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goodbyebluesky

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I'm a newbie, and considering the following:

Tascam US 122 seems like a good deal because for only 200 bucks I get the usb interface, Cubase, and entry level preamp with phantom power.
I record acoustic guitar and electric, and vocals in the future maybe. I just record one track at a time, no band stuff. 2 inputs is fine for me. And it being USB eliminates me having to spend money on a soundcard right?

Presonus Firebox looks good as well, is it worth the extra 100? Better sounding pre? Cost more because of the added inputs/outputs?

I need an interface and software to record on the computer and can only spend 200-300, and would like a usable preamp on the interface since I hadn't gotten around to buying a good one. I'm currently using a Bellari MP105 toob pre into my tascam dp-01 workstation to record my acoustic guitars.

I have a laptop available to me right now, but it needs a firewire card if I go with the firebox, and a bigger HD. I think it currently has a 15 gig w/128mg ram. If it cost too much to outfit the laptop my father and I might just build a PC in which case I can probably run a lot more ram and a much bigger HD. He has all that stuff on hand to build to suit. I just don't want to have to invest in a high-end soundcard cus if he doesn't have it on hand I have to front up the cash for one. That is why I'm thinking usb/firewire is for me.

That was a lot of open-ended questions for sure. Anyone with friendly advice welcome to respond.
 
anyone?? I've used the search option, so I'm not comin outta left field. I just want some opinions.
 
Read my sig. I chose the Presonus Inspire 1394. It is also $200. Audio only. Good pres. No midi or S/PDIF. Expandable.

My recording is somewhat as you described. Acoustic and electronificated (my term) acoustic guitars. Sometimes a bass guitar. Usually a keyboard. Sometimes other acoustic instruments. 3 to 6 vocals. So far, the Inspire is doing everything I've needed. I don't do midi or S/PDIF.
 
goodbyebluesky said:
I'm a newbie, and considering the following:

Tascam US 122 seems like a good deal because for only 200 bucks I get the usb interface, Cubase, and entry level preamp with phantom power.
I record acoustic guitar and electric, and vocals in the future maybe. I just record one track at a time, no band stuff. 2 inputs is fine for me. And it being USB eliminates me having to spend money on a soundcard right?

If you buy the tascam it will be your soundcard and it is not a bad choice for what you want to do. However should you decide you want to do more than you are saying now you'll be looking into another card.

goodbyebluesky said:
Presonus Firebox looks good as well, is it worth the extra 100? Better sounding pre? Cost more because of the added inputs/outputs?

Disclaimer: first I have never used the firebox. But from what I have read from others they seem to justify the extra 100 buck, better compnents, better pre, better interface blah blah blah. I would justify it because of the firewire interface. The tascam has USB1.0 and it is considerably slower than firewire. I believe the pres would be a little better also. Tascam has really bad customer support and I would think Presonus is better than them in that department.

goodbyebluesky said:
I need an interface and software to record on the computer and can only spend 200-300, and would like a usable preamp on the interface since I hadn't gotten around to buying a good one. I'm currently using a Bellari MP105 toob pre into my tascam dp-01 workstation to record my acoustic guitars.

I have a laptop available to me right now, but it needs a firewire card if I go with the firebox, and a bigger HD. I think it currently has a 15 gig w/128mg ram. If it cost too much to outfit the laptop my father and I might just build a PC in which case I can probably run a lot more ram and a much bigger HD. He has all that stuff on hand to build to suit. I just don't want to have to invest in a high-end soundcard cus if he doesn't have it on hand I have to front up the cash for one. That is why I'm thinking usb/firewire is for me.

That was a lot of open-ended questions for sure. Anyone with friendly advice welcome to respond.

An external hard drive and more memory are cheap these days. But building a cpu will give you great satisfaction. You don't have to buy top of the line in the cpu department a 1.5ghz processor should be plenty for what you want to do and if you feel the need to go higher upgrading is always an option with destops. With laptops there is only so much you can do. Internal soundcards are actually cheaper than the firewire/usb audio intefaces. An Emu 1212m costs about 150.00 now and that is a very good card. The reason for getting firewire or usb cards usually come from the need to use a lappie.

Either way you go the any of the cards you have chosen will do what you want. I would look towards what you might be wanting to do in the future though.

I know the answers I've given will give you more questions than answers. Sorry :o

Good luck
 
bigwillz24 said:
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An external hard drive and more memory are cheap these days. But building a cpu will give you great satisfaction. You don't have to buy top of the line in the cpu department a 1.5ghz processor should be plenty for what you want to do and if you feel the need to go higher upgrading is always an option with destops. With laptops there is only so much you can do. Internal soundcards are actually cheaper than the firewire/usb audio intefaces. An Emu 1212m costs about 150.00 now and that is a very good card. The reason for getting firewire or usb cards usually come from the need to use a lappie.
The computer we build, parts wise won't cost me anything. So if I go with an emu card or whatnot I have to fork out some cash, and still have to look into some type of preamp that offers me dual xlr inputs and phantom power. For 200-300 bucks it looks like a usb or firewire interface would negate the need for an aftermarket soundcard and act as my pre.

Either way you go the any of the cards you have chosen will do what you want. I would look towards what you might be wanting to do in the future though.
Not sure I understand. What I'm doing now (or trying to do) is what I plan to be doing in the future. I'm done with bands, I am solo and this is just for fun. I just want to improve the quality of what I do, not expand and do anything more really. While some of the more expensive interfaces impress me, I really don't need them if what I've suggested gets the job done. I'd rather spend my money on microphone upgrades, higher-end pres, acoustic treatment, plug-ins, etc than go spend the $$$ for more expensive interface than I need. I'm not sure if thats where you were leading me though.

Anyway, thank you everybody for the advice.
I have now seen the Inspire and considering that, and in the same pricerange as the Firebox is the M-audio 410. How would anyone here compare the firebox and the 410?
 
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