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Old 09-29-2014, 08:54 PM
clintj clintj is offline
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Default 8 mic audio interface suggestions?

Hi. Looking for some thoughts on audio interfaces for the near future.

Looking for something of decent enough quality for home hobby use, up to recording demos/practice tracks for my band. Not professional use, certainly. The largest number of inputs I see needing at the same time is 7, for my drum mics. My workstation is a Win7 desktop running Sonar, with both USB and FireWire ports available.

Budget is flexible currently. Less expensive is a plus, but not to the point of sacrificing quality/reliability. I've had some bad experiences with cut-rate gear before.
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Old 09-29-2014, 11:48 PM
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DjFuzzyMcPickle DjFuzzyMcPickle is offline
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check out the presonus stuff. Just bought the Audiobox 44vsl (4channel / line version) and just learning it truthfully, but really dig so far. 8 channel version runs about 499 I believe, good reviews. Not quite as complex as say pro tools, but really nice piece so far, easier software.
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Old 09-30-2014, 07:00 AM
louparte louparte is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DjFuzzyMcPickle View Post
check out the presonus stuff. Just bought the Audiobox 44vsl (4channel / line version) and just learning it truthfully, but really dig so far. 8 channel version runs about 499 I believe, good reviews. Not quite as complex as say pro tools, but really nice piece so far, easier software.
I use a Presonus Audiobox or a Roland Sonic Cell. Both are fine for D/A interfaces. I'd buy a higher-end Presonus though,
if I were doing it again.

In DAW's, I have Cubase 5, Presonus One & Sonar X3. MIDI on Presonus doesn't cut it for me.
Sonar is easier for me to navigate on MIDI - but still not nearly as easy
as it should be. I don't like or use Cubase much.

I mostly record audio these days on Auria w/an iPad2 and later edits in SoundForge. But neither do MIDI.
I use an Alesis ioDock for my converter on my iPad recordings.
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Last edited by louparte; 09-30-2014 at 07:12 AM.
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Old 09-30-2014, 07:05 AM
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Gutch Gutch is offline
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I've been using a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 for a few years and have been extremely happy. Firewire interface, 8 channels with killer clean preamps originally designed by Rupert Neve, plenty of output options, dual headphone outputs. Serious quality at a reasonable price.

Here's a link: http://us.focusrite.com/firewire-aud...saffire-pro-40

I was a long time SONAR/Cakewalk Pro Audio user, but transitioned to Presonus StudioOne when I went to a Mac in the studio (SONAR is PC only). Haven't looked back since...

Good luck in your search!
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Old 09-30-2014, 07:42 AM
MikeBmusic MikeBmusic is offline
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Your best 'bang for the buck' may be the Tascam US1800 - often on sale for less than $300.
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:05 AM
Halcyon/Tinker Halcyon/Tinker is offline
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Just make sure that whatever you buy has enough pres for the channel inputs. For example, my m audio FireWire 1814 has 18 input and 14 output channels, but only two preamps...
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Old 10-01-2014, 05:12 AM
clintj clintj is offline
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Thanks to all. After looking those up online, the Focusrite and Presonus ones look really good. I have a feeling I'll probably end up with one of those two.
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Old 10-02-2014, 02:50 PM
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One of the RME USB interfaces might be a good choice. Monitoring mixer software can be quite important to get the most out of your interface and RME's Totalmix is probably the best available, designed for serious studio use. You can easily create separate submixes for different people and other tricks which could come in handy recording multiple musicians.
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Old 10-04-2014, 02:59 PM
whiteshadow whiteshadow is offline
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I really like Focusrite interfaces.
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  #10  
Old 10-05-2014, 06:54 AM
clintj clintj is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whiteshadow View Post
I really like Focusrite interfaces.
One of the managers where I work said the same thing. He has a smaller one and is very happy with it. I listened to a couple of his recordings too, and they sound very good. I think I'll be getting one of them when the time comes.
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Acoustics
2013 Guild F30 Standard
2012 Yamaha LL16
2007 Seagull S12
1991 Yairi DY 50

Electrics
Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Fender Am. Standard Telecaster
Gibson ES-335
Gibson Firebird
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  #11  
Old 10-05-2014, 09:59 AM
Xtremca Xtremca is offline
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I'll chime in with a Focusrite reccomendation as well. I've got one of the entry Saffire models and a friend of mine owns the Liquid. Excellent pre's for the money.
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