30th April 2012
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#1 | | Gear interested
Joined: May 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 12
Thread Starter | Best Value Portable Interface
Ok, this topic has been done a million times. But it generally strays away from what I'm after.
I'm looking for an interface to use for some acoustic testing. Simply it just needs at least a single mic-in with phantom, stereo outs and be as quiet and streamline as possible within budget of a few hundred dollars. (I am aware that this seems silly to be "testing" on a budget, but we all don't have a lot of money to throw around on portable equipment.)
I'm operating on a Macbook Pro, and have the option of Firewire or USB.
I've looked at the PreSonus Audiobox USB, Focusrite Saffire 2i2 & 6 and heard many counts of pros/cons for each of these, but many times either being driver related issues on Windows or just old posts.
So any suggestions, information on the topic and personal opinions (from experience ofcourse) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
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30th April 2012
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#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Pittston, Maine
Posts: 687
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Get a apogee one, it sounds great and is leaps and bounds above anything near its price range. It has everything you need, xlr/ts inputs, stereo out etc.... The preamps are really nice on this interface. It also has a built in mic that I love and use all the time for quick idea's.
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30th April 2012
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#3 | | Gear interested
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
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I've used the Focustite 2i2 and love it! I use it for all my voiceovers and scratch tracks, since it doesn't make sense to lug around my bigger interfaces for 1 or 2 channel recordings. Clean, simple, intuitive, high quality, inexpensive, and as a rare touch, it even looks great with bright red brushed aluminum casing. You could do far worse for $150.
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30th April 2012
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#4 | | GS Community Manager
Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Surrey / London  |
I don't do anything "scientific" with it, just a bit of recording and monitoring here and there, but my Mackie Onyx Blackjack sounds excellent to my ears, and they are cheap cheap cheap!
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30th April 2012
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#5 | | very crunky
Joined: Dec 2005 Location: boston
Posts: 57
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E-MU USB devices are still extremely good products, and although you have to get them used, the 0404 is an amazing deal always for what you get, and the Tracker Pre (which I use) is cheaper but uses the same A/D as the 0404 and can be USB bus powered. My Tracker Pre has 192/24-bit, two TRS/XLR combo inputsm two TRS inputs and balanced TRS outputs, and a headphone amp. It has 114dB SNR too, better than Focusrite or Apogee even (iirc), as good as Benchmark DAC1...
It's a shame E-MU got bought by Creative and then got phased out, but most of the gear still works well!
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30th April 2012
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#6 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,499
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I got a Focusrite 2i2 refurb off Ebay for $100 and no issues on Windows 7 so far. You'd have to ask a Mac user if they have had any issues.
One thing I like is the metal case as has been mentioned. I feel more comfortable sticking it in my laptop bag than a plastic interface. It also seems sized about right to use, but not so big as to be a problem to carry.
I can see why you asked in the Low end forum, but I could also see asking about this in the studio acoustics forum.
Do you mind if I ask what software and microphone you are going to use to do your testing? I downloaded REW and have a Dayton measurement mic, but haven't used them yet.
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30th April 2012
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#7 | | Gear nut
Joined: Aug 2010 Location: New York City, NY
Posts: 126
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got my komplete audio6 off of craigslist for $150 unused. comes with some decent software too. very sleek, low latency, quality build.
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2nd May 2012
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#8 | | Gear interested
Joined: May 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 12
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by 2manyrocks  Do you mind if I ask what software and microphone you are going to use to do your testing? I downloaded REW and have a Dayton measurement mic, but haven't used them yet. | I'm either going to get an Earthworks MC30 or Audix TM-1. And I'm running REW, it seems to be a pretty standard program for the beginner users.
I think I'll go the Focusrite 2i2, and see what price the music shop can do for me for the Earthworks MC30 if I'm going to buy them both from them. As it doesn't look like they stock the Audix mics.
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