USB/Firewire Audio Recording Interfaces

  • Thread starter Thread starter keennay
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keennay

keennay

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Hey folks,

I'm considering purchasing a Firewire audio recording interface so that I can not only connect 2 Audix i5 mics for stereo recording my 1978 Marshall JMP 2203, but also plug in my guitar for amp modeling software whenever I return to my apartment.

Any of you had experience with the gear below? I think the only difference I see between a Saffire Pro 14 and 24 are the 2 extra Line Out jacks + on/off switch. I don't see a difference between the 24 & 24 DSP besides a $100 difference.

The Echo AudioFire4 seems like a $50 more expensive version of the Saffire Pro 14.

$249.99 - Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 Audio interface
$299.99 - Focusrite Saffire Pro 24
$399.99 - Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP

$299.99 - Echo AudioFire4 FireWire Audio Interface
$399.99 - TC Electronic Impact Twin Next Generation Firewire Interface

Feel free to recommend others. I'll also ask the guys at Guitar Center later today.

Thanks
 
I use the presonus fire project, and it has yet to disappoint me.
 
May I suggest you try to find an old MOTU 828 MKII... they're a recording standard

I have a Focusrite Saffire LE, never had any problem with it, but it's been collecting dust since I bought a RME...
 
I have been eyeing the Steinberg MR816X Firewire Interface.. they used to be $700 idk why they are up at $1000 now... they've been out forever and when compared to higher priced interfaces, they do just as well if not better..

EDIT: just found it on sweetwater still for $700
 
There's a used one on Gearsluts for $500, excellent unit!
 
m-audio profire 610.
one of the best in that price range (for new units)
 
I'm looking for something that will send each mono XLR input to the DAW as its own track.

Suggestions?
 
racerevlon":ikaogdfw said:
I'm looking for something that will send each mono XLR input to the DAW as its own track.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
They pretty much all do that if they have 2 xlr preamp inputs. You assign the xlr input to whatever track you want to record internally in your music production software . I use cubase personally
 
I was previously using a Focusrite Forte but I need more inputs and SPDIF from my Torpedo Live. Thus, I returned it. Fantastic interface though! I am waiting on a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 which is coming in a couple of weeks. I've had great luck with their stuff.

I had an RME Babyface which was a good interface but way overpriced for what it is. It also had a lousy visual on it and hideous user interface. Their updates and support seem to be very good.

I had a Motu Track16 which in all terms was a not my favorite. I found the overall sound quality not as good at all. Amazing I/O capabilities but had to return it for one that actually worked properly and then had some other driver issues. I'm sure their stuff is good but didn't work for me.
 
The tc impact twin is a great interface. If you poke around online you can get them for under $300 shipped. Very solid interface with clean pres. You will see some chatter in the forums about driver problems but that was a long time ago and they are stable now. I use it for my mobile interface with a bigger studio konnekt 48 back home.
 
sixstringking713":17max7dx said:
racerevlon":17max7dx said:
I'm looking for something that will send each mono XLR input to the DAW as its own track.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
They pretty much all do that if they have 2 xlr preamp inputs. You assign the xlr input to whatever track you want to record internally in your music production software . I use cubase personally
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is that I can mic my drummer's whole kit with 12 mics into my Allen & Heath ZED-22FX and then go into Reaper and tell Reaper to take XLR #1 and map it to track 1 (kick), XLR #2 to track 2 (snare), XLR #3 to track 3 (hat), and so forth for each input on the board?

Is this correct (looks around for Fluff...)
 
For simplicity, score a used Apogee Duet. Excellent preamp/ converteres for the money... on par with RME.
 
racerevlon":3gssalm3 said:
sixstringking713":3gssalm3 said:
racerevlon":3gssalm3 said:
I'm looking for something that will send each mono XLR input to the DAW as its own track.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
They pretty much all do that if they have 2 xlr preamp inputs. You assign the xlr input to whatever track you want to record internally in your music production software . I use cubase personally
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is that I can mic my drummer's whole kit with 12 mics into my Allen & Heath ZED-22FX and then go into Reaper and tell Reaper to take XLR #1 and map it to track 1 (kick), XLR #2 to track 2 (snare), XLR #3 to track 3 (hat), and so forth for each input on the board?

Is this correct (looks around for Fluff...)
Click to expand...

I don't know about the A&H but with my Presonus Firewire Project I can do exactly that.

Giga
 
racerevlon":2vcc50p0 said:
sixstringking713":2vcc50p0 said:
racerevlon":2vcc50p0 said:
I'm looking for something that will send each mono XLR input to the DAW as its own track.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
They pretty much all do that if they have 2 xlr preamp inputs. You assign the xlr input to whatever track you want to record internally in your music production software . I use cubase personally
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is that I can mic my drummer's whole kit with 12 mics into my Allen & Heath ZED-22FX and then go into Reaper and tell Reaper to take XLR #1 and map it to track 1 (kick), XLR #2 to track 2 (snare), XLR #3 to track 3 (hat), and so forth for each input on the board?

Is this correct (looks around for Fluff...)
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with that board but I just did a 2 second search and no it wont work how you describe. Although it is USB capable, it can only send a stereo track into the computer. So basically if you plugged Kick, Snare, Hat, Tom, rest of 12 mics etc, it will only enter the computer as a stereo mix, NOT independent tracks. To achieve what you want, you need an audio interface setup that can support 12 XLR inputs. Many of them support 8 per interface (and you can link them together to get 16 or 24 inputs). Next, most of the audio interfaces come with preamps built in. If you would like to use your preamps that are in your A&H board, you could buy an audio interface that only has A/D (analog to digital) converters and run from the A&H board direct out from each channel into the audio interface. Or if you want to abandon the A&H board, just get an audio interface that has the preamps built in.

Long story short - buy two 8-input audio interfaces and daisy chain them together to get 16 inputs to your computer to accomplish what you want.

For example, you could buy 2 of the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 interfaces and link them together (will run you about $1000 though) https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... Qgod1gQAqA.


Or if you dont want to drop $1000+ on audio interfaces, you could get one 8-input audio interface and plug in ALL the toms into your A&H board and then run that stereo out to 2 inputs on your audio interface. So you're 8 channels would be something like Kick In, Kick out, Snare Top, Snare Bottom, Hat, Toms,OH L, OH R or whatever configuration you want. You could just mix down the rack toms in a mono mix and the floor toms into a mono mix and still only use up 2 inputs on the audio interface. That way you can get away with only needing to buy one 8-input audio interface and still achieve most of what you want. You could still pan the rack toms and FLR toms and EQ/Comp them almost as well as if they were entirely separate.


Hope that helps
 
Yes--this is precisely the type of information and recommendation I've been looking for -- thanks to all!
 
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