Best audio Interface under 500$

[sbesozzi]

Hey guys!

I started recording with a M-Audio Fasttrack USB and quickly upgraded to an Mbox 3 (4 inputs model). I was disapointed when I noticed that even though there's 4 inputs you can only use 2 at a time. And that it has only 1 headphone output.

Basically I'm looking for an interface that has at LEAST 4 inputs that can be used at the same time. 2 headphone outputs and of course 1/4" output for monitors. Could be USB or FireWire. Has to be compatible with Reaper. And I want the best quality possible in a 500$ range.

Anything comes to your mind?

 

[jonny deep]

Do you need 4 preamps, or will 2 preamps and 2 line in suffice?

 

[jonny deep]

Either way, this might do it: -

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 USB 2.0 Audio Interface at Gear4Music.com

 

[sbesozzi]

I'd prefer having 4 pre-amps.

 

[jonny deep]

I'd prefer having 4 pre-amps.

See my second post above, then.

 

[sbesozzi]

See my second post above, then.

Wow it looks great! Thanks a lot man! Is there any level monitors on it?

 

[Manor Music]

ZOOM R-16 or the R-24

it is an interphase

it is a controller that will let you use the machine to adjust levels without a mouse and keyboard

and it is a stand-alone recorder
the best reason in my opinion to buy this instead of some rack-interphase
plus you can daisy chain two machines together to record 16 simultaneous track

lots of good effects on board too

you can get them under 400 bucks

 

[jonny deep]

Wow it looks great! Thanks a lot man! Is there any level monitors on it?

Not sure what you're asking there, but the spec on that website says: -

Features/Specifications
•Four award-winning Focusrite mic pres
•18 inputs, 8 outputs
•Two headphone outputs with separate level controls
•Rugged metal unibody chassis
•High quality 24bit/96KHz audio interface for Mac, PC and iPad*
•Unique gain halos enable visual level monitoring
•Scarlett MixControl ultra low-latency DSP mixer and router
•Main monitor control with mute function
•Includes the Scarlett Plug-in Suite (Compression, Gating, EQ and Reverb for tracking and mixing), Ableton Live Lite, Loopmasters sample content and the Novation Bass Station analogue modelling synth plug-in *(via Apple Camera Connection Kit ? not included)


And you can probably check out the focusrite website for full specs.

 

[Mr Clean]

Something like the Tascam US600 or US800 would also do the job and not break the bank.

 

[jonny deep]

Something like the Tascam US600 or US800 would also do the job and not break the bank.

I should have thought of Tascam! I went straight to Focusrite because of the reputation of their preamps.

Looking at those two on the Tascam website, it seems only the US800 offers two headphone sockets - I can't see if they are independently controlled, though, or just a 1/4" and 1/8" socket for the same output.