Interfaces

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:26 am

I know this kind of question has been asked a heap around here, but I just got a mac and now can use garage band to record stuff that hopefully i can post up here. However i do want some sort of preamp/interface to connect between my guitar/mic and the comp. so just a couple of questions:

1. What do i need? (whats the difference between a preamp and say a usb audio interface?)

2.I know m audio make these kind of devices, but i dont want to spend a heap of money. i 've been looking and it seems that behringer make a similiar one- http://www.behringer.com/FCA202/index.cfm?lang=ENG . Are there any other cheaper alternatives?

3. I also want a fairly cheap but good quality mic. I think i'll try and look for a cheap Shure on ebay. An other suggestions?

Keep in mind that i have a really low budget (still in high school/ no job) and don't need "perfect" sound, just relatively clean and simple.

Any help appreciated

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:15 am

All I use is a small $39.99 Behringer mixer which connects to my "line in" 1/8" jack on my computer. To be honest, I think it sounds pretty good and I didn't have to spend a heap on a USB interface. You will need phantom power if you get a decent mic, and the mixer i have has it. Also, a shure SM57 or SM58 would be a great mic and they run about 100 bucks.

If you want condensers then i would go with the MXL 990/991 package for 99 bucks on amazon. Its not the best but it gets the job done in a studio and you get two mics, one for mic'ing instruments and the other for vocals.

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:20 am

Thanks for all the responses

Has anybody ever used on of these http://www.m-audio.com/images/en/callou ... re_410.jpg and if so can you plug a standard 1/4" guitar plug into those funny black plugs on the front? (you can tell i know nothing) cause they look like some sort of XLR plug to me?

sunglassesatnight · Post by **sunglassesatnight** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:10 am

M-Audio's stuff is very good. You would be able to plug into the "Line Inputs" on the back.

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:11 pm

matonfan101 wrote:Thanks for all the responses

Has anybody ever used on of these http://www.m-audio.com/images/en/callou ... re_410.jpg and if so can you plug a standard 1/4" guitar plug into those funny black plugs on the front? (you can tell i know nothing) cause they look like some sort of XLR plug to me?

No, not on the front. those are for mics. you would use, as slimer said, the two quarter inch unbalanced inputs on the back. M audio is good stuff btw.

sunglassesatnight · Post by **sunglassesatnight** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:25 pm

Actually now that I look again, those XLRs on the front also have a 1/4" Line Input. It's a pretty popular thing to do now on this sort of box.

Trippin Hillbilly · Post by **Trippin Hillbilly** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:17 pm

I am no longer an m-audio fan but if you've got a tight budget and aren't looking for great results, you'll be ok with that.

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:37 pm

Trippin Hillbilly wrote:I am no longer an m-audio fan but if you've got a tight budget and aren't looking for great results, you'll be ok with that.

Please Explain

Trippin Hillbilly · Post by **Trippin Hillbilly** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:58 pm

I've had the m-audio dmp3 for a while now. I thought it was pretty good till I got a presonus firepod. The difference is like night and day. You should have a look at the Presonus Firebox. It's basically the two input version of the 8 input firepod. The firepod sounds incredible and adds very little noise to your signal which is obviously important if you do multitracking.

Now i've not had any experience with this specific firewire410 but I can bet that it uses the same preamps that are in the dmp3. Which I found to be a bit muddy. Have a look at the firebox if two inputs are enough for you. It's probably around the same price range too.

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:19 am

I've been looking at only 2-4 input devices (that firebox looks good) but are there any advantages in getting a larger model like say the firepod with heaps of inputs, what do you use them all for?

Trippin Hillbilly · Post by **Trippin Hillbilly** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:18 am

more than two mic's for drumming for example, guitars, bass, keys simultaneously. If you're recording just guitar and vocals the firebox should be sufficient.

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:51 pm

Trippin Hillbilly wrote:more than two mic's for drumming for example, guitars, bass, keys simultaneously. If you're recording just guitar and vocals the firebox should be sufficient.

How many inuts do you realistically use? And later down the track could i buy a mixer or something to offer more inputs, or how does that work?

Also do you have any mic recommendations etc.

sunglassesatnight · Post by **sunglassesatnight** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:56 pm

Inputs depend on what you want to be micing. More things/more mics mean more instruments. Micing a couple hand drums, my guitar and voice, two inputs is enough for me because I only use two mics at a time at most.

But yes, you could start out with the Firebox and then add an outboard mixer later, just make sure it has XLR outs and you'd be able to mix in the ins on the mixer into one in on the Firebox.

matonfan101 · Post by **matonfan101** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:18 pm

Sweet. Thanks all.