Cheap USB interface w/ Midi?

S

Seafroggys

Well-known member
With my home studio at my parents' house, and the fact I moved out two years ago, I have to make the 20 minute drive if I want to record stuff. Which is fine, but sometimes I just want to lay down some basic demo stuff and the drive ain't really worth it for that.

I have a Zoom H4n, but I never got it to work as an interface. And I want something that has Midi i/o. So what are the best cheap options? I'd only be recording 1 track at a time. This will also be on my primary PC, which is geared for gaming, so it won't be a dedicated studio computer like I have in my studio. I'll go new, used, whatever is in my area. Maybe a short list that I can bring to the local stores to see what they carry? Thank you for recommendations!
 
Seafroggys said:
With my home studio at my parents' house, and the fact I moved out two years ago, I have to make the 20 minute drive if I want to record stuff. Which is fine, but sometimes I just want to lay down some basic demo stuff and the drive ain't really worth it for that.

I have a Zoom H4n, but I never got it to work as an interface. And I want something that has Midi i/o. So what are the best cheap options? I'd only be recording 1 track at a time. This will also be on my primary PC, which is geared for gaming, so it won't be a dedicated studio computer like I have in my studio. I'll go new, used, whatever is in my area. Maybe a short list that I can bring to the local stores to see what they carry? Thank you for recommendations!
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You really have a lot of options here, Focusrite, Presonus, Tascam. I think the biggest issue you will have will be the pre's. I use a Presonus USB, it is a capable interface, has MIDI In/Out, phantom and XLR/balance/unbalanced and a nice metal case for traveling.
 
Seafroggys said:
CHeaper, the better.

I saw a Presonus Audiobox on craigslist for $90, that a good one? My main recording rig uses the Firestudio, so I am already partial to Presonus anyway. It looks pretty capable.
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There are two models that they have, the USB and then the 22VSL. The VSL is the higher of the two (looks the same), but from what I can gather it has a faster AD/DA converter. The USB version would do most of what you need (that is the version I have). For 90 bucks, it would be worth it.
 
Really cheap finds are the Fast track pro and the Tascams, 122 and 144. I paid £60 for a 144mk 1 and the Cubase LE4 was untouched!

These older interfaces tend to have low gain mic amps but for guitar cabs or rock screams they are fine with a dynamic, if you have a capacitor, no worries.

A nice AI was the Emu 0404usb but I think it has issues with W7/8?

Dave.
 
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