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Choose a audio interface (House Music)
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Old 21st August 2011   #1
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Choose a audio interface (House Music)
I've been producing electronic music (especially House music) for a while now. I've been using my DJ midi controller as an audio interface with the sound going right through it out to the speakers.

But the controller is midi so it lacks any volume knob so I always have to change the voume manually in Logic or any other program in OS X because it doesn't either respond when lowering (or viceversa) in OS X itself. It also lacks output for headphones...

So what I'm looking for is a relative cheap audio interface, usb/firewire powered, with output for speakers and headphones and deticated volume knobs for each. I'm doing all my recording in Logic so I never record any guitar or instrument so I don't need any inputs...

Does anyone have any buying tip for me?
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Old 21st August 2011   #2
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M-Audio Fast Track Pro or Presonus Audiobox USB should do you well for pretty cheap.
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Old 21st August 2011   #3
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M-Audio Fast Track Pro or Presonus Audiobox USB should do you well for pretty cheap.
Well I was actually about to buy the M-Audio Fast Track yesterday but the the guy in the store said I should buy Roland Tri-Capture instead. I did it without even thinking if it had deticated knobs.. and then I realized that it just has knob for the headphone volume not the speakers volume..

So I'm going back with it tomorrow but I dont know what to buy...

the Fast Track doesnt it only have 1 knob for output? And it doesnt have balanced outputs either...

The Presonus seems to have knob for bot speakers and headphones and balanced outputs.. I will take a look at it in the store!
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Old 21st August 2011   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaleido View Post
Well I was actually about to buy the M-Audio Fast Track yesterday but the the guy in the store said I should buy Roland Tri-Capture instead. I did it without even thinking if it had deticated knobs.. and then I realized that it just has knob for the headphone volume not the speakers volume..

So I'm going back with it tomorrow but I dont know what to buy...

the Fast Track doesnt it only have 1 knob for output? And it doesnt have balanced outputs either...

The Fast Track Pro not the Fast Track

M-AUDIO - Fast Track Pro - 4 x 4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps
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Old 21st August 2011   #5
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Ok I will check it out! Anyone have any other tips?
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Old 21st August 2011   #6
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Presonus Audiobox over the M-Audio unit....What about Apogee products??
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Old 21st August 2011   #7
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Presonus Audiobox over the M-Audio unit....What about Apogee products??
Have any of you tested the M-Audio Fast Track Pro or the Presonus Audiobox? I saw a lot of bad reviews on the Presonus... I'm sitting on a mac btw, if it matters somehow..

Apogee Duet is of course an interface I've heard about and it seems pretty good. Although I think it's a bit expensive, and remember I'm actually not even interested in any inputs or pre amp etc.. I just want great sound and deticated volume knobs for headphones and speakers... I'm pretty sure I can't rely on the built in soundcard in macbook pro when I'm in the studio..
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Old 21st August 2011   #8
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Focusrite saffire pro 24
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Old 21st August 2011   #9
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I have used a Fast Track Pro quite a bit and am very satisfied with its capabilities at its price point.

You will be able to use both headphones and balanced outputs to something like monitors at the same time, should you need to use some sort of cue setup.

If you are working primarily in the box the converters shouldn't be that much of an issue as they are all fairly similar at this cost level.

I have much more expensive interfaces, the greatest of which is a Metric Halo ULN-2 +dsp so I don't feel that I am lacking in the aspect of perspective.

With that in mind, it doesn't trouble me at all to use the Fast Track Pro in the situations for which I use it, even knowing the results made possible by something of much higher quality.

I produce exclusively electronic music as well, if that matters.
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Old 22nd August 2011   #10
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The TC Desktop Konnekt 6 also has great DA (possibly the best at around this price point?) & a separate phones volume knob.
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Old 22nd August 2011   #11
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I was in the store today and talked to a studio guy.. and well I looked on some cards they had in store near the price range of Fast Track Pro and Presonus Audiobox but none of them where really good.. or.. well they where good but it feelt like I'm paying mostly for pre amps and the inputs, which I'm not interested in at all...

But I talked to the guy and he also said that I maybe should go for an Apogee Duet, because if I bought one of those I would never have to buy any new card, even if I build a real studio... I would surely have to upgrade from a cheaper card If I made a studio and got some expensive speakers... What to do think?
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Old 23rd August 2011   #12
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Quote:
But I talked to the guy and he also said that I maybe should go for an Apogee Duet, because if I bought one of those I would never have to buy any new card, even if I build a real studio... I would surely have to upgrade from a cheaper card If I made a studio and got some expensive speakers... What to do think?
Not surely no....some of the cards mentioned are perfectly good performers as far as DAC is concerned. You would struggle to tell the difference between the output of these & the Apogee.

The Apogee is by all accounts a great card so if you can afford the budget increase & can live without the phones volume go for it.

If it's too expensive then the TC would be my personal 2nd choice followed by a Focusrite.

I would try to forget about whether you are paying for preamps you don't need...concentrate on researching the quality of the units features you will use. DAC quality & driver performance & headphone amp from the sounds of it.
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Old 23rd August 2011   #13
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Not surely no....some of the cards mentioned are perfectly good performers as far as DAC is concerned. You would struggle to tell the difference between the output of these & the Apogee.

The Apogee is by all accounts a great card so if you can afford the budget increase & can live without the phones volume go for it.

If it's too expensive then the TC would be my personal 2nd choice followed by a Focusrite.

I would try to forget about whether you are paying for preamps you don't need...concentrate on researching the quality of the units features you will use. DAC quality & driver performance & headphone amp from the sounds of it.
Doesn't the Apogee Duet have volume knob for headphones? (I know there is only 1 knob but can't I control it with it?)
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Old 23rd August 2011   #14
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It might also be worth considering to get a passive monitor controller for the, uh, monitors. That way you don't have to limit your interface choices just because they're lacking a main volume knob (which many do).
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Old 23rd August 2011   #15
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Doesn't the Apogee Duet have volume knob for headphones? (I know there is only 1 knob but can't I control it with it?)
I don't know for sure but probably the monitor & phones volume are linked so you don't have independent control as you would with a separate knob.

Do you really need independent control though?.....you did specify it in your first post, but if you're working alone there's probably no need for it.
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Old 23rd August 2011   #16
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It might also be worth considering to get a passive monitor controller for the, uh, monitors. That way you don't have to limit your interface choices just because they're lacking a main volume knob (which many do).
You beat me to it.
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Old 23rd August 2011   #17
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The more I research the more I get into the audio interface jungle...

Right now I've been looking on Focusrite Saffire 6, Presonus Audiobox, Apogee Duet 2 and M-Audio MobilePre... If I find any used cheap Saffire, Audiobox or MobilePre I think I'll grab one but a new Saffire or Audiobox cost about 40% of a new Duet 2, so maybe it's worth to buy the Duet ? I mean, I would either want to get my hands on a cheap good interface, so I can upgrade later when I someday get better monitors.. Or get my hands on a great interface (duet 2?) that will last forever and will be good enough in any studio even a professional one...

I mean if I buy a decent card for the cost of 50% Duet 2 and then in 4 years buy a new one on the same price I could have bought the Duet 2 from the beginning...
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Old 23rd August 2011   #18
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What are your thoughts regarding a dedicated monitor controller (see post above yours)?

You may not need a new interface at all to solve your issue.
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Old 23rd August 2011   #19
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What are your thoughts regarding a dedicated monitor controller (see post above yours)?

You may not need a new interface at all to solve your issue.
I have no idea about any monitor controller... can u link me one so I can see the price etc? And how do I connect it?

Anyway I can't still connect my headphones to the midi controller. well I can connect them ofc but sound wont go through there only in my DJ program.
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Old 23rd August 2011   #20
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After some research it seems it's between the Focusrite Saffire 6 and Apogee Duet 2
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Old 23rd August 2011   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaleido View Post
I have no idea about any monitor controller... can u link me one so I can see the price etc? And how do I connect it?

Anyway I can't still connect my headphones to the midi controller. well I can connect them ofc but sound wont go through there only in my DJ program.
Ummm....

monitor controller - Google Search

FYI the monitor controller may also help with your headphone issue.
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Old 17th September 2011   #22
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Possibly a bit late now, but what about the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
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Old 17th September 2011   #23
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Mbox 3
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Old 18th September 2011   #24
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I like my Saffire Pro 24, I would recommend it for everything it offers.
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