Audio Interfaces for Recording at Home

Wanted: Tech advice from you guys.

Thanks to Rod's amazing generosity I've got a REAL SM58 and I now I need an audio interface so I can use my new gadget. "Snaps" to all gadgeteers, music related or not. I'm open to all ideas and brands. Budget of between $50 and $100. I only record vocals as of now so I don't need anything too fancy. If you can suggest something extraordinary within my budget that has a few extra's I won't mind either (my keyboard might get some extra usage).

Let the ideas and suggestions flow!

Hey Vardy, you might need to slightly go over budget. There aren't many good choices for anything less than $100.

I did a search and I found some decent ones for you to consider. Though I'm not sure if these are available where you're at.

M-Audio Fast Track MKII - I use to use the older version of this one. Its pretty good. Easy to use and ideal for people starting up.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/M-Audio-Fast-Track-MKII-USB-Audio-Interface?sku=703669

This looks promising. I'm not sure about this model, but one of my friends swears by their mixers.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-iO2-Express-Audio-Interface?sku=485880

This one surprised me. Its very low in price but still offers a sample rate and size of 48khz and 24bit.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lexicon-Alpha-USB-Desktop-Recording-Studio?sku=245507

Those are just a few that I found. You should try to look for something that has at least a sample size of 24bit and sample rate of 48khz.

Sample rate of 96khz would be more of a luxury which isn't really necessary. My friends who run studios mainly record at 48khz/24bit.

Also, anything that supports 48V phantom power would be a nice bonus. Your dynamic mic doesn't require it, but if you happen to get a condenser mic in the future, then it would be a good idea.

Great recomendations all 3!

Rod

The first two suggestions Davie gave would be nice. The lower you go in price, the more likely you are going to run into issues along the way. I use an M-Audio Fast Track Pro (the same except with more ins/outs), and it works great. If you're using Mac, driver issues will probably not be a problem for you, but if you're on Windows then you need to do some research with the one you choose to see what kind of software you need to download in order to have it work properly.

Good luck!

My top recommendation would be the M-audio Fast track MKII that I mentioned.

I use to use the old version for years! It was good enough for my needs at the time.

But one GREAT thing I noticed about the new model is that it actually has PHANTOM POWER!

I use to use a separate mic pre-amp to get phantom power.

Also I think this model is available in many stores and locations.

I may be able to go over but probably not. I'm also not sure if I'll be able to find any of you're suggestions but if not, they make a good starting point so I know the kind of specifications I should be looking for. Possible condenser mic's do sound good.

Ever heard of Behringer? I did a little search on Google and their interfaces were quiet affordable; I just need to know if it's because they're generally crap or they actually just great value.

Oh, also should I get an XLR to XLR cable for my mic 'cause these interfaces all seem to use them. My real SM58 didn't come with a cable; my fake one did, but it's XLR to 1/4".

Behringer... they're kinda "hit and miss" on most of their products. But I've heard many negative things about their pro-audio/recording.

I rather save up to that extra $50 or whatever and get a decent interface.

And yes, you're going to be needing a XLR-XLR cable which generally are around $15-40

Which Behringer model do you have in mind anyway?

Oh! Well that helps narrow the search. I can't remember the name of the one I saw on Google but their website had this: U-CONTROL UCA222, which seemed a good bet when I thought I would be using my other cable.

Something like this?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA222-USB-Audio-Interface?sku=476148

M-audio makes something similar but for slightly more ($50). But I wouldn't recommend using something like this.

If you want to use this you will need a special cable (RCA to 1/4" or XLR) and also a mic preamp.

In the end it will end up costing you the same, but with more hassle.

get a tascam us144

forget about spending less than $100.

you get what you pay for, you're going to spend closer to $200-$250 with shipping and cables.

@Davie. Yeah that's what I was looking at. I agree, less hassle=happier Jonathan, even if he is more broke.T_T.

@Duke, which one? There's a few on their website and I won't be paying shipping since I can only buy what is available here. I just have to hope that I can find one of these around.

that tascam us144, doesn't matter which one.

Lol. I saw you wrote that earlier but I thought it was the price us144 ie. $144 Us dollars.

Well, it seems almost identical to the us122 and just a teeny bit more expensive.

Looks to be a good deal, but I'll need a few more possibilities from other brands too, to make sure I'll find at least 1 of them.

I've got an M-Audio Mobile Pre I use with my laptop...I think it may be $200 though. 2 ins and outs, 1/4in and XLR, it serves it's purpose I guess. Duke's right, especially with pro audio, you get what you pay for! MOTU makes some killer interfaces, I've got an old 2408 that I use now. MOTU is a bit on the pricey side though.

Stay away from Beringher....garbage!

things you want but most haver anyway...

XLR input

Phamtom Power

USB or Firewire interface

Anything more is a luxury for your needs, stay away from Behringer like the plague...

Rod

Lol. They're that bad. Haha, so much for superior German engineering.

I'll keep these as my checklist and throw in the 48khz and 24bits too.

Okay, got these on my list so far:

M-Audio Fast track

Tascam US-122/144

Alesis i02 Express

If you're considering the M-Audio Fast track then maybe you can find the older version for a lot cheaper.

It's discontinued and I occasionally see people sell it used for cheap, though it doesn't have phantom power, but its still a decent pick.

I actually sold my old Fast track to one of my buddies for $60. lol

Hold on there Sparky!

First rules of business:

(1) What is your exact budget (physical money you have to spend)

(2) How are you going to record your voice? (List method here)

What most people do: they realize they need to *invest* in gear they will use...

-Suitable computer (Core 2 Duo minimum) with 4 GB's of Ram

-Audio interface capable of at least 24bit/96khz recording

-External Monitors (although frankly you don't *need* them for your application) -Headphones will do just fine

The great thing about the Shure SM58 is that you don't need phantom power...

You do need sufficient gain on your audio interface or it's not going to sound good, as compared to a condenser mic (just an Fyi) due to the sensitivity rating(s) for each type of mic (dynamic Vs. condenser)

So let us know your budget but don't you dare tell me you only have a hundred bucks! I will keel you!

You've got to be realistic. I'm not saying buy the top of the line because hell, even when I had money I didn't do that

Value priced gear is cheaper but still isn't *very cheap* as in a twenty here, a 50 there.

Add the valued cost of the mic you were given to your budget because you should be in the hole that amount (tell yourself this so you spend more money)

Behringer is NOT that bad, speaking from experience, however they're built by robots in China, lol!

Anyway, they make great monitors and yes, even mixers but I have a question for you JV...

Why do you need a mixer???

It's a waste of money for your application IF you just need a clean recording of your voice....Capiche?

All you need is:

-a mic (check)

-an audio interface that has a mic input

Done.

Yeah...$100...that's not really enough, I'm afraid. In Australia anyway. And I am highly stingy and tight with money.

We use a Line 6 Toneport UX2...though as people know, I've had problems with getting the right settings and sounds and stuff. We do like it though. And it has phantom power, though with our Shure SM58 mic, we don't need it. It also has 2 mic inputs and 2 instrument inputs, so you can record 2 guitars and 2 mics at the same time if you needed, and such other things.

We got it at a discounted price, but I think we still paid...*straining memory banks* maybe $250.00 or something? Or maybe $200...maybe...lol.

We also have monitor speakers...they're a non brand...they're ok though as far as we can tell.

And yeah, you need the stupid XLR cables. We didn't realise and nobody told us, so were highly annoyed once we got everything set up finally and STILL couldn't record!!! So we went back, bought them ($40 or $80...one of those prices, they were), and all was swell. I was very annoyed at having to pay extra for boring things like CABLES though! But you do need 'em and you also don't want to scrimp on things like cables, or your sound quality will suffer.

I had one I could have sent you? But I'm pretty much through with the singers forum :-( Lot's of takers? And not enough givers... Not equipment wise? Just posting. I'll pitch my old audio card in the trash :-( My current is a fireface 800, I have no use for the old one? Or this forum evidently. Good luck everyone.

I may be through with any music-related forums altogether as well, considering I can't write music and can't {censored}ing sing either! lol