Audio Interface Suggestions

[dezguy]

Hey folks,

I'm fairly new to the DAW world and I'm just getting my gear setup. I have an iMac, Ableton, and APC40 but I'm now wondering what I should use for my audio interface. I'm looking for something in the $300-500 range with pretty basic requirements - 2 in/out and midi would be a nice. Primarily I'm looking for low latency and a good all around recommendation. A friend recommended Apogee.

Thoughts? What do you all use?

Cheers,
Mike

P.S. i would have asked about monitors but it seems everybody uses Rockit

[eddiex]

I would suggest the apogee duet 1 as well. The bad thing about the duet though, no midi in/out.
It's a great little soundcard though.

[SpeedKing]

As I said in a similar thread not too long ago, I was in this same boat about a year ago. And after looking at darn near all of the big name audio interfaces on the market in the $200-400 range, I went with the Scarlett 18i6.

Gearslutz review: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/reviews/ ... -18i6.html
Sweetwater: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett18i6

In terms of 'bang for the buck', this shines brighter than literally every other audio interface in that price range IMO. It has ins and outs to spare, it looks good, sounds fantastic and is easy to use.

The one complaint that you see with some people is the lack of an on/off button, which I agree is kind of a pain. However, that, really, one solitary gripe about this unit can be completely ignored by getting a remote control power switch, which is less than $20.

[login]

In your budget I would look in to tha scarlett, the apogee duet and motu hybrid, maybe even the motu track 16, the focusrite forte or the rme babyface.

In order of preference

1.- babyface
2.- Track 16
3.- Forte
4.- Duet
5.- Scarlett

[H20nly]

this is my little buddy:

http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

same quality as the high end TC products... just in a smaller and cheaper package with less ins/outs

P.S. i would have asked about monitors but it seems everybody uses Rockit

false. you should ask.

[102455]

P.S. i would have asked about monitors but it seems everybody uses Rockit

No, not everyone - but they are one of the more popular choices.


In days gone by, lots of studios used Yamaha NS10s.

Not because they sounded great, but the opposite. The idea being that if your mix sounded OK on them, it would sound great on better speakers.

They also became ubiquitous, which helped when working in different studios or collaborating. The KRKs have replaced the NS10s in that respect - but they sound better!

[Szuumm]

In your budget I would look in to tha scarlett, the apogee duet and motu hybrid, maybe even the motu track 16, the focusrite forte or the rme babyface.

In order of preference

1.- babyface
2.- Track 16
3.- Forte
4.- Duet
5.- Scarlett

I was going to say Babyface too, but it's quite a lot more expensive than the OP's stated budget, isn't it?

[david.barker]

Hi Dezguy

I bought a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 and Im over the moon with it!!Really easy going,with setting up,very low latency,great features,build quality

Very good technical support,too

A definite recommend

[SpeedKing]

Hi Dezguy

I bought a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 and Im over the moon with it!!Really easy going,with setting up,very low latency,great features,build quality

Very good technical support,too

A definite recommend

Ahh, yeah the 8i6 is cool because it's a legitimate exact copy of the 18i6, just with a few less INs, and less lights on the front knobs. But the hardware is identical. I don't see myself every honestly needing more than 6 simultaneous INs, so I totally could've bought the 8i6 instead of the 18i6 and been equally as happy.

I just checked, and the 18i6 is actually only ~$236 on Amazon. Wow, that's quite a steal of a deal right now.

[SpeedKing]

In your budget I would look in to tha scarlett, the apogee duet and motu hybrid, maybe even the motu track 16, the focusrite forte or the rme babyface.

In order of preference

1.- babyface
2.- Track 16
3.- Forte
4.- Duet
5.- Scarlett

Yeah, the MOTU Track 16 is a very cool design and seems like a good piece of hardware. Personally, I couldn't justify the additional $300 over the Scarlett, so I'd lean towards the Scarlett. But if it was between the Apogee interfaces or the MOTU, I'd definitely go towards the MOTU. Or, if there was truly no difference to me in terms of if I would really miss the amount of money at all between $240 for the Scarlett or ~$540 for the MOTU, I'd probably get the MOTU.

[taoyoyo]

Hey folks,

I'm fairly new to the DAW world and I'm just getting my gear setup. I have an iMac, Ableton, and APC40 but I'm now wondering what I should use for my audio interface. I'm looking for something in the $300-500 range with pretty basic requirements - 2 in/out and midi would be a nice. Primarily I'm looking for low latency and a good all around recommendation. A friend recommended Apogee.

Thoughts? What do you all use?

Cheers,
Mike

P.S. i would have asked about monitors but it seems everybody uses Rockit

If you are on Lion or Mountain Lion I would be wary of the Apogee Duet.

I own one and it worked great on Snow Leopard but as soon as I upgraded the drivers to Lion (and then Mountain Lion) it kept crapping out on me (i.e.: loss of audio when changing sampling rates in any DAW, same thing when loading different format plugins, i.e.: a VST and then an AU)

I contacted support who suggested a few things (which didn't solve the problem) but ultimately I gave up and purchased the RME Babyface, which I'm a lot happier with.

Hope this helps,

Alan

[H20nly]

the TC Electronic unit i mentioned above works on OS X Lion and Mountain Lion. it also works with XP and Windows 7. i have used it on all 4. it can be purchased for less than 200 USD these days. there is a firewire to thunderbolt adapter cable that will be necessary to use it with your iMac but that can be purchased for as little as 6 dollars U.S.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_kk_1?rh= ... 1361479814

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... +konnekt+6

it also comes with a nice reverb.

just sayin.

[dezguy]

the TC Electronic unit i mentioned above works on OS X Lion and Mountain Lion. it also works with XP and Windows 7. i have used it on all 4. it can be purchased for less than 200 USD these days. there is a firewire to thunderbolt adapter cable that will be necessary to use it with your iMac but that can be purchased for as little as 6 dollars U.S.

Do you work for this company?

Cheers,
Mike

[H20nly]

no, but i own/love the unit, it fits your basic needs, it's comfortably below your price point, and the quality is undeniable.

[dezguy]

Thanks everybody! I really appreciate the candid responses. Most useful indeed.

Thanks again,
Mike