usb interface help

joejon wrote on 6/24/2014, 9:48 AM

I posted in the Sound Forge forum about noise when plugging a mic into a laptap and it was suggested to get a USB interface. One suggestion was a Presonus FireStudio unit but that's almost $400. My son will be recording his piano, drum, and flute separately and then combining the pieces using Vegas Pro 13. I saw a M-Audio M-Track 2 channel unit and M-Audio M-Track Quad unit. Has anybody used these? If you have any other suggestions let me know. I'd like to stay below $250.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 6/24/2014, 4:05 PM

I have an M-Audio Transit and the quality is fantastic considering the price. It doesn't have microphone inputs though, so it's not a direct comparison to what you're looking at. However, overal M-Audio has a pretty good reputation. For under $250 you probably can't beat it.

Geoff_Wood wrote on 6/24/2014, 7:09 PM

As well as Presonus, MOTU, M-Audio, Phonic, (and ???), I also have a Lexicon Alpha (USB) which you could probably pick up 'used' pretty cheaply. No phantom-power on the mic preamps though ...

geoff

joejon wrote on 6/25/2014, 11:40 AM

I think I might go with the M-Audio M-Track. They have a regular 2 channel model and a Plus model with Digital I/O (I don't know what that would be for and if I would need it). It looks like in the specs the Roland and Mackie don't have MIDI so I ruled those out in case my son wants that feature. The other one I'm still looking at also is the Presonus Audiobox. Reviews are so mixed on all the units it's hard to compare.

joejon wrote on 6/26/2014, 1:09 PM

Ordered the M-Audio M-Track Plus. I think that will meet my needs. Thanks for all the help.