Best portable all-in-one interface?

[BrianHanke]

I know this type of question has been asked a million times before, but I'll try to add my own unique spin to it. Here's the challenge: I want as simple a setup as possible for recording classical piano. I've got a pair of Neumann KM 183s which I adore. I've got a Toshiba laptop for recording on the go.

What single box would you recommend to interface the mics with the laptop? It must have firewire or USB connectivity, at least two preamps, analog to digital conversion and a clean, uncolored sound. I don't need reverb, EQ or any additional effects.

What's the simplest and highest quality solution for my situation? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[byrd62au]

A shame you don't have a Mac. The Metric Halo ULN-2 is hard to beat for what you describe. Unfortunately this is my only interface other than DIGI stuff so I don't really have a useful comment for you.

[BrianHanke]

Yep, I guess I'm out of luck as far as both Metric Halo and Apogee units... Other thoughts are welcome!

Originally Posted by byrd62au

A shame you don't have a Mac. The Metric Halo ULN-2 is hard to beat for what you describe. Unfortunately this is my only interface other than DIGI stuff so I don't really have a useful comment for you.

[mohthom]

The best interface is a MacBook Pro. It interfaces really well with Apogee and Metric Halo gear . . .

[henryrobinett]

Damn. If I were you I'd get a refurb Powerbook 1.67 and a Metric Halo ULN-2.

[BrianHanke]

Wow, a flood of support for Metric Halo! Well, a Metric Halo ULN-2 and a used PowerBook certainly isn't unaffordable. If I got a new MacBook that would push the total cost over $3000. Are there any PC solutions that would be of comparable quality and competitive price?

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

Are there any PC solutions that would be of comparable quality and competitive price?

I don't know of any.

[jvt]

You didn't provide a budget, so giving advice is a bit difficult so hopefully these are at least useful ideas.

Have you considered going with a good stereo mic preamp along with a portable recorder like the Korg MR-1000 DSD recorder or Sony PCM-D50 (PCM)? The converters in the MR-1000 are quite good. I haven't tried the mic preamps in the Korg yet (I usually record to line input), but if it's preamps meet your needs you woudn't need anything else. Sony offers a separate preamp module for the PCM-D50 that might suffice.

Or find a portable recorder or computer audio interface with S/PDIF input and spend the extra money on a good mic preamp with either built-in A/D conversion or a separate A/D converter (like the Lavry AD10). Then you get to pick the exact pre-amp you prefer with lots of upgrade options later. The actual recording device (portable, PC or Mac) won't really matter in that case.

[tnjazz]

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

Wow, a flood of support for Metric Halo! Well, a Metric Halo ULN-2 and a used PowerBook certainly isn't unaffordable. If I got a new MacBook that would push the total cost over $3000. Are there any PC solutions that would be of comparable quality and competitive price?

No. Metric Halo is in a class all its own. I would say there is nothing on the PC side that comes close to it in the same price range.

It's a firewire unit, and the new Macbooks do not have firewire (MBP does but it's only FW800), so be sure you have your interface options lined up properly before you buy anything!

[Audiop]

Check this thread:

ORTF vs Spaced Pair?


Piano recorded with omnis of similar size as your beloved 183's into Echo Audiofire. Excellent sound.

Audiofire4 has two mic inputs, Audiofire 8 has four mic inputs if memory serves me.

A PC with AF4 and some software that supports ASIO goes a long way and is not inferior to a Mac setup in any way I can think of, especially for basic two track recording.

AF4 is $299 and I think it comes with Tracktion.. otherwise Reaper is a nice piece of software that is "free".


/Peter

[jnorman]

another + for the echo audiofire 4. very solid on both mac and PC, preamps are clean - excellent unit for the money.

[NorseHorse]

Focusrite Saffire interfaces have great clean preamps that would work will with your mics and you could get one used for close to $200. The other suggestions are good do.

[BLP]

I'd say check out RME (for you, probably the FireFace 400). For an all in one, mutli-platform box, they're pretty nice. I've found the converters to be a step above what most single-box solutions provide, and the pre's are nice, clean, utilitarian instruments.

[BrianHanke]

Thanks for all the replies! The Echo AudioFire certainly looks interesting, and for a very low price indeed. I've never heard anything about this company before though. Do they have a good reputation in general?

[Ozpeter]

otherwise Reaper is a nice piece of software that is "free"

Same way that food in the supermarket is free if you take it without paying. If you use Reaper you agree to the licence, and after the 30 days evaluation period you are required to pay for it.

[BrianHanke]

I actually use Reaper myself, and it's paid for too! It's a fantastic piece of software, especially for my purposes.

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

Same way that food in the supermarket is free if you take it without paying. If you use Reaper you agree to the licence, and after the 30 days evaluation period you are required to pay for it.

[DaveD]

I'm a ULN2 owner and love all things Metric Halo. If however, I was a PC guy, I'd go for the TC Electronic StudioKonnekt 48. Ask Dave Spearritt about his. Awesome pres, great AD/DA, firewire connectivity, and you lucky buggers in the US can get it for under $1000.

Personally, I'd consider switiching to PC if this unit were cheaper in Australia, for the flexability of four inputs, and on the strength of Dave's recommendation.

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

Thanks for all the replies! The Echo AudioFire certainly looks interesting, and for a very low price indeed. I've never heard anything about this company before though. Do they have a good reputation in general?

Yes they have a very good reputation and they also license some of their expertise to other major copanies according to their website.

I'll see if I can make some testfiles between Audiofire4 and Lynx Aurora. Can take a week or so though.


/Peter

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

Same way that food in the supermarket is free if you take it without paying. If you use Reaper you agree to the licence, and after the 30 days evaluation period you are required to pay for it.

I wrote "free" because you care allowed to download Reaper and use it for some time without paying. They also mention that they are altruists and that they want peple to have access to software for free or at a low cost (if memory serves me). They even joke about it "hey, if you don't pay after the evaluation-time WE WILL remind you every singel time you start the program and you'll have to contemplate it for six seconds every time you start the program."

That is a nice attitude and gave me a good laugh.

Now that said I'm on my first week on Reaper and if it runns smoothly (it seems to do so) on my laptop with my two soundevices I will for sure send them the money they asks for.

I have used ARTA for some time and that is free in a fully functional version for as long as you want. By paying for the license you get one extra function though, you can save files and upload them in the program later on. That's a feature I have never used so far (screen dumps have been enough for the measurements I've done) but I did send Ivo money for the license anyway. Simply because excellent products from altruist-oriented people are worth the fee.

I have never downlaoded a single tune from the internet either.

Just wanted to make my stand clear reagarding intellectual property.

And yes, I pay for the food I bring home from the supermarket as well..


/Peter

[David Spearritt]

Yep the TC StudioKonnekt 48 is a superb interface, best ergonomics of any interface, and judging by the very low jitter specs (real specs), its probably the best sounding as well. A stunning bargain with a PC and Reaper to do the recording.

I'm afraid I can't take Metric Halo seriously until they publish proper jitter specs.

[Ozpeter]

Audiop, I reacted a little sharply to your comment about "free" because the Cockos policy of not protecting their software against unlicenced use has been misunderstood by some people on the net as meaning that it's effectively free - and as you note, it's certainly not. Reaper licencees do have a tendency to be sensitive about the matter! I am proud to say I was the first to purchase a commercial licence.

I do hope that Reaper turns out to be useful to you in the long run.

And now, back to interfaces.

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by byrd62au

A shame you don't have a Mac. The Metric Halo ULN-2 is hard to beat for what you describe.

Yes, and even better converters are in the Sonic Studio Model 304.

Products :: Series 300 Eight Channel Main

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

And now, back to interfaces.

Cool!


/Peter

[jamboy]

While technically not an all-in-one:

I've just invested in a Lynx aurora 8 and a Broadhurst Gardens No.2 all neatly wrapped up in a portable 2u rack bag.

I am ecstatic / over-the-moon / very happy at the quality of the recordings I'm getting. I'm a huge fan of BGs after buying a small 2 input one a few months ago. The pres are detailed and clean beyond anything I've used before and perfect for my location recordings. The only niggle is the need for a separte monitoring solution ... but a simple box with a volume knob is good enough.

Again, not quite an all in one, but very portable and better quality (IMHO)

[just.sounds]

Wat about the orpheus??

Multiplatform and easy one of the cleanest boxes around.

Orpheus Recording Interface Home Page

[BrianHanke]

Many great ideas! Just so you all know, I'm more interested in quality, reliability and future-proofness than budget at this point. If I can sum up the suggestions so far:

Metric Halo ULN-2 (+4)
- approx. $3700 if I get a new MacBook Pro too
- 2 preamp inputs

Pre with built-in converters, connected to interface via S/PDIF
- cost unknown
- limited by number of S/PDIF inputs?

Echo Audiofire 4 (+2)
- $300
- 2 preamp inputs

Focusrite Saffire
- the Pro 10 model is $500
- 8 preamp inputs

RME Fireface
- either $1300 or $1700 depending on the model
- 2 or 4 preamp inputs

TC Electronic StudioKonnekt 48 (+2)
- $1000
- 4 preamp inputs

Lynx Aurora 8 plus extra pre
- $2300 plus pre
- up to 8 preamp inputs

Prism Orpheus
- $5000
- 4 preamp inputs

Any further thoughts about this? Looking forward to hearing more input!

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by Adebar

Yes, and even better converters are in the Sonic Studio Model 304.

Products :: Series 300 Eight Channel Main

[mphonic]

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

Metric Halo ULN-2 (+4)
- approx. $3700 if I get a new MacBook Pro too
- 2 preamp inputs
Any further thoughts about this? Looking forward to hearing more input!

If you merely have some access to a mac, you can configure the uln-2 to send the inputs from the pre-amps to the digital outputs (you can store a number of recallable configurations on these units). Then you can just connect an m-audio microtrack or some similar device with digital inputs to the uln-2 and forgo a computer in your live set-up.

Of course, you would obviously miss out on a lot of things the uln-2 has to offer.

Don't forget sound devices' killer portable recorders for around $2000. Very nice pres, good conversion, and extremely well-built.

[Audiop]

Brian,

why not start with the AF4 and then do some blind testing against the higher priced units later on?

Do you have 4-pin or 6-pin FW on the Toshiba?

A beatiful small high quality rig could be a Macbook with AF4. The AF4 can be powered via 6-pin FW which Macbook has.

Batterypowered, ultra mobile, high quality!


/Peter

[BrianHanke]

That does sound appealing. I believe my current laptop only has 4-pin firewire, so I'd have to use the AF4's power adapter. Can the unit be daisy-chained if I ever wanted to add another two inputs?

Originally Posted by Audiop

Brian,

why not start with the AF4 and then do some blind testing against the higher priced units later on?

Do you have 4-pin or 6-pin FW on the Toshiba?

A beatiful small high quality rig could be a Macbook with AF4. The AF4 can be powered via 6-pin FW which Macbook has.

Batterypowered, ultra mobile, high quality!


/Peter

When I look in detail at some of the solutions mentioned above I find myself thinking that they may be overkill. I basically just need two excellent preamps (maybe four), excellent analog to digital conversion, two headphone jacks and two line outs for speakers, all in a firewire or USB interface.

I'm interested in quality for sure, but at the same time I don't want to pay extra for extraneous features. Simplicity is key for me!