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?

Those are good ones.  RME has great sound quality and features - don't know if the mixer is so simple but works.  Another contender at that price range and quality is the TC Konnekt stuff.  I have the 48 and it sounds great.  The DSP effects are what you'd expect from TC.  The mixer is more confusing than the RME, so ..

If you don't need that many ins/outs the Lynx 4X4 is a great option.  Plenty of pros use it.  Simple.  Only downside it the 4x4 requires a pci slot.  The lynx USB works great (from what I've heard), but ain't available. 

@

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.

I migrated to a RME Babyface USB from my Lynx AES-16 and I have to say the sound quality is just as good.  As AT said, the mixer may seem a bit confusing, but now that I have it setup for my recording I never even look at it as I just plug in and go.

Both the Lynx and RME are fantastic sounding audio interfaces, you won't go wrong with either.

Tom

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.

Difference between is that the Babyface is newer and runs on USB 2.0 while Fireface runs I think on Firewire 400 although that can be looked up at Sweetwater.com. I use the Babyface and it sounds great. You need probably a pre-amp for mic inputs so I suggest also a TC Helicon Unit. You use ASIO with the Babyface and there is no latency because of the drivers. You can only add DSP effects (reverb and echo) after recording, thus using the TC Helicon unit because they work great also. I think the UCX (costs more) may have DSP effects you can use, but I still suggest the TC Helicon unit instead, perhaps reading reviews will help you decide. Oh, and a good microphone to say the least - a condenser helps, and I have some cheap but useable Channel Strips. List although using Firefox for a browser it will be ran together: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Babyface/ http://www.sweetwater.com...anufacturer/TC-Helicon http://www.sweetwater.com/c665--Channel_Strips http://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/RME http://www.sweetwater.com...-Condenser_Microphones (the question is ??)

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

MOTU 2408mk3

http://www.motu.com/products/pciaudio/2408

but i like PCI-e.


another pci based one is:
RME HDSPe RayDAT

that's really nice



BUT if you like USB, check these:

MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid
Steinberg UR824
Roland STUDIO-CAPTURE   (keeps you in the cakewalk family)

and of course, the babyface is great.

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)

You're definitely on the right track by wanting to purchase a quality audio interface (RME, Lynx, both have outstanding A/D-D/A converters). However, in your effort to "capture some real strong vocals," pay equal if not more attention to the vocal recording chain leading up to the audio interface.

Choice of microphone, mic preamp, recording/monitoring acoustics, not to mention the skill of the vocalist and engineer -- all are likely to have MORE of an impact on the final outcome of the recording than the choice of audio interface. 

You probably already know this, but I felt compelled to comment for the benefit of those who may be mistaken in the thought that a better/new audio interface will automatically result in a more professional sounding track. Truth is, most modern audio interfaces have technical specifications that are "good enough" to sound great... provided the above conditions are met at a high level of expertise.