What recording audio interface do you use and why?

[Penniesfromheaven]

Started with an M-Box with Pro-Tools LE. Got used to Pro-Tools, but needed more I/O so I got a Digi 002. I also do soundtrack work for a video co. that uses Avid Pro for almost everything, and that comes with Pro-Tools, so it is rather handy.

I also have a Line 6 Gearbox Silver for guitarists with junk amps.

[jclampitt]

I've just got a sound blaster audigy card that came with an internal drive with audio and midi inputs on it, i just hook my cheap mixer up to that and it actually works ok.

The only reason i use this is because when i was starting recording i didn't know any better, and it was the only thing at circuit city that would get the job done, and also i'm poor.

[jdaug]

presonus firestudio

it came with cubase LE which was OK, but I ended up outgrowing it pretty fast. I now have cubase studio 4. everything works good. plenty of I/O for what i do. i use reason adapted, which is a scaled down version, but i have my eye on reason 4.

[mdarmistead]

I bought the MultiMix for several reasons:
1. No room in my computer for another PCI card for an interface (otherwise I might have bought a M-Audio 1010LT)
2. My SB Audigy card has a firewire port on it and firewire is substantially faster than USB.
3. I wanted enough channels with pre-amp and phantom power so I could do on-location stereo recordings of student voice recitals.
4. It comes with Cubase LE which is a pretty stout program even though it is 'LE' (I'll upgrade to Cubase 4 later if I find that LE limits me)
5. The MultiMix12 was on sale as the MultiMix8 (I'm a sucker for $100 savings.)

[JohnCutts]

I use a Lexicon Lambda, because it acts as a pre-amp, though I don't use it for that, and I only use 1 input and it comes with a Cubase LE which was a program I been meaning to try for a while now. And it's was only $149.00 and it worked on the with CEP 2.1 & my old pc which I've been using to record. I didn't really see a need to buy expensive equipment, I'm only a beginner.

[JoeSpaceTime]

Hey, I have some questions, if anyone can help...

...first regarding DT Chris's comments: Why will you outgrow the FastTrack USB? Have you had latency problems with it? Quality alright? Not enough I/Os?

I've been looking at this along with the IK Multimedia Stealthplug USB/ M-Audio Firewire Solo etc. I too am cheap. I've been struggling to find independent reviews that compare products. Most sites I've found so far are linked with manufacturers, so have all the marketing speak, and no rigorous criticism. This thread is good tho'.

...having said I'm cheap, my laptop was not so cheap (Core 2, 2GB RAM, fast hard drive), so I was shying away from the Firewire options as I was reading about people's computers getting fried 'cos Firewire bypasses CPU control and can overheat, whereas USB relays the information back and forth, to and from your pc, mediating power (or something like that. I got distracted and stopped reading). Anyone know anything about that?

Has anyone else tried out any USB audio interfaces? If not, why not? What's your opinion on/experience with them?

Can anyone compare their prefered interfaces with other options, and why their choise suits their needs?

Has anyone mentioned Line 6 Toneports yet? I was looking at the UX1, the UX2, the GX... what's the practical difference? UX1 has 1 input, so I guess that puts it in the same class as the Stealthplug and FastTrack. £60-80... which reminds me; how much did you pay for your kit? Would be useful to compare prices too, as that is a realistic factor when considering value. UX2 has 2 inputs, and guages on the front, so is twice the price. GX has a big dial for volume

Also, is it just me, or is the Audio Interface Reviews link from here not working? [Edit: Okay, I just read a thread saying a script is in development, so maybe this is why. Would a sticky thread dedicated to reviews not be enough to be going on with? - Joe]

My first post by the way. Hello to you all. <grins>

p.s. If I was going to answer the original question in the title of this thread, I'd say that I managed to get something to record by pluging a guitar into an amp into a 4 track into my computer mic socket. It was rubbish.

[JoeSpaceTime]

Originally Posted by mimivogue

... My pc has a soundblaster card. I hear that Soundblaster cards are useless for recording but thought my Tascam US428 was a sort of soundcard in itself.

Do I need a better sound card even if I have a US428?

I was wondering that too. From what I've read I think you're kinda right. I think USB devices bypass the soundcard in the recording process.

Standard soundcards that come with PCs/Macs are designed with playing sound in mind, rather than recording, 'cos most people don't use their computers to record things. I think it used to be the case that the best thing to do if you wanted to record was to buy a better soundcard, but maybe USB/Firewire audio interfaces - like your US428 - gives us more options now :o)

[brandondrury]

think USB devices bypass the soundcard in the recording process.

A USB Audio Inteface IS the soundcard. This is why you have to go into Windows control panel, de-select the old stock soundcard, and then select the new soundcard/audio interface.

[dugang1]

i use 2 motu 24io's reason gives me 48 in's 48 out's and can handle almost any situation ill ever need it for and nuendo3 seems to like it also

[Newsboy]

I have a Tapco Link.Firewire 4x6 and Tracktion 2 software.
Why? Because it was the only thing available at the local music shop when I simply could not stand attempting to record with my old Fast track USB any longer.
The interface for the most part is excellent. No issues with anything on it, but having only two inputs is challenging especially when recording drums. That being said, I went to college and learned Pro Tools using a Digi003 and must say I have made much better recordings using this thing than I ever did in school. Much of that, of course, is due to the advice I have recieved on this website.
The Tracktion software is extremely user friendly, even moreso than ProTools or Cakewalk in my opinion, the free plug-ins are shit but they are, again, bundled for free so I didn't expect them to be anything beyond what they are.
For anyone just starting out who wants better than Fast track but can't quite afford to drop $2,000 on ProTools, this is an excellent option.