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steve15
New member
What is the best audio interface to record a rock band, for under $325?
VSpaceBoy
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Audio Interface..?
Like a sound card?
Like a sound card?
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steve15
New member
Yeah.
VSpaceBoy
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Well it depends on how many inputs/outputs you need. Most all of the cards have pretty close stats and numbers so don't worry about sound quality. The main thing you'll want to spend your money on is I/O's.
For me, I'm a one man show so I only need is the minimum. Stereo I/O, Midi, and a SPDIF.I got the Audiophile 24/96 for $169 so for me that was the winner.
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOAP2496
SpaceBoy
For me, I'm a one man show so I only need is the minimum. Stereo I/O, Midi, and a SPDIF.I got the Audiophile 24/96 for $169 so for me that was the winner.
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOAP2496
SpaceBoy
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steve15
New member
Well, like I've said, I need the ability to be able to record a band (eletric guitars, drums, bass, and vocals), but I need your feedback as to how many inputs my interface would need to have in order to do that. I do plan on tracking each instrument seperatly though, so please suggest some interfaces that sound really good, and have enough inputs. Thanks.
VSpaceBoy
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Depending on your goal, there are a few ways to do it.
#1 You could mic everything. Vocals, Guitars, Drums, and Bass <or direct in for the bass>. Run say six or seven mics into a mixer. Then in the mixer you mix it to left/right stero. Then run the Stereo signal into the computer. That would allow for a "live" type recording. Some think that this way is the best so you can acheive a live or real type sound. For this you only need one stero in. MOST disagree on this way since at this point, in the computer you cannot edit the channels or tracks seperatly. You are limited to all the instruments together and this makes it tougher for overall sound quality and it takes a band being TIGHT TIGHT to not have to rerecord it everytime one person misses a note.
#2 Another way to record live would be to mice everything, and then run it into an interface that will take say 8 inputs. This would allow you to record everything live onto seperate tracks to be able to edit and mix later. For this you would need say 8 inputs. This is a better way than the first, but still not good. This way you will hear all the noise and bleeding over from everyones playing and instruments. More flexiblity but still noisy.
#3 Another way would be to mic say the drums first, run that stereo into the interface, and record a stereo track. Then play that back into headphones for the bassplayer to hear a play along with recording the bass on a different track solo. Then you can mix those together into some headphones for some rhythm guitar and record it and so on. This is the way most songs are recorded. This way gives you the cleanest tracks for each instrument and the most flexiblity to edit and eq, add compression ect later. To do it this way you only need the card I use. With stereo I/O's. The card itself will play unlimited tracks, and you can record left and right at the same time.
Let me know if that helps or not, I'm sure other's could add or correct me.
SpaceBoy
#1 You could mic everything. Vocals, Guitars, Drums, and Bass <or direct in for the bass>. Run say six or seven mics into a mixer. Then in the mixer you mix it to left/right stero. Then run the Stereo signal into the computer. That would allow for a "live" type recording. Some think that this way is the best so you can acheive a live or real type sound. For this you only need one stero in. MOST disagree on this way since at this point, in the computer you cannot edit the channels or tracks seperatly. You are limited to all the instruments together and this makes it tougher for overall sound quality and it takes a band being TIGHT TIGHT to not have to rerecord it everytime one person misses a note.
#2 Another way to record live would be to mice everything, and then run it into an interface that will take say 8 inputs. This would allow you to record everything live onto seperate tracks to be able to edit and mix later. For this you would need say 8 inputs. This is a better way than the first, but still not good. This way you will hear all the noise and bleeding over from everyones playing and instruments. More flexiblity but still noisy.
#3 Another way would be to mic say the drums first, run that stereo into the interface, and record a stereo track. Then play that back into headphones for the bassplayer to hear a play along with recording the bass on a different track solo. Then you can mix those together into some headphones for some rhythm guitar and record it and so on. This is the way most songs are recorded. This way gives you the cleanest tracks for each instrument and the most flexiblity to edit and eq, add compression ect later. To do it this way you only need the card I use. With stereo I/O's. The card itself will play unlimited tracks, and you can record left and right at the same time.
Let me know if that helps or not, I'm sure other's could add or correct me.
SpaceBoy
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steve15
New member
Thanks for your help. Wouldn't I need to put more than about four mics on the drums, or should the card you have be enough for what I need to do?
VSpaceBoy
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You can use however many mics for the drums you need. From about 3 or 4 to 8 or so. You can run a search for how to mic drums properly. There is no need to run them all into the card seperately. You run them all into a mixer, set your levels and mix them to stereo, then send stereo <left/right> signal to the card.
SpaceBoy
SpaceBoy
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steve15
New member
Okay...so knowing that, I really only need a 12 channel mixer, and a 2in/2out card, so I don't need to spend money on an 8 input interface? Do you have any recordings that you've done with the Audiophile 24/96 that you could share? Also, what type of inputs does that card have (1/4", xlr, ?)..? Thanks.
VSpaceBoy
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Thats what I would do. You could use the mixer for recording OR live, the money spent on the card stays for recording use.steve15 said:
I am at work, I could post a few later I suppose. But that really wouldn't mean much to you anyway, your recording with the same card would sound different.steve15 said:
steve15 said:
Check that link I sent, it has all the details for you.
SpaceBoy
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steve15
New member
I couldn't seem to find out what inputs it has. Could you just tell me what it has for inputs...1/4"...?
VSpaceBoy
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It has Midi I/O, Stereo RCA in's, Stereo RCA Out's, SPDIF I/O. IF your running out a mixer you would buy a pair of 1/4" to RCA cables.
J
Jim Y
New member
I have Deja Vu. Have we been here before? Well, nearly 
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=96367
The analog connections on the Audiophile are RCA jacks and are of course unbalanced. This causes no real problem provided the cables out of the mixer to the soundcard are good quality, reasonably short and not run near transformers.
If you're fussy and insist on Balanced jacks, the ECHO Mia card has 1/4" TRS jack sockets while otherwise of similar spec to the M-Audio Audiophile.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=96367
The analog connections on the Audiophile are RCA jacks and are of course unbalanced. This causes no real problem provided the cables out of the mixer to the soundcard are good quality, reasonably short and not run near transformers.
If you're fussy and insist on Balanced jacks, the ECHO Mia card has 1/4" TRS jack sockets while otherwise of similar spec to the M-Audio Audiophile.