Subject:Audio Interface Advise (please)

Posted by: kawaii

Date:4/15/2016 5:31:06 AM

OK so I've been away from my PC since Windows 98SE/XP. Since then, Windows has updated to 64Bit while Acid has stayed at 32Bit.

I'm getting back into using my Audio suit but I have no idea about which equipment that I should be investing my money in.

I worry about compatibility and with the vast array of models on the market, I feel like I'm a little out of my depth. I really could do with some advice.

I hope the following explanation of my requisites is clear enough to understand !>.<!


- connections to the PC:

3-pin XLR (with phantom power) although an external mixer would be fine for this and routing the mixer output into the audio interface. nice to have it built in though

midi (in/out)

1/4 jacks (balanced/unbalanced)


- able to internally route audio from one application to another.

i.e. The ability to record an output from a media player into Soundforge / Acid


- the interface to connect using USB (although PCi w/breakout box would also be fine)


- the system

Windows 7 64-bit Professional SP1
GIGABYTE Z97X-Gaming 3
Intel i7-4790K CPU @ 4.00GHz
16GB DDR3
MSi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
Samsung SSD 250GB
Sony Acid Pro 7.0e
Sony Soudforge Pro 10.0e
Sony Vegas 9.0e


I'm not too concerned about budget as I see this as an investment. Having said that, I'm not sure I need to invest large amounts.

Thank you for taking the time to read this request and any help that it may generate.

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:4/15/2016 4:41:41 PM

Using a Lexicon Alpha USB audio interface under Windows 10 x64 myself. It doesn't have MIDI but I just use a MIDI USB controller anyway, so it's no big deal. It does have an XLR in. and 1/4 balanced/unbalanced I/O.

Works a treat with ASIO under ACID Pro 7.

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: kawaii

Date:4/15/2016 6:56:54 PM

thanks for the reply lacobus!

Do you know whether the Lexicon interface can record internal signals?

i.e. record the output from a media player into soundforge / acid?

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: Musition

Date:4/16/2016 5:48:28 AM

Personally, I can't sing the praises enough of the RME Fireface UCX. It has both FireWire and USB ins and outs, and their included TotalMix software can route any input to any output, and you can bus software outs back into hardware ins. The only drawback is that's it's expensive.

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:4/16/2016 4:31:37 PM

It sounds like the PreSonus AudioBox USB should fit your needs.

> "3-pin XLR (with phantom power)... 1/4 jacks (balanced/unbalanced)"


> "midi (in/out)"


~jr

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: kawaii

Date:4/17/2016 12:49:58 AM

Thanks for the feedback Musition. The RME Fireface looks a little bit too expensive I think. Mind, it's one for the future. Have you had any problems using it with in Acid?

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: kawaii

Date:4/17/2016 12:50:53 AM

Cheers JohnnyRoy! This might be interesting. Again though, do you know if this unit works to route audio internally?

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: Musition

Date:4/17/2016 5:47:44 AM

None whatsoever. That's the interface I'm currently using to record in Acid.

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: kawaii

Date:4/17/2016 6:22:04 AM

Thanks for the feedback! I will keep this audio interface in mind as it ticks a lot of the boxes that I need.

The AudioBox doesn't look like it is able to route audio internally but, the AudioBox 22VSL version comes with a full virtual mixer and is looking good.

The ability to record the sound from internal to the system is really useful and I guess, a deal breaker in terms of me investing.

Subject:RE: Audio Interface Advise (please)

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:4/17/2016 7:51:02 AM

> "The AudioBox doesn't look like it is able to route audio internally but, the AudioBox 22VSL version comes with a full virtual mixer and is looking good. "

Yea, the VSL series are the newer units. Sorry, I should have pointed you to those first. I'm not sure if any of them allow you to record sound from your computer. I have an M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB. I'll have to see if I can get it to record computer sounds.

The reason I didn't recommend M-Audio is because they have a bad habit of abandoning their product line every few years. I have an M-Audio Firewire 410 and they don't make drivers for it anymore to support modern OS's. I also have a Presonus FireStudio Project of the same age and PreSonus keeps their drivers updated so I don't buy or recommend M-Audio anymore even though their interfaces are good too.

~jr