Looking for USB / Firewire interface with 2 or so inputs for goofin off with a laptop

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pisces7378

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I am seriously considering buying the EMI 2/6 from eMagic just so that me and the lads can have something to goof around with after hours with a pair for acoustic guitar, my Rode mic, and my lap top. Now I went to the e-magic website to take a look at this EMI 2/6 interface and it LOOKS ok, but as usual the website is set up like SHIT and I cannot see the rear. I have no idea what kind of inputs it has (i.e 1/4 inch, XLR, etc...) Phantom Power isn't mentioned.

What else is there along these lines?

Is this thing a pretty good thing for only $350?

Anyone's thoughts?

Thanks guys
 
Boy this post feels lonely. I had to post this message just to keep my question company... :)
 
What laptop do you have?

I'd say go with a cardbus system like the Hammerfall or Echo Mona, or go firewire like the Presonus Firestation or Motu 828.

The Digi 002 by Digidesign looks cool too, but pricey.
 
My laptop is a SONY Vario with the following specs...

Pent IV 1.5gHz
256MB DDRAM
40GB HDD
DVD/CD-RW Drive
Windows XP Professional

The laptop is brand new and it is bad ass as far as laptops go. It isn't my first choice for digital audio, and I am in no way intending it to be my main system. But sometimes me and the buys like to sit around and goof around over a few beers on the couch. I am not hauling my whole rig over to their living room just for some beer music. I was just wondering if there was a good cheap USB or Firewire solution for a coupld of inputs?

My other problem is as so. My laptop does not have a Firewire port. It does have 3 USB ports. What are my options as far as firewire interfaces are concerned? Can I just forget about it with my laptop? Or is there someway to "turn" a USB port into a Firewire port?

My laptop also has one of these slots for inserting an ethernet card. Since I will never use Ethernet I have no clue what the data exchange rate is nor if it is good enough for Digital audio.

Which is better...

USB
Firewire
Ethernet slots?

And can I convert a USB prot somehow to firewire if I wanted the MOTU firewire unit(s)?
 
I would skip USB all together and spend the extra bucks on one of Echo's PC-Card (PCMCIA) audio interfaces. They are the best alternative short of using a desktop PC with a PCI card.

USB was never intended to be an interface for audio devices. It was meant to replace the serial interface on computers, nothing else.
 
pices7378 --

Are u still interested in a USB card? In another post I saw that you proclaimed USB Sucks.

For little money, they m-audio products look good, like $250 for their duo. For stereo recording it is probably ok, though i have heard both good and bad things about them.

Then there is the digigram xp pocket with is about $500. I ended up ordering the RME Hammerfall Multiface.
 
USB does suck if you are trying to base an Audio Workstation around a USB interface. That is what I thought that poor chap was thinking. I think USB might be ok (although I have never tried it) for a couple of tracks. But once you get above 3-4 tracks... it is probably latency filled gittery, shite.

I am all about the Mona from Echo. I think I am going to buy one today... right now.
 
cool. good luck!

Can I ask why you are picking the mona over the RME? I only ask b/c you are in Germany, where I think you would get the RME products for cheaper.

For me it was between the echo and rme. It was kinda a toss up, the mona was more economical and all in one. However, since it isn't expandable, the adat is only 48k, had no midi and with the built in pre's you can't insert a compresser. Also, the RME was smaller, and comes with power cords to attach it to a battery for wireless recording.

They are both great units though. What I wrote above was true for me only and I still almost picked the mona.

Again, good luck!
 
Honestly I am going for the Mona because I cannot find a place online that carries the RME Hammerfall. I finally found it on 8thstreet.com and it looked ok. But the Mona "looks" slicker. At least I am honest.

I really know nothing about LapTop type audio interfaces. I know that I want a PCMCIA CardBus interface instead of a IEEE 1394 or USB. I already have Midi interface to use with my Roland JV1010 and keyboard controller should I ever want to actually do a full on LapTop project. (Which I doubt I will ever do).

I am literally looking for the cheapest and MOST STABLE solution with about 3 or 4 inputs with Phantom power. I will not have a mixer in the picture, so could you please tell me, since I am in Germany and cannot easily just go to a music store and ask...

What is "better" for just sitting around with friends writing songs on an acoustic guitar with a LapTop? I do a lot of touring, and a Hotel room jam session on acoustics would be a perfect solution, expecially since my memory is SHITE!!! I need sort of a digital notepad with the abilty to overdub guitar parts.

What is NOT important in this decission...

1. Midi ain't important.

2. Large amount of simultanious track recording is not important. (4 tracks at the same time would be fine.)

3. Size is not important. (a 1U rack unit is not too big)

4. I have Logic Audio, so any free software will not even be used.

5. 96kHz is not importat since I only have a 20GB Hard Drive and would never record higher than 48kHz.

Things that ARE important in this decission...

1. 1/4 inch and XLR input jacks.

2. PCI CardBus interface and not Firewire or USB

3. Price under $700

4. Universal power supply (I live in Europe but am an American and will be using it all over the world)

5. Supported by Logic Audio.

6. Is quick and painless to set up, learn to work, and get recording pretty much out of the box. (I had a nightmare with IRQ interupts with my PCI card in my studio DAW system.)

7. Compatable drivers for Windows XP (I cannot find this anywhere, and am getting worried that XP is not supported by the Echo Mona) :(

Now having said all of this I would like to add a final question...

If I bought the REM Hammerfall or the Echo Mona Laptop System, could I do the following?
Record me and 3 other guys at the same time (4 inputs of 2x guitar/ 1x bass / 1x bongo drums) and then come back and listen to the mix through headphones while overdubing vocals on 4 inputs ( 1 lead vocals + 3 part backing harmonies etc.)
Then maybe overdub some kayboard parts if needs be?

This will be maybe 9-10 tracks recorded over three passes. 2 recordings of 4 tracks and one of 1-2 tracks.

Will all of that work on the Mona or RME? If so then I think I have just found a kick ass solution to all my song writting problems.

Which would you recommend the RME Hammerfall or the Mona?
 
Seems like the mona is your ticket! Good price, all in one, simple.


If I bought the REM Hammerfall or the Echo Mona Laptop System, could I do the following?
Click to expand...

You should be able to, with no problems. The only thing is if you are talking about needing more than one set of headphones. Not sure about whether you can do this or not.
 
Adam...

Yeah I thought about the lack of headphone capabilities. The example I mentioned was an absolutel worst case scenerio. (I mean Jesus, did you really think that me and the guys would be working out three part harmonies??? No WAY!!!) :) We are luck if we can work out a melody for the lead vocals. And bongo drums??? They sound cool, but I would be more interested in a cool drum machine. (Our drummer wouldn't know what to do with bongos anyway.)

I was just making sure that you guys thought that this thing would be able to handle at least 4 inputs, and be able to overdub more after the 4 inputs.

Thanks Adam.
 
couch

Don't take this the wrong way, but this is exactly what I use my cassette 4-track for.

Just for carrying with me so I can remember noodlings etc. Then If I want to use it later I can just record the parts back into the pooter.

But to be fair, I've never cared that much if it's lofi, maybe you need the reproduction, I don't know.

But 4-tracks are v. convenient, real plugnplay!

Of course, phantom power might be a problem.
 
Yeah I had a Fostc 4 track back in the acient days of Cassette port-a-studios being the latest and greatest thing.

It was great. I loved it. It cost me about $700 back then. Now this Mona costs $689. Funny how the technology moves along, but the prices bounce around, but stay relatively the same.

Think about a scientific calculator in 1980 ($250) compared to a scientific calculator now ($17). BUT There are still $250 calculators. The "latest and greatest" price seems to change much slower than we think.
 
4track

I don't know about the US, but you can get a dual input 4track in the UK for about 110 pounds ie under 200 $.

And you only have to carry one box!
 
Cakey

That is cool. You can get that kind of stuff in the US too. But analog is a road that I have traveled for farr too long. I wanted some sound quality to my song writting "sketchpad". I ordered the Echo Mona Laptop System 2 days ago and I cannot wait for it to arrive.

This is a bit off the subject but I know a girl that goes to the University of Nottingham and she is into music technology as well. Do you know any greek girls named Anna?

Just a shot in the dark.
 
Speeking Greek

No, I don't.

I am at the University but don't really mix with MT type people - I'm an engineer by department and musically I mix with bandy people rather than MT people. However I do know some Greek girls.

And analogue ain't so bad.

Admittedly, cassette does leave a lot to be desired.

Just out of interest, how big is the interface compared to the laptop?
 
Re: 4track

Cakey2 said:
I don't know about the US, but you can get a dual input 4track in the UK for about 110 pounds ie under 200 $.

And you only have to carry one box!
Click to expand...

You can get a Zoom MRS-04 which is digital and records to Smart Media for $225. That's better than a cassette recorder.

But I'd still rather use a laptop.
 
The Unit is "roughly" the same size across as my laptop. It is a typical 1U rack mount system. It is THE MOST portable thing in the world. I mean I can't record my masterpieces while jogging, but it certainly beats lugging my PC or Mac based DAW down to the practice space two or three times a week. And during a tour it will certainly keep me company in my hotel room.

I decided to go with a digital laptop system because it is expandable and there is the possibility for Midi. With one of these all in one digital workstations there is never an on board midi sequencer. I didn't buy Logic Audio Platinum just so I can forget about it's midi potential. Not that I am all about Midi. Infact I am quite in favor of, if it isn't produced naturally, then you are kind of slipping in dishonesty into your art.

But for writing songs (which is my goal with this project) my Boss DR-770 drum machine should be able to provide me with at least a solid beat to give me a better vision of what something might sound like as a finished product.
 
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