Why get an Interface with my setup?

[g&lplayer]

Hey guys,
So forgive me for asking such a n00bish question but I got a iMac last october and now do a lot of recording of myself. I have been recording by just plugging my passive bass into the Macs line in. When using Ableton Live I get about a 20ms latency which is honestly barely noticeable when im trying to record to a drum track. I have been reading a lot of the posts here though and everyone seems to be using a firebox or some usb interface to record. What would be the advantages to doing this? Why does everyone seem to use an interface when most computers come with a line in that you can buy a 1/4 inch adapter for? I just cant figure out why you would spend $100-$200 on something that does the EXACT same thing as your computers existing line in...

 

[duderasta]

Most computer sound cards and especially on-board systems are very bad at recording. They will record your sound, but so will a boom box in front of your cab.

I really don't know much about the audio hardware and software in a mac. In a windows environment sometimes consumer card drivers won't play nice with DAW software.

If what you are doing works for you then you don't NEED an interface. however calling it the exact same thing is way off base.

 

[seamonkey]

I don't know about Mac's but new MB for a lot of PC's now have high definition (marketing term) audio. The sound on board is really good.

The standard drivers are usually high latency, which isn't a problem for HD video syncing, or gaming, but can be a problem for Musicians. ASIO4ALL helps. It's just the small plugs and matching impedance which isn't hard to do with a mixer an adapter cables if needed.

People get wrapped up in latency specs - but 20ms is easy to learn to play with.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Hey guys,
So forgive me for asking such a n00bish question but I got a iMac last october and now do a lot of recording of myself. I have been recording by just plugging my passive bass into the Macs line in. When using Ableton Live I get about a 20ms latency which is honestly barely noticeable when im trying to record to a drum track. I have been reading a lot of the posts here though and everyone seems to be using a firebox or some usb interface to record. What would be the advantages to doing this? Why does everyone seem to use an interface when most computers come with a line in that you can buy a 1/4 inch adapter for? I just cant figure out why you would spend $100-$200 on something that does the EXACT same thing as your computers existing line in...

I own a mac, and a couple in the past, and a $200 per channel A/D converter, in my experience, does NOT do the exact same thing as the line in. With that line of thinking, shouldn't we all be playing Hartke? ...when they are JUST as good?
The boom box built in mic is a very good analogy. To my ears, the RME converters I have experience with offer a MUCH more 3-D listening experience than typical consumer and pro-sumer converters. ...worth every penny!

 

[4Mal]

+1 dedicated converters are definately not the same thing. Not to mention if you want more than 2 inputs at a time or want to route to outboard gear. If you're serious about other than scratch pad recording, then an interface is mandatory.

You don't have to go crazy with this stuff. Something like a Zoom H4 is a big step up from the line in...

 

[newbold]

Certainly not the same thing.

Your question is why you would spend money on something that does the same thing as the line in...

...but asking the question of 'How is a dedicated sound card/interface different than my line in and why is that important?' is probably a much smarter approach that will get you better answers everywhere.

 

[Jim Roseberry]

I just cant figure out why you would spend $100-$200 on something that does the EXACT same thing as your computers existing line in...

The reason folks are buying/using dedicated audio interfaces is precisely because the onboard sound does *not* do the same exact thing.

A dedicated audio interface can offer significantly better fidelity. ie: The RME Fireface has an average noise-floor of ~-118dB. Measure the average noise-floor of the onboard audio. It'll come in somewhere between -70 to -95. That's not bad if your recordings are just for fun...
Low end dedicated audio interfaces typically have an average noise-floor of -104dB or better.
The onboard sound might not sound overly noisy on 1 or 2 tracks... but when you've got a mix of 24 going, the difference is HUGE. Using a dedicated audio interface, it's literally like taking a veil of noise off the mix.
A dedicated audio interface usually provides a Hi-Z input (so you don't have an impedence mis-match - which robs a passive bass of tone/balls).

A dedicated audio interface has a much better preamp section if you need to increase gain (both quieter and better sounding)

A dedicated audio interface provides significantly lower total round-trip latency. The best units yield 5ms total round-trip latency at 44.1k. Playing thru 20ms of total round-trip latency is like playing thru molassys

Using a good dedicated audio interface, you can run more substantial loads (glitch-free) at lower buffer settings (lower latency)

In short, onboard sound is OK for fun and non-critical demos.
Liken it to a modern day equivalent to a cassette based porta-studio.
If you have more serious goals, onboard sound is not a good solution.

 

[uhdinator]

1. Line in on computer is stereo not mono like and instrument cable
2. Interfaces can record at 24 bit, most sound cards cannot.
3. Internal sound cards don't have proper audio connections for studio monitors
4. Internal sound cards have no pre amps or the right connections for mic's
5. Internal sound cards can't record multiple tracks at once
6. Internal sound cards cannot power condenser mic's
7. Interfaces have better analog to digital converters
At some point if you get serious about recording you will need one.