
Chris Fallen
New member
So I've been wading through the 'mixing/mastering' and 'computer recording and soundcards' forums for a while, trying to decide what would work best for me for the next two years while I go to college. I just want to have a basic set up that I can learn things on, but I want it to be decent so when I learn things I can still use it instead of wanting to upgrade. I've posted numerous topice (which I'm sure you've noticed), and I've come to a conclusion as to what to get.. That's happened about five times. I'm going to go through each choice that I was going to make, and then tell you guys my final conclusion. I hope this'll help out some other people that are wondering about these choices, because even if you search and search, you never really get a good compilation of information about all of these. And for the old timers (in the recording front, not in age), let me know what you think and correct anything I get wrong. Thanks.
I started out buying a Tascam 424 MKIII a few months ago. I wanted to record so I just bought something off of ebay to use. I decided that I wanted to start using my computer after that, and then decided that I needed a new soundcard, then I decided that I wanted a nice big multiple input soundcard, then that I wanted a mixer with that.. etc.. etc.. Here are my three main choices that I came to after I read through these forums:
Mixer + Soundcard
This started off on me wanting to buy the best things so they'd last me a long time. We all know how it goes. I was going to get a Delta 1010 and a Mackie board.
I started out looking at soundcards. Delta 1010s are the standard for soundcards, now. I also checked out the Aardvark Q10 and the C-port. The Aardvark has little to no drivers if you're working on XP, so I ruled that out almost right away. The c-port just didn't get too much talk, so I decided that I wanted to go for the Delta 1010. I noticed right away, though, that there were no XLR inputs, just 1/4 inch ones. That would mean that I'd need mic pres or a mixer to get those in.
After multiple questions about which boards are better, people opened my eyes to the wide world of 'behringers suck.' I never planned on getting one anyway. Then I was going to purchase a Mackie before everyone told me that they're 'decent, but you could do better for that price.' It turns out everyone's sweet spot came on when mentioning Soundcraft or Allen/Heath mixers. Better EQ. Better Pres. Better everything, from the majority.
So far, the price for what I want is (750+550) $1300.
I've read and read about these over and over, and just recently made the discovery that, unless I'm recording drums, that I wouldn't need more than one input at a time to record the guitar or vocals. I pushed the images of me wielding big, cool equipment (with lots of buttons) on them out of my head and looked for something else. Something with a few ins, and some pres for my mics.
Soundcard + Mic Pres
I decided that all I really need is one or two mics at a time, so if I picked up an Audio Buddy and a Mia or Delta 66 (or something to that effect), that I could save a lot of money and still do what I want over the next few years and with the same specs (24-bit/96kHz).
With this recent discovery of not owning flashy things just to own flash things I saved nearly 900 dollars (200-300 Mia-Delta66 + 79 audio buddy = $300-400) .
I was pretty adamant on buying these two or three items, leaving me money for better cords/mics, and then I realized that if I ever wanted to record a full drum set, I'd need around eight tracks (snare/kick/hi-hat/tom1/tom2/floortom/2overheads). Now in order to do this, I would need eight ins to my computer to record these all multi-track. This brings me to my conclusion.
Soundcard with built in pres
So I end up with an original contender that I bounced out long ago. I think I'm going to end up going for the Aardvark Q10. It has eight pres that I hear are pretty good. I just will need to get around the whole 'doesn't work on windows xp' thing. It has phantom power, for my condensers, and it has inserts and moniter outs. It won't force me to buy a mixer or seperate pres. Woo hoo.
There is my story. Haha. Correct me and tell me how wrong I am before I buy!
Christopher
I started out buying a Tascam 424 MKIII a few months ago. I wanted to record so I just bought something off of ebay to use. I decided that I wanted to start using my computer after that, and then decided that I needed a new soundcard, then I decided that I wanted a nice big multiple input soundcard, then that I wanted a mixer with that.. etc.. etc.. Here are my three main choices that I came to after I read through these forums:
Mixer + Soundcard
This started off on me wanting to buy the best things so they'd last me a long time. We all know how it goes. I was going to get a Delta 1010 and a Mackie board.
I started out looking at soundcards. Delta 1010s are the standard for soundcards, now. I also checked out the Aardvark Q10 and the C-port. The Aardvark has little to no drivers if you're working on XP, so I ruled that out almost right away. The c-port just didn't get too much talk, so I decided that I wanted to go for the Delta 1010. I noticed right away, though, that there were no XLR inputs, just 1/4 inch ones. That would mean that I'd need mic pres or a mixer to get those in.
After multiple questions about which boards are better, people opened my eyes to the wide world of 'behringers suck.' I never planned on getting one anyway. Then I was going to purchase a Mackie before everyone told me that they're 'decent, but you could do better for that price.' It turns out everyone's sweet spot came on when mentioning Soundcraft or Allen/Heath mixers. Better EQ. Better Pres. Better everything, from the majority.
So far, the price for what I want is (750+550) $1300.
I've read and read about these over and over, and just recently made the discovery that, unless I'm recording drums, that I wouldn't need more than one input at a time to record the guitar or vocals. I pushed the images of me wielding big, cool equipment (with lots of buttons) on them out of my head and looked for something else. Something with a few ins, and some pres for my mics.
Soundcard + Mic Pres
I decided that all I really need is one or two mics at a time, so if I picked up an Audio Buddy and a Mia or Delta 66 (or something to that effect), that I could save a lot of money and still do what I want over the next few years and with the same specs (24-bit/96kHz).
With this recent discovery of not owning flashy things just to own flash things I saved nearly 900 dollars (200-300 Mia-Delta66 + 79 audio buddy = $300-400) .
I was pretty adamant on buying these two or three items, leaving me money for better cords/mics, and then I realized that if I ever wanted to record a full drum set, I'd need around eight tracks (snare/kick/hi-hat/tom1/tom2/floortom/2overheads). Now in order to do this, I would need eight ins to my computer to record these all multi-track. This brings me to my conclusion.
Soundcard with built in pres
So I end up with an original contender that I bounced out long ago. I think I'm going to end up going for the Aardvark Q10. It has eight pres that I hear are pretty good. I just will need to get around the whole 'doesn't work on windows xp' thing. It has phantom power, for my condensers, and it has inserts and moniter outs. It won't force me to buy a mixer or seperate pres. Woo hoo.
There is my story. Haha. Correct me and tell me how wrong I am before I buy!
Christopher