Advice on an Interface?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TooHotRecords
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I have made a quick recording of the background hissing/noise.
i have made this sample a little louder so its easy to hear.:o
 

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Then why would you prefer a USB interface? From my experience, i've had latency issues. I rather do PCI or Firewire.

I recommend a EMU-1212m and a 100 dollar pre-amp. The 1212m is known for their great A/D converters, and i've had experience with a 1820m, which is a few hundred more, but it comes with a break out box. The 1212m, has the option for the break out box later on for more I/Os.

Go get one...now.
 
Kimosabi said:
Then why would you prefer a USB interface? From my experience, i've had latency issues. I rather do PCI or Firewire.

I recommend a EMU-1212m and a 100 dollar pre-amp. The 1212m is known for their great A/D converters, and i've had experience with a 1820m, which is a few hundred more, but it comes with a break out box. The 1212m, has the option for the break out box later on for more I/Os.

Go get one...now.
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how does a firewire connect to my pc? and i have a tube mp project series pre amp?
 
Google what a firewire port looks like, and then you make the judgement for yourself. There are 2 types of firewire ports.

If you get the EMU-1212m, it's a PCI card, and not a firewire. The Motu Ultralite MK3 is firewire.
 
Kimosabi said:
Google what a firewire port looks like, and then you make the judgement for yourself. There are 2 types of firewire ports.

If you get the EMU-1212m, it's a PCI card, and not a firewire. The Motu Ultralite MK3 is firewire.
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those look very nice and have great perks. but im looking for something under 300.(im still a student)
 
Emu-1212m. $199.

That'll save you $100 that you can hold, till you get more money for a better pre-amp or a better mic. What mic do you have?

I record rap artists, as well as RNB. So I know all you need to succeed for better sound is a good mic, good pre-amp, good monitors, and a good interface. All can be done to a decent degree, for a small fee.

Starting with the interface first, you need good converters.
Emu-1212m is for you, especially if you have a desktop. Me, I do my recording on the fly, so I use a firewire system. But i've owned an Emu-1212m, and a 1820m break out box, and I HIIIIGHLY recommend the 1212m for you.

No problemo, you can hook up the pre-amp you already have directly into the 1212m, easy no problem. Make sure you have cables though.
 
If you're considering the Emu, be sure you get the PCIe version. Many modern computers don't have parallel PCI anymore at all; it's rapidly going the way of the dodo. It's a really bad idea to spend more than about twenty bucks to buy a legacy parallel PCI card these days.

This assumes, of course, that your current computer has at least one free PCIe slot. If it doesn't, don't even consider anything PCI-based or PCIe-based.
 
Kimosabi said:
Emu-1212m. $199.

That'll save you $100 that you can hold, till you get more money for a better pre-amp or a better mic. What mic do you have?
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I have a Rode NT1-A. which isnt too bad is it?
 
It works for me in certain situations. How does it work for you?







:cool:
 
Yes as stated before, the interface is the most important thing when it comes to doing music on the computer. With good quality converters, determines the quality of your sound.

I don't know exactly what the problem is. For under 300, I've told you the best sound card in your options.
 
Everything in your signal chain is going to affect the sound. Whether it be the musician, the instrument, the mic, the preamp, the clock, or the converter.

You don't always have control over the first two in the chain (unless the musician is you of course! ;)), but the rest are your choice to upgrade. I think that the Rode NT-1 is the strongest link in the chain you have now. I have two of them. They are pretty darn good condensers for the money. You are on the right track to improving your sound by getting a nicer interface, which takes care of your converters and clock.

If you are going to be doing production strictly for Rap/Hip-hop stuff then you could go for a higher end 2 channel interface instead of sacrificing some quality for additional inputs. (Unless you are going for that Gym Class Heroes kind of sound and need to mic a drumset! :cool:) The Tube MP dosen't seem like a bad start either for a preamp.

Here are a few others to look at in addition to the PCI based one:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Echo-AudioFire4-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=245641

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Steinberg-CI2-Advanced-Integration-USB-Studio?sku=H65541


After upgrading your interface and preamp you may consider getting a few other mics that may work better for certain vocalists. A large diaphragm dynamic mic like a Shure SM-7, or Sennheiser MD421 could easily out perform the Rode in many situations!
 
I find that the "Focusrite Saffire USB 6" to be a solid piece of equipment with really good working components. It's been rock solid and it's priced right in your range.

Google it
 
Here are a few others to look at in addition to the PCI based one:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Echo-AudioFire4-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=245641

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Steinberg-CI2-Advanced-Integration-USB-Studio?sku=H65541

!
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Thankyou so much for your time!
i dont mind the look of that Steinberg Interface at all!
would it be compatible with a program such as Sonar?

Is there anywhere i can go to look for advise on the settings of my Tube Mp? cause as i said. im a student and pretty clueless to all this kind of stuff.
 
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