Need a USB audio interface for my dmp3 preamp to use for mic

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kratos

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I'm recording vocals only. Could you please tell me some good audio interfaces USB which I can connect my dmp3 preamp and route it to my pc? The mic is going on the dmp3 btw.
I only want to spend below $200

thanks
 
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=usb+audio+interface

There's a reason that Behringer UFO202 thing is the first thing you see.
It's because it sells really well.
Is that because it is a great piece of kit and a great deal?
No.
It's because it's dirt cheap and it's called a USB audio interface.
So everybody who hears they need one googles it and sees, "Oh, that's easy. I can afford $30 and then I can make recordings like the pros!"
Don't fall for that.
You pay for quality.
See that sweetwater link?
That's gonna have a good representation of the range of USB audio interfaces that are out there.
So will the ZZounds link a little way below it.
The difference between a $150 and a $170 audio interface with the exact same in/out configuration and other features?
Probably not a whole lot.
Look around and see what in your price range catches your eye.
Then read reviews of it...
NO! not the reviews on the sweetwater page. Those are almost unanimously positive.
Google that product's name plus "review."
Search this forum for that product.
Read a bunch.
Make sure it's gonna work with your particular setup.

Nobody is going to have posted "your particular setup" plus "the product you're looking at" anywhere, so don't bother googling that.
Look specifically for people who've had problems with that particular piece of gear and see if their problems were caused by something they have that you also have. Also look for how those problems were resolved.
Did they just forget to install the latest drivers?
Did they get a lemon new in the box?
If so, how much trouble was it to get a replacement from the manufacturer?
If you buy from a company with known quality control issues, bear in mind that you might end up paying more in return shipping than you saved on a more trusted brand, even if they do happily replace the broken product.

Also, since you have the preamp already, have you considered a PCI or PCIE interface? If you're on a desktop, there're some really good ones that fit well within your price range, and are probably gonna end up being higher quality and more reliable than equivalently priced USB audio interfaces.
If that sounds interesting, I bet you have a good idea how to find out more about them.:D
 
kratos said:
I'm recording vocals only. Could you please tell me some good audio interfaces USB which I can connect my dmp3 preamp and route it to my pc? The mic is going on the dmp3 btw.
I only want to spend below $200

thanks
Click to expand...

The good news here is the DMP3 is actually supposed to be a pretty good budget preamp. So, you're going to want to spring for the best AD/DA conversion you can afford, since your pre is about as good as anything in an interface you're going to be able to afford.

The PCI suggestion isn't a bad one, since that way you're going to be paying mostly for the quality of the conversion, and not for preamps you won't really need.

Is $200 a hard limit? And are you limited to USB, or do you also have a Firewire port (or an open PCI slot to install a firewire card)? This is more than double your target, but is supposed to be fantastic if you can swing it. If not, and if you don't want to install a PCI card, then I'd look at either a M-Audio Fast Track Pro of a Presonus Audiobox.
 
If you have a Desktop computer and an available PCI slot go with that. Since you already have a reasonable budget preamp, why waste money on More pre amps that are probably not as good as what you already have which is mostly what you'lll get with a $200 USB interface.

Look at something like an m-audio 24/96 PCI interface. Just covfersion and you can plug your DMP straight into it. This will very likely give you better sound than going with a USB interface and probably cost you less too. (Around 100 bucks), for higher sample rates conversion you could get an m-audio Audiophile 192 for around $200

Of course if you can't go the PCI route then all bets are off
 
Bristol Posse said:
If you have a Desktop computer and an available PCI slot go with that. Since you already have a reasonable budget preamp, why waste money on More pre amps that are probably not as good as what you already have which is mostly what you'lll get with a $200 USB interface.

Look at something like an m-audio 24/96 PCI interface. Just covfersion and you can plug your DMP straight into it. This will very likely give you better sound than going with a USB interface and probably cost you less too. (Around 100 bucks), for higher sample rates conversion you could get an m-audio Audiophile 192 for around $200

Of course if you can't go the PCI route then all bets are off
Click to expand...

Do I have to remove my soundcard to fit that audio interfae coz I am planning to get some soundblaster sound cards anyway
 
kratos said:
Do I have to remove my soundcard to fit that audio interfae coz I am planning to get some soundblaster sound cards anyway
Click to expand...

If you have onboard sound on the motherboard you just disable that and use the PCI card as your soundcard instead (very easy to do). Tha twould be the case whether M-audio or Soundblaster

Soundblasters are ok for games and watching movies but are a poor choice for recording. It's not what they are designed for (no matter what Creative may claim) and they do a poor job of audio to digital conversion for sound recording from Mics etc
 
Bristol Posse said:
If you have onboard sound on the motherboard you just disable that and use the PCI card as your soundcard instead (very easy to do). Tha twould be the case whether M-audio or Soundblaster

Soundblasters are ok for games and watching movies but are a poor choice for recording. It's not what they are designed for (no matter what Creative may claim) and they do a poor job of audio to digital conversion for sound recording from Mics etc
Click to expand...

So wait.. What sound card is good for recording then? I thought that sound card would help fix the pop/cracklig sound of my vst instruments which is caused by my cheap pc soundcard.
 
kratos said:
So wait.. What sound card is good for recording then? I thought that sound card would help fix the pop/cracklig sound of my vst instruments which is caused by my cheap pc soundcard.
Click to expand...

from further up the thread:)
Look at something like an m-audio 24/96 PCI interface. Just covfersion and you can plug your DMP straight into it. This will very likely give you better sound than going with a USB interface and probably cost you less too. (Around 100 bucks), for higher sample rates conversion you could get an m-audio Audiophile 192 for around $200
Click to expand...
 
An interface, be it a PCI or USB or firewire, is a soundcard.
On this site, "soundcard" refers to the cheap ones that either come with your computer or are created by soundblaster etc... and are meant for gaming and other consumer level audio applications.
When you get an interface, you will disable whatever soundcard is already in your computer and never think about it again.
Your interface, along with having analog ins (that you'll send the output from your preamp to) will have analog outs that you'll plug your monitors into.
So, if you're planning on buying any sort of interface, absolutely do not buy a soundblaster.
 
The Cancers said:
An interface, be it a PCI or USB or firewire, is a soundcard.
On this site, "soundcard" refers to the cheap ones that either come with your computer or are created by soundblaster etc... and are meant for gaming and other consumer level audio applications.
When you get an interface, you will disable whatever soundcard is already in your computer and never think about it again.
Your interface, along with having analog ins (that you'll send the output from your preamp to) will have analog outs that you'll plug your monitors into.
So, if you're planning on buying any sort of interface, absolutely do not buy a soundblaster.
Click to expand...

Nicely put
 
Kratos

Head back to the Newbies forum where you've asked your other questions. This is dealt with in great depth in many, many threads there. Do a bit of reading and all will be clear....
 
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