Suggestions for all-in-one studio setup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tomibo
  • Start date Start date
T

Tomibo

New member
Dear people,

I just got a Behringer uma25s (midi keyboard + audio interface) with a specific goal in mind: as a guitarist/singer/composer I wanted a simple all-in-one device for singing, guitaring and playing keys, while keeping cable-management to a minimum. But, apparently I cant plug my guitar into the damn thing :(

Thus I'm back to where I started... looking for alternatives. The Novation Xiosynth 25, Line 6 KB37 and M-Audio keystudio 49i can do it all, but are either too expensive, too bulky or packed with stuff I don't need.

Now I'm thinking about a DIY board, gluing together a cheap audio-interface, 25 key midi keyboard and microphone. But this has proven to be quite a complicated matter for a noob like myself, which is why I need help!

So far I've thought of two solutions, but both have drawbacks and concerns:
1. Akai LPK25 USB midicontroller for keys + M-Audio Fast Track audio interface for vocals/guitar. But then I'd have two seperate USB cables connected to my laptop, meaning my midicontroller won't be monitored on my headphones (these would be plugged into the audio interface).
2. Korg microkey37 + ESI UGM96 audio interface. Here I might use the microkey as a USB hub for the audio interface, so that I'd only have one single USB cable connected to the laptop. But maybe it can't be phantompowered that way, I dont know.

Anyway..., I'd like to have the whole thing connected to my laptop with a single USB cable, and monitor the midi-keyboard ánd audio interface (guitar/vocals) on a single pair of headphones.

Can someone help me? All suggestions are welcome! I'm sure someone on this forum has a brilliant idea!

many thanks
 
Thanks for the reply!

The Zoom R16 seems to lack MIDI... I'm looking for any combination of a small MIDI keyboard and audio interface that allows a single USB connection to my laptop and has both sources monitored on the headphones. Hopefully that made sense!
 
The Alesis IO/2. A 2 channel interface with instrument/xlr, phantom power, and midi. Just connect a midi keyboard and enjoy. Can be found between $75 - $99 depending on where you shop.
 
I am a complete beginner myself so my advice is from limited experience, but I have a PreSonus 22VSL that does what you're after I believe...

Not sure how it compares to the Alesis I/O2 - it's more expensive I think (I'm in the UK so not sure how prices compare to dollars). The only other product I had tried was the Alesis Multimix-4 USB, but the PreSonus seems a lot quieter on the noise front (but at 3 times the £ price).

I guess you're looking for the cheapest solution (as was I) but worth checking out before you commit perhaps?
 
Thanks for these great suggestions!

I'd need a midi controller with traditional midi-output then (not usb), right? But I dont think that can be phantompowered; it'd need a seperate powersource, which adds another cable...

maybe there's yet a cleaner way?
 
Depends on which Multimix 4 you tried. TThe original ones where only a 2 channel stereo out and the preamps kinda sucked. The newer ones are full blown multichannel interfaces with much better pres. I am figuring that the IO/2 shares the same pres as the newer Multimix series. I doubt they are comparable to PreSonus but it would be a compelling buy if they were close.
 
Tomibo said:
Thanks for these great suggestions!

I'd need a midi controller with traditional midi-output then (not usb), right? But I dont think that can be phantompowered; it'd need a seperate powersource, which adds another cable...

maybe there's yet a cleaner way?
Click to expand...
If you have found a decent solution to your problem then take it, one extra cable should be a very small problem. Find a way to seperate cables into groups going off in different directions or put them all through one hole to keep them tidy, whatever suits your needs. If its the number of plug sockets being the problem then buy an adapter. Trust me, too many cables should be the least of your worries, just keep organised and tidy and you wont notice a difference
 
The IO/2 itself is powered by USB. It doesn't need external power. It uses standard MIDI cables. If you have a midi keyboard that can be powered by phantom power it would power it. If you have a USB keyboard then the MIDI interface is being emulated inside the keyboard and as far as I know no interface exists that will pass that signal through itself into your laptop via one USB cable.
 
Great, so I can power the keyboard through the midi cable then. The Alesis Q25 seems to fit the bill; in addition to usb, it has MIDI out!

Thanks again! I might give this setup a try.

On a sidenote; the Behringer uma25s has ''RCA'' line-ins... could I somehow hook my guitar up to that?
 
Tomibo said:
On a sidenote; the Behringer uma25s has ''RCA'' line-ins... could I somehow hook my guitar up to that?
Click to expand...

I dont know if you can, it might be possible, but I cant see the quality being anywhere near as good
 
If you had some kind of stereo guitar effects unit with RCA outs (or 1/4" to RCA adapters or even a 1/8" to RCA splitter coming out of a headphone jack) then perhaps that would work. Connecting the guitar itself to an RCA line level input probably wouldn't work to well (at least not without some kind of preamp designed for such a thing).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top