Recommend audio interface for computer

Mongoo

New member
I'm building a computer for my friend who wants to get into audio recording. Not quite sure on the specs yet, but it should end up being a decent modern set up. He is primarily a Keyboardist and looking to use a lot of software synths like Ivory and East West Orchestra Gold. But He wants to be able to record live instruments too such as piano, violin, etc.

What are some of the options out there that people would recommend getting into? He wants to be able to record a minimum of 4 tracks simultaneously preferably with the capability of 8 to grow into. I've seen there are some units that are usb/firewire out there that are also control surfaces with faders and dials. This would be good for mixing but I don't know much about them myself or how they stand up to opinion, reliability, and quality of sound.

Would you recommend a pci card, usb, or firewire device? Cost has to be absolutely no more than $2500 (maybe less) for a computer, monitors, interface, and a matched pair of condensers. So I'm thinking the interface can be somewhere around 500-$800ish. If there's a big difference in spending a little bit more we'll bite, as the he wants the interface to be a keeper. A few options to consider at would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Mongoo
 
Good guide and suggestions HERE:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

Also----

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My obligatory standard reply that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info:
http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books:
http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html


Plenty of software around to record for free to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
(It's $40 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($20) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they're giving away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)
 
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