Same Old Question - Need new audio interface - Budget $1000

Hi everyone,

Sorry to ask the same old question, but what audio interface would you recommend for a budget of 1000-1500? I have some real strong vocals that I want to capture. Right now I am running Sonar Producer x1 and I have a new computer which I love; PC, Windows 7, 64 bit operating system, i7 processor. Some ideas I have are:

Roland Octa-Capture
RME Babyface
RME Fireface UCX

I used to have a M-Audio Firewire and that went out and I need something that will be easy to use and set up quickly. I don't need something that has hundreds of features, just looking for super sound quality and simple learning curve.

Any suggestions?

In that price range, I would shoot for a used Lynx Aurora 8, slightly more $s but better conversion. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynx-Aurora-8-LT-USB-Card-LT-PTHD-Card-Great-Package-Deal-/151010748275?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Interfaces&hash=item2328f12773

Many albums are made with these.
 
AT offers a more reasonable cost solution in the LynxTwo soundcards. I run these, used by quite a few mastering studios. In fact, a used pair of these could be had for $1000 and you would have eight in and out (same as the Aurora above but the DA is slightly better on the external box). This would be your best value proposition but the problem is, you rarely seem them sold because everyone hangs on to them.

Thanks for the input.

I don't think I am ready (or brave enough) to buy used audio equipment but the Lynx Aurora sounds great for a more experienced hardware technician.

What is the difference between the RME Babyface and RME Fireface? Any difference in sound quality or latency issues?

I did not have any latency issues with my M-Audio and sometimes I can have up to 50 audio tracks.

H'lo, Karalie,

I have been thrilled with a Steinberg MR816x. 

I've owned a SeaSound SoloEX, an E-mu 1616m, a MOTU 828mkII, and the Steinberg MR816x.

The SeaSound was very good, as I remember it, but that was along time ago...

The E-mu was purchased after a LOT of research, and sounded very good, but the %*#@% crashed morning, noon, and night, and will be the last thing I ever use from Creative/E-mu.

The MOTU made my singing sound good; my singing A'INT good. The MIDI side was defective. Returned.

The MR816x just sits there and does every thing I need it to do; audio from my Kurzweil K2600, Omnisphere, and Trilian, and recording from my mics.


I can only crash 8.3.5x64 by doing a lot of piano-roll edits W/O saving, and then only once in a while.

I have read revues comparing with the RME 400 or 800 (don't remember which), which ranked them about equal as to AD/DA and pre-amps, but please do your own research, as the newer RME units may have newer AD/DA's and pre's.

You will need to use an external MIDI interface; I have a Cakewalk/Roland UM-3G which has been another install and forget piece of gear.

As to sound, I rate the above interfaces:

1) Steinberg MR816x.

2) Seasound SoloEX as I remember it.

3) E-mu 1616x.

4) MOTU 828mkii.

If I had to replace the MR816, it would be with another one, or an RME or a Metric Halo.

Hope this helps,

Tony

I'll add that RME is top quality.

MOTU is pretty good as well and I own 2 of the MOTU Ultralites.  One of them is the older version and one of them is MK3 Hybrid.

my next soundcard will likely be a PCIe card again (I had a PCI card before the MOTU)

Good point. Some of these recommendations have no preamp which you will need. If you have a great preamp, then the convertor only cards are fine.

karalie said...
Any difference in sound quality or latency issues?

 
As I mentioned I went from a Lynx card which has very good sound quality and the RME Babyface is as good (in my opinion).
 
As far as latency, I actually am getting better latency with the RME than I did with my Lynx which was a PCI (not a typo it really was PCI not PCI-E) card.  I was very nervous when I switch from a PCI card to USB because of all the stories I read here.
 
Now to be fair, I did upgrade my processor and motherboard right before I got the RME so the additional bandwidth and processing power probably also helps with the lower latency as well.
 
I agree with the others about a really good pre-amp.  These two card I'm referencing do not have pre-amps, so a good pre-amp is needed.  I currently have two main pre-amps that I choose from depending on the material.  So, that is definitely something to think about as well.
 
We can really spend your money, right? 
 
Hope this helps,
Tom
 
 

another thought: if you are recording a group, here is a product worth considering.

Focusrite OctoPre Mk II     It gives you 8 preamps with an interface combinded.