USB soundcards

[tomjackson]

Does anybody know what a decent soundcard is, 2 or 4 inputs with decent Mic pre's?
Midi would be nice too.

For the quality of the mic pre's I'm looking at Mackie and Focusrite...Any others I should think of?

I'm thinking of selling my TLA preamp (one of these http://pro-music-news.com/html/02/e10327tl.htm) to fund it.
Does anybody know how a decent USB interface would compare mic preamp wise?
 I don't need the compression as I'll use plugin's.

Also, I would like the soundcard to have some decent software with it so that might be a consideration.  I need Drums and amp sims and possible some piano and orchestra.  I could buy it separate but it might start to get a bit expensive.

I'm looking here http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/usb-audio-interfaces/

Any suggestions??

[MDV]

Focusrite saffires are very good. So are EMUs. Edirol are OK.

The saffires are probably the best around at the moment.

Get firewire though; audio is much more stable through it, and lower latency.

Edit; though interfaces often come with stripped down software, they rarely have any synths or good VSTs with them. Get superior drummer 2 for the drums, and maybe an expansion that suits your tastes, and I dunno for the piano and ochestra, never use them.

[_tom_]

I really like my Edirol UA-25EX. Simple and reliable. Not sure on the quality of the pre's as I've not used much else but sounds fine to me.

I think I read that firewire interfaces can be picky about which chipset they're plugged into... I certainly had major problems with my Presonus firewire interface which was a complete pain in the arse and I ended up getting rid!

[MDV]

They can be. They tend to like texas instruments, but its rarely a make or break problem. They will work with most chipsets. You'll, at worst, get a few more dropouts with a different chipset, at low buffer sizes. Your presonus problems were probably because presonus drivers are/were godawfull (*gives his RME a hug*)

Still less than with the vast majority of USB interfaces though ;)

[Transcend]

the kontakt grand pianos are pretty good but nothing beats ivory grand.. i cant remember who makes it though

as for orchestra ive found

east west quantum leap symphony orchestra to be amazing and is very easy to use

[tomjackson]

I'll have to go USB becuase my laptop does not have a firewire port, but as I'm just recording 44k / 16 bit it should be okay.

MDV, do you rate the Mackie stuff?

Also quite like this

http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/tascam-us-144-mkii--67857

No software but 4 inputs and Midi and a little cheaper than the others...

I was thinking of EZdrummer actually, I'll only be doing basic drums or loops.  Is EZ Drummer okay??

[Transcend]

ezdrummer is ok if its just for personal stuff.

If it's anything you are wanting to show off i would avoid it.

it was great when it came out but is very dated now.

It sounds very plasticy and fake

Another good option is steven slate ex which is currently $99.

i couldn't live without it now but superior 2 is also great as is BFD2 addictive drums is an alternative but one i've never liked the sound of

[tomjackson]

Yes personal stuff only.  If it ends up really good I could always upgrade to superior.

Steven Slate looks good but it needs a dongle which puts the price up and uses another USB port.
And I lose dongles....

[Transcend]

ex doesnt require a dongle...

i have it it just has service centre activation unless they've changed it

i know that trigger uses a dongle

[MDV]

Mackie are solid but nothing special, at any given price point. imo they are outdone by someone at anything and everything they do for the same money, whatever the money.

I wouldnt touch the tascam; seriously outclassed for similar or not much more cash by the focusrite and EMU gear.

On the outside chance youre on mac, the apogee duet pretty much slays. In fact, apogee are the only reason I would buy a mac :lol:

[tomjackson]

Ended up getting a Steinberg C1

http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/hardware/ci1/ci1_start.html

Only £77 quid, will do for what I need and got a good SoS review.
I decided my TLA valve mic pre would probably be better than any soundcard mic pre's so I'm going to keep that and use it into the soundcard.

And a copy of EZ drummer with a free funkmasters pack.  So everything I record for the next 6 months will have a Clive Stubblefield beat!

[JJretroTONEGOD]

well I LOVE the mackie onyx preamp, I use the onyx-820i desk and can't recommend it enough, but even though it has firewire, with my particular setup I have still found the M-Audio 192 card to have much lower latency, so I'm using it purely as an analog desk into the M-audio card and it works flawlesly, mic preamps are a highly personal choice I think.

I really like the 'colouration' of the onyx sound, it's very subtle, but some people hate it

[tomjackson]

I nearly bought the Onyx Blackjack.  It gets great reviews and there's hardly a bad word said about it.
I do like the Mackie stuff I've come across, we used to record in a studio with a 24 channel Mackie desk and it sounded great, you could just tweak that EQ all day, it sounded very musical....