The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 04-10-2010, 08:26 AM
SRVis#1 SRVis#1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 150
Default New Mac

I just bought a 27Inch imac a couple of nights ago. I am so excited, I have wanted a studio since I can remember. Ordering an interface today, and some mics, and maybe a midi controller. Any recommendations on an interface that is in the 100 - 200 dollar range? Is usb 2.0 fine for just recording guitar and vocals? Or should I shoot for FireWire? Thanks for all of the help, as usual.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-10-2010, 08:52 AM
ljguitar's Avatar
ljguitar ljguitar is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: wyoming
Posts: 42,558
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SRVis#1 View Post
I just bought a 27Inch imac a couple of nights ago. I am so excited, I have wanted a studio since I can remember. Ordering an interface today, and some mics, and maybe a midi controller. Any recommendations on an interface that is in the 100 - 200 dollar range? Is usb 2.0 fine for just recording guitar and vocals? Or should I shoot for FireWire? Thanks for all of the help, as usual.
Hi SRVis#1…
USB is fine these days, plenty of speed to record audio...and in your specified price range the Lexicon units are perfect.

Lexicon Lambda - $149 and comes with CubaseLE software. It has separate actual knobs for mixing mic versus 1/4'' inputs (has both) and has decent preamps. 2-XLR, 2-1/4'' in with phantom. Physically dial down latency for monitoring for overdubbing.

It's big brother the Omega for $200 is a more fully decked-out rig. More channels, and even better controls (and full 1/4'' headphone outs). It's worth the extra $50 in my estimation. It can record 4 tracks at once. It's like the Lambda on steroids...

I think they are the sleeper best-bang-for-the-buck input rigs for computer recording at the entry level. They are a Steinberg product...and quality units.


Omega - click

Lambda - click

Hope this helps...

__________________

Baby #1.1
Baby #1.2
Baby #02
Baby #03
Baby #04
Baby #05

Larry's songs...

…Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-10-2010, 02:44 PM
alohachris alohachris is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 2,430
Default Apogee Duet

Aloha,

Spend a bit more money and get the Apogee Duet. The Duet is FULLY integrated for both soft and hardware with your new iMac. They are made for each other.

That's THE way to go. Trust me on this. I studied this for 2-1/2 years before I bought ANY system. I got a new iMac, Logic Pro 9, and Duet last year and most often, don't bother to hook up the much better pre's I have because the Duets sound so great.

You can find them for cheaper, but new Duets are in the $400-500 range. The hassles that you will avoid (compatibility and quality issues) and the quality of the preamps in the Duet make it TOTALLY worth the stretch. There's nothing even close to the Duet for under $1500!

No offense to Larry here who is always helpful and mostly right, but many have found the Lexicon interfaces - especially the Omegas - to have over-heating problems which have led to shortened lives.

Go with the Duet. You can't beat it's value or quality - especially in pairing it with a new, fully integrated iMac.

alohachris

Last edited by alohachris; 04-10-2010 at 02:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-10-2010, 07:29 PM
biggs2 biggs2 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 649
Default

Congrats on your IMac. I've had mine (21.5" version) for about a month now and have been extremely happy with its performance. My studio desk would not accommodate the 27" IMac.

I would agree with Alohachris on the Apogee Duet. Had I not already had my Echo AudioFire 8, which, by the way, also works seamlessly with the IMac and GarageBand, I would have likely gone with the Duet. Echo also makes a AudioFire 2 and 4 which are in or close to your price range.

Whatever interface you choose, your going to have a blast making music with your IMac! Don't think I could ever go back to a PC after just a month with my Mac.
__________________
Tom

'03 Martin OM-28V
'04 Breedlove McKenzie Mando
'05 Seagull S12+
'06 Larrivee LV-03E
'07 Takamine TC132SC
'08 CA 7M-CE, '08 CA Cargo
SWR California Blonde II, AAD Cub
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-10-2010, 07:48 PM
Steve Berger Steve Berger is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,212
Default

I also agree with alohachris . . . get the Apogee Duet. Along with Maestro software it offers seemless integration with your iMAC.
__________________
Steve
SoundCloud / SoundClick / Facebook Music Page

'More guitars than I need but not as many as I want.'
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-11-2010, 07:46 AM
Kurt Kurt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NW Lower Michigan
Posts: 495
Default

I'll become the fifth person (if I'm counting correctly this morning) to vouch for the Duet. The preamps on the Duet are pristine compared with anything else in its price range -- and equivalent, imho, with many above. Debate the politics of it all as you will, but Apogee's connection with Apple makes this, and Logic, a no-brainer for most Mac users.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-11-2010, 04:01 PM
SRVis#1 SRVis#1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 150
Default

I ended up getting a presonus audiobox for a great price. It has usb and firewire. From the review i have read it should be ok. I had to spend less on an interface because I bought a fishman matrix undersaddle pickup for my mmv.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-11-2010, 04:10 PM
Herb Hunter Herb Hunter is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Maine
Posts: 18,560
Default

Even though some of us have gotten good results with USB 2.0, I'd get a FireWire interface. Here is one in your price range:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...FRBM5QodZ1cCxQ

Last edited by Herb Hunter; 04-11-2010 at 04:21 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-12-2010, 09:13 AM
SRVis#1 SRVis#1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 150
Default

Well I guess what I ordered is on backorder, and I don't want to wait. It is a good thing because the original page said the Presonus was firewire and usb, and I found out after the fact that it was only usb. Has anyone else had expirience with the m-audio fire solo? That is the direction I am thinking of going. The apogee duet is too far out of my price range.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-14-2010, 09:52 AM
Song Song is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Boston Texas
Posts: 2,064
Default

I have the 21.5" imac and its awesome.
I use the tc electronics desktop konnect 6 (firewire)
< $150
and ableton live....
http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktopkonnekt6.asp
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-14-2010, 07:33 PM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,887
Default

I use a 24" Imac and am quite pleased the screen is also killer for digital photos especially anything 7 megs and up
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-08-2010, 07:47 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,887
Default

While USB is certainly usable . I agree with Herb if you can afford Firewire go for it. And I also agree that with the performance capabilities of your I-Mac an Appogee Duet would be a good match.
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-08-2010, 08:41 AM
David E David E is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: metro NYC/NJ
Posts: 92
Default

I am taking a different approach, YMMV.
Yeti USB stereo mic from Blue.
Easy, cost effective.
Likely not quite a clean as the Duet, but it's plug and play with your Mac and sounds fabulous.

David
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=