Pls Help! Audio Interface Search

Skalz · 4th January 2008

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum i was actully refered by a sale rep, anyways I need help i'm looking for an Interface and i dont know what's good for the $$$ right now i run everything from:
-FL studio,
-with an Xboard49,
-MPD16 Pad,
-A couple of Vst
-and comp speaker
I want to buy Monitors this is the main reason. So clean sound and low latency is what i'm look for,
I also have an old yamaha Keyboard which some of the sound i like and would like to record,
I haven't a mic yet but this would be the next purchase after the Interface and Monitors, for vocals(mostly hip-hop) and also i would like to record acoustic guitar, trying for setup stereo.

What is the best Interface for my current needs? (#Ins?, #Out?, Mic pres or not ?, Zero or Low-latency? ), I would also like to know which is better in terms of PCI/USB/Firewire? I would like to spend tops $600, Max $750 after Taxes if it's really worth it.

Thanks i know it alot try to make it as specific as possible

P.S Any preferences on Monitors Mostly but not only Hip Hop Music.

donsolo · 4th January 2008

you've got real options for that price range. my girlfriend got an M-audio firewire410 for like $200. It sounds like that would work well for you. Take that extra money and put it into one nice pre and one nice mic. Don't skimp on monitors.

But you could easily get away with a USB unit except latency would become an issue...

lespaul666 · 4th January 2008

The M-Audio FW 1814(similar in looks to the FW 410) can be had for a little over 3 bills, with 16 inputs at once(8 analog 8 digital) pretty low latency, and the option of a direct input, no latency mixer on all the inputs. Can be used with Pro Tools M-Powered, if desired.

backhair · 4th January 2008

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gears...0-preamps.html

buy this before i crack and get a second unit. i love my i88x. 8in/out, ADAT, S/PDIF, 2 great pres (with inserts), and MIDI in/out.

Skalz · 7th January 2008

Thanks i think i'l look into those M-audios although i have a friend who has the 410's and says that it gave him a bit of trouble that he had to send them back at one time

santibanks · 7th January 2008

presonus firestudio project maybe? Or mackie onyx 400F? M-audio isn't bad but the quality of the sound is pretty muddy.

kedbear · 7th January 2008

if you are on a mac look for a second hand metric halo ULN-2. This is the best value by far. Pro level AD/DA conversion and superb preamps that rival preamps costing four times as much, they have been compared favourably with Millenia/DAV BG1/Grace 101/Neve. They are quite clean pres but still fat and very detailed. You will never need to sell it and will get pro conversion/preamps in one box.
You could maybe find one for $600/700 if you are lucky.
Another thing worth looking at is an APOGEE DUET. Also superb pres/conversion but not as good as ULN-2 overall.

joeyfivecents · 7th January 2008

I noticed you are using FL Studio so I know you're not on a mac. If you were, I would second the fellow that mentioned the apogee duet-I've been using it with Logic and it sounds superb. However I do sometimes go back to my PC because FL Studio really is the most intuitive and I can throw stuff together so much quicker in it. Here's what I did: bought a digidesign MBox mini which totally works with FL and comes with Pro Tools LE which will help you in the long run since most major places are using it. Monitors: ESI nEar 05 powered monitors-$200. Look em up, they sound fantastic.

Shim · 8th January 2008

I'm not usually a proponent of anything focusrite, but i don't think the saffire LE can be beaten for the price. 4 analog ins, 6 analog outs, and digital in-out. It's got an software mixer app, comes with its own suite of basic plugs, it can be buss-powered if you're ever using a laptop, and its only 250 bucks. I think it would be a good place to start without having to break the bank. Then you can actually get some ok monitors with the leftovers. Although you'd be best off saving up and putting your money into better monitors. They really do make a big difference and if you treat them well they will last a hell of a lot more years than an audio interface.

Skalz · 9th January 2008

Thanks for the replys,

I was thinkin that the Mbox 2 would be a good way to go as well...??(how does it compare to the Mini?)*also because it works with protools.

Well i do have about $800 to spend for monitors maybe a bit more because i know that it worth it, but i would like an interface that would compliment the monitor and vice-versa for my budget

4th January 2008	#1
Skalz Gear interested Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Thread Starter	Pls Help! Audio Interface Search Hey all, I'm new to this forum i was actully refered by a sale rep, anyways I need help i'm looking for an Interface and i dont know what's good for the $$$ right now i run everything from: -FL studio, -with an Xboard49, -MPD16 Pad, -A couple of Vst -and comp speaker I want to buy Monitors this is the main reason. So clean sound and low latency is what i'm look for, I also have an old yamaha Keyboard which some of the sound i like and would like to record, I haven't a mic yet but this would be the next purchase after the Interface and Monitors, for vocals(mostly hip-hop) and also i would like to record acoustic guitar, trying for setup stereo. What is the best Interface for my current needs? (#Ins?, #Out?, Mic pres or not ?, Zero or Low-latency? ), I would also like to know which is better in terms of PCI/USB/Firewire? I would like to spend tops $600, Max $750 after Taxes if it's really worth it. Thanks i know it alot try to make it as specific as possible P.S Any preferences on Monitors Mostly but not only Hip Hop Music.

4th January 2008	#4
backhair Gear nut Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 103	http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gears...0-preamps.html buy this before i crack and get a second unit. i love my i88x. 8in/out, ADAT, S/PDIF, 2 great pres (with inserts), and MIDI in/out. __________________ joenovice: People will believe their ears heard Alien farts if they invest in Alien fart converters. Pasta4lnch: so you're telling me my Alien Fartogee is worthless?

7th January 2008	#8
joeyfivecents Gear interested Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 11	I noticed you are using FL Studio so I know you're not on a mac. If you were, I would second the fellow that mentioned the apogee duet-I've been using it with Logic and it sounds superb. However I do sometimes go back to my PC because FL Studio really is the most intuitive and I can throw stuff together so much quicker in it. Here's what I did: bought a digidesign MBox mini which totally works with FL and comes with Pro Tools LE which will help you in the long run since most major places are using it. Monitors: ESI nEar 05 powered monitors-$200. Look em up, they sound fantastic. __________________ Grady Nickel http://www.gradynickel.com http://www.myspace.com/gradynickel http://www.soundclick.com/gradynickel

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4th January 2008	#3
lespaul666 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2007 Location: New Joisey Posts: 259	The M-Audio FW 1814(similar in looks to the FW 410) can be had for a little over 3 bills, with 16 inputs at once(8 analog 8 digital) pretty low latency, and the option of a direct input, no latency mixer on all the inputs. Can be used with Pro Tools M-Powered, if desired.

7th January 2008	#6
santibanks Lives for gear Joined: May 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 682	presonus firestudio project maybe? Or mackie onyx 400F? M-audio isn't bad but the quality of the sound is pretty muddy.

7th January 2008	#7
kedbear Gear addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 345	if you are on a mac look for a second hand metric halo ULN-2. This is the best value by far. Pro level AD/DA conversion and superb preamps that rival preamps costing four times as much, they have been compared favourably with Millenia/DAV BG1/Grace 101/Neve. They are quite clean pres but still fat and very detailed. You will never need to sell it and will get pro conversion/preamps in one box. You could maybe find one for $600/700 if you are lucky. Another thing worth looking at is an APOGEE DUET. Also superb pres/conversion but not as good as ULN-2 overall.

8th January 2008	#9
Shim Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria B.C. Posts: 262	I'm not usually a proponent of anything focusrite, but i don't think the saffire LE can be beaten for the price. 4 analog ins, 6 analog outs, and digital in-out. It's got an software mixer app, comes with its own suite of basic plugs, it can be buss-powered if you're ever using a laptop, and its only 250 bucks. I think it would be a good place to start without having to break the bank. Then you can actually get some ok monitors with the leftovers. Although you'd be best off saving up and putting your money into better monitors. They really do make a big difference and if you treat them well they will last a hell of a lot more years than an audio interface.

9th January 2008	#10
Skalz Gear interested Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Thread Starter	Thanks for the replys, I was thinkin that the Mbox 2 would be a good way to go as well...??(how does it compare to the Mini?)*also because it works with protools. Well i do have about $800 to spend for monitors maybe a bit more because i know that it worth it, but i would like an interface that would compliment the monitor and vice-versa for my budget