Advice on audio interface for acoustic recording

[kuthu]

Hi all,
I want to build a basic setup to record roots type music, my wife's acoustic vocals and guitar and my banjo and Native American flute. I've got a Dell XPS system (I'm a programmer and systems modeller, so the system is very powerful). I'm looking for advice on a decent audio setup and wanted to run by what I was considering.

Gear I have:
Behringer Ultra-Graph Pro EQ
Fostex DE-1 effects processor (pretty vital for the flute actually)
Nady SCM900
Shure SM57
Audio-technica ATM10a

I need a sound interface, but am pretty concerned about my budget right now. I was considering buying the M-Audio Firewire Solo and recording all sources separately. With a preamp, it seems like I can use that to single-mic each source separately. My question is will this limit me irreversibly? In the future I'll want to record multiple sources- including multi-micing the guitar, etc- but would rather not spend the money immediately on a more expensive I/O interface. $200 is easily doable right now, $400 is slightly less so.

Can I get a mixer when the time comes and go mic->mixer->m-audio->computer? or should I go with a multi-line audio-interface- like the 410- immediately? Would either case have significant and noticable problems or benefits? Is there anything I'm missing that's pretty vital?

Thanks so much.
-John

 

[kuthu]

Well, I just saw the deal that Muscians Friend had on the Firepod, free 80Gig hard-drive and an AT2020 mic. I was going to buy a firewire harddrive and another mic anyway, and since I've spent enough money with them, my muscian's friend card has no interest for 1 year. So it looks like I'll have 8 analog inputs and no mixer needed immediately.

 

[scrubs]

Well, I just saw the deal that Muscians Friend had on the Firepod, free 80Gig hard-drive and an AT2020 mic. I was going to buy a firewire harddrive and another mic anyway, and since I've spent enough money with them, my muscian's friend card has no interest for 1 year. So it looks like I'll have 8 analog inputs and no mixer needed immediately.

Sounds like you got a great deal. I've heard good things about the firepod.

 

[reshp1]

I need a sound interface, but am pretty concerned about my budget right now. I was considering buying the M-Audio Firewire Solo and recording all sources separately. With a preamp, it seems like I can use that to single-mic each source separately. My question is will this limit me irreversibly? In the future I'll want to record multiple sources- including multi-micing the guitar, etc- but would rather not spend the money immediately on a more expensive I/O interface. $200 is easily doable right now, $400 is slightly less so.

Can I get a mixer when the time comes and go mic->mixer->m-audio->computer? or should I go with a multi-line audio-interface- like the 410- immediately? Would either case have significant and noticable problems or benefits? Is there anything I'm missing that's pretty vital?

Thanks so much.
-John

I think the firewire solo lets you input 4 channels simultaneously to your DAW, 2 analog (selectable from the front instrument and mic input or the stereo line ins) and 2 SPDIF. In the future, you can get a cheap preamp like the ART DPSII and take advantage of the SPDIF connections. Since you only plan on recording yourself and your wife 4 inputs seems reasonable. An external mixer might let you premix more inputs down to 4 for more sources, but you have to commit that mix to tape.

 

[Rokket]

Another thing to consider, since you want multiple inputs sometime down the road, the Yamaha MG10/2 mixer is only $96.00 on Musician's Friend's website. If you add that to what you are already planning to buy, it'll give you the extra inputs you need, and some great pre amps for the money.

Here is the link:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/630048/

Good luck!

 

[manning1]

kuthu.
heres my suggestion..
yamaha mg mixer.
delta sound card
powertracks (48 track audio and midi recording) from pgmusic.com.
check out the reviews and talk to users at the site, try the demo, and youll see its a great value for money. peace.
ps..the new version i believe has added a fretboard display for banjo as well as guitar for midi tracks.

 

[sax_fan]

How do you think the preamps in the mg10/2 compare to some of the less expensive (say $200 and under) stand alone preamps? Is there likely to be a noticeable difference in quality using an audigy 2 sound card? How about an m-audio card?

 

[5bassman]

I have a brand new M Audio Solo for sale in the ads. $165.00 Never opened w/ receipt.
jsfricks AT yahoo DOT com