Questions about audio interfaces and hooking em up to speakers

[_tom_]

I'm definitely going to order an interface soon, because I want to use amplitube 2 as my uni practice rig and plugging into the mic socket on my computer is pretty cr@p. I also want to have mic inputs for when I want to properly record at home. Anyway I've narrowed it down to two interfaces:

Edirol UA-25

Presonus Audiobox USB

Theres a UA-25 on ebay that may go for cheap so I'm watching that but if it goes up too much I'll be buying new. In which case it sort of makes more sense to go for the Presonus as its newer and usb 2.0, I think the edirol is the older one. Presonus may have better preamps as well?

However I'm worried about hooking the presonus up to my speakers. At the minute I just use creative t20 computer speakers (far from the best but its all I can afford right now), which have a single 1/8" stereo input. From what I can tell, the Presonus has individual outputs for the left and right channels and are both 1/4" outs. Is there some kind of Y-style lead which will plug into the left/right outputs and merge into one stereo plug (could be either 1/4" or 1/8" - I have a converter) which can then go into the speakers? If so where can I get such a thing from? Maplin has one but its mono.

With the edirol this wouldnt be a problem as I allready have an RCA to 1/8" stereo plug which should work straight away.

I guess I could get something like this for the outputs on the presonus then have the rca-jack lead going into the respective left/right ones, but I wanted to stop the signal from going through as many converters as possible - then again will I even notice it especially with the speakers I'm using right now?

Thanks for any help, hopefully you can make sense of this post :lol:

[Johnny Mac]

Tom, the way I've rigged my interface is by using an audio amp and normal speakers. I'd go down crack converters for those things.
Have a look on Maplins for your connectors ect.

[_tom_]

I was gonna do that but my speakers are allready powered so it doesnt really make sense buying another amp yet. When I move out, get a well paid job and can afford half decent stuff I might.

[indysmith]

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-gold-plated-y-adapter-with-1-4-jacks-and-1--pi-2103237.html
this is the sort of thing you need. You could also get a cable to do the same thing, which would save leverage on the 1/8" plug socket. Those cables can be found in some music shops. If you can't find one in a shop, there's plenty of people making cables; you could even make your own.

[_tom_]

Well I emailed the guy at leadsdirect.biz, they can make me a stereo y-adaptor cable that goes to a 1/8" jack so I assume that'd work with the presonus' output :)

[_tom_]

Ok I've been reading loads of bad reviews about the Presonus now so have been put off that - apparently doesnt work too well under vista and reaper which is bad news for me.

Was looking at the EMU 0404usb before and was set on it but I've recently read some bad reviews of it in Vista and apparently the input gain adjustment is too sensitive, even slight adjustments make a big difference and its hard to get it just right. Cant decide what to go for now!

The tascam products look ok but a bit flimsy. Same goes for m-audio. Too much bloody choice. Makes me wish I had a mac so I could just get a Duet and be done with it :lol:

I think I'll just go for the Edirol unless someone can convince me otherwise.