need 2 analog input / midi laptop interface

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dethska
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Dethska

Dethska

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I'm looking for a recording interface to a Mac laptop. I don't know anything about Mac's (it's to be a gift.)

The needs are:

2 analog ins. Preferably XLR and 1/4" so a mic or a guitar can be recorded directly. Phantom power would be nice, but isn't required.

Midi. Some sort of midi interface.

USB, firewire, or PMCIA (?) interface to laptop.

OS X compatibility

24 bit/96kHz preferred.

budget $200-300 (roughly).

Thanks for any and all help!
 
My suggestion would be to look at the M-audio Audiophile USB. It has MIDI, 2 analog ins and 2 outs using either 1/4" or RCA connectors, and features a USB connection for the laptop. You can get them on newegg.com for $155.

This interface doesn't have XLR connections, but you'll need preamps for recording mics and guitar directly anyway. For this I would look into the M-audio Audiobuddy preamp/direct box which goes for around $79 new and features two separate preamps with XLR connections.

$155 + $79 = $234 :-)


An alternative to the Audio buddy might be a small mixer, if he wants to route more audio sources to the computer. You could even save a few bucks from the audiobuddy by going with something like this http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/product.cfm?Product_ID=3141

$49.99 on audiomidi.com...

hope that helps..

trog
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but it's not really ideal. I'll keep it in mind though.

I was looking at the Tascam US-122. Any opinions on this? It seems to have the right features as far as I can tell. Is it 24 bit? Does somebody else make a similiar product?
 
So I used the search function on the Tascam US-122, and it looks real nice. It looks like it'll do just about everything I need it to.

Does anybody have any experience with this product, or opinions? Thanks.
 
hey! what do you know?!

trogdor and wheelema,

I've got a P4 2.2, 512MB, USB1.1/FireWire XPhome Prostar laptop and an Event EZbus. It finally took a USB2 PCcard to hook the EZ into to get the OS to see EZ. MIDI then worked, and transport after I key-mapped, but I could never get good audio into or out of the computer through EZ. I followed all the tips Event's tech sent me, still no good audio.

How can a L/T be set up to get good audio via USB? Are you guys doing audio to L/T via USB?

I note that in this month's article in EMusician ("Best-Laid Plans" sidebar down at the end), Smithers says that he didn't get ANY of the FireWire I/Fs fully functional with his L/T.

Best to you! Thanks!

http://edx.iuma.com
 
Re: hey! what do you know?!

ed323 said:
trogdor and wheelema,

I've got a P4 2.2, 512MB, USB1.1/FireWire XPhome Prostar laptop and an Event EZbus. It finally took a USB2 PCcard to hook the EZ into to get the OS to see EZ. MIDI then worked, and transport after I key-mapped, but I could never get good audio into or out of the computer through EZ. I followed all the tips Event's tech sent me, still no good audio.

How can a L/T be set up to get good audio via USB? Are you guys doing audio to L/T via USB?

I note that in this month's article in EMusician ("Best-Laid Plans" sidebar down at the end), Smithers says that he didn't get ANY of the FireWire I/Fs fully functional with his L/T.

Best to you! Thanks!

http://edx.iuma.com


I'm not sure what you are asking...
What's an L/T?
and to answer your question, no I'm not using USB for my audio. I have a MIDIMAN 2x2 which does use USB, but my Delta 1010 uses a PCI slot.
 
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