Best modern replacement for my PreSonus 44?

[Damani311]

I have shamefully taken a large Hiatus for several years from being serious enough about music to consider plugging in and recording some tracks. I'm ready to start again but my current di is now a 10-year-old PreSonus 44 vsl and I'm pretty sure it was only a mid-tier piece of equipment even 10 years ago

So I'm looking for an upgrade and this time cost is really no option I would like to get something that is going to be the best overall device. I don't want to spend a fortune like triple the price for something only 10% better, but definitely looking for the tier one options this time that would be recommended

I will be searching some older threads but just wanted to start one here of my own, I am going to primarily be recording base guitar into it but if it has enough inputs to support a small band or some midi keyboards and stuff that would be a plus. I'm using a Windows pc, not Apple MacBook or anything like that. Obviously priorities are just clean sound transmission without much if any coloration by the preamp, unless there's some killer preamp out there but generally I'm not trying to have a $400 device heavily affecting the tone coming out of my instrument. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Aloe]

well, this depends on some choices:
1. do you need several headphone outputs, each running a different submix?
2. do you have a Thunderbolt port?

 

[rudy4444]

Consider something like the Zoom R20. You can record anywhere you like and the pres actually are clean and transparent. You can use a multi-track recorder without needing to be anchored to your PC, but easily move the tracks to your PC for later editing if you want to. Do record in 24 bit format, though.

Recording should be fun, so use whatever tools you need that will allow you to be creative. I've been a home rec'er for a lot of years and that's my philosophy.

 

[CatOnTheBass]

Coming from the Presonus 44, I think you would feel right at home on a MOTU M6, Focusrite Clarett 4, or similar.

If you want to pull out all the stops, price tag is no concern, I would take a serious look at RME brand.

Another angle: Have you considered investing in a good DI (instead of using the built in Presonus DI's)? DI's are a great investment because they should last you a lifetime (as opposed to audio intefaces, which quickly become outdated every few years). Personally I am a huge fan of Radial and Neve brand DI's. I did a session last week with a Radial ProDI into a Focusrite Clarett interface; it sounded great!

 

[seamonkey]

Are you having a problem that you're trying to fix?
Maybe the only thing on the 44 vsl I see is it lacks Hi-Z input. That can be solved with a pre-amp

Digital interfaces don't really improve much over time. Here's a good "Old" vid on the whole thing that is worth watching to educate yourself, and sort out the hype.

Everything is still very much true.

I have a 8 year old another brand interface that i still use, and a newer MOTO M4, both are great and there's no radical difference between them except for the pre amps. I use ASIO4ALL on a PC to make it look like one big composite interface.

 

[silky smoove]

Here's a good "Old" vid on the whole thing that is worth watching to educate yourself, and sort out the hype.

The best recording video on the internet. I've reviewed it and the other companion video so many times that I can recite portions of it.

 

[Hummergeist]

RME interfaces are great, if you don’t mind spending. They have options from portable to full rack size, with MIDI, recallable presets, on board computer-free recording, and the sound is almost shockingly neutral. Rock solid drivers, excellent support. But if you don’t need the sophistication they offer, look elsewhere.