Novation NIO Review - & Some Thoughts On Home Recording

[willo]

I picked up one of these about a fortnight ago:

http://www.novationmusic.com/products/audio_interface/nio_2_4

Here's a quick run down on me, and my thoughts on recording - and how this little gadget fits into things:

1. I am VERY impatient.
2. I hate complicated things; I just want to plug and play.
3. I get really pissed at things that have obvious, simple, flaws (e.g. metronome output too low when you are tracking)

I'm happy to say that the Novation NIO fits nicely into my thoughts on what home recording should be. It's dead simple. I plug the guitar in, flick the input switch to 'guitar', check to see if the signal clips by looking at the LED display on the unit, flick the output switch to monitor, set the monitor mix levels using the onboard dial, hit record, and go!

If I put a mic in, I flick the input switch to 'mic', and turn phantom power on. It will still run happily off USB with the phantom power (no plugs required).

The sounds are good; I'm currently using the onboard modellers. They aren't comparable with my 1980's JCM800 - but nor do they weigh a tonne or require a quality room with natural reverb. At the end of the day, if I'm recording in my room I just want something I can go to real quick, and get some ideas down. I've been fortunate enough to record in pro studios, and they are incredible. But I will leave that to when I get signed and the company is footing the bill! This set up works perfectly for my audio 'notepad'.

Currently recording through REAPER (great programme IMO); I'm looking at investing in a Guitar Rig set up and buying EZDrummer. I've just bought an IKEA desk for £15 on Gumtree - turned up halfway through writing this actually - and have an SM58 borrowed from a mate. Possibly going to invest in a Novation SL unit for MIDI/VSTi functionality (again, the NIO acts as your MIDI interface too). Just a matter of saving up.

All in all, I'm running a wicked set up - perfect for what I do - and its cost very little to get together. Its not comparable with pro/analogue set ups, but then I don't have the natural acoustics in my house regardless of if I spent £20k setting up a professional setup.

I have nothing bad to say about this set up, and it has restored my faith in PC DAW's...I had SO much scepticism because I had had so many bad experiences in the past (settings randomly changing etc); but this is so simple and so good...couldn't be happier.

Any questions feel free to ask...

[indysmith]

I'd just like to note that if you are using a mic that requires Phantom power it would be a good idea to plug in the Novation. Phantom power is specified as 48V +/-4V, whereas USB buss power is 5V +/-0.25V. Plug it in and you may notice your mics sound a lot better.

[willo]

NIO has a +48V phantom power switch - no need to plug in.

[indysmith]

and where do you think it's getting 48V from when it's plugged into a max. 5.25V power supply? :lol:

[willo]

Given that there is NO adapter for plugging in, and I figure Novation know more about these things than both of us put together, I figure there must be a way!

If I had the know-how or inclination I would find out! I will have a look later today.

[indysmith]

If there is no way for you to plug the unit in, try to ensure that all of the ports on the USB card you're plugging the NIO into are free, and that way (depending on the design of the card) the NIO may be able to draw more power from more than one USB port.
Phantom powered mics have a wide operating range, from 9VDC to 48VDC, and for this reason a lot of capacitor mics perform okay on USB power, but a lot don't.
It's just something worth keeping in mind. An easy way around it would be to get a cheap wall-powered mic preamp that would supply the full 48V and could then be plugged into the unit at line level.

I'm interested: which mics are you using? IF it's just the SM58 you borrowed from your mate then it doesn't require any power as it is a dynamic microphone.

[Oli]

The USB port can deliver 5V at around 500mA, and phantom power (48v), tends to draw between 1mA and 8mA (usually the lower end, only a few draw around 8mA). You can easily regulate the USB supply to phantom power specs with plenty left over :)

[willo]

I have no idea what you just wrote Oli, but sounds good!!  :D

[Johnny Mac]

Glad to hear its all working Willo, i envy you!

[willo]

I blame you all! I have had my first problems tonight! I am very confused at how to get my copy of Guitar Rig 2 running in real-time through the NIO and recording in Reaper...I'm sure its more the fault of my own cack-handedness however...We will see!

And I accidentally deleted a song I had been working on all night! Ouch. Oh well, Champions League tomorrow...