Direct Recording Audio Interface

  • Thread starter Thread starter Farno
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Farno

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Hey!

So it's been a long time since I've gone on these forums. I've been really getting into recording lately so I want to upgrade my audio interface. I need to go with USB since I'm using a laptop that doesn't have a firewire or soundcard capable of recording.

Currently I have a lexicon alpah asio driver. It gets the job done but is a pain to use sometimes. I have occasional popping sounds and the cable going into the input is sketchy and sometimes doesn't make a good connection.

Anyway, I'm looking to upgrade. What I'm doing now is running my line 6 spider jam amp into the lexicon and going into the computer via usb. I looked at the line 6 pod x3 and like it but I'm thinking that it's going to be no different than my current setup (except a quality upgrade which is what I'm looking for).

But I think I'd like to stick with direct recording with my amp. So what is the best USB audio interface out there. I only need to record 1 or possibly 2 tracks at a time. Electric guitar and hopefully a future bass guitar. There was this audio interface I saw, it had a line in to bass guitar direct and a line in for guitar direct. It looked pretty neat but I forgot what it was called.

Thanks in advance!
 
It was the Tascam US 122 or 144 that I was looking at originally. But I don't think it has RCA outs for my monitors so thats sorta a problem. The M-Audio fast track looks nice but how much of an upgrade would that be?
 
The M Audio Fast Track doesn't really qualify as an upgrade from anything.
The M Audio Fast Track Pro however, is a fine choice.
 
Farno said:
It was the Tascam US 122 or 144 that I was looking at originally. But I don't think it has RCA outs for my monitors so thats sorta a problem. The M-Audio fast track looks nice but how much of an upgrade would that be?
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I assume you mean active monitors that take a line level signal, in which case you can get converters or cables to switch TS/TRS/RCA/etc to/from any physical format you need on either end.
 
Hi there,

I think the best USB interface on the market today is

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--EMUTRCK

Regarding the Fast track pro - it is a little bit outdated now it will not let you record and hear what you record with 96 kHz. It supports 96kHz only in 2 ins or 2 outs configuration. It has reasonable preamps but you don't need them if you want to record direct from the amp.

Cheerz!
 
Regarding the Fast track pro - it is a little bit outdated now it will not let you record and hear what you record with 96 kHz. It supports 96kHz only in 2 ins or 2 outs configuration. It has reasonable preamps but you don't need them if you want to record direct from the amp.
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Sorry: The Fast Track Pro is in no way outdated. It is in fact one of the best 2 line audio interfaces in its league and comes loaded with features.

it will not let you record and hear what you record with 96 kHz.
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Not so. Not only can you monitor what you are recording but the Fast Track Pro also allows you to mix as you monitor. In other words, balance your playback with your live recording.
I'm not usually quick to contradict other posts but for the Fast Track Pro I'll make an exception.
 
vijsolo said:
Hi there,

I think the best USB interface on the market today is

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--EMUTRCK

Regarding the Fast track pro - it is a little bit outdated now it will not let you record and hear what you record with 96 kHz. It supports 96kHz only in 2 ins or 2 outs configuration. It has reasonable preamps but you don't need them if you want to record direct from the amp.

Cheerz!
Click to expand...

I'd take MAudio, Presonus, Echo, Motu over anything Emu has ever made.
 
I think we know that, Jeff. :D
Maybe you could do a review thread on whichever piece of gear has led you to this conclusion. I know others love it but not you.
Also, a review on a piece of gear you love, just for balance.
Yes/No?
 
Jeff_D said:
I'd take MAudio, Presonus, Echo, Motu over anything Emu has ever made.
Click to expand...
I think I have seen that before. LoL. I am with Jim I would be interested in hearing your experience with EMU and why you do not like them.
 
stevesmith99 said:
I think I have seen that before. LoL. I am with Jim I would be interested in hearing your experience with EMU and why you do not like them.
Click to expand...

yeah. not a fan. My experiences go really with Creative- I swore them off many years ago and never looked back. Poor sound and terrible drivers pretty much summed up my experience. Pretty much everything I've read about Emu stuff around here has been questions on why their new equipment doesnt work properly... So, some first hand experience with their stuff from way back and some heresay from here and there... My 2c. Whatever you think about Emu, I certainly wouldn't call them the *best* at anything (well, maybe at marketing).
 
From Fast track pro manual:

Configurations
At 16-bit operation, the Fast Track Pro operates as a four-in, four-out device at a maximum sample rate of 48kHz, with analog and digital
inputs available:
< Analog Input 1 & 2 and S/PDIF input
< Analog Output 1 & 2 (available on both TRS and unbalanced Outputs 1 and 2)
< S/PDIF Output (mirrored at unbalanced Outputs 3 and 4)
At 24-bit operation, the Fast Track Pro operates as a two-in, four-out device or a four-in, two-out device at a maximum sample rate of
48kHz, with analog OR digital inputs available:
< Analog In 1 and 2 or S/PDIF
< Analog Out 1 & 2 (available on both TRS and unbalanced Outputs 1 and 2)
< S/PDIF Out (mirrored at unbalanced Outputs 3 and 4)
Or
< Analog in 1 and 2
< S/PDIF In 1and 2
< Outputs 1 and 2 or 3 and 4
At 24-bit operation, the Fast Track Pro can also operate as a two-in or two-out device at sample rates of 88.2 and 96kHz. Analog or
S/PDIF can be selected for input or output.
 
Jim Lad said:
I think we know that, Jeff. :D
Maybe you could do a review thread on whichever piece of gear has led you to this conclusion. I know others love it but not you.
Also, a review on a piece of gear you love, just for balance.
Yes/No?
Click to expand...

That's asking a lot. I haven't used anything from current from Emu - like I said, I swore off Creative / Emu long ago. The driver issues I read around here alone are enough to keep me on my path of not purchasing Emu stuff.

Maybe you could order the latest Emu product and mail it to me so I could put it through the paces for a couple weeks. Maybe I'd change my mind. :D:p

For the record, I use fairly modest gear myself- no fancy expensive preamps or converters (I wish), so I'm not some gear snob- just not at fan...
 
Maybe you could order the latest Emu product and mail it to me so I could put it through the paces for a couple weeks. Maybe I'd change my mind.
Click to expand...

Sure but my wife will have to get a second job to pay for it.

vijsolo:
At the risk of serious thread drift.
1) Do you have a Fast Track Pro?
2) Have you tried recording with a Fast Track Pro?
3) What exactly is it that you want to do at 96kHz?
4) The quote from the manual just contradicted what you wrote.
5) Take a quick look at what Farno is looking to do.
6) Will the Fast Track Pro do it?
 
Well, if you believe there is nothing to do with 96kHz than definetelly M-Audio is a best one.

1) I don't have it as I decided not to buy it, after reading the manual. I bought Emu.
2)Obviously I did not try to record with M-audio as I don't have it :) I recorded with Emu instea.
3) I strongly belive 96kHz is a minimum sampling rate to record
4) The manual says at 96kHz EITHER 2 Inputs OR 2 outputs, I think I did not forget how to read
5)"So what is the best USB audio interface out there. I only need to record 1 or possibly 2 tracks at a time. Electric guitar and hopefully a future bass guitar. " Don't you think I can have my ideas on what is best? Do you think I can speal my ideas out on the forum?
6)M-Audio will do the job, right you are. I simply don't believe it is best.


Cheerz!
 
i use a palmer pdi-09 to capture all of my guitar tracks now.

works great.
 
vijsolo
This is too funny. I'm guessing English is not your first language. In addition to this, you have gone back and edited your answer long after I responded to you. Maybe you're just having some fun at my expense but it's not helping the person who started this thread and that's what it's about.
44.1 kHz is most common for recording. You will find very few people recording any higher than 48 and in all honesty, that's about all most computers can handle without running the risk of glitches.
Thank you for trying to help but this will be my last communication with you.
There is a cave here where I'm sure your humour will be much more appreciated.
Dive in.
 
96k is a waste of bandwidth imo, with the one exception I've stated before: music for dogs. 44.1k gets you well over the 20k freq. limit human ears can hear. What do you get out of 96k that you don't at 44.1k?
 
Jeff_D said:
yeah. not a fan. My experiences go really with Creative- I swore them off many years ago and never looked back. Poor sound and terrible drivers pretty much summed up my experience. Pretty much everything I've read about Emu stuff around here has been questions on why their new equipment doesnt work properly... So, some first hand experience with their stuff from way back and some heresay from here and there... My 2c. Whatever you think about Emu, I certainly wouldn't call them the *best* at anything (well, maybe at marketing).
Click to expand...

I don't think I would really say they are the *best* either. Although I have used EMU products and would say that they performed very well for the little bit of money that I spent on them. I had an EMU 0404 sound card(actually still have it just never use it now) and never had any problems with it. It suited me just well for the 99 bux I paid for it. But I'm no pro and have not been around much so I have very little experience with this stuff. And haven't used a very wide range of products.
 
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