Recording interface...?

sheepgotoheaven · #1 06-27-2008, 11:17 AM

So I'm interested in being able to record into my computer. I've looked around a little bit and the Presonus firebox looks as though it would be the appropriate instrument for the job. Has anyone had any experience with similar models, or have any recommendations for me to look into? Any help would be great. Thanks!

-SGTH

hunta · #2 06-27-2008, 11:30 AM

Usual questions: What are you going to be recording? Bass? Guitar? Vocals? A whole band? How many instruments simultaneously? What kind of computer do you have? Do you have any other recording equipment? How much are you prepared to spend?

sheepgotoheaven · #3 06-27-2008, 12:07 PM

I will be recording mostly just my bass, as well as maybe a little bit of vocals. It will be plugged into my macbook, and I'm willing to spend anywhere from 100-300 dollars.

kebbs · #4 06-27-2008, 12:15 PM

I have same recording needs. I've been using the M-Audio Fasttrack USB interface. Nothing fancy at all, but gives me what I want (I record many instruments one by one).

Not a bad device at all. Gives you one input for guitar/line and one XLR input for a microphone. Powered by the USB itself, so no adapter. If you want to go a bit further, the Tascam US-122 is an excellent workhorse, that also had MIDI. Just my $0.02.

RATM2488 · #5 06-27-2008, 12:26 PM

Invest in the Presonus!!! Im currently an intermediate bass player in a 3-piece band... We have recorded 3 albums using the presonus and its simply the best if ur lookin for something that isnt hard to learn, and u wont need to upgrade from for a long, long time... Ull need to get a firewire plug-in adapter from bestbuy wich is good though, interfaces run off the USB dont capture the quality well from my experience... It has 8 phantom power inputs, which essentially is a hybrid input allowing u to plug either microhpone cords or just regular old guitar cords... We record live, so we just mic up our amps, mic up the drum set with a nice 5-piece drum mic kit and jam it out, Amazing quality and has impressed a lot of people!!! but if u look to record straight into the interface u can do that too... All in all GET THE PRESONUS!!! trust me u wont be dissapointed!!!

sleepy_monkey · #6 06-27-2008, 01:42 PM

I record into my Macbook into the input. I just run into my board and back out with an 1/8" adapter...records fine....you can fine tweak it however you want...but it is easy and the adapter is probably $2 at Radio Shack. If you need any help figuring it out, PM me....it sounds fine...and you don't need an interface!

hunta · #7 06-27-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_monkey

I record into my Macbook into the input. I just run into my board and back out with an 1/8" adapter...records fine....you can fine tweak it however you want...but it is easy and the adapter is probably $2 at Radio Shack. If you need any help figuring it out, PM me....it sounds fine...and you don't need an interface!

That's worth a shot if quality is not a big issue for you. If you're going to go with the firebox (which is a good interface for the money), make sure that the firewire chip on your Mac is a TI and not an Agere. You can check this in the system info. If you have an Agere chip you're likely to have problems with any firewire interfaces. If you've got TI you're golden.

Quote from a gearslutz post: "I have a Firebox on my Intel MacBook and it works perfectly - not one single problem."

sleepy_monkey · #8 06-27-2008, 02:39 PM

Honestly the quality is not bad running straight into the Macbook. Obviously if you want to record your own album or something you can always do better...but if it is just going to be you and your bass and vocals, it works great. Like I said, the quality is decent and people on Myspace can't tell the difference.

harrison_faulkn · #9 06-27-2008, 02:48 PM

If you only need vocals and bass (not at the same time), and you have a DI, you should look into a Lightsnake. USB on one end, XLR on the other. Plug a mic or your DI into it, and your computer will see it as a USB audio device automatically. No noise, low latency, and best of all, $40.

I keep one pluged into my practice amps onboard DI, which is under my desk. If I get some great idea, i just hit record and track it right quick.

hunta · #10 06-27-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_monkey

Honestly the quality is not bad running straight into the Macbook. Obviously if you want to record your own album or something you can always do better...but if it is just going to be you and your bass and vocals, it works great. Like I said, the quality is decent and people on Myspace can't tell the difference.

True, it depends what your goal is. If you want to seriously get into recording you're going to have to get an interface at some point, why not now? It's better to get familiar with the tools you're going to have to use than get by with merely adequate quality via the built in soundcard on the mac. The mac quality is much better than most PC's would get though. I've heard some surprisingly good quality stuff come from recordings made by a guy playing acoustic guitar and singing into the little built-in mic on his macbook. Even still, it pales in comparison to a recording interface when used properly.

If you're prepared to spend $300 on an interface, I wouldn't even consider a lightsnake or similar products. They're way too rudimentary. I usually recommend that kind of stuff to people who are really scared to get into recording and spend any money. If you ever want to do anything with MIDI and VSTs then you'll need an interface as well.

sheepgotoheaven · #11 06-27-2008, 03:55 PM

I appreciate all the good advice guys! At this point, I think i'm leaning more towards the interface, just because it provides a little more versatility. The presonus seems like it would be a nice gateway into the world of basic recording. The lightsnake seems interesting, mainly because i could just plug into my LMII and be in business. Also, for sleeping monkey, would your solution require a mixing board? Definitely still open for more suggestions. Thanks alot guys!

harrison_faulkn · #12 06-27-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepgotoheaven

I appreciate all the good advice guys! At this point, I think i'm leaning more towards the interface, just because it provides a little more versatility. The presonus seems like it would be a nice gateway into the world of basic recording. The lightsnake seems interesting, mainly because i could just plug into my LMII and be in business. Also, for sleeping monkey, would your solution require a mixing board? Definitely still open for more suggestions. Thanks alot guys!

Thats why I got the light snake. Plug and go, and you can get Audacity, which is freeware, to record with.

You might also want to take a look on ebay. You can get a Digitech Digi001 Protools interface (with pci card and cable) for around $100-125. Easy enough to use to start (plug a mic cable from your LMII to the XLR port on the front and press record) But its also able to record up to 8 tracks at once. I recorded my first cd on one of these, and with the prices nowdays, I might pick up another.

sheepgotoheaven · #13 06-28-2008, 03:14 PM

Does anyone have any experience with m-audio? Specifically the M-audio 410. Thanks!

stranger0 · #14 06-28-2008, 11:47 PM

I like my maudio fast track pro, never had a problem with it (esp under windows and with mac it works perfectly), quality is always good, the one thing I will say is that with my 6 string (MTD USA) it seems very sensitive to the signal, i.e. you don't have to turn it up very much to get a good strong signal when you DI.

If I had to make a statement, My Firestudio and Digimax have much more headroom.

The fast track is a wicked little tool but if I had to use it, it would be for the sake of portability.

sleepy_monkey · #15 07-01-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepgotoheaven

I appreciate all the good advice guys! At this point, I think i'm leaning more towards the interface, just because it provides a little more versatility. The presonus seems like it would be a nice gateway into the world of basic recording. The lightsnake seems interesting, mainly because i could just plug into my LMII and be in business. Also, for sleeping monkey, would your solution require a mixing board? Definitely still open for more suggestions. Thanks alot guys!

No, you can run it straight into the Macbook. I just run it into my board first so I can have my vocals, bass, and guitar plugged in at once so I don't have to keep switching them. I never record 2 things at once though...I always go back and overdub. It is definitely worth getting a $2 adapter just to see if it works for what you want.

hunta · #16 07-02-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepgotoheaven

Does anyone have any experience with m-audio? Specifically the M-audio 410. Thanks!

I would not recommend m-audio personally. Some others would. They're one of my least favorite brands next to behringer. The only real reason to get m-audio is if you want to run the m-powered version of pro-tools. I think that's kind of silly personally, it's a lot cheaper, more flexible, and just as good to use another DAW at that level. Unless you're on the real heavy duty digidesign HD hardware or you're working with pro-tools at your studio job (I imagine there are one or two people out there with those), I would go with something else.

DocBop · #17 07-02-2008, 02:21 PM

What DAW do you plan to use. If you want to learn PT then you have to get a M-Audio or Digi interface. If you don't plan to use PT there is lots of stuff to choose from depending on your budget. You can go direct into your Mac not fancy but works. The M-Audio Fast Track is pretty bad, but if you look around refrub's d can be picked up real cheap. I got one to record stuff for and online music class I took. It was okay for that, but trying to use it afterwards it doesn't cut it. I would say set a budget and then search in that range you should find quite a selection. Most of the stuff comes with a lite version of a DAW so you will be all set.