT LE. Neither of the interfaces mentioned by the previous poster will work with ProTools LE.

A Digidesign interface will work with both PT LE and other DAW software. However, interfaces other than Digi and some M-Audio will not work with PT LE.

So a Digi Mbox Mini, or a used Mbox would be your most likely options if you are set on using ProTools.

As far as other USB interfaces for Cool Edit or other DAW's. The USB interface that I own (in addition to my firewire interfaces) is the Tascam US-144. It's available for around $150 or a little less, and I've found it to be reliable and to sound good.

Doh! SA's right. I didn't pick up the Pro Tools portion of your post!

[phriq]

Originally Posted by TeyshaBlue

Doh! SA's right. I didn't pick up the Pro Tools portion of your post!

Thanks guys. is there a big difference between protools or the other daws? do you know if there would be big benefit to going to PT LE from Cool Edit?

[phriq]

I mainly am trying to figure out whether i should go with a Interface i know is good with Cool Edit, or if Pro Tools is MUCH worth the upgrade? If the difference between different DAWS is not much, then i will stick with Cool Edit as I am VERY familiar with it... However, if Pro Tools is that much worth it, I may look into going to that.

[mattr]

Personally I don't feel Protools is worth it unless you get a full-blown HD rig, and even then its nothing that can't be achieved with another DAW (and some UAD cards if you really want non-native plugins). LE always seems like a bit of a waste of time to me - you pay over-the-odds for the Digidesign hardware which is really nothing special, and then are tied to a cut-down, restricted program. The M-audio stuff with M-powered is a bit better as you can use the hardware with other programs too, so the software is just like a free bonus and its not as if you've bought into it.

I'd seriously recommend Sonar or Cubase. I've used both and they're fairly easy to pick up just the basics, but they essentially let you do whatever you want and pose no restriction to your workflow when you move on from just the basics. Basically you can use them at whatever level of complexity you feel comfortable with, so you can ignore all the buttons which you don't know what they do, but they're always there if you do want them.

And this way it means you can buy whatever ASIO compatible hardware you like, and it should work.

Sonar is actually quite affordable and runs very well. I recently got Sonar 8 and I'm very impressed in how its changed the way I work and the way my mixes are turning out.

Don't worry about changing software either... once you've learnt one DAW then you have a pretty good grips on all the others. There's only so many ways you can organise Solo, Mute and Arm buttons on a track, refer to plugins as inserts, or hide automation envelopes as a cryptic menu item. You get used to what you work with and so it can be strange to migrate at first, but you soon pick up a natural workflow again.

Just don't try and swap DAW in the middle of a project. Transferring projects isn't fun Not that I did it or anything...

[phriq]

Originally Posted by mattr

Personally I don't feel Protools is worth it unless you get a full-blown HD rig, and even then its nothing that can't be achieved with another DAW (and some UAD cards if you really want non-native plugins). LE always seems like a bit of a waste of time to me - you pay over-the-odds for the Digidesign hardware which is really nothing special, and then are tied to a cut-down, restricted program. The M-audio stuff with M-powered is a bit better as you can use the hardware with other programs too, so the software is just like a free bonus and its not as if you've bought into it.

I'd seriously recommend Sonar or Cubase. I've used both and they're fairly easy to pick up just the basics, but they essentially let you do whatever you want and pose no restriction to your workflow when you move on from just the basics. Basically you can use them at whatever level of complexity you feel comfortable with, so you can ignore all the buttons which you don't know what they do, but they're always there if you do want them.

And this way it means you can buy whatever ASIO compatible hardware you like, and it should work.

Sonar is actually quite affordable and runs very well. I recently got Sonar 8 and I'm very impressed in how its changed the way I work and the way my mixes are turning out.

Don't worry about changing software either... once you've learnt one DAW then you have a pretty good grips on all the others. There's only so many ways you can organise Solo, Mute and Arm buttons on a track, refer to plugins as inserts, or hide automation envelopes as a cryptic menu item. You get used to what you work with and so it can be strange to migrate at first, but you soon pick up a natural workflow again.

Just don't try and swap DAW in the middle of a project. Transferring projects isn't fun Not that I did it or anything...

Thanks! This is alot of good info. I have looked at Cubase once actually. Seemed very different, but then again, Pro Tools did too the first time I used it. Do you know if the M-Audio interfaces work with all major DAW's like Cool Edit? It would be cool to get an interface that works with Cool Edit, but also works with Cubase and Pro-Tools so I can play around with whatever new DAW I decide to go with and have the option of using both...

[mattr]

Yes, the M-audio hardware is compatible with anything that has ASIO support (all modern Windows DAWs) or Core Audio (Macs), as well as the version of Protools that works with it. If I recall correctly Cool Edit Pro doesn't have ASIO support, but the interfaces should still work through MME or WDM drivers.

EDIT: I've just checked the M-Audio website and it seems like you have to pay for M-powered. I was always under the impression they bundled it (a crippled version of it at least) for free. Evidently not, hmmm.

[darrin_h2000]

I guess the big plus with protools is you can take the tracks into almost any studio and have somebody mix it and master it for you.

I am loving the Line 6 UX8 interface...it comes bundled with Abelton Live...but I use it as a preamp because of all the Neve and Avalon and all the other Preamp models it does so well...Im not sure if it will be compatable with protools or not...but unless if you really like the option of taking those raw tracks in a studio and letting somebody else finish it up for you...then you might just stick with what you have...and consider getting more plug-ins with that money...because the protools wont sound that much better...and you will hae to learn a daw all over again.

[Eric F]

Originally Posted by darrin_h2000

I guess the big plus with protools is you can take the tracks into almost any studio and have somebody mix it and master it for you.

That statement seems to make the assumption that all "real" studios use PT, which they don't. Actually, with a stack of .wav tracks from any recording software, you can pretty much plug them into any other program and mix them. PT is certainly common, but not the only answer.

I've always been turned off by the limitations or increased cost on hardware and plugins imposed by using PT. There really isn't anything that PT does that I can't do with Cubase (or Sonar, or...).

If you're settled on using PT, then be sure to get an interface that is compatible. If you're open to using a different program, then your interface options get much wider.

[phriq]

Originally Posted by Eric F

If you're settled on using PT, then be sure to get an interface that is compatible. If you're open to using a different program, then your interface options get much wider.

I am kind of starting to look at the m-audio fast track ultra. I am not dead set on using pro tools (as I am a big fan of adobe audition) However, I just want the option to be able to use pro tools and practice with it as it is one of the industry "standards".

With the Fast Track Ultra, I am able to use pro tools m-powered, adobe audition 3, or cubase. So i figured it would be a great all around interface. Has anyone had any experience with this interface?

thanks again for all the information!