KVR Audio

Nacks · Post by **Nacks** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:25 am

Hi all,

I'm just after some advice on audio interfaces to record mostly guitar and some vocal onto PC. I have been using ASIO4ALL, Krystal Audio and Audacity, and I think its time to step up a bit. My local music shop has the following interfaces that are within my (limited) budget and they are all about the same price:

Lexicon Lambda
Presonus Inspire
Line6 Toneport UX1
Tapco USB
Tascam US122L

So any help would be greatly appreciated (particularly if any particular one is crappy), as well as any opinion on bundled recording software i.e. cubase LE, Ableton Live Lite etc.

Cheers
Nacks

BTW Midi is not critical

boonsnic · Post by **boonsnic** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:37 am

I have a presonus firebox, and i absolutely love it, as well as the product support and such that i have received from the company. As far as brand, i would highly recommend them. Hopefully someone else can give you some more detailed thoughts

EDIT
I bought the firebox in a bundle with and AKG Perception 200 Condenser mic, and that works wonders for guitar and vocal recording.

gelocks · Post by **gelocks** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:12 am

Instead of the Lexicon Lambda, I've had the Lexicon Omega for like 2 years now and it's still going on strong. So I can say that it has been reliable and it has been useful. The preamps for the mics might not be the best ever but they do their job ok.

dickiefunk · Post by **dickiefunk** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:21 pm

There are three audio interfaces that I'd recommend above the ones suggested so far:-

Mackie Onyx Satellite - Decent preamps with the complete version of Tracktion 2!

Echo Audiofire 4 - Comes with the complete version of Tracktion 1.

EMU 0404 USB - Comes with LE version of Cubase and various other VSTs.

Do you need midi? The Mackie Onyx Satellite has the best preamps out of any of these interfaces but doesn't have midi. Also the D/A A/D converters aren't quite as good as the other two (but definately good enough). This is not a problem if you are using a USB controller keyboard. It also has the best free DAW. The complete Tracktion 2 should do you for a very long time. You can also upgrade to Tracktion 3 at a later date!
The Echo Audiofire 4 is also another excellent interface in this price point. It has excellent D/A A/D converters and reasonable preamps (not quite as good as the Mackie but possibly the next best available around this budget -£150/$300. It comes with the full version of Tracktion 1 which is not as good as Tracktion 2 but still better than Cubase LE.
I also like the EMU 0404 USB at this price point. It has decent A/D D/A converters and ok preamps. It comes with a much bigger software bundle but only Cubase LE.

amarule · Post by **amarule** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:05 pm

I know several musicians who have fireboxes and are very happy with them. The quality of the converters is very nice, and the pres are also excellent. I believe it comes with Cubase.

advaya · Post by **advaya** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:14 pm

amarule wrote:I know several musicians who have fireboxes and are very happy with them. The quality of the converters is very nice, and the pres are also excellent. I believe it comes with Cubase.

I've been using a Firebox a fair amount over the last few months, and yeah, it is very good. Traded an MBox original in for it (I couldn't get Digi's coreaudio drivers to work at all).

I'd definitely buy Presonus again.

Redmerkurii · Post by **Redmerkurii** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:47 pm

Recently acquired PreSonus Firebox here too. Rock solid low latency drivers. Comes With Cubase LE. Firewire Interface. Good Shit mate. Wish I'd bought the FirePod now though. (mebbe next year). Try and scrape some dollars for a half decent set of monitors as well an you'll be set for life. (That is if you ain't got em already).

Aural Chaos · Post by **Aural Chaos** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:42 pm

Get the Firebox!

(yep, there's an Echo in here...)

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:23 pm

Firebox, Firebox, Firebox ...

It isn't on the list of the OP.
It's out of the price range of the OP.

advaya · Post by **advaya** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:27 pm

alright... you edited your post.

Guess you knew what my first comment was going to be.

EDIT: for the record, the modest difference in price between the Inspire, and Firebox is well worth it.

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:39 pm

advaya wrote:alright... you edited your post.

Guess you knew what my first comment was going to be.

EDIT: for the record, the modest difference in price between the Inspire, and Firebox is well worth it.

I'd recommend the Firebox too, if the OP can fork out the price difference.

But isn't it cost twice as much, as the Inspire?

advaya · Post by **advaya** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:46 pm

Lance wrote:
advaya wrote:alright... you edited your post.

Guess you knew what my first comment was going to be.

EDIT: for the record, the modest difference in price between the Inspire, and Firebox is well worth it.
I'd recommend the Firebox too, if the OP can fork out the price difference. But isn't it cost twice as much, as the Inspire?

I've seen them advertised for around $270 (vs the $150 for the Inspire). For the extra $120-150, the difference between the two is significant... You're right though. I shoulda said 'moderate' price difference, instead of 'modest'.

Nacks · Post by **Nacks** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:49 pm

Thanks all

So far everyone seems pretty happy with presonus stuff, problem is my financial advisor (wife) wont let me spend enough to get the firebox just for your info: the prices for firebox vs inspire are au$499 vs au$299. The shop says the rrp is $699 vs $429

hmmm I might have to try some smooth talking

Jerru · Post by **Jerru** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:44 pm

I use the Line 6 UX2 as my audio interface.
The built in guitar, bass and vocal preamp modelers
are excellent. The cost is less than $200 USD.
It's probably the biggest bang for the buck of all
of my music equipment! Highly recommended.

amarule · Post by **amarule** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:54 am

IF you live near a major city, check Craigslist.com's musical instrument forum for a used one

Which audio interface to buy?