suitable audio interface?

hi can anyone recommend an audio interface that works well with sonar 8. obviously there are loads out there but im looking for one that works well with sonar or reaper and doesnt cost too much but is good enough that i dont get massive problems with latency..   .. i would pay up 2 about 80quid second hand ... cheers

helo mate right im new to all this so bare with me.. for now im just gona be recording multitrack doin it all the guitars /bass/ vocals myself so i wont need multiple inputs for now but when im ready ide like to record my 3 peice band live but ile cross that bridge when i come to it...  in all honesty i wasnt aware i needed a midi interface i just thought i plugged my keyboard in the the usb and then selected midi input instead of audio?  ive just got addictive keys and when i plug my m audio keystation mini 32 into usb the sound comes through with no latency but would u still recomemend i get a interface with audio and midi inputs ? ile check out the roland now.. cheers mate

That is fine, if you have a midi controller keyboard that plugs into USB. You only need an interface with 5-pin midi (in/out) if you have older type of midi connector.

> but if ur using 8 mics then sureley u just need 1  output into the pc soundcard ??

The 8 mics will go into 8 separate tracks. As for the output, you do not route it to the PC soundcard, rather, the stereo out goes to your powered monitor, or the PA system.

As for multi-outs, they are all optional. For example, you may have a second or third pair of monitor, or for individual musician headphone monitoring. Another use may be for surround sound mixing.

You're right - use the headphones during mic recording, and you may use the speaker for mixing after recording, or for recording instruments.

You can download a copy of the pdf manual for most audio interfaces. Most of them have some diagram to show how to connect various equipment you may have.

For firewire, if your PC did not have one, you need an add on Firewire 400 card, but must have the Texas Instrument chipset. There may be other compatibility issue as well, pci bridge or something. 

Unless you already have an existing firewire audio interface, getting a new interface with USB2 is a more trouble free route.

Get the best you can afford - or stick with your previous budget and get the Roland Duo capture - the driver works great with low latency - I'm using the Quad capture and is happy with the performance.

For your other thread - Firewire to USB adaptor, no such adaptor exists - the driver would be very different dealing with Firewire and USB.

The link is for notebook express card.. can't use for PC. 

Try PCI or PCIE, depending which type you may have - also, search the Computer or Hardware area of the forum - lots of these was discussed before - some card works, some don't.
Better still, check your system expansion port if it's PCI or PCIE - with your manual / open up the casing, and post to the Computer area, and ask for specific model firewire card that works with the free expansion slot (PCI, PCIE, etc..) your system has.

You're welcome.. just post more questions if you have - we'll be glad to help if we know.

is this sorta thing any good for what i need ? cheers Behringer USB Audio interface Mixer - BCA2000

ok sorry what i ment is does that device do the same job as a audio interface or is it solely a mixer.. im actually inclined to get this and the same question applies! cheers  http://www.amazon.co.uk/g...LJB7ON2#productDetails

I've used the Alesis Multimix16 firewire before, when I got started with DAW. Then I got a USB Multimix8 for temporary replacement when I sent the unit for repair. 

Both version works fine, especially when you record audio - there is no latency as it's a mixer and you hear the audio instantly (but without any vst effect applied).

For softsynth recording, depending on the type of vsti you used, the latency may need to be set higher, say higher as compared to the Roland Duo/Quad/etc.. but it's still works fine.

For starting off with a DAW, the Alexis can't go wrong.

I'll try to explain..hope it won't get confusing..

You can record in a number of ways

1. With outboard guitar effects (effect pedals) - and hear the effects as it is with direct monitoring. But most don't do this way, as it will be impossible to change the effect once recorded.

2. Use software effect : clean guitar input -> record into track as clean signal -> at the same time apply software effects (Guitar rig for example) -> audio output (with effects) back to the audio interface -> none direct (software) monitoring.

This option may have some latency - depending how good the driver and how powerful your system. If the latency is high, you can also try option 3.

3. You can split the clean guitar sound into 2 outputs, say with a small mixer with left/right output. One output goes to outboard gear and goes into a guitar amp for direct monitoring. The other output goes into your audio interface for recording clean guitar sound (where you apply effects later during mixing).

The Alesis can handle any of these above.. but I'm not sure about option 2.. if the latency is low enough for software monitoring - when I was using mine, it's mostly midi keyboards.. I'll try to setup the mixer and see if the software latency is good with guitar rig. With my Roland Quad, option 2 is not a problem - latency is low and good.

Please be noted that the Roland Duo only accepts 1/4 inch mic input, no phantom power supply for mic.

>
2. Use software effect : clean guitar input -> record into track as clean signal -> at the same time apply software effects (Guitar rig for example) -> audio output (with effects) back to the audio interface -> none direct (software) monitoring. 
>

Ok, I've just tested my Alesis Multimix16 .. no problem with "option 2" - round trip latency is 6 to 8 msec (64 and 128 buffer size setting).
I think the USB version should perform as well as the firewire Multimix.
Cheers!

I tested on my Multimix16, it's firewire, much older than the USB version. Since then, Multimix has been replaced with the USB version,  so the Multimix4 USB should perform similarly.