What Kind of Interface Should I Be Using with a Rode NT2A? Do I need a $600 Duet2??

[singingnoob]

first i am a complete newbie .im 16 but trying to learn. i also cant post links since i dont have ten posts yet so hope the bootlegg links i include in this post below are readable by you all. i can sing but ive had no professional training and no knowledge of the technical stuff when it comes to recording music. i was all set to buy the apogee mic for $200 but then...........

i came across this guys video youtube.com/watch?v=Fuu7uNWQNtc and i just love how everything sounds.

did some research on him and found that he uses the now discontinue Rode NT2 mic and a 600 dollar duet2 interface.

some questions

1.) what is the biggest difference between rode nt2a and rode nt2 and rode nt1?

2.) what is the best interface to use with a rode nt2a?

3.) do i need to buy one of these mount stands just to connect a mic to a stand? :
rodemic.com/accessories/rm2]RØDE Microphones - RM2
what kind of stand should i be using?

4.) the apogee mic has a "built in" interface. and seems to be much less complicated and "All in one" is it worth the $200 price tag? or should i go with the more complicated route?

5.) any idea what kind of mic, shockmount & pop filter this guy is using? youtube.com/watch?v=KgmKCn8hfQg

6.) yes im a complete noob so any additional advice youd like to give would be so very helpful

 

[Armistice]

Look... I don't want to be harsh, but....


1. They have different numbers. Read the Rode website. And read more about microphones generally and you'll start to understand the differences between different mics.

2. There is no best interface to use with anything. They're not related. You can't afford it anyway. Interface selection depends upon the number of tracks you need to record AT THE SAME TIME and your budget.

3. You should get whatever you need to mount a microphone WITH the microphone if you buy it new. A boom stand with 3 feet. Don't get a cheap one.

4. "It depends". Go read the newbies forum where this question gets asked ad nauseum... then tell us about what you're trying to achieve.

5. Don't know. An expensive one. And just because it looks sexy in the video doesn't mean it was actually used in the recording...

6. See point 4...

 

[mofat]

Wow. U must be a rich 16 y.o. I was getting a 2 dollar allowance weekly for washing dishes mowing the lawn and laundry when I was ur age. That 20 year's ago. Damn I sound old. I'm no pro but those combo sounds damn good to me. I haven't used either one cuz I still can't afford em. Lol

 

[Bobbsy]

Let me add a few others.

First, using a Youtube video to decide you like a certain sound is a pointless exercise. The heavy compression on Youtube destroys most of the top end. You have no way of knowing how much processing and mixing was done before the video was posted--I had a listen to one of your links and it certainly is NOT the raw feed from the mic. You might as well be asking what EQ, reverb and compression he was using.

Up to you, but I find the thought of using a $600 interface for a $200 microphone to be ludicrous (unless the money spent on the interface is buying you extra channels).

Yes, you'll want a shock mount and a pop screen but there's not much to choose between them. Many mics come with their own shock mount anyway.

Sorry, but some reading of basic FAQs will do you a lot of good here--do it before you spend your money.

 

[soundchaser59]

NO! You do NOT need to spend $600 bucks on a Duet interface, especially one that uses a breakout cable for its hardware connections. For that kind of money the breakout box should be included, but it's not.

What is it about the Duet or the Duet2 that makes it $300-400 bucks better than a Focusrite Pro 24 or Pro 14 or Saffire? If I had $600 bucks to burn, knowing what I know now, I would choose that Pro 24 long before I would spend the extra money on a Duet. Trust me you will not hear any difference on the gear you have, unless.......

Do you have the kind of mixing and monitoring and stereo gear that will let you hear the subtle differences between the $200-300 dollar interface and the $600-800 dollar interface? If you are using a $200 dollar mic (probably $100-150 used?) then you have no reason at all to spend that much on an interface.

Besides, you should match up the interface to your computer, you don't match an interface to a mic. Are you using a Mac? Have you checked to make sure the interface you want is compatible with your computer? Duet is Mac only. Is your computer dedicated to recording? Or will it also double as your office, email, browser, photo shop, and youtube clip computer? Do you know why some people prefer Firewire over USB? Should you get USB1 or USB2 devices?

If you really have so little experience, then more home work is in order. You are not ready to choose an interface yet. You didn't even tell us what kind of computer you will be using, what software to record, or why you should limit yourself to a usb microphone. The more information you have, and the more information you share, the more satisfying your digital multi-tracking experience will be.