I'm looking at getting a PC audio card/adapter, mainly just for recording vocals with one mic, so I only really need one balanced mic input but it would be sensible to have at least a stereo line input as well in case I want to record any other sources.
From what I've read, Firewire devices are preferable to USB and RME make good hardware with good drivers. The RME Audio Fireface 400 is on e-bay for about £400, which is too expensive for me and has more inputs than I need but it does have the Total Mix DSP-based mixer, which I believe allows for latency-free hardware monitoring of the inputs which is obviously useful when recording vocals, and it also claims to have high-quality mic pre-amps. I understand that newer RME products like the Babyface Pro have TotalMix FX, which adds hardware based EQ, echo, reverb, dynamics, which I can see being useful for latency-free monitoring with FX, but that's even more out of my budget at around £700 and it's a USB device anyway.
So what would you recommend as a more budget-friendly option? A PCI-card with external DACs or a Firewire device would seem preferable but maybe there's some decent USB devices with decent drivers now. I have an Audiophile 2496 PCI card, so (assuming that even works with Windows 10) maybe I should just get a pre-amp or channel strip. I don't know if they'd allow me to add some EQ and reverb on the headphones but send a clean feed to the PC though, as I think it's better to do it that way and process the track in the software.
I've actually got an old Symetrix SX200 pre-amp which I bought second-hand some time ago after reading good reviews but it's probably not half as good as modern ones and I don't even know if it's genuine or a knock-off, as it's riveted shut so I can't see what components are in it. I tested it with a SM58 and I didn't think it was particularly good but maybe it only shines with a phantom powered condenser.
Recommendations for PC Audio/Mic recording hardware
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- KVRAF
- 2066 posts since 11 Aug, 2012 from omfr morf form romf frmo
USB is fine for audio interfaces. Re-evaluate your options with this in mind and you'll find something suitable.
M-Audio does have Windows 10 drivers for your card.
M-Audio does have Windows 10 drivers for your card.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 4 posts since 31 Oct, 2005
Thanks, good to know that there are Windows 10 drivers for my card and that using USB isn't a problem.
I could still do with some recommendations though, as there's so many devices available and I don't know which ones have dodgy drivers or poor support, whether I need something with a hardware mixer and FX for monitoring or if I should be looking at separate additional products to provide that.
I could still do with some recommendations though, as there's so many devices available and I don't know which ones have dodgy drivers or poor support, whether I need something with a hardware mixer and FX for monitoring or if I should be looking at separate additional products to provide that.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
I'd likely get an NI Komplete Audio 6 if I was in the market for an interface. I have their older Audio Kontrol 1 which is perfect for my needs ... and has always been solid and reliable.
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... e-audio-6/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... e-audio-6/
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 4 posts since 31 Oct, 2005
That looks pretty good and is reasonably priced. I wonder how well the mic pre-amps compare to other interfaces or dedicated pre-amps/channel strips though?
I see it has direct latency-free monitoring for inputs 1 and 2 which is good but I guess I'd need a separate FX box to connect between the headphone output and the cans to add some reverb/EQ for the vocalist. Anything you can recommend for that? I guess as it's not being used for recording it doesn't have to be amazing quality.
I see it has direct latency-free monitoring for inputs 1 and 2 which is good but I guess I'd need a separate FX box to connect between the headphone output and the cans to add some reverb/EQ for the vocalist. Anything you can recommend for that? I guess as it's not being used for recording it doesn't have to be amazing quality.