Audio interface

That's a strange one Chris, using Sonar 7 that is. What made you opt for that version?

You don't say what you have in terms of your workstation. Is it a desktop or laptop? Do you want to go down the internal or external device route?

For your budget you could probably get hold of a Roland Duo-Capture which is as simple as you can get and plugs into a USB socket, so no messing around inside your PC.

http://www.roland.co.uk/products/productdetails.aspx?p=1155

Don't get me wrong dood, Sonar 7 is fine.

If I were you I would take my laptop along to a music shop and ask if you can try out what they have. Explain your budget and what you want to do and I'm sure you would find them quite helpful.

Windows 8? Then you also need to make sure that the device you opt for comes with Windows 8 drivers. Well worth doing your research before you spend your hard earned cash

Ok guys awesome I am serious about it but just bought a new guitar so funds are lacking a bit I can probably stretch to £150 for an interface but need a mic with this budget too as for the interface I think I would need a midi in and out a mic point and 1/4 inch for guitar withFantom power that plugs in and is suitable for windows 8 I can always ditch sonar 7 and get a newer version what do you recommend also thanks for all your help guys 

First decide what kind of interfacing you have - Firewire or USB.  I bet it is usb on your computer.  So you need a usb interface.

At the entry level for interfaces there isn't much quality difference - drivers are the key.  That is the little bit of software that lets the interface "talk" to the computer and makes all the difference between stability and latency.  Most interfaces will come w/ 2 inputs, 2 outputs and at least one preamp for a mic (and a DI for guitar/bass).  Most will have midi so you can use the old 5-pin connectors if you have a synth (most today have usb midi).

Focusrite and Roland are the two companies you will see mostly on the forums.  Either should work.  But just buy from a retailer that will let you return one unit for another.  Most any ole unit will work, but w/ PCs you can't be sure if your specific hardware will work w/ all interfaces.  It is much easier to return such a unit than go on a time-consuming fix.  It isn't likely, but worth having as a back up plan.

Mic inputs will come w/ phantom power - a guitar input (DI) doesn't need it.  Just so you know.  The midi in/out is useful, but as I said above most modern keyboards have midi via USB.  Unless you plan to use a midi pin synth I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor.  And you can also add a sub $50 midi-usb adaptor later if you need a 5-pin midi in/out.

My favorite low-cost unit is the TC Konnekt 6 - a table top unit w/ a built-in vol knob.  $200.  SOS rated it as the best-sounding low cost unit a few years ago.  But no midi and it uses Firewire. 

For a mic and guitar it is hard to beat a shure 57.

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ps - I hope your friend gave you the serial # and reg # and his pw for the Cake Store.  I doubt if there are any new updates but the bug fixes wouldn't be w/ the DVD.  And what he is doing breaks Cake's license.  You won't be able to use the upgrade path - you'll be treated as a new customer.  Worth it, tho.
 
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I have an old Yamaha ydp131 electric piano but it has midi in and out that's why I was looking at one with midi points but in the grand scheme of things I could always just get rid of it and get a midi keyboard - yes he gave them me he bought it and never used it 

And you are going to have to find equipment that really supports Windows 8 with the interface, which may be a little hard to do without spending more. (??????)

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml but other people mention another program that works with Windows 8 but I think it is not free, although I am not sure. Latency checker program - can be searched for I suppose.

Interfaces that you buy (audio/interface) have drivers for each OS system. ASIO are drivers that allow (or correct for latency while you record - what you record and hear turns out to come out at the same time - otherwise with other drivers there is lag to account for and can throw you off while trying to record being a few milliseconds different in time). http://soundcloud.com/imogen-heap/dropbox/profile https://soundcloud.com/imogen-heap vocals at bottom for anyone who wants to fool around with it. I am not selling mine I think and have not heard from her, although after 4 years she may be done with that, and certainly there are enough different versions of the song now on her page done by whomever.

ok did a latency check and it says

current latency - 1009 us

maximum - 3664 us

i have no idea what the hell that means lol

That latency is way too much - should be around 100 microseconds or so, if it is above the line and red then it is bad and something is causing it like another device's driver. So do what the page states to do - unplug wi-fi, and stuff like that first, and go through the Device Manager and see what is causing the problem.

Focusrite, Roland Octa-capture, probably are fine if Windows 8 drivers, Avid not so good, I think, but probably everyone has an opinion on that also.

And like the Focusrite 2x2i whatever two inputs with the Neutrick plug input however it is spelled, do not use Hosa cables because you will not get them out. Those combination input connectors (for XRL, 1/4" inputs for synth or guitar) need rounded 1/4" plugs not like Hosa plugs or else you will not get them out and wreck the Neutrick (however it is spelled) and have to take it apart (the audio/interface) and get it pulled out without wrecking the connection. People on the RME forum complain all the time about a plug stuck in those, and it is Hosa cables (cheap - ya but plug does not pull out) when using the inputs. Focusrite is pretty cheap and supposedly does a good job if using a condenser mic - XRL input whatever it is for balanced connections. Roland Duo-capture same way, or others they make. I suppose those work pretty good according to people on this forum. Windows 8 drivers for Firewire is not good though and people having problems with using Firewire, while USB2.0 does work good enough. http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewforum.php?id=4 cannot find exact thread there but it is there about Windows 8 and problems with Firewire drivers for that vs. using USB 2.0 drivers instead.

what would you do if you were in my position space alf im a total beginner re recording i have a few songs that i wrote and want to edit i like the vocal editing in sonar but its getting **** loads complicated with windows 8 and getting an interface ?

Chris921


dam maybe it ould be easier to get a mac lol 

Chris, you will pay a lot more on a mac based DAW than a pc based DAW. Much more. And that's before you get an audio/MIDI interface.