recording interface for computer

[GoDrex]

Can anyone recommend a decent interface for recording with a computer. I've been using my soundcard and I feel like the quality suffers a lot, especially when the guitar sound is distorted. I guess what I need is something that has a good analog to digital converter.

I'm thinking something like this: http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.US44010 or this:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Fast-Track-Pro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface?sku=241710

or

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/EMu-0404-USB-2.0-Recording-Interface?sku=242516

 

[GoDrex]

I think this might be the one I want - since I don't need midi:

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=237&subcategory=538&product=17511&listby=

 

[Rouse]

Pro Tools is great. This package comes with some good studio speakers, eleven (great amp modeler), pro tools 7 w free upgrade to 8, a mic, and an interface. I bought it about 2 months ago and I'm loving it.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Digidesign-Mbox-2-Mini-Studio-Bundle-2008-500310-i1414226.gc
If you have any questions about it, just ask.

 

[rounce55]

Pro Tools is great. This package comes with some good studio speakers, eleven (great amp modeler), pro tools 7 w free upgrade to 8, a mic, and an interface. I bought it about 2 months ago and I'm loving it.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Digidesign-Mbox-2-Mini-Studio-Bundle-2008-500310-i1414226.gc
If you have any questions about it, just ask.

Damn you beat me to it. I had Protools LE but the software doesn't work for my mac. I only had it for PC.

 

[hannaugh]

A friend of a friend who works at Guitar Center says the M Audio ones get returned a lot for not working correctly.  His specific words were "because they explode", but I think he was exaggerating. 

I have a Tascam with Cubase LE.  It works... I'm just as confused as I was back when I was using ProTools in my college audio class, but I can do things with it without too much difficulty.  At one point I plugged in my friend's Rock Band drum set and we used it as a midi controller through it, and that wasn't overly difficult to figure out. 

My only complaint was that when I first got it, it came with an extra program that wasn't really neccessary, but they threw it in there as an incentive to buy the bundle.  Everything worked fine, but as soon as I installed that extra bit of software, Cubase would crash.  It was weird.  When I realized how pointless the other program was though, I just stopped trying to run it and I haven't had any problems since. 

 

[tfarny]

I still think the toneport stuff is best value - it's a good interface, two xlr inputs, 2 instrument inputs, stereo line in, phantom power etc., plus you get a full pod, bass pod, and a bunch of vocal pres to play with in softare, but the processing is done in the toneport to reduce CPU demand. I've had mine for a couple of years now, recorded a bunch, and it works perfectly.

 

[GoDrex]

Thanks guys.

How come I haven't heard anything? :laughing7:

 

[tfarny]

I'm shy..... :binkybaby:

 

[GoDrex]

I'm shy..... :binkybaby:

yeah yeah

have you ever tried to record the Little Giant with that thing? That's more of what I'm interested in - is trying to mic my amps - -more so than using all the POD sounds, though I'm sure I'd like them too.

 

[tfarny]

I only use the POD guitar sounds for practicing or laying down a guide track to be deleted later. I've had success recording the little giant with a Shure Beta 58a about 6" from the grill pointed at the corner of the speaker. I can't get excited about buying an sm57 because this one works really well. From there direct into the toneport and turn of all signal processing there. Sometimes I'll add in the reverb at the mixing stage where you have lots of options for reverbing. It's much easier to get a rocking sound when you don't have 189 knobs to turn.  Still the toneport is really great because of all the bass pod stuff (I don't have a bass amp), and the vocal pres are great to have and save my buying a ton of junk I won't use all the time.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

FWIW, I have the M-Audio Fasttrack USB.  I haven't tried running my guitar to my amp to the fasttrack yet, I usually just plug the guitar straight in and use Guitar Rig for effects/amp emulations.  No problems here...  :dontknow:

 

[GoDrex]

I think I need to hear some examples so I can judge the quality of the recordings.  :laughing7:

 

[ognolman]

My #1 objective in recording interfaces is monitoring latency.  Since I'm usually recording bass I need something that is as close to zero latency as possible.  Otherwise the lag really makes the bass track sound sloppy.  So I got a PreSonus FireBox.

There are some very annoying quirks in the software, but it does a pretty good job.  If you want to hear it, I recorded the bass track on "Aint No Stoppin' Us Now" with it here: http://www.myspace.com/rrsoulex.  Most of those tracks aren't mastered yet, so they're still rough.

Honestly, because of the software quirks I wouldn't want to buy another one, but when I think about buying something else I think about what quirks the other brand will probably have, which could easily be worse.  The whole audio interface thing is still having technological growing pains, so it will be a few years before these things really mature.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

I think I need to hear some examples so I can judge the quality of the recordings.  :laughing7:

I'm at work right now, but I'll see what I can do when I get home.  Just don't hold any expectations of my playing...  :laughing7:

 

[GoDrex]

I don't care about anyone's playing ability. I'd like to hear a distorted guitar tone.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

I don't care about anyone's playing ability. I'd like to hear a distorted guitar tone.

Gotcha.  When I get home I'll do up a few, from light OD to fuzz to max gain.

 

[Rouse]

I'll post some Pro Tools clips, I'll use Eleven and some other stuff. I'll have it up by 2nite.
Edit: never mind, I cant get them to mp3 format, I have em in wma because mp3 is a plugin which i dont have

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

Ok GD, here goes nothing.

The first clip is Fuzzed.  My Explorer, Bridge position, to the fast track usb, and through Guitar Rig.  I used the Hiwatt modeler (High White) with a Big Muff (Big Fuzz).

The second clip is extreme gain.  Explorer bridge again, to the fast track, through guitar rig.  That one was through the Bogner Uberschall modeler (Ultra Sonic) into a Gain Booster and a Noise Reduction.

These clips are in no way musical, and sadly, are the extent of my current abilities  :laughing7:

 

[GoDrex]

those sound pretty good - a bit better than what I'm able to do.

 

[AndyG]

ProTools is the way to go.

Here's a piece of a tune I recorded without using a single microphone.  ProTools7.1, using the Digi002 interface.  The gutar sounds are an Ibanez Destroyer running through Guitar Rig II.  The bass is a Spector 5 string running through Amplitube.  The drums are BFD Lite (included with ProTools).  This is an early version of the track, and just a rough mix.  I've done considerable work to it since, but it'll give you an idea.  Despite the extra expense, I feel that Digidesign has the best stuff out there for home recording.  I've recently upgraded to ProTools 8, and the MIDI handling is now really useful as well.