Home recording, guitar, BKPs in it, amp, laptop and...?

[Lucas]

Hi,
Recently Ive started diving into home recording and trying to set up a nice home recording 'studio' (corner more likely).
I am looking for a good decent external sound card which I could plug in into the laptop and use some Cubase or Reaper.
It`s really important  to be able record by using mic and amp as well as line in.

And there`s a problem, Im confused which one is good enough, Firewire ect.
Many people recommend Line 6
 http://line6.com/podstudioux1/

many m audio fast track, there`s also TC Electronic Konnekt 8, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB. Which one to choose?

Along with recording with MIC and LINE-IN it`s extremely important  to keep original tone of the guitar, so the audio interface has to be very transparent. I`ll be using it OLNY for recording guitar.
Where to start?

Thanks!

[Cam_H]

I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Great bang for buck. They of course have the options for more inputs like the one you mentioned, but you can't go wrong with the Focusrite. It provides versatility for different plug-ins.

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-530852

[Lucas]

Is it transparent enough keeping original tone of recorded guitar? Tone is the real deal to me.

Im curious about that Line 6, good price tag, many recommendations, POD Farm going along with it, low latency, doesn`t abuse your computer too much, but...
to be honest I dont really trust Line  6 thanks to all of those Spider amps, Variax guitars and modelling pods (yes, I prefer real thing rather that modelling)
but I might be wrong...

[Cam_H]

Is it transparent enough keeping original tone of recorded guitar? Tone is the real deal to me.

I'm curious about that Line 6, good price tag, many recommendations, POD Farm going along with it, low latency, doesn`t abuse your computer too much, but...
to be honest I dont really trust Line  6 thanks to all of those Spider amps, Variax guitars and modelling pods (yes, I prefer real thing rather that modelling)
but I might be wrong...

It seems to work well enough to provide the transparancy you're after. I have a Line 6 GX as well which is a pain in the ass when trying to use it with other plugins. For that price, you can get many other interfaces which suit your needs.

This may provide an interest to you:

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/8-of-the-best-budget-usb-audio-interfaces-570850/1

[Guitarteach]

I've used a 2 channel m-audio USB interface very similar to the Scarelett design for some years.  I've not used a Line 6. I've also only ever used it on MAC via USB and can't comment if FireWire has better latency when going in AND out through it for monitoring. Never had detectable issues with latency on input.

Re. Sound. I certainly have never got the impression that the USB interface coloured the sound in any way on either XLR or line-in.

I would follow the 'keep it simple' ideal and avoid anything in the chain with too many tone altering bells and whistles and keep the focus on mic placement, room acoustics, having a good mic and getting the best source sound into the tracks.

If I was looking for a reason to choose one brand over another, all other things being equal, it would probably be on how well they kept their drivers up to date and their support.  If you have to wait 3 or 4 months for a driver after an operating system upgrade it's not fun.

[Lucas]

I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Great bang for buck. They of course have the options for more inputs like the one you mentioned, but you can't go wrong with the Focusrite. It provides versatility for different plug-ins.

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-530852

Many thanks for useful information. I`m pretty much convinced with  Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. But can you record with this card by line-in as well? And use Guitar Rig with it? Does it have 2 option: mic and line in? And have you tried recording via that dedicated line-in input?

[Cam_H]

I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Great bang for buck. They of course have the options for more inputs like the one you mentioned, but you can't go wrong with the Focusrite. It provides versatility for different plug-ins.

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-530852

Many thanks for useful information. I`m pretty much convinced with  Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. But can you record with this card by line-in as well? And use Guitar Rig with it? Does it have 2 option: mic and line in? And have you tried recording via that dedicated line-in input?

1) I've only ever used the interface to plug my guitar straight into the front and use the plug-ins via PC. There are 2 Line Outs on the back (as well as headphones on the front) but I'm assuming these are only for monitors. I use the headphone output as I've not got round to get a good set of monitors yet.

2) I use Guitar Rig 5 and Amplitube 3 with no problems. I found there was a latency issue on initial set-up (first time using), but the program seemed to sort it out within 30 seconds. I think I had a lot of programs opened which interfered at first. Been using it 6 months now with no Latency issues. There's an option to monitor out the direct signal (clean) which has perfect latency, so I do think it was down to my PC.

3) For recording, you have 2 inputs which have a sort of hybrid 1/4" jack/XLR Input. Each of these inputs have a gain control, and a switch were you can choose between LINE and INSTRUMENT. There is also a 48V button (I think this is for Phantom power?) so you have everything covered depending on what you want to record. The only downside is that you can only plug 2 devices in. But they have models that can facilitate more inputs should you require. 2 is more than enough for me as I only ever use it to plug my guitar directly in.

Hope this helps

[Lucas]

Many thanks, it helped a loooot!
That will be enough for me surely, `casue Ill be pluging in only one guitar as well.

I assume that XLR Input is dedicated for microphone such as Shure SM57 or similiar, is that right?

Browsing web I found that many audio interfaces are FireWire, what`s that? I reckon that this option is completely useless while plugin in oridinary guitar while signal is analog and comes through normal 1/4 jack (Ive seen cables one side jack, the other end firewire). It`s like putting an engine from Ferrari into small Opel Corsa  :D as far as Im concerned.
It makes sense when you plug in some devices like keyboard or DJ kind of mixing consoles.

[Guitarteach]

Yep. The XLR (round with 3 holes like a triangle) is for microphones such as an SM 57

The interfaces may also offer 'phantom power' for some of the microphones that use it.


The FireWire thing is about how the audio interface connects to your laptop so it's critical to doing anything.  Lots of macs until recently had a FireWire socket - its a port type dedicated to video/audio data.

You will need to be certain that your laptop has a FireWire socket. If its a windows laptop it may not.

USB is much more common and found on virtually any laptop and should be usable for some years. 

[Lucas]

Thanks a lot, I think I`ll definitely go for Scarlett 2i2 as I`ve read loads of good comments about that audio interface.

cheers.

[Lucas]

It`s been a while but finally got my Scarlett 2i2.

Can you plug your oridinary pedalboard/oridinary single effects such as distortion into the card and record it then with e.g Reaper?
chain: guitar-pedalboard/effect-Scarlett-laptop

Or its better supply clean guitar signal into the card and then use programs such as Guitar Rig?
chain: guitar-Scarlett-laptop with plugins such as Guitar Rig.

So far I`m using Guitar rig but just being curious if I can use my ordinary effects and place the straight after guitar and supply that kind of signal to the card.

Thanks.