Help Me Choose An Audio Interface (and Software)

[TommyEmmanuel]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to recording, and just looking to set up a simple home studio. I'd like to get an audio interface, but I'm not really sure where to start. I'm going to be using a Rode NT1-A condenser microphone, so I'd like the interface to have phantom power. I'd also like the interface to have built in pre-amps. I only need two imputs as the most I'll be recording at one time is my vocals as well as an acoustic guitar.

If it makes any difference, the computer I will be using to record with is an HP Pavillion m4287c desktop with Windows Vista.

My budget is around $300, so if anyone has some suggestions on an interface, that would be great! Ideally I'd like to spend less than that, but I'd rather pay to get something of really nice quality than save a couple bucks and end up with crappy sounding recordings.

Also, I'm trying to decide which recording software to get. Pro Tools seems to be the most popular, and Cakewalk sounds like it's geared towards Vista users, but I'm really open to anything. So if anyone has any suggestions on which software I should go with, that would be fantastic as well.

Thanks for your time!

 

[TommyEmmanuel]

Oh, and one more newbie (stupid) question. Would I be better off getting a separate preamp to run my microphone through before I plug it into the interface, or are there interfaces with good enough quality preamps that I wouldn't need to do this?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

[Jim Lad]

No need for extra preamps.
I usually suggest the M Audio Fast Track Pro because I know it well, it works and has features that you will not anticipate but will miss down the road.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...ro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface?sku=241710
By the time you decide whether or not you want to pursue this hobby further, you will have a much better idea of what interface or other options you wish to purchase and this unit will not have outlived its usefulness.
There are other units such as Edirol, EMU, Presonus which others can recommend.
Also, check out Tweakheadz Guide http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
Have fun with it.

 

[TimOBrien]

Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)


While I'm here....
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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

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/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

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

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)


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/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) 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 FREE 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 gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)