Choosing Interface

[int3rsc0p3]

I'm planning on recording classical piano. Would I benefit from the audio interfaces that send each seperate channel to the computer, or would a mixer be fine as well?

 

[suprstar]

Do you want to record more than 2 channels at a time? I think you could get a decent sound with 1 or 2 mics, so a mixer would be fine for that particular application. I'd get one that doesn't run thru a PC soundcard, ie a mixer with usb or firewire, that'd be a cleaner signal.

 

[perfectcds]

I'd go with the two channel Apogee Duet...

and then you can stereo mic the piano...and not have it ruined by a terrible interface

 

[pohaku]

I'd go with the two channel Apogee Duet...

and then you can stereo mic the piano...and not have it ruined by a terrible interface

Which of course presumes that the OP is running a Mac. The Duet IS wonderful, but not for a PC platform.

 

[int3rsc0p3]

No, unfortunately I'm running windows. I was thinking something like the Alesis IO14; is this overkill? It's firewire and from what I've read, it outputs into seperate channels (I assume that means it doesn't mix them together)

Would one of the cheaper Behringer USB Mixers work just as well for this type of situation? (3 Mics)

 

[juan162]

I have the Alesis IO14. I haven't done a whole lot with it yet, but I'm happy enough with it. I got it for the 'just in case I need more inputs' situation when I want to do more than just stereo mic and keep everything on separate channels. Before I purchased it, I was using a Tascam US-122 for my computer recording. The Alesis is definitely a step up in quality, although I have no real complaints for the US-122, especially for the price I paid which was free.

Now that I think of it, I do have one complaint. They should have made it easily rack mountable. Not a big deal though...I can manage my own rack mount with a little ingenuity.

Juan

 

[int3rsc0p3]

Thanks. Do you know if the IO14 has phantom power for each port?

 

[juan162]

Thanks. Do you know if the IO14 has phantom power for each port?

Yes, it has 4 built in inputs with phantom power with the ability to add 10 more inputs, 2 via SPDIF, 8 via ADAT. I've already used it to record 4 simultaneous tracks on the 4 built in available inputs.


Juan

 

[aman74]

Do you want to record more than 2 channels at a time? I think you could get a decent sound with 1 or 2 mics, so a mixer would be fine for that particular application. I'd get one that doesn't run thru a PC soundcard, ie a mixer with usb or firewire, that'd be a cleaner signal.

The how do you get it into the computer?