Making first home studio

[DM60]

Ok now i'm confused Is that mean that i shoul definitely get the one with MIDI or the other one ?

If you get one without MIDI, then when you get a keyboard, you should get one with has USB for MIDI connection. If your keyboard you are going to use has MIDI DIN, then get the one with MIDI DIN, so that you don't have to buy one later.

The answer depends on your future needs as you know them today.

 

[Saloje]

ok but if we forget about MIDI complete, what product is better , and is scarlett beter just because he costs more ?

 

[ecc83]

Ok now i'm confused Is that mean that i shoul definitely get the one with MIDI or the other one ?

We are all I think sorry for this confusion caused. To be honest, none of the interfaces so far mentioned would serve you at all badly in any way. Not even the very cheap M-Audio/Alesis Bobbs mentioned en passant.

I am going to say that unless someone here has any valid, supportable reason to recommend the more expensive 2i2 save your money, you will have lots more to buy in this game afore you are done!

DM60. My meaning re "old" is that "noobs" might take the word to also mean Obsolete, not to be desired or to be avoided. DINs are an "open" system, anything MIDI can use them. Buy definition, USB needs a host.
We still see DIN MIDI on some very salubrious kit! And not just synths.

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

ok but if we forget about MIDI complete, what product is better , and is scarlett beter just because he costs more ?

No, not IMHO. As I said, if anyone has demonstrable evidence that the 2i2 is superior I shall be pleased to read it. As it is, all I see is that you are paying more for a name and some pretty LEDs.

The MIDI COSTS YOU NOTHING! (nor should it IMO!) and I am sorry but it is not true to say that if a controller has USB you will never need a MIDI interface. Most USB controller DO NOT have a MIDI input thus the system is closed and any legacy gear you might find will not work.

Bottom line? I do not see any reason to pay more for the 2i2 but I wait to be convinced.

Dave.

 

[Saloje]

Thx guys .If extra money is for LED-s and not for quality i'l go with Presonus then and thank you all for taking you time to help a newbie here, he he )

Peace

 

[flyhighsounds]

I would go with Scarlett. Not only are pre-amp bette and run smother on most laptop or PC. If you have the wrong chip set on your laptop you well never get your presonus to work.

 

[ecc83]

I would go with Scarlett. Not only are pre-amp bette and run smother on most laptop or PC. If you have the wrong chip set on your laptop you well never get your presonus to work.

Are you stuck in a Fussywire timewarp? I have been using all sorts of MOBOs and USB AIs and read a lot of ***t about them for nearly 9 years and I have never come across a USB chipset issue.

Dave.

 

[flyhighsounds]

Are you stuck in a Fussywire timewarp? I have been using all sorts of MOBOs and USB AIs and read a lot of ***t about them for nearly 9 years and I have never come across a USB chipset issue.

Dave.

Str8t from there website doggie.

Is my AudioBox compatible with USB 3.0? : PreSonus Audio Electronics

http://support.presonus.com/attachments/token/iuc0axilqgu8z6q/?name=3point0.PNG

---------- Update ----------

Are you stuck in a Fussywire timewarp? I have been using all sorts of MOBOs and USB AIs and read a lot of ***t about them for nearly 9 years and I have never come across a USB chipset issue.

Dave.

Str8t from there website doggie.

http://support.presonus.com/entries/21477544-Is-my-AudioBox-compatible-with-USB-3-0-

http://support.presonus.com/attachments/token/iuc0axilqgu8z6q/?name=3point0.PNG

 

[ecc83]

Ok, so ignoring (but not forgiving) the txtspk, you have identified certain instances where an AudioBox MiGHT give a problem but as I say, over many years of following various forums and magazine articles and reviews, this is the first time I have heard of it.

The USB 3.0 issue is news to me as well but does not surprise me. There will always be backwards compatibility problems with SOME computers and SOME devices, not just audio interfaces. In any event, do you know of a PC that has ONLY USB 3.0 ports?

Contrast this with the problems about 3-4 years ago with Firewire? There was only ONE chipset, the TI that could be relied upon for audio and even here, not every PC/AI combination worked reliably and if you got an earth loop issue with FW you were pretty much doomed.

Focusrite were not immune from software/driver issues either but to such a small extent that I would not criticize them for it "There but for.......!" I DO criticize them for the lack of headroom on 2i2( now fixed, a bit!) and the lack of MIDI at the price of the AI (and/or lack of S/PDIF).

Dave.

 

[Saloje]

Well i have a PC i5 3570 3.40 GHz quad core processor, Asrock Z77 pro3 motherboard with usb 2.0 and 3.0 support, 8 GB DDR 3 memory and Win7 64 bit Enterprise - Is that a problem ?

 

[ecc83]

Well i have a PC i5 3570 3.40 GHz quad core processor, Asrock Z77 pro3 motherboard with usb 2.0 and 3.0 support, 8 GB DDR 3 memory and Win7 64 bit Enterprise - Is that a problem ?

Not in the slightest and to back that up. If the Audiobox DOES have an issue I will send you the difference in price to get the 2i2 plus a bit for your trouble.

Over here we have very strong mail order consumer laws. We have 7 days to return an item, FOR ANY REASON OR NONE. Who will you be buying from?

Dave.

 

[Saloje]

Well apparently from these guys
http://www.audiopro.hr/proizvod/presonus-audiobox-studio-complete?idPrim=15&idSec=92&idTer=226&idPro=4300

 

[Saloje]

I happy to announce that I'm proud owner of Presonus audioBox Studio pack. Now i supose i have to disable my onboard Audio device . Is there any major setup i need to know that can be adjusted in DAW or win before i start or i'm good to go ?

Thx

 

[ecc83]

I happy to announce that I'm proud owner of Presonus audioBox Studio pack. Now i supose i have to disable my onboard Audio device . Is there any major setup i need to know that can be adjusted in DAW or win before i start or i'm good to go ?

Thx

Right! First job. Set a Restore point in Windows, call it "Pre Pre" or similar.

OBSound, since you have mentioned it and if you know how, yes kill it. Also stop all Windows bleeps and bloops.
Obviously RTFM!

Usually AI makers tell you to visit their site for the latest, specific drivers (poss firmware updates as well) and equally usually The Book will tell you to install most, if not all the software BEFORE you plug in the AI.

Take your time, make notes. I do not envisage problems but the installation can often be counter-intuitive. Don't Panic! The collective "we" here have been there hundreds of times. We shall prevail.

Rock on,
Dave.

 

[Saloje]

Hi all. Finnaly my new Audiobox works. I instaled drivers and Studio one. Btw what sample rate to choose and what ASIO buffer size in Audio Box USB setup ? Studio one is still mystery to me and after few hours trying to figure what inputs and outputs to use and how to import audio files ( mps, wav dont work in this version ) i finally gave up and switched to Audobe audition. Recorded my wife voice and it sounded GREAT - yeah. THx for tips all.I realy enjoy recording.

 

[ecc83]

Hi all. Finnaly my new Audiobox works. I instaled drivers and Studio one. Btw what sample rate to choose and what ASIO buffer size in Audio Box USB setup ? Studio one is still mystery to me and after few hours trying to figure what inputs and outputs to use and how to import audio files ( mps, wav dont work in this version ) i finally gave up and switched to Audobe audition. Recorded my wife voice and it sounded GREAT - yeah. THx for tips all.I realy enjoy recording.

I have not used Studio One but I cannot think that it will not import MP3s and .wavs? I guess there is a demo I can dldd and try.

Sample rate? 44.1kHz for everything except video (tho' that probably doesn't matter so much these days? )
You didn't ask but word length (aka bit depth) can be 16bits for most stuff but live recordings do at 24 bits as this allows you to run the average level in the DAW at -18 even -20dBFS (Full Scale) giving you the best possible dynamic range. In practice my setups are 24bits by default and IF I think I switch to 16bits for Radio rips.

Buffer size: Tricky one this! For LISTENING it doesn't matter, so long as it is big enough to give clean, glitch free sound you can run 128, 256, 512 samples or much bigger buffers. This PC is running Radio 3 (Bruckner Vil Con) faultlessly on a 2496 soundcard at 256 samples.

For recording where you need to monitor the PC sound, using an onboard effect or playing a softsynth say, you will need a smaller buffer size to reduce latency. People are very variably in how much delay they can cope with but unless you are unusually ornery I dare say the Audiobox will go low enough. But!.....Just enjoy things for now and we can fine tune the system later.

Try Reaper and also Samplitude, you MIGHT just "click" with the latter. We did.

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

Buffer size: Tricky one this! For LISTENING it doesn't matter, so long as it is big enough to give clean, glitch free sound you can run 128, 256, 512 samples or much bigger buffers. This PC is running Radio 3 (Bruckner Vil Con) faultlessly on a 2496 soundcard at 256 samples.

For recording where you need to monitor the PC sound, using an onboard effect or playing a softsynth say, you will need a smaller buffer size to reduce latency. People are very variably in how much delay they can cope with but unless you are unusually ornery I dare say the Audiobox will go low enough. But!.....Just enjoy things for now and we can fine tune the system later.

Worth saying that the Audiobox has direct hardware monitoring so, unless the OP is using MIDI or wants to put an effect on his own voice as he records (bad, bad idea) you can use a nice big buffer setting for safety. Just use the "mixer" knob to set the balance between computer playback and live stuff "on mic", then use the headphone volume knob to set the over all level.

That said, I don't know about the OP's system but I can generally work pretty happily at 128 samples (at least until the track count goes sky high) and that's under 3ms at 44.1. My desire to use higher buffer settings is driven by paranoia rather than (probably) any real need.

 

[ecc83]

Worth saying that the Audiobox has direct hardware monitoring so, unless the OP is using MIDI or wants to put an effect on his own voice as he records (bad, bad idea) you can use a nice big buffer setting for safety. Just use the "mixer" knob to set the balance between computer playback and live stuff "on mic", then use the headphone volume knob to set the over all level.

That said, I don't know about the OP's system but I can generally work pretty happily at 128 samples (at least until the track count goes sky high) and that's under 3ms at 44.1. My desire to use higher buffer settings is driven by paranoia rather than (probably) any real need.

Oh yeah, Direct Monitoring.......Can't remember everything! Old you know!

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

LOL! It's just that wish your MIDI fetish you probably don't use direct monitoring much...

 

[ecc83]

LOL! It's just that wish your MIDI fetish you probably don't use direct monitoring much...

Heh! I do have things set for PC sound out, radio, Toob etc but not for MIDI ! I can just about struggle through G S t Queen!

Mind you, I rarely use an external AI and with a Delta card fitted all such hissings about don't apply.

BTW. Just bought a Behringer D 120 DI box. I wanted to test one for its noise performance. So far, pretty poor. Will put some figures up in the Guitar Section.

Dave.