Well so it seems, I need to be able to work faster these days. While my old set up (stand alone recorders) seems to be fine for recording bands, it is not working well for me in regards to songwriting/composing. So for my own use, I think I want to start with a two channel device that will alow me to do some midi tracks, virtual keys ect...while being able to track guitars, percusion and vocals live.

What say you? Mbox? Prosonus? RME? Right now lets just consider this for PC use only.

JD

What's your budget Jacl?

Does that include software as well?

There is an obscene amount of these devices around at the moment.

FWIW - I just spent a few weeks setting up a Dell Dimension9150 PC with a M-Box2 and Pro Tools LE rig.

I was reasonably impressed with the preamps in the MBox. I have the Digi002R interface in my home studio and to me, the new MBox pre sounded a little warmer than the 002R.

The 002R is in a different league though, as it has a lot more inputs and ADAT as well. The MBox only has 2 inputs.

Pro Tools, is (IMO) a very good program. I am keen to try version 7 once I upgrade my computer to a Mactel, and the rewire/plugs stuff comes on board.

T

Hmmm.. budget? I don't know. I guess I could spend $1K on a 002, but the preamps are kind of lame. I have plenty of preamps. Lets go with maybe $500. More or less is ok, but I guess if I get into a 2 channel unit I can get a decent one. If I get into a multi channel version, I will probably get lame converters.

I don't know. You guys tell me.

I recently replaced a Sound Blaster Audigy 2ZS (consumer grade basically) with a Digital Audio Labs Card Deluxe. Just for monitoring the stuff I'm doing in AP6, there was a noticeable improvement in quality. I haven't tried recording into it yet but that's the next experiment. There are two quarter inch ins (left and right), two quarter inch outs, a S/PDIF in and a S/PDIF out. It's got a ribbon connector jack to connect an add on board that'll give you lightpipe and AES connections as well if you need those kinds of I/O's.

It doesn't have a MIDI port, but I bought an M-Audio MIDISport Uno - USB to MIDI interface (49 bucks at the local BanjoMart). This is my first bonafied foray into VSTi's, MIDI, and all that stuff. I'm baffled by it still. Anyway, the Card Deluxe would let you bring two channels into your PC - with the kind of outboard you've got I doubt the sonic quality would suck - and let you monitor the output on the card's output jacks. Then use something like the MIDISport for any MIDI interfacing you'd want to do. The whole solution would run you less than 500 clams. Depending where you buy them, the Card Deluxe runs between 359.00 and 399.00.

Probably not the most elegant solution, but it was easy to install and get it all working together. The Card Deluxe info is here. The MIDISport info is here.

quote:

Lets go with maybe $500. More or less is ok, but I guess if I get into a 2 channel unit I can get a decent one.

MBox 2: $450

32 tracks up to 48kHz. I am using it on a laptop running Windows XP. Having a ball learning Pro Tools. You'll want to get an external HD with it as you don't want to write and read to the same drive that is running Pro Tools...i.e., the "system drive".

Later, if you want to expand that...

Music Production Toolkit: $500

Then you'll be able to run 48 tracks up to 96kHz.

For a $K, definately worth it.

Kind Regards, trans

Mac or PC for DAW running Protools?

I like my emu 1820m (see specs), but a 1212m would suit your needs I suppose. Pro about the 1820m is that it has more i/o and a headphone output. Both have midi.

I own a 1212m, but I would steer you away from Emu cards unless you don't mind working through possible compatibility issues. The Emu cards can sometimes be finicky.

Do you want a PCI card? Or firewire? Or USB?

If the former, Emu is an option (just go in with your eyes open), converters are excellent on the -m series of Emu cards; M-Audio Audiophone 2496 is solid (very affordable....$100, but only RCA analog ins) or the 192 if you want to bump up ($200= better conversion, though not to Emu level, and balanced ins). All of these come with digi in if you've already got converters (or get them later). Then there's the Layla whatever thingee. I know little about it, other than people like it for the $200-500 price range. Check out the RME 400 firewire thingee, too. It's just coming out. I'm not sure if it's as low as $500, but it might be.

PCI cards will be the cheaper. You already have pres, so you should be fine on that end.

I suggest you keep away from USB stuff. It won't suit you in the longterm, IMO. Firewire, would,, though (as would PCI).

I would also steer you away from ProTools, but it really depends on what you're trying to do. There is free software out there that is becoming quite respectable: e.g., Reaper.

Any of it will have a learning curve. And it comes in all sorts of flavors, sort of depends on your interests, inclinations, work flow, and most importantly, how much time you want to spend figuring this shit out.

MBox2 is a great tool of you are not planning to record at 96khz.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
MBox2 is a great tool of you are not planning to record at 96khz.

What has been your experience doing so?

quote:

I have plenty of preamps.

If you have plenty of preamps than get RME 9652 with ADI-2.

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
MBox2 is a great tool of you are not planning to record at 96khz.

What has been your experience doing so?

Specs: 24-bit/48 kHz.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
MBox2 is a great tool of you are not planning to record at 96khz.

What has been your experience doing so?

Specs: 24-bit/48 kHz.

Understood...evidently with the addition of the

Digidesign ProTools LE Music Production Toolkit Plug-in Collection: $500

One can then run 48 channels at 24 bit/96 kHz.

**OF COURSE IT'S THE CASE that the MBox 2 device itself only specs up to 48kHz...which means if a person wanted 96kHz they would need yet ANOTHER piece of Digi hardware to record (mix/edit?) up to 96 kHz.

f'n Digi can U tell its a love/hate relationship?

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
MBox2 is a great tool of you are not planning to record at 96khz.

What has been your experience doing so?

Specs: 24-bit/48 kHz.

Understood...evidently with the addition of the

Digidesign ProTools LE Music Production Toolkit Plug-in Collection: $500

One can then run 48 channels at 24 bit/96 kHz.

**OF COURSE IT'S THE CASE that the MBox 2 device itself only specs up to 48kHz...which means if a person wanted 96kHz they would need yet ANOTHER piece of Digi hardware to record (mix/edit?) up to 96 kHz.

f'n Digi can U tell its a love/hate relationship?

With all due respect I have to disagree.

This is a quote from digidesign website
"*Requires 96 kHz–capable Digidesign or M-Audio® hardware. "

I just don't imagine how you can use a/d & d/a converters that have specs up to 48khz to record at 96khz.

May be there is something I don't undestand?
Explain???????

quote:

if a person wanted 96kHz they would need yet ANOTHER piece of Digi hardware to record up to 96 kHz.

i.e. 002

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:
[QUOTE]
Understood...evidently with the addition of the

Digidesign ProTools LE Music Production Toolkit Plug-in Collection: $500

Why do we discuss this thing then? Plug-in collection??

With your collection of goodies, it seems to me a shame to run all that quality through the standard junk in Mbox, 002, etc...

If you just are looking for a 2 channel quality way, look at the Apogee Mini Me with USB...of if your wallet can handle it, a Universal Audio 2192...

Just cause I'm nosy, you say yuo've been using a standalone recording system...what/which? I know lots of people still making the best sounding records on the planet using ADATs...

Mini-me is great with one but: you will need a separate D/A.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:

quote:

Originally posted by transfiguration:
[QUOTE]
Understood...evidently with the addition of the

Digidesign ProTools LE Music Production Toolkit Plug-in Collection: $500

Why do we discuss this thing then? Plug-in collection??

lol

gotta keep the 96kHz diversions to a maximum

Jacl Daniels,

What do you consider your ceiling budget to be?

Is recording past 24/44.1 important to you?

trans

Joe,

i've been looking for something like this myself, and if you don't wanna swing for an apogee mini me, i would seriously consider this:

http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/FireWire/index.php

the echo's audiofire line is all built the same, meaning that the conversion you find on the 12 channel one (wich is getting great reviews) is the same down to the 2 channel one (wich i'm probably getting). the 2 channel one is a no frills, 0 lactency interface with no pres, just two line ins, two line outs (all balanced) an headphone out and midi/spdif capability, firewire.

plus you can daisy chain them all..for instance if you get an audiofire 2 now, and later get a 12 or something like that, you can use them both for 14 analog channel outs, etc.

the audiofire 2, coming out july, will list for 199 bucks...a killer deal in my opinion for the kind of conversion you're also getting from the higher end units. this is the interface i'll be getting and i aint tracking now cause i'm waiting for it, it's worht it, at least in my opinion.

if you wanna do it on the cheap, well sort of...lexicon will have a similar machine coming out, that should have worse conversion, but has that pantheon reverb plug that lots of folks like. other than that, i don't think it's really worth it in light of what the audiofire can deliver in terms of sound quality. the circuit is exactly the same as their higher end models.

Wireline, I use 16 bit ADATs which work great when I record bands and such. But for some song writing and composing, I want to do some things in midi, and with virtual synths ect. Linking the ADAT's to a midi chasebox is a pain in the ass. So I was thinking of getting something just for composing. Mini me....hmmm yeah maybe that would work. Also some of the RME stuff is looking cool. I guess price is not an object..but I think the price point should meet the usage. Which in my case will be limited to an occasional songwriting session.