Advice for first audio interface

[hunty1]

Hi, apologies if any of these questions but id trust a forum ive been reading for years over one I haven't.

Am looking to get my first audio interface for my setup, which at the moment involves, a macbook pro, two passive alesis monitor one mk2s, a full length midi keyboard. However in the same area and currently sharing the same RCA output to the monitors are my vinyl/cdjs and 3 channel mixer.

Basically am looking for an audio interface that I can plug all into and seamlessly switch between recording a mix and producing. So far have looked at 3 but just not 100% on which will do this best. These are:
http://tascam.com/product/us-122mkii/
http://alesis.com/multimix8usb
http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-inter ... fire-6-usb

Id like the best quality to value which I have been told is the tascam, am just sketchy with inputs/outputs

Thanks, Dan

[wub]

What's your budget?

Do you have plans to expand into purchasing hardware?

[outbound]

Out of those 3 I'd have to go for the focusrite. Great interface in the entry price range.

[fragments]

What's your budget?

Do you have plans to expand into purchasing hardware?

This.


Otherwise I'd say focusrite as well. Just watch the way they count I/Os, it can be a bit confusing at first.

[mitchAUS]

What's your budget?

Do you have plans to expand into purchasing hardware?

This.


Otherwise I'd say focusrite as well. Just watch the way they count I/Os, it can be a bit confusing at first.

I/O's apply to microphones of course... if you ever head in that direction.

[fragments]

What's your budget?

Do you have plans to expand into purchasing hardware?

This.


Otherwise I'd say focusrite as well. Just watch the way they count I/Os, it can be a bit confusing at first.

I/O's apply to microphones of course... if you ever head in that direction.

And outboard effects, and synths, and amped instruments, and and and...

and not all inputs are pre-amps, and why would you need outputs for microphones?

[SunkLo]

2 output tha fantom power get mi?

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2 output tha fantom power get mi?

I don't, actually, but always willing to be enlightened : )

[hunty1]

I do intend to get a mic at a point, looks like il go with my initial thoughts of the focusrite then.

Only other question would be, as my monitors RCA cable will now go into the audio interface. What cable will be best to use from my mixer to the interface for recording vinyls/mixes?

Thanks for zee help

[SunkLo]

Phantom power doesn't actually come from your interface outputs

[mitchAUS]

Depends on the output of your mixer, the focusrite can acomodate both XLR's or TRS conectors (XLRs are your standard microphone cables and TRS are like a headphone jack, but the interface takes a 1/4 inch headphone jack that's the size of a guitar lead plug). These are balanced cables. Stay away from TS (guitar lead) and RCA cables on recording paths i.e from mixer to interface or later on when you get a mic.

Now ive been going through your whole setup and not everything is adding up. What is powering these passive amps? There has to be an amp somewhere or they wont work. If you could let me know your amp model and the 3 channel mixer model ill fill in all the gaps so you have a shopping list of exactly what you need.

[mitchAUS]

and why would you need outputs for microphones?

haha only just saw this! had a moment

[fragments]

Phantom power doesn't actually come from your interface outputs

OK. I figured I probably wasn't insane and you were goofing...but I like to check myself...

[SunkLo]

That's why you're so good at not wrecking yourself.

[hunty1]

My bad, the post was written in a rush before work.
The monitors are powered by an oldschool Alesis RA-100 using 1/4 to RCA cables for the mixer which is another oldschool Gemini PS-626 I think it is? Old vinyl styled one with some writing on the actual mixer itself and only seems to have RCA outputs. Cheers

[mitchAUS]

Just use a 1/4 to RCA cables you have to connect the mixer to the interface. Then get two TRS cables to go from the outputs of the interface to your amp. Too easy!

[Tom_Autobot]

Don't touch any of those interfaces, they all have horrible drivers and high latency times.

Focusrite Scarlett range is great for starters, or the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6.

With a better interface you can use many more plugins and instruments and not have a massive delay when you play notes in on the keyboard.

[outbound]

Don't touch any of those interfaces, they all have horrible drivers and high latency times.

Focusrite Scarlett range is great for starters, or the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6.

With a better interface you can use many more plugins and instruments and not have a massive delay when you play notes in on the keyboard.

Use more plugins with a higher quality interface? Really?

& to OP with most midi keyboards they come with a usb connection anyway so the midi I/O on the interface shouldn't concern you too much (unless of course you do want to go down the outboard synth route)

[SunkLo]

I read yesterday someone saying you could have more tracks in your DAW if you had a usb 2.0 interface instead of usb 1.1. As if the interface did some kind of summing or something

[fragments]

People say some crazy shit.