audio interface help

  • Thread starter Thread starter allenmertes
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allenmertes

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Hello. I am extremely new in the area of home recording and have decided to put together a studio of some kind. I've done some research and think that an audio interface may be a good way to go. The problem is I don't understand all of the features of the different models and was hoping someone could compare a few models which seem to be fairly similiar. The models I have come across which seem popular:

M Audio Delta 1010
ST Audio C-Port DSP2000
Presonus Firestation

Any opinion on which would be the best place to start? Also, is there an interface you would reccomend instead? My budget is around $600.

Thanks for your help!
 
Welcome to the forum, you have a great choic there, teh delta 1010. Lot of users in this forum use it and it is a very stable interface. Go with it.
 
Thanks man. From what I've been reading the M-audio seems to be the way to go. It doesnt have built-in preamps though, correct? If so, what would the most effective method be? An external mixer, or just a nice preamp?
 
First consideration: what do you plan to record. Yourself only, building tracks up by overdubbing? Or a full band, all playing together, to capture the live vibe? Do you want to mic a drumkit to isolate parts of the kit?

If the former, all of those products are overkill as they are multichannel interfaces and for a one-man-band, all you really need is two channels of input.

Another consideration is your PC. The Presonus requires a FireWire interface on the computer - do you have one? If not, there's an additional issue -- you'll have to add one.

One more thing -- do you need a MIDI interface too? The Delta 1010 does not have one. Not sure about the other two you mentioned.

The Delta 1010 does not have preamps, no, it's line level input only, designed to work with a mixer or outboard preamps. They do make the Delta 1010LT which does have two (I think) built-in preamps plus a MIDI interface.

As to what would be best -- a mixer or a nice preamp -- again, what you want to be able to accomplish is key to making the decision. A mixer with 8 channel outs to a Delta 1010 is way overkill if you will never record anything more than yourself playing guitar and singing simultaneously. In that case a two-channel soundcard with a pair of mic preamps, or a two-channel soundcard and stereo preamp would do you fine.
 
AlChuck said:
...If the former, all of those products are overkill as they are multichannel interfaces and for a one-man-band, all you really need is two channels of input....
Click to expand...

unless you're a drummer and want more than a stereo recording!:D
 
The M-AUDIO OMNI Studio has 2 x mic/instrument preamps..plus 2 analog and S/PDIF......it's the perfect unit for a recording newbie like you....and cheap too ($499)

You don't NEED a mixer, it has 6 channels with control panel, etc.

IF you want a good preamp too, the M-Audio Tampa is a decent one at $800, or if you want something really good, go for the Vintech 73i ($1600)

Your'll need some decent (active) studio moniotrs whilst yer at it....check out the following:

Yorkville YSM-1P
Event 202/20 Bas
Mackie 824's
Dynaudio BM6
Genelecs

Plus, IF you are a guitar player....your'll need to get a decent Stereo EQ unit, at some stage, for post-EQ tone teaking, etc....

Try:

Presonas DEQ624
Alesis 830D
dbx 2231i
Ashley GQX3102
Behringer DEQ2496

Software:

ACID Pro 4.0 is great to learn on, it's cheap, very simple to use, and you can record unlimited tracks....Great for building DRUM beds too.......Once ya get the hang of that, move up to Cubase SX.....

That's it, I'm done! :D

KEV
 
read

some of my past posts for putting together an affordable
rocking 48 track recording system for under 500 bucks.
i'm tired of retyping sam,e 9old !
read my articles in the newbie section.
 
Re: read

manning1 said:
some of my past posts for putting together an affordable
rocking 48 track recording system for under 500 bucks.
i'm tired of retyping sam,e 9old !
read my articles in the newbie section.
Click to expand...
Who are you ? Mr. Fucking know it all....cuz im tired of your posts to read your other posts.
 
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