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Need USB interface advice

staf Wouters

staf Wouters

Jan 18, 2011
76
5
Belgium
linktr.ee
#1
Hello community,

I'm looking for a good, cheap (± €100) USB interface, specifically for recording active or passive bass with best possible quality for that price. I don't have any mics so I would like to connect the bass guitar directly to the USB interface (if possible?). I've read a lot of reviews about many different USB interfaces, but I have a hard time making a choice.

On a side note, I would be recording with a decent laptop.

Maybe someone could share his/her experiences with me?

Greetings,

Me :bag:
 
#3
focusrite itrack solo apparently has the same preamps as the scarlett and you can find it for 79.99usd new. One balanced xlr and one 1/4 instrument cable although that cable interface works for unbalanced dynamic mic input as well. The 2i2 is more versatile with inputs, the solo is cheaper (cheapest I've seen for the 2i2 is 119usd) and can get you there as well.

2i2: 2 balanced xlr and/or 1/4 instrument inputs.
solo: 1 balanced xlr and 1 unbalanced 1/4" instrument (or unbalanced dynamic mic)

on the monitoring side the 2i2 has a dedicated volume knob for computer sound source control, the solo you have to use your computer to control the sound source volume.
 
Last edited:
#5
I'd recommend the Scarlett 2i2 as well, not only is it inexpensive, but it's very reliable, and I know a lot of well-known bands such as Periphery do their recordings with it.

The issue will probably be the sound though, because recording direct means you won't have the signal running through an amp, and unless you buy a recording program (or get one through less reputable means :whistle:) and use an amp simulator, it may not sound too good. You should look on your physical amp for either a line out port or a headphone port that supports a standard instrument cable, because if you run your bass into the amp and the amp into the interface, it should sound right.

You should probably double-check these things to make sure they won't harm your equipment though, because I'm no expert, this is just a method I use. Bass into my amp, amp's headphone jack into my Tascam US-322, into my computer running Cubase.
 
#14
I am very satisfied with the Focusrite iTrack Solo!

I've owned the Scarlet 2i2 (two of them actually, still have one that I just listed on CL), and the Steinberg UR22. I've found the volume for headphone monitoring to be best on the iTrack Solo. Because monitoring volume was a concern of mine, and I wasn't satisfied with the 2i2 or UR22, I made this little chart to compare some interfaces. I took info from product manuals.

Presonus Audiobox
60Ω - 60mW

Scarlet 2i2 -
150Ω - 15mW
50Ω - 30mW

Scarlet Solo
50Ω - 100mW

iTrack Solo
50Ω - 16mW

Apogee One
300Ω - 35mW
37.5Ω - 59mW

Steinberg UR22
40Ω - 6mW

ESI UGM96
32Ω - 100mW


I can see that the Scarlet 2i2 says it has more headphone power output, but doing an A/B comparison, I'm much happier with the output from the iTrack Solo than the 2i2.

I also like how simple it is... and small. The UR22 was a big boy, the 2i2, decent sized, but the solo is perfect. I thought the single volume would be a problem, but it's been great. I control the headphone out with the volume, and my speaker volume from my speakers.. easy. I don't have an amp any more so I was really looking for an interface that would be a good monitor, and I couldn't be happier with this one.. just took a few to get there first.
 
#15
I'm also looking for an USB interface and I'm between these 3:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo ~90€
Focusrite iTrack Solo ~120€
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ~135€

Is there anything I'd miss if I pick up the cheapest? Or rather, is there any feature that would made me feel glad in the long run that I picked up the expensive one?
 
#16
I'm not an expert or an owner of a Focusrite Interface, but I believe the Solo and iTrack Solo should be the same spec-wise, with the iTrack designed specifically to work (well) with an iPad. The obvious difference between the Solos and the 2i2 is, that the 2i2 has tow built-in mic preamps, so if you want to record with two microphones at once (stereo recording or singing and acoustic guitar recording at the same time or ...) you can easily do that, without needing an additional mic preamp.
I believe the more inputs & outputs the interface has the better. Especially considering the long run, when you will probably want to record multiple tracks at once.
Check out this comparison chart on the focusrite website: Audio Interface Comparison Chart | Focusrite
 
#17
Joce said:
I'm not an expert or an owner of a Focusrite Interface, but I believe the Solo and iTrack Solo should be the same spec-wise, with the iTrack designed specifically to work (well) with an iPad. The obvious difference between the Solos and the 2i2 is, that the 2i2 has tow built-in mic preamps, so if you want to record with two microphones at once (stereo recording or singing and acoustic guitar recording at the same time or ...) you can easily do that, without needing an additional mic preamp.
I believe the more inputs & outputs the interface has the better. Especially considering the long run, when you will probably want to record multiple tracks at once.
Check out this comparison chart on the focusrite website: Audio Interface Comparison Chart | Focusrite
Click to expand...

This is smart. While I love my USB tubed-based pre, it's for only one connection. As I play more with others the tricks we have to do to record everyone are really pushing me to look into a Roland Octa-Capture or Studio-Capture. There's actually an octa-capture used on kijiji for cheap I'm thinking about picking up tonight just to make life easier in this regard.
 
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#18
I have the Focusrite Saffire, which is a precursor to the Scarlett. Excellent unit. Great mic pre's. I have a slow laptop and have never had any latency issues. The sound is always clean, whether I plug in an instrument or a mic. I've created a number of videos where I record the audio through the Saffire while recording video. I then put the audio over the video's audio and upload to YouTube. Check out some samples at www.youtube.com/guituber
 
#19
static0verdrive said:
This is smart. While I love my USB tubed-based pre, it's for only one connection. As I play more with others the tricks we have to do to record everyone are really pushing me to look into a Roland Octa-Capture or Studio-Capture. There's actually an octa-capture used on kijiji for cheap I'm thinking about picking up tonight just to make life easier in this regard.
Click to expand...
In fairness it has to be said, that the more I/O's & features a interface has for the same price of a less equipped one, the lesser the quality of the added features is probably going to be worse. But regarding the three focusrite interfaces, I'd definitely go for the 2i2.
 
#20
I've been serching a little bit more and it seems that the 2i2 has a clipping problem, mainly with a guitar with an output too hot and maybe even also with an active bass. Although it seems the Solo may have fixed this problem, been fairly new, there isn't much feedback about the product. Also there is thread here in Talkbass where it says that it still clips, so it seems the only alternative is the 2i4 which costs pretty much twice of what I was expecting to pay. Another alternative could be an interface from another manufacturer, however, it seems that in the price range of ~100€ it is difficult to find one where clipping isn't a problem.
 

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