Audio Interface Questions

[Ryboy6767]

Alrighty. So I'm going to college (implying that I'm poor now) and I want to be able to record stuff from my keyboard and my guitar onto my laptop. I'm not worried about software, but I'm worried about my hardware. I think I might go with USB over Firewire for the sake of saving money unless its an incredible alternative. And I want MIDI for my keys so I can do some synth modeling.



Here's what I was looking at doing.

Buying:

Line 6 TonePort UX1
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-TonePort-UX1-USB-RecordingModeling-Interface?sku=249700

and also

MAudio USB MIDISport
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-USB-MIDIsport-1x1-MIDI-Interface?sku=701258



I don't know if that would be an alright make-shift set up or what. That just seems to be a much cheaper alternative than finding an Audio/MIDI Interface because those seem to break the bank.




If you're experienced in recording or whatever go ahead and let me know if you think that'll work or if you have an alternative for me.

Thanks

[together]

Go Mbox bro..you won't regret it. They have a cheaper one out now too:-)

[InYourName]

i got a firepod i love it, they are cheaper now there was a new one on ebay for 350

[Tristan Needler]

E-MU 0404 (http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15185)

Two audio mic/line inputs and outputs, one MIDI input and output for about $200. If you look around online you can find it for cheaper.

Obviously it doesn't have the best pres or converters, but it will get the job done. Especially if you're recording in a dorm room, your sound won't be fantastic anyway so you'd be more than fine with it.

I have the 0202 and it's just fine for me. It comes bundled with Cubase LE and Sonar LE which are both great little sequencers for doing basic stuff in your computer. I'll post a cover I recorded using my 0202 for you to hear when I'm done recording and mixing it, probably a few weeks from now.

[Tristan Needler]

If you can spare to USB ports (or only need to record audio and MIDI one at a time) then you could go with the 0202 and get the $50 MIDI interface with two i/o instead of just one if you'll need to do two keyboards or a keyboard and a synth module or something. Or they have this really cheap thing that's just basically a cable with one MIDI i/o.

[Tristan Needler]

I want one of these (http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&product=13552) so badly. That way if/when I buy a PC to devote to recording I can just buy the PCI card to use it with. But I can't afford it, or really justify getting one for myself :bluesad:


Oh, if you're using a mac I'm not so sure about the EMU stuff. I know they have mac drivers, but I don't know how good they are, I haven't heard anyone mention them. I'm sure they'd probably be fine for you again, though.

[Tristan Needler]

Damn I just made three (now four) posts. Sorry, I could talk about this stuff for hours though. I love it. Check out this page (http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm) (and the rest of the guide) to help you learn about interfaces and what to get (it has some nice charts on the following pages as well, comparing interfaces). Also check out these forums (http://www.studio-central.com/phpbb/index.php), lots of people in the same boat as you and I, along with many people who do this stuff for a living, talking and asking questions.


Be careful getting into this stuff man, it's more addictive than crack.