Picking a new Audio Interface!
Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 5:46 pm
Hi all! Five years back I bought a used Apogee Duet Firewire, and while it's served me well, it's pretty much kaput at this point. I can get sound out of it, but I can no longer use its inputs. So, time to upgrade, and thought I'd see if the forums had any suggestions!
I mainly work with virtual instruments, but want to up my audio game so I can supplement my tracks with real instruments. I own a Rode-NT1a microphone, and also record guitar and bass direct.
I have a budget of $500-$1000. Here are some things I'm interested in having in an audio interface:
1) Works on both Mac and PC. I'm a Mac/Logic user, but I game and do some production stuff on PC and would like to use the same interface/monitors.
2) Portability - I work mainly on an iMac at home, but I'd love to be able to take my iPad, go to someone's home, set up a mic, record them singing or playing, and bring tracks back to my place to mix. (or, be able to record on someone else's piano
3) Works for live sets - I'd like to incorporate a laptop into my keyboard rig for live performances, theater performances, etc, so ideally need an interface that works well on gigs. (I'm also interested in starting to DJ)
4) Expandable - I eventually would like to track a drum kit live, so I'd like to be able to expand to more inputs. I don't need more than two inputs right now, though.
I'm looking at RME Babyface Pro, Duet 2, and Universal Audio Twin MKII. MOTU and Focusrite are on my radar, but haven't wowed me. Any suggestions? Are there other things that you like in an interface I should be looking for?
Thanks!
I mainly work with virtual instruments, but want to up my audio game so I can supplement my tracks with real instruments. I own a Rode-NT1a microphone, and also record guitar and bass direct.
I have a budget of $500-$1000. Here are some things I'm interested in having in an audio interface:
1) Works on both Mac and PC. I'm a Mac/Logic user, but I game and do some production stuff on PC and would like to use the same interface/monitors.
2) Portability - I work mainly on an iMac at home, but I'd love to be able to take my iPad, go to someone's home, set up a mic, record them singing or playing, and bring tracks back to my place to mix. (or, be able to record on someone else's piano
3) Works for live sets - I'd like to incorporate a laptop into my keyboard rig for live performances, theater performances, etc, so ideally need an interface that works well on gigs. (I'm also interested in starting to DJ)
4) Expandable - I eventually would like to track a drum kit live, so I'd like to be able to expand to more inputs. I don't need more than two inputs right now, though.
I'm looking at RME Babyface Pro, Duet 2, and Universal Audio Twin MKII. MOTU and Focusrite are on my radar, but haven't wowed me. Any suggestions? Are there other things that you like in an interface I should be looking for?
Thanks!