looking for an inexpensive interface

[rubber314chicken]

I'm trying to find a interface for under $150 that can record 4 xlrs with preamps to my computer. I've seen one that only had 2 xlrs and would record every channel to a seperate track, and one that had 10 channels (4 xlrs) but would only record in stereo. I have not found anything reasonable. would my best bet to buy a sound card and a $60 behringer mixer, mix, and record, and hope the recording is good, or is there an interface that I could use?

edit- what about this:Buy Fostex MR8HD 8-Track Digital Recorder with 40GB Hard Drive online
would it send each track individually to my computer?

edit2-
okay, looking at a seperate interface, preamp, and monitor setup, I'd be running around $200 for the interface if I went with this:

Buy M-Audio Delta 44 Digital Recording System online at Musician's Friend
Buy SMPro Audio PR4v 4-Channel Preamp online at Musician's Friend
Buy Behringer Micromon MA400 Headphone Amplifier online at Musician's Friend

I'd need to get 5 1' 1/4 mono cables, and some ables for my head phones (that I need anyways) but its cheaper than the other option, but how is the audio quality going to be? I don't care about the audio from the monitors, as long as I get a clean recording.

[brandondrury]

I'm trying to find a interface for under $150 that can record 4 xlrs with preamps to my computer.

This sounds like a perfect job for the Home Recording Soundcard Wizard. (see signature).

would my best bet to buy a sound card and a $60 behringer mixer, mix, and record, and hope the recording is good, or is there an interface that I could use?

Possibly. However, I would expect that to be more expensive than the units with built in preamps. Maybe not, though.

Fostex MR8HD 8-Track Digital Recorder

That doesn't appear to be an audio interface, per say. I'm guessing it simply allows you to transfer the files to the computer after you are done. Only you can determine if that's the way you want to work. It wouldn't work for me.

how is the audio quality going to be?

Budget level recording gear is AWESOME these days. It's up to the engineer / musicians to make it sound great.

I don't care about the audio from the monitors, as long as I get a clean recording.

You'll change your mind on this one. An accurate monitoring system is the single most important part of the chain.


I guess, that this is going to be the best way to go as far as the audio interface is concerned.

Brandon

[rubber314chicken]

yea, I noticed that sound card wizard in some sigs browsing here, and checking it out, the cheapest interface it recommended was this, and I must say I've seen it for $225 (hello price match) and reviews for it look pretty good.

as far as mics go, I"m thinking about getting something along the lines of this:

• SM57 (snare)
• kick mic
• 2 small diaphragm over heads
• 1 large diaphragm for recording non drum stiff (I would wanna get good mics for only drums, I want this to be versatile)

I'm thinking that if I get good/a bit better than behringer mics that I'll be able to use them, and I'm not that bad at using sound editors (I've used audacity to edit a podcast a LOT) and I read here that any good engineer can get really good sound from ANY mic setup, so with not terribly bad mics, I'm hoping that I'll be able to learn a lot, and get better at this.

as far as the mics go, what would you get for thse form $150-$175 ish price. I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible, but I'm nott gonna buy $10 mics just to save money when I'll record and get really bad sound that I'll spend 10 hours fixing up one track. I'm trying to get something worthwile that will last me until I can afford high end gear to record with, but until that happens (10 years, at least) I'll want to use this setup, and I'm gonna wanna get it with enough quality that I won't be kicking myself for a)spending too much money or b)not getting good enough gear.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

You'll change your mind on this one. An accurate monitoring system is the single most important part of the chain.

really? I know its import during mixing, but as I record I'd wanna be able to hear the signal to make sure that the computer is recording, and that its not clipping the audio (who wants to run drum mics through a distortion pedal?) so that the recording turns out good, but really being able to hear really accurate sound while I record is really important? I'd have though otherwise, but thats good to know.

[Newsboy]

I bought a Tapco Link.Firewire 4x6 for $199 and I do recommend it. The preamps are great for the most part, the packaged software is excellent and very user-friendly and I do believe they make a model for USB which costs around $150.

[rubber314chicken]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I bought a Tapco Link.Firewire 4x6 for $199 and I do recommend it. The preamps are great for the most part, the packaged software is excellent and very user-friendly and I do believe they make a model for USB which costs around $150.

thanks, however I'd have to get a preamp for the other 2 channels, and it would cost more than the alesis that I mentioned (the usb only sends a stereo audio track, not individual tracks), and it doesn't have to flexibility of being a soundboard as well as an interface.

[brandondrury]

I read here that any good engineer can get really good sound from ANY mic setup

Sort of. Part of being a good engineer is knowing when to use the right mic. "Fix it in the mix" is a fantasy in most situations.

but really being able to hear really accurate sound while I record is really important?

Every single decision you make in regard to tuning, mic placement, the peformance, the sound of the instrument etc is based on the sound you hear from your monitoring system.

Brandon