Audio Interface question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shoulderpain
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Shoulderpain

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Man, do I appreciate the advice I get here. On good advice, I'm thinking about buying this audio interface for my PC.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha/

My question is, when it comes to an audio interface like this, when you're running a vocal microphone through it and into your computer, do you need anything additional besides software to get a high quality recording? Will I need a vocal pre amp? What I really want is for the sound I end up with to be better than a rehearsal recording or low quality demo, I want a CD quality sound.

And lastly I've noticed that some audio interfaces are USB and some are firewire. Is there a quality difference between the two, anything I should keep in mind?

Thank you.
 
Good sound = good preamp. As well as room, placement, performance, etc. etc.
That interface will get a useable level of audio, but you'd be better off using the line input and a separate interface if you want 'professional quality', whatever that means these days.

USB connection means faster transfer, but firewire can handle more data. If you're looking at multitrack recording you need firewire, but the interface in question only has 2 inputs so it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Pre amp

So, could any of you give me advice on a pre-amp that would get me the best vocal sound?

If I have it right, I would plug the microphone into the pre amp and plug the pre amp into the audio interface and that would go into my computer. Is that right?

Thanks.
 
It looks like that Lexicon has 1 mic pre built in. You will see a gain knob on the front.

If I were you, get an interface that has a preamp built in. You new and its the easiest route. You don't want to mess with getting a preamp and interface separately. Look at m-audio and presonus (firebox), too.
 
Oh, and as far as the best vocal sound. Most mic pres that come built in with interfaces are clean good sounding pres. They're not state of the art SSL's or NEVE's, Avalons or Drawmers; there just clean plain mic pres that really do sound good, especially for your experience, it will be a good start.
 
Hey Shoulder, I recommended the Alpha because it was the least expensive unit that would perform all the tasks you are asking to do. It will give you clean good sounding audio going into your computer. It has a built-in mic pre, so you don't really need one. It doesn't have phantom power so it won't be able to drive a condensor mic directly, but a separate mic pre would do that if you want to use a condensor mic.

But honestly, there's so many different options available and each person has their own specific needs and desires. It's pretty difficult to make recommendations that best suit everyone. Based off your other post, I still think this unit will give you what you want for the least money.

However, getting good audio signals into your computer is just the start. Then your going to want that really nice compressor, a couple of plugs, new monitors, then you'll have to acoustically treat your room, only to find out the mic you thought was good for vocals just isn't cutting it anymore.....

It's a slippery slope. That's why we're all here.... :D Welcome to the dark side of home recording.

Best of Luck
 
You rock

Thanks, man. That helped a lot. You've already saved me a lot of trouble and I really appreciate it.

BTW, what is a compressor? Is that hardware or software? And what would be a good one?
 
Shoulderpain said:
Thanks, man. .....

BTW, what is a compressor? Is that hardware or software? And what would be a good one?........
Click to expand...

I really recommend getting a bokk to help you get started. I used the one written by Jeff Strong. It will answer most of your questions.

I stole Tim O'Brien's obligatory standard reply that he keeps 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/076...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/..._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 (multi-track with VST support)

Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)

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...)
 
True Chili, but he does want something so he can get good vocals, and I would recommend finding something that supports phantom power. If he gets the Alpha, and then he wants to use a condeser mic, then he, like you said, would need to get a separate micpre with phantom power. I get what your saying about different options and peoples needs, but I would not recommend this route getting the Alpha. If you have the money now, spend it on a fully compatable interface/micpre all in one.

Although he's starting out, he will be using a condenser at some point.

Look at the Firebox by Presonus.
Its a interface and 2 very good clean mic pres
Firewire
Phantom power for both channels.
299.00, but you can find them new on ebay for cheaper, or get one used.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...bit96kHz-FireWire-Recording-System?sku=184133
 
The Tascam US 122 might be a good choice as well. These can be found < $200.....2 channels with phantom.
 
Wow, thank you

Man, I am lucky I found this forum.

All of you guys are awesome. Thank you for the resources, the tips and
most of all for the incredible amount of patience. I know what I want to go for musically, but I've been having a lot of trouble articulating it as I do not understand all of the available choices.

Now I understand a little better. I do want phantom power and the option to use condenser mics. I want a quality pre amp so that the vocal tracks sound as fantastic as possible and I want the guitar tracks to sound great too.

Which audio interface is still not 100% as I'm trying to understand vocal pre amps a little better, but thanks to you I've got some excellent choices to look at now. I'll probably never lay down more than two tracks at once (guitar plus mic) through the audio interface and the rest of the time I won't need the audio interface because the MIDI controller I bought has it's own interface.
 
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