Need help with audio interfaces

Y

yeti

New member
Hi guys,

New to this forum and general recording/production of my own music, but I've ordered a Maschine today and was wondering if you could give me some advice on audio interfaces.

Not totally sure which one I should get for my setup:
Dell Vostro 3300
Maschine MK1
Planning on buying the Numark TTUSB in the future.

So at the moment I've just got my laptop and Maschine.
Unfortunately I'm on a budget so the interface has to be under $150, and I'm unsure as to whether all interfaces have a headphone socket but that's essential too.
I've read about the Behringer UCA202, ESI UDJ6 and Icon cube, but I'm sure there are some others out there within my budget that would suit?

So all in all, some suggestions and and help would be greatly appreciated by a noob :)
 
What mix of things do you wish to record? Will you ever need a live microphone for example or only line level sources. How many things might you need to record at one time? I'm sure there's and interface just right for you out there but the more detail you can give about your plans will help get you valid recommendations.
 
If all you are using is the Maschine and the Numark deck, you should not need any additional interface, as these both have USB connections built-in. If you want to add a mic or other equipment, that's another story.
 
Hmmm...that's a good point. And I think it's also worth checking that whatever music production software you use will do with multiple USB inputs. I've never worked this way so that's a genuine question, not any knowledge that there's a problem.

Having said all that, one reason I can see for using some form of interface is to give proper line outs to drive monitors.
 
Bobbsy said:
What mix of things do you wish to record? Will you ever need a live microphone for example or only line level sources. How many things might you need to record at one time?
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for your reply, really appreciate all of the help.
Basically the thing I'll be using most will be the Maschine, and I won't ever need a microphone. I know that the Numark can be recognized by the Maschine via interface and therefore songs can be imported onto the software and Maschine itself.
In the future I may buy an Akai LPK25 which also is a USB connection, but I only have 2 ports on my laptop.
The main reason for getting one as I understand it is to prevent any latency issues when using the Maschine.
I've read some people will install ASIO4ALL which I'm not too sure about how that helps but a lot of people seem to be using interfaces when using the Maschine.
 
Bobbsy said:
And I think it's also worth checking that whatever music production software you use will do with multiple USB inputs.
Click to expand...

The Maschine comes with its own software which is used for editing, and I'm not 100% sure but I think other devices can be recognized through it.

Am I right in thinking that the Numark will just be connected through the interface to the computer and then I would convert vinyl to wav or mp3 to import to the Maschine? Or will the software pick it up?
 
Well, at least THIS bit I understand. Audio interfaces use drivers installed on your computer to control them and there are two basic types of driver: MME (which is a standard all-purpose Windows driver--Mac have their own equivalent) and ASIO which are specialist drivers designed for the lowest possible latency.

Most reasonable interfaces will supply you with specialist ASIO drivers but a few cheapies just use the built in MME ones. ASIO4ALL is a very useful driver app that lets your DAW treat the MME device as an ASIO one. Generally it does improve latency but not usually as much as having the real thing.

Frankly, all you need is the most basic of interface just to drive your monitor speakers. I never thought I'd say this but, before spending any money, I'd buy/make the adaptor cable needed to let you feed your computer's in built sound card to your monitors. If there are noise/hum problems then a basic interface like the Behringer would be the next step--but that's yet another USB device to deal with.

Gah! I feel so unclean suggesting a built in sound card. Must go shower...
 
yeti said:
Am I right in thinking that the Numark will just be connected through the interface to the computer and then I would convert vinyl to wav or mp3 to import to the Maschine? Or will the software pick it up?
Click to expand...

Sorry, hit post before I remembered this bit.

Basically it can go either way depending on your needs and what your computer can handle.

The Numark has two outputs: Phono sockets (after a RIAA pre amp) and USB. So...you could go from the phono sockets into an interface (if/when you buy one) or you could go USB into your computer and have the vinyl content saved as a wave file. (Please promise me not to use MP3 in the production process!)

What I suspect you would not be able to do with either technique is use the Numark and the Maschine live at the same time. I could be wrong but I suspect your computer will just say "wtf" and yell at you a lot.
 
Do you have or have access to a hi fi rig with a turntable?

If so the Behringer UCA 202* is the cheapest option that I know will work but do not discount a second hand AI such as the M-A fast track pro or the Tascam 122/144s. I have had both and they work fine.

Re the paucity of usb ports on the Dell. Do not try to use an AI on a hub but a MIDI device should be fine. My research has shown (the WORK we do for yous guys!) that the lappy has an express slot so you could get a 4 port usb 2.0 card. I have an 850mHz HP laptop with ONE 1.1 port but a Maplin 4port usb 2.0 card works a treat!

*Input from the hi fi amp's tape outs.

Dave.
 
Thanks for all of your help Bobbsy!
Just a few final questions, hopefully.

The ASIO4ALL driver will help to decrease latency, so I may not need an interface?
As you said before, the Numark can connect straight into my laptop as it has 2 USB ports as I understand it?

Not being able to use the Maschine at the same time as the Numark won't be a problem, as most people who use this setup will have them already connected, play the vinyl and have it import straight into the Maschine (after setting both up in the software), and the Maschine is pretty fast with retrieving the samples as well.

Would you say to install the ASIO4ALL regardless of an interface or not?
With the type of thing I'll be doing - just using Numark and Maschine, would you say that the Behringer UCA202 would be fine for me?
As you said with the hum/noise, I do experience that just with my speakers generally, so using an interface would probably reduce this.
And finally, to use the Numark, do I need any particular cables or splitters to plug it into the computer/interface?

Thanks again for all your help, I really appreciate it!
 
ecc83 said:
Do you have or have access to a hi fi rig with a turntable?

If so the Behringer UCA 202* is the cheapest option that I know will work but do not discount a second hand AI such as the M-A fast track pro or the Tascam 122/144s. I have had both and they work fine.
Click to expand...

I think I do, but it's really old and is not able to be connected via USB, kinda why I'm contemplating the Numark TTUSB for sampling.
Yeah, I've read up on the UCA202 and I think it's got enough ports for what I will use it for, but I've been looking on eBay also, to see if I can find a used one of better quality.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Maschine is able to be plugged straight into the laptop as it comes with USB cable, so I'd only need the interface for the TT. Is that correct?

Thanks for your help!
 
There is a guy around here who uses the maschine. He can probably set you up. I'll send him a pm to ask him to pop in.

I say if you are considering the uc202, you might as well just use your laptop Line In and Line Out with ASIO4ALL. It's basically the same thing. But i am not familiar with the maschine or numark youbare talking about, so maybe the behringer converter will be okay for you. But consider future needs as well. You might want to include vocal or other audio in the future and the behrniger thing won't abide.
 
Chili said:
There is a guy around here who uses the maschine. He can probably set you up. I'll send him a pm to ask him to pop in.

I say if you are considering the uc202, you might as well just use your laptop Line In and Line Out with ASIO4ALL. It's basically the same thing. But i am not familiar with the maschine or numark youbare talking about, so maybe the behringer converter will be okay for you. But consider future needs as well. You might want to include vocal or other audio in the future and the behrniger thing won't abide.
Click to expand...

Hey Chili, thanks for doing that for me, and your help!

Yeah the UCA202 seems to be okay for me, I'm not going to need to record vocals, but might end up buying a MIDI keyboard at some point, in the immediate future I'll only be using the Maschine and TT.
I do have an Ariston Q Deck (really old) and I was wondering if I could use that with my laptop? If so, does it need an audio interface? I'd prefer to use this instead of the Numark as the Ariston is a lot better in terms of quality!
 
Ok Yeti, bit of a roundup?

If you have a decent turntable/arm/cartridge setup you can use that but you will need an RIAA corrected pre amp* or "phono" preamp (not to be confused with "phono plugs" although such a pre amp will certainly use them. You could not make this stuff up could you!?)....Deep breath,,,THAT feeds the UCA 202 to get vinyl sound onto the PC.

The UCA 202 is NOT the same as computer on board sound (with respect) PC soundcards are generally horrible, there are exceptions, my HP i3 is very good but mostly they are rubbish. The 202 is close to the theoretical noise performance of any 16bit device and that is WAY better than you need for vinyl or tape dubbing. The unit does not overload gracefully so keep levels well below peak (around -8dBFS. If that is ggook atmo, you WILL learn!).

You would of course be better off with almost any kind of proper audio interface but at ~£20 here the 202 is a bit of a bargain if you are strapped.

*I will have a lookysee at cheap pre amps for thee.

STEREO PHONO POWER PRE-AMPLIFIER AUDIO DJ AMP PREAMP: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics Bout as cheap as you want to go but there are zillions of the things.

Dave.
 
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Just skimmed the posts but i run decks and maschine as well us other hardware...i wouldnt recommend the UCA...itll be fine for your set up as is...but recording anything else in the future will show its limitations...its really just for connecting decks and/or a mixer to a PC, not really audio recording..

Id also not recommend just connecting them to your PC without an audio interface, as youll end up getting all kinds of pops and crackles from maschine as the software will push a built in audio card too much...theyre just not designed for than kind of complexity

Maschine really eats resources, its not multicore and synths like massive that come with it are very cpu intensive, anything that helps take the load of your system will help

There are a few sub $150 interfaces you could go for, especially if you look used...ive seen fast track ultras come in under that price and that gives you 6 in and 6 out, midi, four pre amps and its stable...i use a focusrite scarlett 18i6, it has a 8i6 in that range..,but youd have to be prepared for some setting up if you use DAWs like Ableton in the future...great quality otherwise...but these will future proof you for a while, especially if you intend on adding more gear in the future
 
kcearl said:
Just skimmed the posts but i run decks and maschine as well us other hardware...i wouldnt recommend the UCA...itll be fine for your set up as is...but recording anything else in the future will show its limitations...its really just for connecting decks and/or a mixer to a PC, not really audio recording..

Id also not recommend just connecting them to your PC without an audio interface, as youll end up getting all kinds of pops and crackles from maschine as the software will push a built in audio card too much...theyre just not designed for than kind of complexity

There are a few sub $150 interfaces you could go for, especially if you look used...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I understand now that an interface is essential, so I'm happy to buy one, I'm just on a tight budget having spent quite a lot on the Maschine.

The only thing that I might connect to this setup in the future would be an Akai LPK25, but even then it's very unlikely anything else will be added.
I have looked for some interfaces for under $150, but as I'm totally new to this stuff, I have no idea which one would suit me best - any ideas?

Thanks everyone for all of your help though, it's making this process a lot easier!
 
yeti said:
Yeah, I understand now that an interface is essential, so I'm happy to buy one, I'm just on a tight budget having spent quite a lot on the Maschine.

The only thing that I might connect to this setup in the future would be an Akai LPK25, but even then it's very unlikely anything else will be added.
I have looked for some interfaces for under $150, but as I'm totally new to this stuff, I have no idea which one would suit me best - any ideas?

Thanks everyone for all of your help though, it's making this process a lot easier!
Click to expand...

If your on a really tight buget look at the tascam interfaces...maybe the U122 or 144...these will far outperform the UCA, will give you a few more options if you want to sample from a mic or other line level or xlr input, they have midi...they are cheap, around $40-50 used on fleabay, and work with asio or core drivers
 
kcearl said:
If your on a really tight buget look at the tascam interfaces...maybe the U122 or 144...these will far outperform the UCA, will give you a few more options if you want to sample from a mic or other line level or xlr input...they are cheap, around $40-50 used on fleabay, and work with asio or core drivers
Click to expand...

Yeah, said that. Just to be accurate those interfaces will not "far outperform" the UCA 202 in any way that you could tell, especially just duping crackly, distorted, hissy vinyl!

The Behringer thang IS just a stereo, consumer line level converter in a small tin and for what it does and is, it performs very well.

Dave.
 
Thanks ecc!

Makes perfect sense now! I'm looking for a used Tascam U122/144/125 on eBay as suggested by kcearl.
For sampling vinyl, would any one of these be better than the other? I'll also be plugging in my monitors and headphones if that makes any difference.
 
ecc83 said:
Yeah, said that. Just to be accurate those interfaces will not "far outperform" the UCA 202 in any way that you could tell, especially just duping crackly, distorted, hissy vinyl!

The Behringer thang IS just a stereo, consumer line level converter in a small tin and for what it does and is, it performs very well.

Dave.
Click to expand...

If he decides to record anything other than that deck they will do a better job of it...i have used the behri to try record through a mic and a guitar whilst on the road using a laptop and it was awful, for a few bucks more you get something that will manage something half decent, and provide many more input options

The tascam still budget, very budget...but it is a better choice in the long term

Just imho of course
 
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