Novice-Noob jumping in... lots to learn...

[mojobone]

I was just about to mention Audient's well-regarded ID14; it doesn't have Apollo's bells and whistles, but it has terrific preamps/conversion, the same preamps from their mix consoles that cost in the five figures and are also regarded as a great value. If I had less than $300 to spend on an interface, I'd wait 'til I did, then buy this one. (and have a very nice monitor controller thrown into the deal) I had a hard look at their ASP 800 and ASP880 before I opted for the Antelope Zen Studio. Here's a look at their product line: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/Audient

[lesmac]

The Audient iD14 looks like great value. I like the tactile control feature which is a deal breaker for me.
Does anyone know a way to get more than one headphone out by using some kind of splitter? Probably a small cable adapter would do?

[funsongs]

Peter - I think everybody got on the budget mindset here as you mentioned. That happens.

So maybe to take a different approach:

How much ballpark are you wanting to spend on an interface?

Which mic does your buddy have? Maybe some people have some recommendations for a similar price that they have used that would be comparable - especially as you have mentioned for vocal and acoustic guitar.


As for Apogee - yes the Duet 2 is great and I own one - with the caveat that if you are using it for desktop use all the time (instead of being mobile) it's going to hold up to use better if you spend the extra $100 on the "breakout box" to take the strain off the cables. Since I have a Universal Audio PCI card I always leave the process buffer at 1024 samples in Logic which makes recording useless with this interface unless I use "low latency monitoring" mode in Logic. Not all DAWS have this function. And to be honest - most interface are going to have a similar issue that you are going to be switching the processing buffer around a lot - as low as possible to record, and then up to a high value for mixing.

But if I were buying a MAc today that had a Thunderbolt connection https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202638 and had some budget - I would consider getting a Universal Audio Twin interface. They are a hundred or two more than the duet. The principal reason I would look at this is the low / zero latency path for recording which due to the design of the interface allows you to record without switching the process buffer around in your DAW.

John Lewitt has one and records a fair bit of acoustic guitar. Maybe he will pipe in and describe whether it's all it's cracked up to be.

Hi Andy,
Was able to get upgraded to 10.11, and it looks like Logic X is in there "for free" (?), along with Garage Band.
My buddy's mics are 'copied' Neumann U87s... not sure what the secret of that means.
I'd like to stay under $500 for the mic & interface, if I can get something decent.
The Youtube sample and pitch for the Focusrite bundle is pretty darn impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSVSUxcfKac

[Len911]

The Audient iD14 looks like great value. I like the tactile control feature which is a deal breaker for me.
Does anyone know a way to get more than one headphone out by using some kind of splitter? Probably a small cable adapter would do?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JIBS

[lesmac]

Champion Len
I don't want to hijack Peter's thread but I'll be in the market for a small portable interface sometime soon for recording one or two sources with potential to break out more.
The little headphone box makes the iD14 more attractive.
I miss not having a control surface for volume automation on the fly, hence me jumping on the iD14.

For Petes' sake I'd way up the Focusrite against the Audient before jumping in. The Audient LOOKS more intuitive and as Mojo said a monitor controller is a great bonus.
Whichever way you go take your time and all the best.
Les

[Len911]

The focusrite scarlet studio is $220.

For $370-$390, or +$150-$170 you can upgrade mic and headphones.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/compare ... ark-2i2%29

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/K240S/

The main difference between the blue and red, is probably due to the red one having a "focus" or "presence switch". The blue has a slightly larger diaphragm.

The AKG 240 are like a standard reference headphone.

The focusrite interface being the same.

[Len911]

Peter - I think everybody got on the budget mindset here as you mentioned. That happens.
So maybe to take a different approach:
How much ballpark are you wanting to spend on an interface?

Hi Andy,Was able to get upgraded to 10.11, and it looks like Logic X is in there "for free" (?), along with Garage Band.My buddy's mics are 'copied' Neumann U87s... not sure what the secret of that means.I'd like to stay under $500 for the mic & interface, if I can get something decent.
The Youtube sample and pitch for the Focusrite bundle is pretty darn impressive.

Or for $370 you might go with something like:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
ECM-87
http://gauge-usa.com/Gauge_Microphones/Products.html
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/K240S

"Copied" probably means Chinese, Rob's "copies" are screened.

It's like Peter from Westlake said on taxi tv a week or so ago, the mic makes the biggest difference.

At least the daw issue is solved by having Logic??

[mojobone]

I own and regularly use an ECM 87 and ECM84 kit; they're both terrific value, The Scarlett is at least as good as Presonus or M-Audio's products in the same price range, and bonus, you don't have to deal with Avid. I would advise against open or semi-open headphones, if you're recording quiet vocals though, cuz bleed is gonna be an issue with any combination of preamp and condenser mic.

http://www.staples.com/Monoprice-107116 ... ct_1256344

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=7221

[funsongs]

eesshh... for someone who's reading-challenged, this old dude's gettin' 'thread-worn'
trying to sift this all out.
I already have, and like, my Sony MDR-7506 cans; don't need to add more now;
besides, I only have two ears anyway.

Okay - so if the Focusrite 2i2 is satisfactory, then puttin' any 'extra dough' towards a great mic for voice and acoustic instruments (guitar, mandolin, ukulele, fingersnaps & knee-slaps);
I'm still hoping to land on something that's mid-range, budget-wise. I guess the best way to phrase that question is: what's the price point where you jump from
"cheap but it'll do the job", to
"okay - now we're gonna sound truly 'professional'..." ?

[Len911]

The Sony headphones are fine!!

I'm still hoping to land on something that's mid-range, budget-wise. I guess the best way to phrase that question is: what's the price point where you jump from
"cheap but it'll do the job", to
"okay - now we're gonna sound truly 'professional'..." ?

The first thing that pops into my head is, okay what is the lowest price Neumann, the TLM-102. $700.

Here's the thing, you live in LA? I would contact either Westlake Audio, or Vintage King Pro Audio.
Set up an appointment for a mic audition. There might be something cheaper that sounds as good or better to you than the Neumann, probably not,lol, Maybe a Gefell, east german neumann

There are also mic shootouts on youtube and gearslutz, however it's more difficult to hear the difference sometimes, but singing with them will definitely make a distinction in my experience.

That's a difficult threshold, enough to do the job, yet sound professional. Maybe much controversy
however, imo the neumann is professional, will definitely do the job, and you'll never second guess yourself with a $300 mic, and later still need to move up to a Neumann, and end up spending more money in the long or short run!