Choosing an Audio Interface

so im looking into buying an audio interface to use with ableton live
at the moment i only need a few inputs (2-4) i have a decent mixer and computer
dont really need firewire either but it wouldnthurt
do you guys have any suggestions?

also wonderinng if anyone has used this (Behringer FCA202)? if so is it any good?
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/FCA202.aspx

not sure if that unit is any good... but keep in mind that one day you may require a few extra inputs. May be advantageous to get that right away to avoid the cost of upgrading later...

you should go onto your local music shop's website and look at the various models in your price range and compare features. Check what has the most or best ones for what you need to do.

Need to make a easy decision? Then if you have specific highend standards that you go by, I'd def look elsewhere.

But if this is a "I could care less" or "what the heck, anything will do", then you couldn't have picked a better interface when it comes to that Behringer.

Off comment:

As I look up at the ceiling, I can hear my grandmother saying "Lord Jesus, I prays to you that you do something with this weasel running to & fro".



Ok, back on topic...

i suggest the cakewalk fa-66. fantastic piece of equipment. firewire interface

Do you require a PreAmp for mics? Are you using it on a laptop or desktop because PCI interfaces give you a little more phuck for your buck for around the same price.

i would take advice from the person saying you should look for more inputs than you are now. because you never know down the line you may want a few more and then you would have to upgrade. I would go with something from M-audio or Presonus i would avoid Behringer like the black plague when it comes to something more technical than a behringer fx pedal. I've never used a usb audio interface and i pretty much only use Mackie (went from the Mackie onyx 1620 to two chained mackie onyx blackbirds).

the presonus firestudio project, rackmounted, 8 in, pre amps, 16 outs, 2 midi in, 2 midi out, firewire, spidf, has the aux send and return, and u get for around 400 ish, i put alot of hours on mine in two years and havent had a single problem, perfect to start with, leaves u room to expand ur setup, and if u get even more gear it can be daisy chained. oh and the software interface mixer runs smooth with my pc, reason, cubase record, and everthing else i use

Sorry to steal your topic, but I have a similar problem - I'm looking for an audio interface. I want to use 8 outs of the MPC to multitrack everything to my Macbook Pro and I'm trying to pick between those two:
- Presonus Firestudio Mobile
- M-Audio Profire 2626

Is the Profire 2626 worth the price comparing to the Firestudio Mobile? Most important is audio recording quality. Inputs are not that important as both interfaces can be expanded in the future. As for outputs I don't need more than two as I mix everything in the Macbook.

jackson wrote:Most important is audio recording quality.

Ladies & gents, that's the root to capturing good pristine sound right there.

What was that...dynamic range rivals or comes darn close to top end audio interface systems?

thanks for the advice

how often would you guys say you use a DAW?
most, if not all, of my stuff is made using the mpc

NLSN wrote:thanks for the advice

how often would you guys say you use a DAW?
most, if not all, of my stuff is made using the mpc

I create my beats in the MPC with outboard synths. But then I have to mix them. I could mix in the MPC with its limited fx, or I could track my beats out to a DAW and mix using either plugins or run tracks through hardware. Next is mastering. You're not going to send MPC files to mastering. They would open it up and be confused.

On top of that, if you want to record vocals over your track, you have to have a way to do that.

As far as what interface, like they said above, buy something that you can grow into. It might take you a year, a month or a couple of weeks to grow out of it, but if you are serious, you will grow out of it.

I like to think of a DAW as a digital tape recorder. I create my tracks on the MPC, track them to DAW, mix them in DAW, send tracks to mastering, send to CD duplication. Good luck

jackson wrote:Sorry to steal your topic, but I have a similar problem - I'm looking for an audio interface. I want to use 8 outs of the MPC to multitrack everything to my Macbook Pro and I'm trying to pick between those two:
- Presonus Firestudio Mobile
- M-Audio Profire 2626

Is the Profire 2626 worth the price comparing to the Firestudio Mobile? Most important is audio recording quality. Inputs are not that important as both interfaces can be expanded in the future. As for outputs I don't need more than two as I mix everything in the Macbook.

unless your running pro tools i`d go with the presonus amazing piece of kit and very hard wearing,
dj freind of mine uses it to record lie bands, really quick and easy to set up. near zero latancy and runs sweet

lazyE wrote:

jackson wrote:Sorry to steal your topic, but I have a similar problem - I'm looking for an audio interface. I want to use 8 outs of the MPC to multitrack everything to my Macbook Pro and I'm trying to pick between those two:
- Presonus Firestudio Mobile
- M-Audio Profire 2626

Is the Profire 2626 worth the price comparing to the Firestudio Mobile? Most important is audio recording quality. Inputs are not that important as both interfaces can be expanded in the future. As for outputs I don't need more than two as I mix everything in the Macbook.

unless your running pro tools i`d go with the presonus amazing piece of kit and very hard wearing,
dj freind of mine uses it to record lie bands, really quick and easy to set up. near zero latancy and runs sweet

but if your running 8 outs at once i`d be tempted to go with the firestudio project , bit bigger but much more especially if u need the power of 8 ins, 8 outs and 8 pre amps!

plust the software bundle is good too

The software is not an issue, since I'll be buying Pro Tools 9 very soon.

Have you had a chance to try out the Profire? It's slightly more expensive than the Firestudio Project, but it has ADAT, which gives more possibilities for adding extra inputs if needed. Wonder which of the two has better A/D converters and pres.