(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best computer recording equipment

We found 3,262 Reddit comments discussing the best computer recording equipment. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 419 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

21. M-Audio M-Track | Two-Channel Portable USB Audio and MIDI Interface (24-bit/48 kHz)

    Features:
  • M-Track, with Ignite by AIR and Ableton Live Lite
M-Audio M-Track | Two-Channel Portable USB Audio and MIDI Interface (24-bit/48 kHz)
Specs:
ColorBlack
Height2.8 Inches
Length8.7 Inches
Number of items1
Weight0.85098433132 Pounds
Width6.1 Inches
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24. Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 Ultimate Guitar-to-USB Audio Interface,White

    Features:
  • 1-channel USB Audio Interface
  • 16-bit/48kHz
Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 Ultimate Guitar-to-USB Audio Interface,White
Specs:
ColorWhite
Height0.97 Inches
Length3.76 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateMarch 2008
Weight0.2 Pounds
Width2 Inches
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25. Modi 2 USB Digital/Analog Converter

Modi 2 USB Digital/Analog Converter
Specs:
Height6 Inches
Length8 Inches
Weight2 Pounds
Width3 Inches
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29. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Second Generation (2nd Gen) 2-in, 2-out USB Audio Interface

    Features:
  • Swaddling has been around for ages as it helps to prevent the startle reflex. But forcing the baby’s arms to their sides or over their chest prevents two natural behaviors that frustrate the baby and they fight to get their hands free.
  • First - Over 90% of babies sleep with their ARMS UP around their head when placed on their back to sleep. This is simply a baby’s natural and preferred way to sleep, just like in the womb!
  • Second - All babies are born with the need to SELF-SOOTHE by touching their face and sucking on their hands as they did in the womb. This medically proven behavior is how a baby calms and falls asleep on their own. Traditional swaddling prevents this.
  • The patented wings on the Swaddle UP allow the baby to both sleep with their arms in their preferred ARMS UP position and gives enough movement so they can SELF-SOOTHE, all while calming down the startle reflex.
  • The snug fit from our 4-way stretch fabric of 97% Cotton and 3% Elastane creates a familiar and secure feeling just like in the womb to calm the Moro (startle) reflex. Does not contain flame retardants or any harmful chemicals.
  • The dual zipper makes diaper changing a breeze and eliminates the need to remove the swaddle and having to completely re-swaddle the baby. The patented design eliminates any risk of loose fabric and the zipper replaces noisy Velcro or bothersome snaps.
  • The unique wing design eliminates face scratching from baby’s sharp finger nails. All seams are sewn on the outside and the zipper is protected so there is nothing rough against baby’s skin.
  • Medium size designed to fit babies from 13 lbs. up to 19 lbs., approximately 3-6 months. The Swaddle UP Lite is 0.2 TOG.
  • Once baby shows signs of rolling over, it’s time to transition to arms free sleep. The Stage 2 - Swaddle UP 50/50 Transition Bag will ease with this transition from being swaddled.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Second Generation (2nd Gen) 2-in, 2-out USB Audio Interface
Specs:
Height8 Inches
Length12 Inches
Number of items1
Weight1.32 Pounds
Width14 Inches
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31. ART USB Dual Pre 2-Channel Audio Interface Preamplifier

    Features:
  • USB Dual Pre is powered via the USB bus. Internal 9 Volt battery, or optional external 12V power supply (or any combination of USB, battery & power supply) can be used depending on application. When running powered by battery alone, you should expect in excess of 50 hours of operation with phantom power off. Battery life will drop to approximately 20 hours (depending on microphone) when phantom powering is engaged (still enough time to get through an average session).
  • Built-in low noise +48 Volt phantom power supply allows you to power up to 2 microphones as well as the preamplifier when running from any power sources including the USB bus.
  • 1/8-inch TRS mini headphone jack with level and monitor mix controls on the rear allow for latency free local monitoring of the inputs while recording as well as playback monitoring of the USB bus. monitor mix is also routed to the 1/4-inch TRS balanced outputs. This lets you use the 1/4-inch outputs as either preamplifier outputs or as the monitor feed to your powered monitors.
  • Fully compliant with the USB 1.1 specification and uses USB adaptive mode for playback and USB asynchronous mode for record.
  • Works with the USB audio device drivers built into Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista and Apple OS9.1/OSX computers with native USB support
ART USB Dual Pre 2-Channel Audio Interface Preamplifier
Specs:
Height1.751965 Inches
Length4.68503 Inches
Number of items1
Weight1.10231131 Pounds
Width4.60629 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

🎓 Reddit experts on computer recording equipment

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where computer recording equipment are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Total score: 143
Number of comments: 80
Relevant subreddits: 5
Total score: 65
Number of comments: 29
Relevant subreddits: 5
Total score: 46
Number of comments: 14
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 40
Number of comments: 19
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 37
Number of comments: 18
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 30
Number of comments: 16
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 22
Number of comments: 14
Relevant subreddits: 5
Total score: 20
Number of comments: 15
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 19
Number of comments: 15
Relevant subreddits: 3
Total score: 17
Number of comments: 14
Relevant subreddits: 2

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Top Reddit comments about Computer Recording Equipment:

u/ChelatedMonoxide · 2 pointsr/recording

Yes, there are recorders that can record multiple tracks. Like the Tascam DR-40 has XLR inputs. I'm not necessarily endorsing the Tascam. I have the DR-05 and find it acceptable quality. Something like the Zoom H4N has XLR connectors built in, so you could record a mic into those and use the built in condenser mics to record your guitar.

You left out some relevant information: Budget, can your guitar be plugged in or will you mic it? Do you have a pretty sound free workspace?

I think budget is the most important part here. I interpret 'nothing flashy' as being a cheap as it can get without being poor quality.

I'm gonna link to listings on Amazon because it's easiest, but B&H or if you live near a Guitar Center might be a better place to buy.

A possible setup:

  • ART Dual USB Preamp - $80 - This will allow you to plug in one mic and your guitar and output the track to your computer via USB. Depending on the software, I believe you can have the tracks separate for editing, but they would separate into left and right channels that you'd then combine into a stereo track after editing.


  • Shure SM58 - $100 - A dynamic vocal mic that will play well in a not so perfect recording space. Check out Regina Spektor using one during a concert. This mic is so popular I would make sure to only get it from a reputable dealer i.e. not used on ebay, because there are fakes floating around.

    If you need/want to mic your guitar then consider the SM-57. It is nearly identical to the SM58. Here is a guy demonstrating using one to record his guitar.

  • If $100 is insanely out of your budget, then consider the Behringer XM8500 - $20 - Not as high quality as the SM58, but still a decent sound. Here is a guy comparing the SM57 to the XM8500 and is using just one mic for voice and guitar, without using a preamp, so keep that in mind when comparing the audio (I hear some noise in the audio, probably noise from the line to the camera, which I presume has some sort of automatic gain happening).

    This guy's video makes me wonder if just an SM57 with a decent preamp (i.e. one with clean gain) might be all you'd need... but that isn't ideal. You could go with two XM8500s, one for guitar and one for vocals ($40). Or one SM58 for vocals and one XM8500 for guitar($120). That all comes down to budget and preferences.

  • You'll need a mic stand, or two. The On-Stage MS7701B is a best seller on Amazon. I own one of these and it isn't going to impress anyone. I've never had it tip over or seem unsteady. If you extend the boom arm too far it can sometimes slowly droop over time (I may be guilty of not tightening it enough due to not wanting to strip the threads) It does the job of holding a mic in place. If you go with two mics, you could get two of them. You could also get a desk stand for the mic that is recording your guitar and find a suitable place to set it, but I think the boom arm of the MS7701B will be useful for keeping the stand out of your way.

  • And you will need cables. I recommend the cables from Monoprice, their Pro Audio series. It is not as user friendly to find the exact cables you'll need as a site like B&H, but I have had several of their cables and only had one die on me. All their cables have a lifetime warranty and the prices are shockingly low.

  • And a windscreen or pop filter for the mics is nice. There is a decent windscreen on Amazon for 3 bucks, sometimes 2 bucks.

    Potential Changes & other thoughts -

    A more expensive preamp - ART Tube Dual Mic Preamp With USB - $190- this has some compression and a limiter. It's debatable whether in this range it would be better to get a decent mixer, a preamp for your vocals, and let the preamp on the mixer handle the guitar, or if something like this would be better. Like a Behringer mixer - Q802USB ($80) + ART single channel Preamp for vocals ($40/$50) would be less money than the Dual USB preamp.

    Or maybe just the Q802USB would suffice for your needs. It has preamps already built in. They are not the best preamps in the world. I mean... after all I wrote above, the more I think about it the more I think you should try a Q802USB and see if the sound is what you're wanting.

    Headphones - Add in some headphones to monitor your audio. ATH-M40x ($100) would be my recommendation, but this is where a lot of personal preference comes into the mix, no pun intended.

    Different mics - Rode has some mics that compare the the Shure SM57/58 that might be better. And the options for mic are virtually limitless, when you consider not just the mics can vary, but the audio interfaces and processing options. I really think a dynamic mic will be most user friendly for a one off home recording.

    I hope I haven't confused more than I helped. I think the essentials are this: good mics, clean gain, easy to use. Whether you get the dual channel ART preamp or the Q802USB, either will be easy to use. I would bet the gain on the ART preamp is cleaner, meaning less background hiss at higher levels, than the Q802USB, but perhaps that is just an unreasonable bias. In either case, the mic is going to be important and where your budget plays a big role. The SM58 and SM57 are superb for vocals and recording guitar. A condenser might be better if the acoustics of your recording space allow for it, but I hope you saw from the video I linked of the guy recording his guitar with the SM57 that a great sound can be achieved with a $100 mic. If that is out of your budget, keep in mind the XM8500, but the sound is not as clear as the Shure mics it tries to emulate.
u/Varzboi · 1 pointr/ThisIsOurMusic

Hey you need overall 3 things:

  1. Gear
  2. A room
  3. Software

    /

  4. Gear:

    -Audio Interface:

    You want a number of channels depending on the type of groups you wanna record and the size of the group. Example: 18 Channels (8 mics) v.s. 2 channels (2 mics)

    -Microphones:

    You want basic versatile microphones and specialized ones for the type of instruments you wanna record.

    Example of basic mics: Shure sm-57 Dynamic Mic and AKG 414 Condenser Mic

    Those two have a fairly transparent frequency response and work for most scenarios but you also want mics that work better for certain instruments because of their coloration or diaphragm or polar pattern.

    -Monitoring:

    You need some headphones like the Audio Technical M50x which are transparent enough and good for the price although you could go a little further and look for Sennheiser HD or some of the expensive AKG stuff.

    -Accessories and cables

    You want good quality XLR cables, two direct boxes like this one and probably a direct box with pre amp like the Avalon U5 (great for sending bass via line, skipping the bass amp part, which can be great for live sessions). Both depend on the type of music you are gonna record of course (first example works for connecting stuff like a keyboard and the Avalon well for bass is great).

    You may want a monitor amplifier like Behringer Powerplay for distributing audio to the players or producers or audience via headphones monitors.

    Also check out EquipBoard to see what gear are other producers or studios using. They have a good database and is good reference.


  5. If you wanna do it like TinyDesk then you wanna have a nice room with good isolation and space for your musicians. Well, mostly for the sound. There are 2 ways of recording live sessions: Either you isolate most of the musicians or you use proper recording techniques and use your mics intelligently to get a good mix before your Mixing stage. You may wanna look for highly directional mics.

    You also wanna look on isolation techniques and architecture if you wanna have good natural reverberation or just have control over what the sound is doing, including annoying neighbors if that’s the case. Look for how to soundproof a room in the internet and try read a little about acoustics if you haven’t.

    You may wanna to set up 2 rooms: a live room and a control room. The live room would be where you record the musicians and have way more soundproofing and the control would just need to isolate enough and allow visual contact with the ppl in the live room. If you go for 2 rooms you may need to set up the ins and outs and pass cables through the wall in a snake cable like this Hosa or this bigger one . The purpose of having 2 rooms is partly because you wanna monitor with speakers not only headphones (as well as having more recording gear there but it only applies to bigger studios). Example Yamaha HS8 x2 or the KRK . Those are fairly priced options and you will get more value out of them if you are the one mixing the music as they can be better references than just headphones.

  6. For software you should consider Pro Tools as is the industry standard. I personally enjoy Logic Pro and there are a lot more options out there some of which are free. If you are not gonna go a lot into mixing and do the post production maybe Pro Tools Ultimate is a bit of an overkill but if you are looking to do the mix you may also wanna get some audio plugins. Look for Waves or Arturia plugins online (most of which is simulations of real hardware) which will give a “better” sound to your mixes if used well. It also depends a little on the genre or type of music you are producing.



    That’s it. I was very broad but I did mentioned some basic equipment you can start budgeting. If you need more details about the basics PM me and can help you a bit more, I’m no specialist on some stuff like exquisite mics but know about a bunch that are generally used. Are you in Vancouver by chance? I can help you in the actual physical setup if you are.

    Cheers.

    Edit: You probably want a powerful laptop or a desktop computer btw but I figure out you already have one.
u/IndianaJoenz · 3 pointsr/Learnmusic

1: That's just a controller. It doesn't have sounds of its own. I would suggest considering something that does have sounds of its own (such as a synthesizer, a piano, or something more like a normal student keyboard like this) so that you aren't tethered to a computer+software any time you want to practice. That said, you can still get by with a controller only and your laptop. Whatever you get, you probably do want Midi so you can use it with your software. (Unless it's a real 88-key piano, which is probably the best for learning IMO). For the "portable keyboards" with midi support, like the one I linked, Yamaha and Casio make some pretty good ones. A little pricier than the one you linked, unfortunately. 32 keys might feel a kind of limiting, but maybe not. You can probably find a 61-key one with MIDI on craigslist pretty cheap. (Yamaha PSR series is pretty good, nice sounds)

2: Learning some music theory is definitely a helpful tool, and that generally means studying an instrument. It's pretty much essential for collaborating with other musicians, since you'll need to speak "the language of music." (Keys, chords, etc.) One thing I've always enjoyed for learning is going to guitar chord sites (like ultimate-guitar.com), looking up some songs I know, and playing the chords on piano. If you don't know how to play a chord, look it up. You'll start noticing patterns (how to play a major chord, minor chord, 7th, maj7, etc). That combined with practicing scales can take you pretty far, and give you some tools to explore when writing songs. /r/musictheory seems to be a good community for resources, too.

3: Piano is so fun. I played other instruments before picking up piano, but learning piano has improved my understanding of other instruments (and theory in general) dramatically. So I think you definitely have the right idea looking at keyboard instruments.

4: If you do get a MIDI controller that doesn't have built-in sounds.. I noticed that the one you linked doesn't have any pitch bend or modulation wheel. I'd consider getting one that does. Pretty handy when working with synths (including the ones in your DAW). Another nice thing to have is pads for banging out drum beats. Much more intuitive than using the keyboard. Neither are essential, but they're fun, and something to consider. M-Audio Axiom series is a good one with both of these features. Oxygen series, too.

5: Interestingly, Keystation 49 II is the same price on Amazon as the Keystation MIni 32 you linked. Out of the two, I would definitely go for the 49. More keys, and real pitch bend+modulation wheels. (The pitch bend buttons on the mini look kind of lame IMO.) Unless the more portable size is just super important to you.

6: If the keyboard you get has traditional (round) MIDI I/O ports but no USB port, then you'll need a MIDI interface for your computer. They're cheap, and you don't need anything fancy. Something like this is fine. You can also get an audio interface that has MIDI built-in. If you go with an audio interface, you should do more research, as a good audio interface (unlike an expensive midi adapter) does make a big difference in the sound that gets recorded. But that's probably farther down the line if right now you're just trying to learn and get better at composition. At that point you'll be looking at good monitor speakers and/or monitor headphones, too.

No hard and fast rules, here. Just a few things to consider.

u/Tommonen · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Well it depends how you use it. You could run your guitar straight to it and use amp sim/looper/effects/drum machine/etc. Or you could run the sound through your rig first and then run it to your iphone(make sure that the signal that goes into iphone is same strength than what goes to headphones, not something that would go to the amps speaker, so use headphone out line out if it has one).

I love blocs wave looper, it also has its own library of recorded loops, some of the drum and percussion loops are really nice to jam on.

I like dm1 drum machine on ipad, there is an iphone version also and im sure its also good.

Then if you want something more complex there is this http://www.akaipro.com/product/impc-for-iphone

Im not sure which guitar amp sim app is the best, because bias fx is ipad only. But for guitar speaker simulation(which i suggest using or at least testing if you like it even if you use amp sim), there is this really wonderful and simple app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fiddlicator/id813106474?mt=8 , and its free. The neat thing about it is that you can load impulse responses on it that simulate different guitar speakers. You can find tons of them free if you google "free guitar cab impulse responses" or something like that. They are much more realistic than the speaker simulation on the amp sim apps. It can also load impulses that simulate reverbs in different spaces, has really nice eq, low/high pass filters, delay and reverb. A must have app for guitarist imo, but it doesent simulate amp, just the speaker element and microphone and its position(or echoes of different spaces, you could get the reverb that you would get playing cranker up amp in taj mahal for example).

There is bias amp for iphone. Its not the full blown bias fx, its an app that lets you build your custom amp and tweak pretty much everything you could in a real amp. With audiobus(maybe AUM could do it also, it has other nice features, app worthy of checking out), you could make a custom amp in bias amp and use impulse responses of speaker element in fiddlicator and have kick ass amp simulated. But there is no pedals there. However, you can get the distortion from the amp and reverb/delay/eq from fiddlicator. Reverb and delay should come after distortion anyways. But there is this app JamUpPro that made by the same guys than bias stuff and you can load the amps you made in bias amp on it. It also has recording and stuff, but it has in app purchases quite a bit(like the recorder), and its pretty expensive, but it seems to be in discount atm. Ampkit+ is worth checking out, so is tonestack and amplitube. But the bias amp to fiddlicator via audiobus would be straight forward and good setup. For the whole amp sim thing.

There is this app called audulus3 that lets you build pretty much any effect you want, its meant for synth stuff, but can be used with guitar. If you add that in the audiobus signal in effect slot, you could get pretty much any sort of sound from your guitar. BUt it takes some really indepth fiddling, so if you dont want that, you want some other app.

Altispace is a really nice reverb app, it also lets you use impulse responses to simulate echoes/reverb in different spaces like fiddlicator, but lets you tweak with the reverb much more.

You should just look around for effect apps(there are so many so different ones that its best if you just look around) basically to replace pedals that you wont get if you use audiobus to route bias amp -> effect app -> fiddlicator.

Im not sure if it works on jamuppro, but in bias fx on ipad you can put fiddlicator on the signal chain inside the bias fx, so there is no need to use audiobus. If it does work on it, definitely get jamuppro, while its still on discount.


If you want to use it just as an "pedalboard" before your sound goes to your amp, i suggest getting either audulus 3 if you like to tweak A LOT to get that the perfect effect from simple to something out of this world. If you just want some regular pedals, ampkit+ is nice for that, just turn off the amp and cab sim and use the pedals on it. You might want to check these out as well:

https://itunes.apple.com/fi/app/frobulator/id993500586?l=fi&mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/fi/app/nebulizer/id1007409385?l=fi&mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/fi/app/muckraker/id1018267293?l=fi&mt=8

Hooking up your guitar to the iphone is better when the device connects through the lightning port than through headphone jack. But the cheaper things like irig2 connects through the headphone jack. Irig2 is fine if you need cheap, it also has a nice feature that lets you run the audio through the iphone and out from connection that goes to amp, while with some others you might have to fiddle with getting correct plug from iphones headphone out to amps in. Audio interface would be ideal, but you would need the camera connection thing besides the interface.

Some products you might want to check out:

http://www.amazon.com/IK-Multimedia-interface-adaptor-Android/dp/B00T631UTC

http://www.thomann.de/fi/steinberg_ur12.htm

http://www.thomann.de/fi/vox_amplug_i_o.htm

http://www.thomann.de/fi/ik_multimedia_irig_hd.htm

http://www.thomann.de/fi/ik_multimedia_irig_pro.htm

http://www.thomann.de/fi/steinberg_ur22_mk2.htm <- you could hook up some midi synth on that or some other midi devices

http://www.thomann.de/fi/apogee_jam_96k.htm

Those larger audio interfaces would be much better, especially if you use amp sims and al lthat stuff and not just run it to your amp. But running the guitar effortlessly and cheaply, irig 2 would be best imo. I dont know about the vox amplug io, just noticed it exists and looks like worthy of checking out.






u/kibilocomalifasa · 3 pointsr/drums

Haha, yep that's me! Really into Melee, and I'm studying Audio at OU.



SO there's a whole lot you can do with a $1.5-2k budget. Most of my recommendations are going to focus on microphones, but if you're not trying to do that much recording, you can discard that advice and spend more budget on keys and synthesizers—however, making your own samples and working with them can be pretty cool, fun, and very professional-sounding. I'm speaking from already deep into this rabbit hole, so note my bias. BUT! For that budget you can basically get a near-professional quality mini-studio's worth of gear, if you so choose.

In my opinion, if you're just starting out, Piracy can save you a lot of cash that you can better put towards your gear. If your budget is ~1.5k, I would say pirate Logic Pro if you have a Mac machine, or Ableton/Adobe Audition if you have a Windows machine (PM me if you'd like ;) ). You don't really need all of NI Komplete when you're starting out, especially if you get Logic Pro, because they have a LOT of built in instruments. Also, NI packages can be piratable too. This is all assuming, of course that you're comfortable with pirating software, I understand if you're not, but it can save some cash, and you don't really need a license until you start making real good stuff that you plan on selling/making a business out of.

As far as gear is concerned, if you're serious about recording you might outgrow your Scarlett pretty fast, since it only has 2 mic preamps. You might want to consider a TASCAM 16x08 or a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. These will let you handle 8 microphones at the same time, which means you can also get a mic kit for your drums. This will get you the absolute best sound out of your drums (provided you learn to use them properly, of course). Learning how to mic drums is a really cool process and there's a lot of room for really making it your own and experimenting with different techniques.

As far as drum mics go, you have cheapest quality at Pyle Pro Mic Kit, Medium Quality at CAD Audio Mic Kit, High Quality at AKG Mic Kit, and professional quality with an Audix DP7 Mic Kit. Even with these, you're still going to want something versatile too.

If you want to also sample some stuff IRL or record other instruments, then get one or two good Dynamic Mics to handle Vocals, Guitar cabs, or wind instruments. You're spot on with the Shure SM57, that thing is a swiss army knife of a microphone and is nearly indestructible. You probably can't go wrong with a matching pair, but you could also go for a SM57 and a Sennheiser e609 to cover all your bases, as the e609 will probably sound better on a guitar cab if you're looking to record guitars.

Okay, now MIDI! The Akai Pro MPK Mini II is a good bet and will definitely do all that you need it to, but if you find yourself needing more keys, there are some good midi controllers out there for just about the same price, for example an M-Audio Controller. It doesn't have as many programmable knobs, but that shouldn't matter unless you're using it to control a software synthesizer, and you need to utilize cutoff, attack, resonance, etc. on the fly. If you're really set on electronic music, then the Akai may be right up your alley, since these knobs will give you more control over your tone.

Aside from that, if you have these tools you can do nearly anything. Check out YouTube tutorials, learn how to use a sampler, learn what the different knobs on a synth do, and get some basic production background and get started! Experimenting in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is really fun, so I think the best thing you can do when you're starting of is mess around and see what you can do. Best of luck, let me know if you have any questions.

u/Just_Get_Better · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Definitely get your hands on a proper interface and XLR microphone. USB is hugely restrictive and I would never ever recommend them for musical purposes. I wouldn't get too picky over which interface to start out with. The Audient id4 looks fine if you're sticking with just a clarinet, but think about the future too as you might want more than a single input and you can get something like the Scarlett 2i2 or M-Track 2x2 for half the price.

There's always a huge variety of microphones to go with but it will be the most important factor in how good you can get the clarinet to sound so don't skimp out here. If you are solely recording instruments, especially in orchestral music, then you will get a good sound out of some of the small diaphragm condensers like this. Small diaphragm mics are often sold in pairs, which is another reason why it could be beneficial to get at least two inputs on your interface. 2 good microphones placed right will make your clarinet sound like an angel, but this will also mean you'd need an extra stand and cable. If that's going to be too much hassle you can always just start with one and grab a second one later on if you feel like the sound needs to be taken to the next level. A large diaphragm condenser would also work but you won't get as crystal clear of a response from a clarinet.

The software you listed will do great, I don't see anything extra you need there. Stock plugins will do the job until you start getting more picky on your process. You will however need something to listen on if you don't already. A relatively cheap pair of studio headphones will do fine since I doubt you will need to get deep into mixing. Anything around the $50-$70 mark will be good enough and will likely come with a 1/4" jack adapter to fit the interface.

So I would personally recommend:

  • Interface with at least 2 XLR inputs
  • Pair of small diaphragm condenser mics
  • 2 mic stands
  • 2 XLR cables
  • Headphones

    This will get you a setup that will sound great and last you a long time before needing to upgrade if you start getting really into it. If you go with this, read up on mic placement for clarinets because this will have a big impact on the recording.
u/StargatePioneer · 1 pointr/podcasts

I would get the K & M Microphone Stand with Telescopic Boom Arm. IT may be easier to get a desk based stand but this will remove the microphone from physical contact with the same table you are using for your computer/recorder/mouse to prevent noises from translating from the table through the stand to the microphone and into your recording.

I would urge you to go higher than $100 for the microphone to a large diameter broadcast dynamic microphone like the re20 or the re320. You can get a package from BSWusa.com to include the shockmount and the pop filter that's the best deal around but if you want to stay under $100 per item I would recommend either the Samson Q2U or the sE Electronics V7.

If you use the sE Electronics V7 I would recommend one of the Makie Audio Interfaces. The Mackie Onyx Artist is currently under $100 but if you wanted to futureproof yourself with the ability to expand to one additional microphone I would highly recommend going with the Mackie Onyx Producer instead. The Samson Q2U can output via USB and XLR at the same time so you could go into the Mac and a XLR connection (like a portable audio recorder) at the same time with no need for the Mackie Interface.

The next one is outside of your price range but I would highly recommend that you invest in a portable audio recorder. Yes you can record straight to your Mac but I've seen so many software recorders fail and lose episodes that a hardware recorder is generally best in my opinion. For your application I would either recommend the Zoom H5 at $270 or the Sound Devices Mix Pre-3 at $650. Either will work for you but the preamps and options on the Mix Pre-3 are pretty sweet. Also, if you upgrade to the re20 or the re320 the preamps on the Mix Pre 3 won't be working as hard and might end up giving you a cleaner sound. The Mix Pre-3 can also act as an audio interface to your Mac as you record at the same time so there would be no need for the Mackie Audio Interface. You can use the Zoom H5 without an audio interface as well but you cannot record on the Zoom H5 and pass the audio to your Mac via USB at the same time.

There's other things I would consider as well but if it was me I'd grab the Zoom H5, the sE Electronics V7 and record straight to a the Zoom.

u/JohannesVerne · 2 pointsr/Filmmakers

Hello, I am a voice artist so this is right up my alley!

​

Unfortunately, "cheap" is a relative term to microphones, and usually winds up expensive one way or another. Also, to get stereo you are going to need two mics, or a mic with two capsules, and will be paying about the same either way. There is also the matter of the recording; for the best audio you will want an XLR mic, but that ads another piece of equipment to buy (interface or mixer). Also, if the person doesn't know how to use a mic properly, that may cause issues with the audio.

​

Now that I've got the negativity out of the way, here are a few things I would suggest taking into consideration:

​

  1. Buy a cheap pair of mics (MXL is a good company for lower priced mics that still have a good sound) and a Focusrite Scarlet interface, ask them to get the mic stands, and do a discord chat while they record so you can direct live.

    ​

  2. Essentially the same as above, but only use one mic and record mono. For voice, you typically wont get any benefit from stereo, and it doubles the file size. This would also let you get a somewhat better microphone for the same amount of money.

    ​

  3. Find a studio in their area to record in. This may wind up cheaper, depending on how long you will be recording for and the studio's rates, and there is the added benefit of top level equipment and people who know how to set it up.

    ​

    As for mic selection, get a large diaphragm condenser, with a cardiod pick-up pattern, preferably with at least a 40hz-18khz frequency response. This will be best for voice, and should pick up instrumentals pretty well at that (depending on the mic). If you want stereo, you will need two mics, or a mic with two capsules (will say it is a stereo mic), but you can make an artificial stereo signal from mono in editing, which wouldn't be difficult for a stationary voice/instrument. You will also be better served to get clean, quality audio recorded and "dirty it up" in post, as this will give you more freedom of control with how the audio turns out. Just changing the EQ can give you a different sound, you can add in static, anything like that, but you won't be limited by the recorded quality.

    ​

    Feel free to PM me if you need any more help or info on setup, editing, or anything like that (so long as it's sound related). I hope this answer helped!
u/shadyinternets · 2 pointsr/headphones

to get any sound you will need an amp of some sort, the dragonfly has an amp built in though. in the lower price ranges i would say the majority will be dac/amp combos. not every single one, but a lot.

from what i understand the 598s are pretty easily powered though, so you dont need a powerful amp or anything weird. the 250ohm beyers would take a bit more to power properly, but i think the dragonfly would work for those too unless you like really loud volume.

i think the dragonflys are supposed to be pretty good too, but it wouldnt do anything for mic input if you need that. that is going to be the limiter if you need mic input for whatever reason, which is why i linked the creative ones.

if you dont need mic input the "schiit stack" (schiit is the company name, the stack refers to 2 stack-able devices) is a very highly recommended setup, though it would be a bit more than your budget. it is a standalone dac and amp setup that will power most headphones with ease. i have the schiit stack and it powers everything i own fine (beyerdynamic mmx300, phillips fidelio x2, oppo pm3, akg 553, ath mx50) though none are particularly hard to drive.

dac: https://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Converter/dp/B00SCCSJVA
amp: https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-0702-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00SCBKPW2


the schiit fulla is also one that might fit your needs pretty well (again, if no mic is needed) and is only $80 http://schiit.com/products/fulla

its portable too, similar to the dragonfly but cheaper.

there are tons of options really, anywhere from $10 things from amazon into the thousands if you really want to spend some $$ on your eardrums. and most of it is very subjective as to what is "best". different DACs have different sound signatures, different amps can have different sound signatures too. some people like some but not others for whatever reasons too. ive personally found that i dont like some of the more expensive "better dacs" because they sounded too clinical, too boring to me. i dont even really know how to describe what i didnt like, just know that i prefer how less expensive ones sound. point is, dont get too caught up in it all! else you can head down a very expensive rabbit hole lol

u/MoogleMan3 · 1 pointr/buildapcsales

I use the mackie onyx artist 1-2. I've tried a few others; I first used a scarlett solo 2nd gen, but those have issues with windows 10. They glitch out your audio after a while and make it sound robotic.

I also used the Shure MVi for a bit but ended up giving that one to my wife for recording her videos with her iphone. It does the job nicely for her.

The mackie is a great interface for $100. It's been rock solid since I got it and the build quality is amazing.

I may get an audient id4 one day, but that would really just be a luxury since my mackie is working so well.

[This is a really good interface] for $50(https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6). Probably one of the best deals on an interface. It's decently better than the $30 one I linked to earlier.

For cables I like lyxpro. I've using them since I started using xlr mics and they've been very reliable. Good connectors, sturdy, flexible jacket and comes in different colors.

u/Wastedmindman · 2 pointsr/podcasts

Well start at the beginning. People notice high quality recordings. If you listen to your Pod on headphones, crappy mics then get compressed to crappy MP3s is tedious to listen to.

If there are 2 or you, plan on spending a couple hundred bucks to solve this.

I use Sterling ST-51 Condenser mics- You can generally get them on sale at Guitar Center for $70 bucks. Here is a link to amazon

After you get that you'll need two XLR cables
After that you'll need some sort if interface. I have never had more than four people on my podcast, but the nature of podcasting generally means you'll get good a production, go as big as you can early, someone somewhere will want to pay you to produce for them. It's better to have the flexibility out of the box then have to cluge around with shitty hardware. However if you're on a tight budget there are other things you can get. Audio to computer interfaces give you more flexibility because you can add things like music live during a recording from other devices, allow you to use Skype (which isn't obvious when you have high quality mics and interfaces) I trend toward Focusrite, they make Bad Ass equipment. The Scarlett series works well for me. They don't have a loop back feature, but if you get that far let me know and ill tell you how to do it for the cost of a $1 RCA cable.

You can get linear PCM recorders Here and Here for about the same money as an audio interface, so its your call. They put it all in one package, but in the long run I think you'll end up getting tired of moving large files to your software for editing. I use the Tascam DR-40 and give it to people who are traveling - it is STELLAR and less than anything else on the market, because its old. But it's record out of the box- Easy.

Now Software- Ive used pay versions of Cakewalk. Ive used Audacity, which is great but clunky. I have landed on Reaper. It is the most full featured, open, continually updated, solid, go to, piece of software you can find. They're not dumb, they let you download a fully functioning copy for free. Its Not hampered in anyway. If you don't buy a license then you have to sit through a click away every time it opens. Better yet, just try it for a while, then you will appreciate it and want to buy the $60 license for small business or home use. Brilliant in every way.

That set up will last you for years and give you virtually pro quality production capability.

TL;DR
Mics (and Cables) Sterling ST-51 or similar (less than $100 ea)
Audio interface ( Many in, Many out, USB 2, Focusrite or Tascam)
Software (There can only be one, Reaper, Hands down)


Edit: My pods are at Defensesecurity.org , Homeready.org and Renman24.com - if you listen to the first ones and then listen to the latest ones you'll notice my equipment improvement, and editing style change. Its a muscle, work it out and it'll get better.

Edit 2: spelling and links
Edit 3: Links again

u/Decasshern · 4 pointsr/orangecounty

Hey!

I spent a good portion of my youth playing in bands of the punk variety. My advice might be a bit dated since it's been about 10 years but hopefully this helps!

I wouldn't be too considered with 'breaking into the business'. I would say have your son focus on your first point of forming a band or at the least, jamming with other people.

If he hasn't already, have him uploading his playing to youtube or soundcloud. This could be original songs, covers, or just riffs he comes up with. For the actual recording, you can do a lot with an iPhone by picking up something cheap like an iRig to record with.

As for the actual meeting people, have him talk to kids at his school as there are usually other kids that play and most likely others that are into the same style of music. You can also use Craiglist to find people looking for others to jam with but your mileage will vary. Try hitting up local music stores as they will normally have a board up with bands looking for people.

Going to local shows is another great way to find people, even more so if your son is decently outgoing. I would check out the following venues for shows:

Chain Reaction - http://allages.com/shows/
The Observatory - http://www.observatoryoc.com/events
Slide Bar - http://www.slidebarfullerton.com/calendar
The Wiltern (in LA) - http://www.wiltern.com/
This show is pretty far away but has bands that are in the Blink/Green Day style - http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?eventId=7083045&pl=sdobservatory&dispatch=loadSelectionData&REFID=art

If your son is decent and starts meeting and jamming with people in the local scene, he should be able to work himself into a band.

Sorry for the word vomit, hope it helps. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/Bass

You don't necessarily need an amp when you're starting, if you have speakers. I just use a guitar USB interface and Audacity. Sure, you can't gig with that sort of setup, but it is more than adequate for practice. Any cheap practice amp you buy is only really going to be good for practice, so I don't really see the point - you'd be upgrading when it comes to gigging anyway.

If you're really committed, I would be tempted to spend a bit more money on the bass itself rather than getting something cheaper and an amp. Not only will a good branded guitar retain a decent resale value if you treat it well, but if you buy something really cheap you're only going to be upgrading later anyway. It's also a bit easier to learn on a quality instrument. Ibanez GSR-200 is in your budget and is a quality instrument for a beginner.

Look into buying used as well, others have posted tips on that.

Just my 2p, I've only just started learning myself as well (I bought a used Yamaha BB604 for $280 and really like it). Best of luck.

u/Blais_Of_Glory · 1 pointr/buildapc
  1. What is your budget?

  2. 4K is still being worked on and improved. What you're describing is almost impossible and super expensive.

  3. Don't do SLI. People have a lot of problems and they don't always work with all games anyway. Stick with one good GPU, like a 1070.

  4. There's really no need for a Titan X unless you're a professional videographer or graphics editor. That's beyond overkill. A 1070 is more than enough for any gamer today.

  5. You went overkill on some parts but only listed 16 GB of RAM. You should go with 32.

  6. You didn't include your audio options like a DAC, amp, or speakers, and could have listed a better headset. I have the Sennheiser PC 363D (Amazon link) for gaming and watching TV/movies, and it's awesome. For listening to music, I use Sennheiser HD 598 SE (Amazon link). For your PC audio, you want good speakers. Check out the JBL LSR305 (Amazon link). You want a decent DAC, so check out the Schiit Modi 2 or Modi 2 Uber (Amazon link for Modi 2) (Amazon link for Modi 2 Uber). You could even get the Schiit Bifrost. Depending on what headphones you get, you might also want an amp like the Schiit Magni 2. Many people call it a Schiit-stack when you have both a Schiit DAC and amp together, usually the Modi 2 and Magni 2. You could also check out the new combo DAC/amp, Schiit Jotunheim. I found some great deals on eBay and paid about half the retail price for a Schiit Bifrost Uber DAC. Some other options are: JDSLABS Objective2 + ODAC Combo, Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS v2, Micca OriGen+, Fiio E17K, AudioQuest DragonFly, and Audioengine D1. Some great people helped me learn about audio from /r/BudgetAudiophile /r/audiophile /r/Audio.

  7. Make the list with PC Part Picker Australia so it's easier for everyone to see.
u/blackjakals · 2 pointsr/audio

That might work out better than what you have, but if you really want quality audio, you need to invest a little more into it. Getting a proper condensor mic like the Audio Technical AT2020 here would be a great place to start. You would then probably need an audio interface to connect it to like this or a mixer like this. Do your research and a lot of it. There are a lot of good options out there to improve your audio quality, but all options involve investing a descent amount of money as hard as that is to hear. Research, find what you really want no matter the price, and save, save, save until you have it.

u/Nine_Cats · -1 pointsr/buildastudio

Honestly, the Blue Yeti is actually a slightly better mic but it is USB and thus gives you no options to expand when you realize that recording guitar and vocals separately is so much better.
The XLR version of the Blue Yeti is twice the price, making it not worthwhile. Since you're already saying you want to record two things, you should discount the idea of the Yeti immediately.

What is your price range?
The best recommendation is the Focusrite 2i2.
This is easily worth the $50 more than the next option worth considering, the M-Track, even though the Focusrite 2i2 does not allow you to plug in an electric guitar without going through an amp or DI box and the M-Track does.






If you're wondering what the best use of your money is to get the sound you want to get, I can't tell you. If you're wondering if $50 for the AT2020 is a good investment, the answer is yes and you should buy two for stereo.

Look it up on YouTube, see if you like what you hear. I have 3 of them and like them but you can hear that they are rather "bright" almost in a tinny metallic way.

u/garden_peeman · 1 pointr/buildapc
I run a project studio that I built the PC for myself. From my research, for music production, intels are recommended. As usual, people will/can argue about this, but i7s have worked great for me. I ran an i7 2600 for a 3 years without even hitting the limit of its capabilities. Ditch the video card, use onboard i5/i7 graphics. Cheaper, quieter.

Like others have recommended, an external sound-card with ASIO support will be a big help in reducing latency (delay of sound being played on your speaker/headphone). You can always get one later though. It's more important if you're doing real-time recording, rather than electronic production.

I threw together a quick build, but I'm by no means an expert, so maybe there are better motherboards/RAM sticks at the price, but this should be a good starting point. Sound card is not included, so add from below:

A basic sound interface would cost $80, and a decent one $150.

If you can afford to, throw in another 8 GB of RAM and you should be golden.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor | $224.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | $114.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $59.98 @ Newegg
Storage | Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $64.95 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $44.99 @ Best Buy
Case | Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $49.99 @ Amazon
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) | $91.71 @ NCIX US
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $711.59
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-19 12:52 EDT-0400 |

Edit: Had used PC1333 RAM by mistake, replaced with 1600.
u/SOGOpod · 2 pointsr/podcasting

I've little experience with handheld recorders, but the optimal way to record 4 people sitting around a table is as follows
___

Gear

  • a 4-in audio interface

    (such as the Focusrite 18i8)

  • 4 dynamic mics + cables

    (best case scenario would be the EV RE20 but any decent dynamic will do. if on a budget, I recommend the GLS Audio ES-58 a great SM-58 clone)

  • a decent PC or Mac

  • DAW, (Digital Audio Workstation) software

    Audacity is free, but great cheap DAW's include Mixcraft and Reaper)

    ___

    Method

    Sit each person far enough away that mic bleed is at a minimum. If possible, try not to record in "high reverb" areas (places with a ton of flat, hard surfaces, like a kitchen, that bounce sound back). This won't matter so much, if you're not great at EQing and mixing your audio, in the first place, but it will always help you to have the best source audio you can.

    Set each member to record on a separate channel, and hit "Record". Allow at least 3-5 seconds of dead air (to use later to identify your noise floor, and apply noise reduction), and record your show.

    Afterwards, if you're a beginner, set a simple compressor (you may have to google how to do this and why) at the top of your audio range, use a "Classic V" EQ preset, if you have it (bass rolloff, high rolloff, in a "V" shape on traditional Equalizers), otherwise you may want to avoid major tweaking. If you have a plugin for it, apply De-essing, and a simple noise gate, make your edits, and you should be solid!
u/SkylarCahn · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

If you're interested in just about any instrument other than the guitar there are lots of options out there in terms of sample libraries. Guitar (in my opinion) has the worst representation of virtual instruments (I think this sounds awful) and libraries out there because it's honestly pretty hard to capture all aspects of.

As mentioned earlier, if you do not have a DAW, you should get one. This is the piece of software that you will use to construct your songs, apply effects, mix, master and a lot of other functions. Reaper is the Winrar of the music world with an unlimited trial period so that would be a good place to start.

Within this DAW you'll be able to create music without knowing how to actually play any instruments using a MIDI input that can be done with a mouse and typing keyboard. From there you'll be able to google "free [insert instrument] VST" and you'll likely be able to find a free (albeit lesser quality) instrument that you'll be able to use to compose with legally (i.e. not pirated).

Example: Free Piano VST

From here forward you'll be able to create songs with pianos, strings, synths, beats, drums, brass, etc and then sing overtop. In order to capture your voice you will obviously need a microphone. You could go online and spend a little bit on a cheap USB microphone to get you started or spend a bit more on an audio interface and a nicer microphone.

There's a lot to learn but the feeling of making your own music entirely by yourself is awesome. PM if you have any questions.

Good luck!

u/Toxiccell7 · 1 pointr/metalguitar

Looks like the SM57 is $100, plus after some looking on amazon I found this mbox for about $90. However, I'm wondering if I'd just be able to plug my guitar straight into the 1/4" jacks on the mbox and use amp models/effects on whatever software I end up getting. Or will this result in lower quality recordings? I do have a tube amp so I'm guessing I should take advantage of that.

I'm trying to spend as little money as possible for recording equipment, while still getting reasonable quality sound for being able to put tracks together that I could call my own and be able to show others. They don't have to be fancy studio quality, but just something to get the job done nicely. $200 for just the hardware seems pretty steep, but if that's how it is I guess I just need to save up some more money for this.

I have a really good computer with a 24" monitor, so I should be good as far as that goes. Thanks for the information!

u/DoritoStyle · 1 pointr/AskReddit

OK, in my area, those prices wouldn't be bad IF the quality was worth it (Are these guys really awesome, in other words) :)

I might recommend springing for something like this line-6 audio interface and learn to recorded the vocals and guitar through FL and upload to the Net for people to check out.

Once you have a EP worth of material, I would recommend going back to the studio the lay down some high-quality tracks to use!

Mixing & Mastering are going to make a big difference, so you might want to consider saving up some cash to get it all done at once, or work with your friend to get it done well :)

u/WebWorker · 2 pointsr/Bass

Maybe there's input lag with the console versions, but I notice very little lag on PC. Anyway sure a dedicated interface is nice depending on how serious you want to get with recording. I have an older model of this Line 6 Pod that works well and is portable: http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/
and this 16 channel interface (although hard to find a USB 2.0 version anymore) http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-MultiMix-USB-16-Channel-Mixer/dp/B002V3R5G6/

For a easy to use and free recording solution try out Audacity which is free and open source, or if you wanted to step up to something more robust check out Reaper which has a $60 license for home recording use.

u/lazytortle · 1 pointr/edmproduction

Took me awhile but I've found 3 different midi keyboards id recommend depending on what you need.

Korg nanokey - This one's solid for traveling or if you have a more mobile setup. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M8UZG0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=BHFPSURENR6T&coliid=I2GZUV8FTNZIPC&psc=1

Alesis V49 - This is the one I'm currently using. I like it because its semi-weighted and fits perfectly with my desktop setup. And if you wanted drum pads but don't want to shell out the money for novation launchpad, these get the job done but certainly aren't the best. I'd highly recommend it though if you want a weighted MIDI keyboard that doesn't take up much space. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWWEW20/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

M-audio 88 key - If you want a full keyboard this one's very good. No drum pads but semi-weighted and if you want a full-sized keyboard its very good for the price.
https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-Keyboard-Controller-Semi-Weighted/dp/B0006676A0/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1493660753&sr=1-3&keywords=maudio+88+key

u/beley · 1 pointr/podcasting

I'd buy my current setup...

Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 Audio Interface ($150)

(2) MXL 770 Cardoid Condenser Microphones - Amazing quality microphone for the price. ($144 for 2)

(2) XLR Cables ($20 for 2)

(2) Microphone stands. I use this Gator for my main mic stand and a cheap scissor arm stand for my second. ($100ish for 2)

(2-pack) Microphone pop filters. I like these replicas of the Popgard, but also have one real PopGard that I paid $40 for. Either is much better than those pop filters on a long extension arm that gets in the way. ($10 for 2)

Zoom H4n Pro or H5 portable recorder. I have a Zoom H4 Pro (and a regular H4) but either would work well for recording a podcast on the road or on location somewhere without a computer. ($200-275)

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Monitor Headphones ($150)

Software - GarageBand or Audacity or other free DAW. Or, if you already have a Creative Cloud subscription like I do, Adobe Audition.

All of that is way less than $1k, and give you the ability to do a two-person interview podcast in the studio or on location. With the extra $100 or so, buy some sound proofing materials for your studio.

This is exactly what my setup looks like right now.

u/HanSoloBolo · 2 pointsr/Earwolf

I'm not Brett, but I do host my own show that sounds pretty fantastic and I didn't have to break the bank for it.

For microphones, I'm using the Ultravoice 1800s dynamic mics.] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultravoice-Xm1800s-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B000NJ2TIE) They come in a 3-pack, which is $40 right now but I waited until they went on sale for $25. Really decent microphones that don't pick up a lot of background noise.

For a mixer, I'm using the [Behringer Q1202] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008O517IW/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1474221402&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=behringer+mixer+xenyx+1202&dpPl=1&dpID=5153d6epzTL&ref=plSrch). It's about $100 bucks, but again, it'll go on sale if you wait awhile.

I'm only using a mixer because I often have guests in person, though. If you're doing the show alone and don't want to bother with fine-tuning your sound, you can just use a pre-amp [like this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002KEAT78/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1474221560&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=xlr+preamp&dpPl=1&dpID=41fdibotlHL&ref=plSrch). I can't recommend any specific one, but just search amazon for "xlr pre-amp" and look for models with good reviews.

The other stuff you'll need is pretty cheap. Some xlr cables (5 for $20) foam mic covers (6 for $3 on ebay) and a mic stand (around $20).

You won't be able to get earwolf quality sound out of this stuff, but [I use it all on my show and it sounds great.] (http://www.futurehorsepod.com/ghostbusters/) I'm the only one using this setup in the episode though. Jackson is in Australia so he used his own stuff.

If you want to throw money at this thing and get the exact sound they have at Earwolf, they're using the Shure sm7b microphone, which usually runs $300-400 bucks and requires much more expensive equipment to run it through.

Hope this helps!

u/Geoff326 · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

I have the M-Audio Keystation 61 and Korg PadKontrol. It looks like the M-Audio 49 key might not be semi-weighted but the M-Audio 61 key that I have is semi-weighted. The benefit of having a separate device for pads is that the pads have the potential to be better quality. The Korg PadKontrol is known to have really good sensitive pads so that they register even if you touch them lightly. Other devices may have pads that require you to push down on them with more force before they register. Having more pads is nice just so that you have access to more samples at once. I'm also glad I went with 61 keys because it's just nicer to have quick access to as many keys possible too. I also use Ableton Live 9.

u/Explodicide · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I have a Novation Remote SL, and I can say that Novation makes a good keyboard, but don't expect those keys to feel like piano keys: they're very light. This can be a good thing, I actually prefer lighter keys for playing very fast runs (rock organ, etc).

For simplicity tho, I recommend starting with something a little cheaper. Look for an M Audio Keystation 61. Here

There's less features, but as a novice you aren't going to be using all the sliders, and the pads on Novations are crap. I never use mine. I prefer using the keyboard to bang in drum patterns too. You'll save a bit of money, I actually think you'll like the keys on the M Audio more than the Novation (I had an older M Audio Oxygen which has the same keybed). If you decide later you want a shitton of knobs, you can sell the keystation and upgrade. That's all part of the process.

As for a drum machine, there are free VST drum instruments that you can use. I recommend starting with software before buying hardware instruments.

u/Arm-the-homeless · 1 pointr/Beatmatch

This is a bit off topic for the subreddit, but I would recommend picking up FL Studio and working through the reference manual and the video tutorial on youtube. The reference manual does a great job of explaining the basics. Plus it also has documentation for the suite of instrument plugins which at least give you a basic understanding of what the different knobs do when you start fiddling with them.

Really once you understand the concepts behind how a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) works, it's just a matter of getting used to a new user interface if you decide to switch. Same goes for instrument/effects plugins. There are different types that each have their strengths and weaknesses but they all essentially start with the same foundation.

If you're actually serious about production I would strongly recommend picking up a midi controller with some assignable knobs/faders as well. It's not absolutely necessary but it makes the entire process a lot easier. The M-Audio Oxygen 49 is a good choice for a starter controller, has a wide assortment of knobs, faders and trigger pads and won't break the bank.

u/Trifax · 2 pointsr/VoiceActing

This would be a super convenient gift/starting point for him: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Studio-GENERATION-Interface/dp/B00AW91CPG

Not a great mic, and I'm not sure how good the headphones are, but that bundle could get him started recording and experimenting right out of the box. Using Garageband or Audacity as a free DAW to work in, it's definitely a starting point. If he really gets the bug for this kind of stuff, he'll need coaching and better equipment. I feel like this is a pretty good investment for just trying things out and making it as easy as possible to just get audio into the computer.

u/bassist_human · 2 pointsr/Bass

I'm not familiar with Massive, but I can help with getting your bass signal to your pc.

As a first option, there are 1/4" guitar USB devices sold expressly for this purpose. Behringer makes the cheapest one I know of: Behringer UCG-102. Ran across it while looking for a general purpose USB audio interface, but I didn't buy it because of the reviews complaining about the drivers. There's a $30 Mac cable I've seen used, too, but I don't know if anyone has PC or linux drivers for it. There are a lot of others, most of which start around $100 that I've seen. The Native Instruments one runs several hundred $$, I think.

I have a cheap jerry-rigged method that suits my needs, though. If you have a desktop pc, a DI pedal, or a better soundcard than usual, you might be able to do something like this more easily, but this is what I threw together one day after picking up the ground-isolator and USB audio interface for other purposes:

1/4"-to-3.5mm adapter into the headphone-out of amp, then a 3.5mm-to-RCA converter on top of that. Ground-loop-isolator (mine has RCA inputs and outputs, hence the converters) from that into the USB audio interface. I'm using the Behringer UCA-222. The interface connects to the PC via USB, or course.

Two things worth noting: 1) you'll probably want to install "ASIO4ALL" drivers to decrease latency times on this or similar USB audio interfaces and 2) you may not need a ground loop isolator, depending on your hardware. I'm using a laptop in this setup, and if it's plugged in then there's some interference. Easy way to check: while the pc's plugged in, if you can output your pc's audio to the Line In on your amp without hearing static, you probably don't need a ground loop isolator.

Hope that helps.

u/dragoth13 · 1 pointr/buildapcforme
Looking at the responses you've gotten so far and your need for good recording equipment over and above the need for the PC itself, I've put together another build for you.

This uses a fanless Intel Bay Trail quad-core chip. It's not a barnstormer in terms of performance, but you can't get any quieter than fanless. It includes a fanless power supply and a 5400RPM laptop hard drive (I'm still not convinced that recording to an SSD is a good idea -- mine introduces an unacceptable amount of jitter into the recording, even with low bitrates) to keep it as quiet as possible.

Size is also reduced. This is about the smallest you can make a build-it-yourself PC. 8.5" on a side, 2.5" tall.

I've included a USB ADC (analog-to-digital converter) with XLR inputs, phantom power and hardware gain control alongside your previous selection of the Shure SM94 instrument mic. I have an SM94 and it should work well for your application (it tends to be a bit bright for guitar or winds, but strings should work nicely with it).

I also included a mic stand with boom arm, as proper mic position is essential to capturing the correct character of the instrument.

The only thing I didn't include was an optical drive, but you mentioned looking for an external USB drive. That'll be your best bet here as well.

Let me know if you have any questions.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
Memory | *Team 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory | $56.98 @ OutletPC
Storage | Samsung Spinpoint M9T 2TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive | $108.65 @ Amazon
Other| ASRock Q1900B-ITX Celeron J1900 quad-core CPU + Motherboard (Bay Trail) | $72.00
Other| Mini-Box M-350 Universal Mini-ITX Case w/ 80W PicoPSU | $70.00
Other| Shure SM94 Instrument Mic | $180.00
Other| ART USB Dual Pre XLR ADC | $80.00
Other| Samson Mic Stand w/ Boom | $20.00
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $587.63
| *Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria |
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-16 10:21 EST-0500 |
u/benjammin515 · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Not sure if this post/question will go unseen or not since im a few days late but I am currently working on a small home set up. I bought the Scarlett 2i4, which I love and am running through Logic. I also bought an MXL770 and a SM57. I have been running them both for music and a podcast (just doing 1:1 test interviews right now). I am considering expanding so that I can have 4 mics set up for the podcast. So here is my question: I need to upgrade my Scarlett 2i4 to something with 4 inputs, I am looking at the Scarlett 18i8 (which I know I’ll like because I’m familiar with it) but I could save some money with the Tascam US-4x4. Does anyone here have any advice about these or other recommendations?


Second Question: I am now exploring new mics for the podcast. I like the MXL770 but I am now looking at the AudioTechnica AT2020. Does anyone have any advice about which I should go with?


Thank you!

u/supermonkeyball64 · 1 pointr/livesound
  1. Okay! I actually already have one of those products for output of the sound to the players through the gamepad of the Wii U (it has an aux out on it I send to the headphone amp to then send to two different speakers with optional headsets hooked up to the speaker). Looks like I should pick up one more!

  2. With the alternative option, would a Focus Scarlett 2i2 be able to produce what you said? I already own it as it has been my setup for the past year. I literally might have to draw a diagram of what you said to confirm I understand what you wrote out by the way. haha. (I'd just plug the USB in to the computer for simply power I'd assume).

  3. Thanks! I will definitely just continue to be curious and look into everything I can!

    I guess this is my last two questions (for now).

    What USB Mixer do you recommend at my price point ($300 with tax max)? So far the two options I've looked at were the Mackie I listed before and then the Behringer Xenyx X2222USB. I actually am leaning towards the Behringer right now since it has an Earth Loop function (I've had troubles with that on my Focusrite sometimes) and it seems to have more options with outputs and such. If you have any other suggestions for another USB Mixer, what I should be looking for, and just general assesments and recommendations I'd definitely love to hear it. If I have any further questions that come up later, can I DM you?
u/puppetlifemusic · 1 pointr/musicians

not sure if you know enough about his process, but you have pretty much one decision to make: do you wanna get a keyboard with fewer keys and more knobs/sliders/drum pads, or more keys and fewer knobs? If you want more knobs, the Akai MPK mini MKII is a great option. If you want more keys, M-Audio Keystation 49. For something in between, Alesis V49. Good luck!

u/RabidCorgi2 · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

Thank you Petravita for the feedback. I have a Focusrite Scarlett mic [amazon link here] (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Studio-Interface-Recording/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1522369658&sr=1-3&keywords=scarlett+studio+microphone) that I got from a friend. I was just holding it in my hand because I don't have a pop filter or proper stand. I also live in a 235sq foot apartment so I have to stay quiet which is a huge bummer sense I LOVE YELLING. Thanks for your offer on mixing help, and i'll get back to you about that if I can't get the vocals sounding right on the next song. Thanks again!

u/amiriacentani · 1 pointr/ffxiv

It depends on what you want aim for in terms of quality. If you want a cheap but sufficient interface (what you plug instruments and mics into) then go for a line 6 ux1 or ux2.

http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798017&sr=8-1&keywords=line6+ux1

http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX2/dp/B001EKECC2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798017&sr=8-2&keywords=line6+ux1

For a microphone, there's a bit more searching involved. I don't have experience with a huge variety of mics but the 2 that I know work really well are the Shure sm7b and the MXL 4000.

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM7B-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002E4Z8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798231&sr=8-1&keywords=shure+sm7b

http://www.amazon.com/MXL-4000-Multi-Pattern-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001REGEF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798319&sr=8-1&keywords=mxl+4000

The Shure SM57 is also pretty good but is usually used on instruments more so than vocals but that doesn't mean it can't get the job done well

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRST/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798383&sr=8-1&keywords=sm57.

If you want to hear the interface and the Shure sm7b in action, check out some of the stuff I've recorded before. Used to be into recording my old band a lot. I assure you it doesn't sound like it was recorded in a tin can: https://soundcloud.com/herpyderpypuddingpie/worldacousticmaster (and yes, i already know you love my soundcloud channel name) (oh and ignore the horrible acoustic guitar tone. this was before I figured out that recording them DI wasn't all that great of a solution)

u/pier25 · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

The 58 and 57 are dynamic mics. You want condenser mics that can capture the finest details. Even a cheap condenser mic would be much better than a super expensive dynamic one.

Do you already have the zoom?

Because if you don't, I'm sure you'd get better quality preamps and DA converters with something like the ART Dual pre connected to a smartphone (or a tablet) which you probably already have. It works with iOS devices using a converter and some Android devices with Lollipop and up using a super cheap OTG cable.

u/pokemansplease · 1 pointr/buildapc

You could probably save money and get a nice 500W-ish PSU, or even less if you don't get a GPU right away.

Also, if you really are focusing on purely music and would be willing to wait until you've used the computer to decide if you want to game, you can skip the GPU and use integrated graphics to save money for music gear or an amp and DAC.

Another thing I would suggest is a decent entry level AMP and DAC so you get the best sound quality out of your system as that is the focus of your computer. The Shiit Stack or an o2+ ODAC are pretty strong and should be all you need.

Links to the two parts of the Schiit stack:
http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-0702-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00SCBKPW2

http://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Converter/dp/B00SCCSJVA/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=18TXBGN59CV103H6WKTB

u/georgetd · 1 pointr/Guitar

It sounds like you have things hooked up in a way that might work, but clearly you're still clipping. You could try plugging into a line-in, but if you have a laptop you probably don't have one.

I don't like to send people off to go buy gear if they don't absolutely have to, especially not people with $80 to their name. But, if you really want to record, it looks like you'll have to purchase something. Exactly what you want to get depends on how good a recording you want to make. The absolute low end of the spectrum is a Behringer Guitar-to-USB Interface. The interface itself is supposed to be pretty good, but the software not so much.

u/Vorantis · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I've been loving the Alesis V49. The keys are very satisfying to play, I've spent hours at a time playing around on it. It's also got some knobs you can map to a plugin so you can adjust cutoff, res, etc while you play and a drum pad if you're interested in that. I would recommend checking eBay if you're interested; I was able to get mine new for $115 from this seller.

u/thetroubleis · 3 pointsr/Guitar

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it. Currently I am looking at an I5 with 8 gig ram ssd 500gig + 2 tb 7200rpm drive. Some low end graphics card, do I need to consider sound card at all? What specific audio interface would you recommend for $300 or less? I found this one and seems like it would fit the bill, I am a big fan of Yamaha for value. Again, thank you for your input.

Edit: I found this [focusrite 6i6 card] does it fit the bill? (http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-6i6-Interface-Preamps/dp/B00CP4IIJY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1414220118&sr=8-3&keywords=focusrite+scarlett)

u/notta-bot · 1 pointr/synthesizers

Sure thing! I use a usb-c hub out of the the op-z and then a usb1 to midi cable and send that out to the in of a 4 way midi splitter, and connect all the devices to that. The op-1 needs a midi usb converter, I’m using hobbytronics which works great. I then just set the proper channels (op-z sends out ch 1 kick, ch 2 snare, etc) on the devices. Also, make sure you have the midi out enabled for the OP-Z via the iOS app.

AUKEY USB C Hub with SD/TF Card Reader + 3 USB 3.0 Ports, USB C Adapter Ultra Slim for MacBook Pro 2017/2016, Huawei MateBook, Chromebook Pixel and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0772THNWQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HPozCb81V0P12

USB IN-OUT MIDI Cable Converter, LiDiVi Professional Piano Keyboard to PC/Laptop/Mac MIDI Adapter Cord for Home Music Studio - 6.5Ft https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KLC884/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BOozCbXB72KQQ

MIDI Solutions Quadra 4-Output MIDI Thru Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002GH8X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DQozCbBD448P5

http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/usb-midi-converter

Hope that helps. Let me know of any other questions.

By the way if you have a keystep Pro, it works great w op-z for Midi and clock I/O with one usb mini - usb c cable. And power! Portable!

u/th12teen · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

I have the Scarlett 2i2 and two AT2020s, totaling $350 in mics and interface. The 2i2 retails at $150, so you're only dropping $50 on the mics. This would get you up and recording for $200 flat, and then you can upgrade your mics later, without losing out too much money. If you're just getting started, this is not a bad way to go. However, I would recommend checking out some of the major audio hardware sales sites as there are other 'official' packages being sold at various price points.

There is the all Focusrite Scarlett bundle at $250 from Sweetwater and the same kit available from Musician's Friend as well as Amazon which includes headphones and a single large diaphragm cardioid mic, though I have heard nobody talk about FR's mics or cans, so look at the reviews to find out how well they perform.

Amazon also has several other packages (including the one in that ebay listing) which include various other mics, mostly entry level, but a few higher end options as well. Some other kits also provide mic stands, pop screens etc.

If you are willing to spend closer to $300 in one go, you can get a full studio setup, but if you are planning recording a solo vocalist with guitar accompaniment, then the package you listed is a good start and all you need to add is mic stands. The third option is what I did, and that is buying your interface, mics, stands, pop filters, etc. all separately but bundled from one etailer to take advantage of the free shipping. Most of these bundles are for convenience and don't offer much in the way of savings. Just do your research and buy a kit that will get you setup for the type of recording you want to do. In the end I opted to build my own package to give my studio the flexibility I wanted, though I had seriously considered these bundles first.

u/OnslaughtSix · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

If you need something longer term and on the cheap, I cannot actually recommend this enough:
https://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-GX/dp/B001EHWD0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1494008904&sr=1-1&keywords=pod+studio+gx

I have the older version of this (called a TonePort GX) but it looks like it's just a rebranding. It has some dope software with pretty decent amp sims in it (I've gotten real used to it over the last decade I've used mine so I have some great sounds that work for what I want). It's basically a low-end interface designed specifically around guitar. I wouldn't necessarily pay $100 for one (for $75 it'd be killer, which is what I paid for for mine) but if you need something to record just guitars long-term and want some good amp sims, I definitely recommend it.

u/finnpuschmann · 2 pointsr/buildmeapc
This is a completely silence optimized gaming / recording rig. I assume you want your computer to be as quiet as possible while recording music.

The Focusrite Scarlet 6i6 is one of the best Audio recording devices within your budget. You really should invest in an external recording sound card if you are serious about music creation (which I assume you are since your are studying it).

As a gaming PC it is also very good. You will be able to play most games at high to max settings @ 1080p/60FPS.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | $209.99 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-U12P SE2 54.4 CFM CPU Cooler | $62.98 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | $99.99 @ Newegg
Memory | GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $62.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $139.99 @ Best Buy
Storage | Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive | $82.45 @ Amazon
Video Card | Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card | $309.99 @ NCIX US
Case | NZXT H230 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ Micro Center
Power Supply | Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 10 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $109.99 @ NCIX US
Case Fan | Noctua NF-P12-1300 54.4 CFM 120mm Fan | $17.92 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Noctua NF-P12-1300 54.4 CFM 120mm Fan | $17.92 @ OutletPC
Other| Focusrite Scarlet 6i6| $249.35
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1423.55
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-09 23:17 EDT-0400 |

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask.
u/draggingalake · 1 pointr/podcasts

Most computers can't deal with 8 USB mics at once, on top of the fact those mics don't work well all in the same room together. I would get a USB XLR mixer and some dynamic mics.

8 people seems like a lot? This mixer goes up to 6 via XLR and is pretty affordable. Behringer is an "affordable" brand.

Speaking of Behringer, these mics are pretty decent for the price. They will slightly pick up others in the room, but nothing a simple gate in post can't fix. I don't know your budget, but if you want to get fancier, you can go with the MXL BCD-1.

I use the Focusrite 18i20, it's way more pricey.


I enjoy using Reaper.FM, it's $79 on both Mac/PC. It can record your software and edit it. I'm on Mac, I record everything with Audio Hijack first, then do my post in Reaper.

If you have more questions, let me know. I can get more specific with other stuff if you care.

u/v_m_ · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

It's kind of hard trying to fit into that budget. I'd suggest saving till you can get a somewhat okay setup. A decent audio interface would be the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 but it's $150.

Might try looking into this:

Interface:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-2-Channel-Portable-Audio-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1425251263&sr=1-1&keywords=m+audio+usb+interface

Mic:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1425251333&sr=1-3&keywords=xlr+condenser

Sorry for the long links. I personally have the AT2020 and I love it as a beginner mic. Just learn to mix okay and you'll be set.

Also if you can't/don't want to buy a pop filter (assuming you have a stand or desktop tripod thing) you can make one out of an old wire coat hanger and some pantyhose (yeah it's kinda weird, but it works okay as well)

Hope I could help.

u/tilldrop · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

This is correct. Note though, that there are quite a few very, very good free software instruments available on the internet, while the software that comes with these controllers usually are more of a demo version. Therefore, don't weight that argument too much.

Personally, I'm just a fan of full sized keys. And there definitely are some in your price range. Like this Alesis V49 or [this M-Audio one without pads, but at $99] (https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-49-II-Controller/dp/B00IWWZAM6/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1479493057&sr=1-2&keywords=midi%2Bcontroller%2B49&th=1).

Anyways, I'm sure she'll be happy no matter what :)

u/thiccjaffacakes · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

So I think I want to go with a MIDI (I was kinda using keyboard as more of a generic term) and was looking at this one, which seems pretty good, as I believe i've seen quite a few videos now that show that the 61-keys should suffice for what I want it for. It seems from what i've seen from my research that M-Audio is a fairly respected brand and generally puts out a decent product, so they seemed like the best bet for a cheap 61 key MIDI keyboard.



u/Kalzenith · 1 pointr/Cello

Sure! Admittedly the equipment I'm using is all cheap quality, but I figure I can replace components over time as I get better at playing cello. Right now I'd just like to know the cause of the hissing or how I can easily filter it out.

I'm using this Chinese brand cello ("kinglos")

I can't find any information on the built-in pre-amp, but this is it

It leads into this Neewer noise gate

Into this Kustom KXB1 6 inch 10-Watt amp

Then my recording is done with this Nady SP-4C Dynamic Neodymium Microphone

Plugged into this IRig 2 interface

Which leads to my Google Pixel XL Android phone

All of it is connected with these cables

the setup looks kind of like this

And here's a quick audio sample (please excuse the horrible playing, I haven't been at this very long)

u/PrisonerOfMyWays · 2 pointsr/Rockband

I use the exact same setup as you! Here's what you need:

  1. The Rock Band MIDI Pro Adapter

  2. The USB-MIDI cable that plugs into the e-kit

  3. A USB to MIDI conversion cable

    Do what that other user said and download MIDI-OX. Plug your drums into your PC via USB. Don't cheap out on the USB to MIDI converter-- the $9 generic/cheap foreign ones on Amazon might be tempting, but none of them worked for this setup when I tried. I finally caved and bought a nice $30 one from Guitar Center and it works flawlessly. Plug one end of it into your PC, and plug the MIDI end marked "MIDI out" into the Rock Band MIDI Pro Adapter, which in turn plugs into the console through USB. So essentially, it goes drums-->PC-->USB to MIDI cable-->Pro Adapter-->console.

    Power up the drums and open MIDI-OX before turning on the console. Go to Options--> MIDI Devices, select "e-drums" as the input, and your USB to MIDI cable as the output (different ones are labeled differently, but it'll likely have USB in the name). The program will remember these settings so you only need to do it once as long as you remember to plug everything in before opening MIDI-OX. Power on your console and you're good to go! I'm extremely surprised how well it works. I don't even need to change my calibration at all!

    Edit: here's the USB to MIDI converter I use:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO5IRSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_D.sFybT0WPZEQ
u/Fraude · 1 pointr/qatar

You are talking about one of the single most frustrating things in Qatar. Or not in Qatar as the case is here. I just went on the hunt for those exact same items and came up empty handed. It turns out that Amazon and an Aramex account was the best option.


There is one store that has a (single) USB audio interface, but wanted over QR4000 for it. Don't remember the brand. They might have some decent headphones there as well, but I stopped looking once I decided to just order it all from Amazon.

Al Badi Music Store:
From the corniche with the water on your left, turn up the street at the stop light directly across from the Museum of Islamic Art. I think there's a QNB on the corner. At the 2nd roundabout, look for the red sign.

Honestly though, your best bet will most likely be ordering online and having Aramex deliver it here. I think it was about a week between the time I ordered it and when I picked it up. A Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 if you're curious :-)

u/MouthfulOfWasps · 3 pointsr/BedroomBands

Hello mate!

From an absolutely newbie point of view looking to record some vocals and a guitar can EASILY be done by 'just plugging it in and starting to record.'

You need a Laptop which you have, some software like Audacity (which is free) some headphones, and a microphone.

The microphone you posted requires an audio interface with phantom power which will cost you somewhere between 50-100. Considering its not a very good microphone I would recommend looking at either:

USB microphones for ease of setup, no additional hardware needed like this-

https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-FIFINE-Computers-Podcasting-K670/dp/B079HRFH2Y/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1538688598&sr=8-10&keywords=usb+microphone

OR

A bundle with everything you would need to be a bit more serious like this-

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Studio-Interface-Recording/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1538688671&sr=8-10&keywords=microphone+bundle

There can be more complications if for example you want to record a podcast in the same room to the same laptop.

Those links I posted are examples, not recommendations. If you can give some more information on your likely setup, your laptop specs, any software you've used before, any other hardware you have (like headphones), your budget etc... I'm sure someone could give you a better answer/recommendation.

u/dukeofpizza · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I have this set and its absolutely great, crystal clear audio in games. Picked it up to try and get into podcasting. I've also upgraded to a pair of Sennheiser HD 598s and they are wonderful, sound great through the Focusrite interface.

If you just need a cheap budget mixer for a few mics and game input I would look at this.

u/SuingTheCourts · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

Alright, so the reason you shouldn't buy it is because the drum pads aren't remappable and the default mapping is really odd.

That means that you can't play all the drum samples unless you remap the samples to the notes that the pads play.


It also removes one of the biggest benefits of drum pads over regular keys, which is the layout. Since the mapping is all fucked up, pad nr. 5 in this pic won't play off the sample !Snare 15 in this pic.


Not only that, but the pads are riggid as hell. You can't just groove out, because you need quite a bit of force to push them down.


The rest of the keyboard is alright though. The keys are synth action (light to the touch) and feel pretty good to play on. The keyboard looks great too.

I'd still recommend going for a Nektar Impact or an M-Audio Keystation (semi weighted) instead.

u/Jakomako · 1 pointr/buildapc

To properly record multiple simultaneous instruments, you'll want a USB audio interface. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-6i6-Interface-Preamps/dp/B00CP4IIJY

Everything else will sound like garbage compared to a good USB interface.

The PC itself doesn't even matter all that much. You'd be fine with an i3 and 8GB of RAM, though a more powerful setup would certainly be nice.

u/Aaennon · 2 pointsr/headphones

Hello guys, I'm looking to acquire a new pair of headphones, I've been eyeing Beyerdynamic DT 770s, Senn HD598 and AKG K701/702 but the problem is I cannot afford to buy a soundcard alongside the headphones, so I have a few questions :

  1. Are the DT 770 in 32 ohm any good? Comparable to the 80 ohm version?

  2. Would it be worth using HD598s on my computer motherboard?

  3. I have an audio interface used for guitar recording that has a 3.5mm output, I've tried plugging my current headphones on it and they can get noticeably louder through it, would it be enough beef to handle the aforementioned cans? (Current headphones are Razer Blackshark, 29 ohm)

    I'd want cans that I can use for both gaming and music (although music is more important at the moment as I primarily play CS:GO and the sound engine on this game is pretty awful anyway)

    I hope I don't sound too stupid with those questions, I know very little about this subject
u/MactheDog · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Lets talk about what /r/guitar has against it.

  • It's inconvenient and a lot of work to set up, most of us don't have computer and gear we can devote 100% to home studio use.

  • Its loud, neighbors, housemates, family etc...

  • The equipment to record is much more expensive.

  • With modeling software you can easily experiment with an endless amount of effects and you can apply them after you record.

    If you have thousands worth of gear and a properly setup home studio, awesome, mic away and make a professional sounding track. If you'd like to demo a few things, then for $30 you can be playing into your computer in 5 minutes.

    Edit to add a video that illustrates my point perfectly.
u/videoscott · 3 pointsr/telecaster

It seems like the fear of "performing" in public is really going to be a stumbling block for you to do what's most important, and that's to concentrate on feeling the guitar in your hands while playing. As others have said, the difference in pickups will be minimal in your price range, and at your level. So, get a portable headphone amplifier. Vox makes a range of them for about $40 each. Or, you could get a similar knockoff at Monoprice for as little as $8. Or, for that same $40, you could get yourself an iRig2, use your phone as a portable stompbox, and almost certainly get better quality than either of the above, with multiple amp models and effects in software. The advantages are several, as you can now feel comfortable jamming away at full volume (to you), while no one more than 6 feet away has a clue what you're playing. Bring your own short patch cable and picks, and there's no waiting for a salesman to plugin to an amp for you, then hover nearby whilst you noodle, making you nervous. You can now feel confident in saying "I've got a portable rig I'm going to plug into, thanks". Even pro-level musicians might have a phone or tablet rig they use to sketch up ideas, or when traveling. Feel free to look annoyed if you have to remove your headphones/earbuds, and/or ask for time to yourself. Then, go off into your own little world, play the heck out of those girls, and fall in love. You'll know the right one when you meet her. Or feel her up for the first time. Getting creepy now - better stop.

u/JesuitPeriwinkle · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

You probably don't absolutely need the Cloudlifter unless you find you absolutely need more gain. Don't buy it right away, use your microphone and if you find you need more gain, you can always add it to your setup later.

As far as SM7 alternatives, no one can really give you great advice unless they know what you're using it for and what you're looking for in a microphone.

You do need an audio interface to hook up your microphone to your computer. If you just need to hook up one mic and you're just starting out. A lot of people just use something like the Scarlett 2i2

Obviously you'll need an XLR cable to hook up your mic as well.

u/DevlinRocha · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

I've been looking at more 49 key MIDI's (most of the 49 keyboards don't have drum pads and other essential hip-hop features, for whatever reason, which doesn't leave a lot to choose from... on Amazon at least) and I'd like to get your input one more time between two controllers, one of which you linked earlier. I might make a separate post tomorrow with all the new information and boards I've narrowed it down to.

So, it's between the M-Audio that you linked earlier and this other M-Audio that I found on Amazon. The one on Amazon is slightly more expensive, and they're definitely different, but the pictures make it hard to tell exactly what the differences are. Despite the price, the one you linked actually seems nicer tho, would you agree?

They seem to literally be the only 49 key controllers I can find on Amazon within my price range that are suited for hip-hop production. Everything else is either $300+ or made for another genre, unless you have any other suggestions. I'm curious why 25 key controllers seem to have much more options to choose from for hip-hop than 49 key.

u/COLDVOID · 1 pointr/BlackMetal

Well if you like the sound all I use is a rockband mic for vocals, guitar running through a Digitech Black-13 peddle that goes straight to my PC with a guitar to USB. lol About as cheap as you can get. I would personally rather mic a good amp to get feedback and use an nice interface for everything but,I don't have on available at the moment. So you can get by with the cheapest stuff possible but, Id say pick up a recording interface and some mics. You can get bundles pretty cheap. Something like this to start out maybe.

u/Janununuh · 2 pointsr/audio

You certainly can go cheaper than that. You’re just plugging in a mic/guitar/headphones yeah? If so you can use pretty much any USB interface with 2 inputs. Should be around $100

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07664LMPQ/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074F2V6VJ/?th=1&psc=1

That’s your best option, the cheapest option would be to continue using your Yamaha mixer, and to connect the LINE OUT from the mixer to your computer using a cheap USB converter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/

u/hamburglin · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I'm in the market for an audio interface. Ideally I'd like 4-8 xlr/trs inputs and equal outputs over usb. I simply want to hook up a few guitars, my vdrums and other things to it and record them all at once with their own tracks into the DAW. I'm hoping for a price below $200. This is mostly for fun in the apartment with friends.

For the price, the best things I've found are these:

behringer umc404 with 4 in and 4 out for $150

focusrite 6i6 with 6 in/out but only two xlr/trs combo prots for $250. Inr eality 4 in and out minus the spdif.

Akalai eie pro with 4 xlr/trs combo in/out at $250

The behringer does what I want plus has effect plugins in the back. Why is it $100 dollars cheaper than the next two? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important before I make my purchase.

u/Obel34 · 2 pointsr/podcasting

Seeing how we only have a single guest on our show, I use an iRig. I give them my phone number and they call in.

The call routes directly from my iPhone into DAW and outputs into our headphones. This also allows each of us, (three hosts), to talk to them directly as well. The quality of the call is amazing and one of the best purchases I've ever made audio wise.

u/Gnalvl · 3 pointsr/synthesizers

You want a midi interface of some sort. This can range from a small box with multiple in/out ports, or a cable like this: https://www.amazon.com/iConnectivity-mio-1-out-MIDI-Interface/dp/B00CO5IRSG/

The Mio is the cheapest option I'd recommend; I recently heard from someone else that they tried a bunch of cheaper chinese conversion cables before the Mio, and none of them worked.

Once connected, you go to Options>Midi in FL Studio, and the midi interface will appear as a device there. So you select it and assign it a port number (let's say port #1 for these purposes). Then in your instruments panel, you click click then select insert>midi>Midi Out. Then on the Midi Out, you change the port number to match the desire device (i.e. port #1) and then whenever you select the midi out "instrument" your keyboard will play the Volca as if it's a plugin in FL.

Granted, you won't hear your Volca in the DAW's audio stream on your computer unless it's connected via an audio interface. But if you have headphones or speakers plugged into the Volca's audio/headphone out, you can still play and hear it that way.

u/matthewleonard07 · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Reaper:
http://www.reaper.fm/
Scarlett 2i2:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H4W34WW?psc=1
Some decent head phones :
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485141349&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=akg+m50

If you dont really need or plan to do much mixing then you can skip the headphones i would assume

for the scarlett stick with the second gen bc the first gen cannot record di guitars without a di box, may have been fixed sense I owned mine.

After that web has a tone of free plugins from everything to guitars to effetcs and most of them are pretty awesome. The stock plugins will also work very well for what you are doing.
Also im assuming by live you mean direct, if not then you would need a mic. maybe a 57 depending.

u/thinkythought · 3 pointsr/apple

as someone who records a lot with a macbook, no. you'd at least want one with a flexible cable between the two plugs so you don't put too much load on your jack.. and that wouldn't give you a good recording anyways.

you want something like this or this or even something tiny like this

when spend money when an adaptor would at least get you connected? because you really do need some sort of preamp, and what garageband does is cheat by amping up the signal a lot in software.

this gets you a lot of hiss, noise, and a low quality recording. the SNR is shit.

a couple friends recorded a few serious studio-quality tracks with that bigger line 6 interface. nothing super fancy either gear wise. just guitars/bass, and a cheap mic in a shoe in front of an acoustic. and it sounded great. i've never heard a good recording just with an adaptor in to garage band though. synths, maybe some cheaper mics that don't need phantom power.. but not a guitar.

you also have the advantage of having a mac, on which all of the aforementioned interfaces just work. no drivers, no fucking around. preferences menu and you're ready to go. it might seem like a lot of money for something to which an adaptor is a potential solution, but it's worth it. and these things are cheap used. i got the big audiogram for $100 on craigslist, and i think a friend got his for $50 or so. check pawn shops and stuff too.

u/Spritzo · 1 pointr/Twitch

I don't necessarily think your on-board audio card would be causing noise. It's most likely your microphone. If it's a headset you're most likely going to get noise from it.

If you're planning on switching over to an audio interface to attempt to reduce the noise, go with an XLR microphone as well. The audio interface might let you set a noise gate and also control the gain, but it won't be able to eliminate everything the headset is picking up.

I currently use this microphone:
Studio Projects B1

and I use this audio interface:
M-Audio M-Track

I used the Blue Snowball a while ago, but it still picked up too much noise for my liking. So I went with something I knew would not pick up nearly as much noise. I also use a Korg D3200 mixer, which isn't necessary, but it allows for voice effects and further fine tuning.

TL;DR: If you're going to switch to an audio interface, get an XLR microphone to use with it. It'll eliminate noise and provide a much cleaner and stronger sound in your voice.

u/Arve · 1 pointr/audiophile

You're typically looking for an USB audio interface with line inputs, such as this (I have the older version of that, and have been very happy with it)

As a bonus: It's also a pretty good DAC, so you could possibly sell your Magni to offset the extra cost

u/randyman18 · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

I don’t have much to offer about PC building, but I come from an audio engineering background. Don’t invest in a fancy internal sound card. You will likely wind up using an external audio interface which has AD and DA conversion built in. I would personally recommend Universal Audio Arrow or something like a Focusrite Solo. These will out perform many internal sound cards as they are designed for music production.

Edit: I see you are interested in 7.1. I would recommend still an external pro level interface with quarter inch over a sound card with 8th inch adapters. Check out the Focusrite 8x8

u/KINGCLVN · 1 pointr/maschine

I do not have an audio interface yet, but the Scarlett FocusRite looks promising for a beginner. The solo is $100 and the studio is like $150:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Z0WyybSDD32PH

You can also get the bundle (which I might purchase for myself as a late Christmas present), which comes with a mic and headphones. The solo version is $180, and the studio one is $220:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface and Recording Bundle with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_81WyybVE24PKK

Not sure how great the mic and/or headphones are, but it's a pretty good deal if you need all 3.

u/TheGeminiMaverick · 2 pointsr/FL_Studio

ll Personally I’ve had wonderful experiences with M-Audio Midi devices. But keep in mind, I’m a pianist so I like to use weighted or semi-weighted keys to simulate an actual piano feel - which GREATLY improves the performance of your playing style. Those types of devices are a bit more expensive - if the weighted keys are not a factor for you, then this model is excellent: M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV | 49-Key USB MIDI Keyboard



u/Neramis · 1 pointr/Twitch

Well the blue yeti plugs in through usb so there is very little setup to do and it has a mute button on the front.
If you want a proper setup then you really need a proper microphone (that doesn't connect straight to your pc but to an audio interface, but honestly this is overkill imho), in this case you could just get something like a bundle like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=twister_B06WWQP2YN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 which would really step up your game.
I would honestly just go for the audio technicas, less trouble with the setup.

u/spookytus · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I'm not the best for advice since my primary use is for composing (I was raised on guitar rather than piano), but I'd go with something like the Nektar Impact LX49 or the Launchkey 49 Mk2.

Personally, I'd go with the Oxygen 49 since it's 6 pounds instead of 9. Again, I'm probably not going to be much help since I'm saving for a keyboard workstation that has to do double time as a live performance tool.

If you really want help, gearank.com has decent recommendations for just about everything.

u/jpellizzi · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Since you're not going to be recording much, you can get something pretty minimal. You're mostly just going to be using it for monitoring.

Focusrite makes solid gear, and it's pretty cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405217219&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+interfaces

and M-Audio has one even cheaper:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405217219&sr=8-4&keywords=audio+interfaces

Edit - just saw the other responses. Looks like the Focusrite is the way to go. Also I concur with and highly recommend Sennheiser HD 280's for headphones.

u/DragonAite · 1 pointr/Guitar

I'm similar to you, OP. I use amplitube 3 through Logic Pro X. I actually love it. My question is, how important is the interface? I have a pretty cheap, $40 interface, does it make a huge difference? Should I invest in a more expensive one?

EDIT: Here's a link to my interface, in case anyone was wondering.
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCG102-BEHRINGER-GUITAR-LINK/dp/B000PAPO9W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1457459185&sr=8-4&keywords=guitar+usb+interface

u/post_ultra · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I'd recommend reading up on how MIDI works, because all of this setup is really basic once you understand it. But, for a short crash course, here's how it works.

MIDI can be sent and received on more than one "channel" (most devices support up to 16 channels). So, even with one signal chain, as you're describing in your post, you can send individual MIDI to each instrument.

So it works like this. You have Ableton set up with MIDI tracks for each external instrument. Each of those tracks can be set up to send data over a specific MIDI channel. So, lets say you have 3 MIDI tracks set to send on channel 1 for track 1, channel 2 for track 2, and channel 3 for track 3.

Then, take your MIDI out from your interface and chain it to all of your devices. This is the only tricky part, as some external gear doesn't have MIDI thru (which is what allows MIDI data to come in and be sent back out of a hardware instrument). Usually you can get around this by chaining them the right way, i.e. if you have an instrument without a thru port, just put it last in the chain.

So, we have a MIDI cable connecting each of our instruments, set up like this:

> Interface > Hardware #1 > Hardware #2 > Hardware #3.

Now, remember those MIDI tracks we set up in Ableton, the ones each sending to a different channel? Now we just configure each piece of hardware to accept MIDI data from only ONE of those channels. Therefore, MIDI track #2 controls whichever piece of hardware is set up to receive messages on MIDI channel 2. This way, you can send individualized MIDI data to every instrument simultaneously.

Fyi, you can do this with your Scarlett interface, the only problem you may run into is running out of audio inputs to bring the actual audio into your computer (which you can solve by getting a larger interface). Remember, MIDI is not SOUND, it's just messages telling the instrument producing the sound what to do.

Now, a MIDI Thru box (like this) simplifies that task by letting you connect all your devices directly from that box, without having to chain them through multiple instruments. The MIDI still works exactly the same way, but you reduce your chance to have latency issues, i.e. data being slow to get to each instrument. However, unless you're running a lot of external instruments at the same time, chaining MIDI using the thru ports should be just fine.

Hope this helps!

EDIT: Actually, you're Scarlett doesn't have any MIDI ports, so it can't send MIDI data, but that Behringer will do the trick.

u/adish · 2 pointsr/buildastudio

You can go for something like this or this, i think both might be great for beginners (focusrite is probably a better interface but presonus comes with studio one which is a great DAW)

EDIT: focusrite came out with a 2nd gen of that interface/bundle

u/shab1b1 · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I know that a lot of streamers use the audio technica microphones so here's one. There is also the Blue Yeti. In terms of budget microphones, there is the Blue Snowball and the CAD u37. You also might want to consider an audio interface as well. Here's an excellent combo, cause its awesome.

u/prohitman · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Hey man - you may want to look at is the Alesis V line of MIDI controllers. This one is $130. I've got a VI49, which is from the slightly more advanced line they make. I'm no piano player, but I personally really like it and think it provides really good value for what you get.

They have two problems though, one minor and one major. The minor problem is that they often have squeaky keys - but this is really not a big deal at all and doesn't affect playability. The major problem with them is that their velocity sensors are kinda wonky. You can play two notes with pretty much the same amount of applied pressure and the volume will swing around more than it should. It is possible to squash the velocity curve a bit though, which imo makes it passable. But just beware if you think you may have a problem with that down the line. They make a 25-key version too if you really really want the smaller size, at which point you could upgrade to the VI version and only be a bit over budget.

They have pitch and mod wheels, as well as a set of pretty decent pads that can be linked to drum samples. It also has a few extra buttons and knobs that can be linked to other samples and settings. So it should meet your basic criteria, plus a little extra.

u/a_baby_coyote · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

People seem to get a lot out of this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374601523&sr=8-1&keywords=focusrite+scarlett+2i2

And I've heard good things about this:
http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Onyx-Blackjack-Recording-Production/dp/B003VZG550/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1374601565&sr=1-1&keywords=mackie+onyx+blackjack

I personally use this, and have gotten a lot out of the pod farm amp modelling program:
http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1374601587&sr=1-1&keywords=pod+ux1

Not shilling for amazon, just easiest place for me to grab links.

You can get Guitar Rig or some freeware for amp modelling if you don't go with the pod ux1. The pod has worked well for me and has no noticeable latency and records to Ableton just fine (although all should). Serves my purposes great.

u/cacotigon · 1 pointr/podcasts

It's funny you mention this, a friend of mine was just telling me that I should just forego a mixer and buy a Focusrite 18i8 and plug directly into my computer and then I can do multitrack into Audacity.

I mean really when it comes down to it, I just want to make sure I can get a good warm sound from 3-4 people around a table each with a "relatively" inexpensive dynamic mic, and to minimize hiss/background noise as much as possible.

What do you think?



u/TreMorNZ · 1 pointr/FL_Studio

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Ultra-Portable-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2

This is quite popular for beginners since it offers a few controls as well as drum pads and a small keyboard. It’s intended for portable use, so most studios would have a larger keyboard, such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Oxygen-49-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWU2CBA

I would definitely recommend trying the Imageline Remote app first, since it’s free. Touch doesn’t give the same nice physical feedback as a physical control knob, but it’s definitely usable, especially on an ipad or phone with a bigger screen.

u/BarnacleBoi · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I agree! Other people with Tascam interfaces are having driver issues. Luckily I just found an M-Audio interface that's cheap, has good reviews, and is plug and play so I don't have to download or update drivers!

u/joshontheweb · 2 pointsr/zencastr

For what it's worth, you could record two people on one end using Zencastr but they would both be on the same track which isn't ideal. You could do this by having them share a microphone or by plugging 2 mics into into your interface (it should get mixed to to a mono track for recording purposes).

As you mentioned, the difficult part is making sure everyone can hear. There are interfaces that have 2 headphone monitor jacks. This one looks like it would do the trick.

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-6i6-Interface-Preamps/dp/B00CP4IIJY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1458211811&sr=8-5&keywords=focusrite+interface

Using this you could have them both recorded on using separate mics (but on the same track) and they would both be able to hear the other callers as well. They would the callers on the other end via zencastr and hear each other by monitoring the input to the interface.

You could record the output from the interface into your zoom.

Another option would be to have them use zencastr normally on separate computers even though they are in the same place. You would have to watch out that they weren't picking up each others voices on their respective mics.

EDIT: A lot of this depends on what gear you have or are willing to buy. If you want to do a call I can hear what your setup is and maybe offer some more pertinent advice. Ping me anytime on Skype (username: somethingcoded).

u/Sleeper256 · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Hey thanks for the answer (and I have no internet so I have to go to the library to use it which is why I'm so delayed on responses) but are you saying that I have to buy ANOTHER piece of gear just to make the first piece of gear that I have work the way it's supposed to???

And my guitar is an Epiphone SG, if that matters at all

Here's the preamp I have http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6

It has mic/guitar switch and phantom power, and plugs into the USB. When I plug the guitar in, the input is "guitar" and phantom power is off. When I use a condensor mic, it's on mic and phantom power is on. I also have to turn the gain up a little more than 3/4 on the mic to get a good signal

u/farski · 2 pointsr/podcasting

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPCJI2C
That would a pretty good choice and, given your original budget, doable. There are likely cheaper options that would be fine as well, though, if you're really trying to minimize costs.

u/DZCreeper · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Sound Card = Not knowing what actually makes audio good.

Get a Digital Analog Converter, DAC for short.

https://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Converter/dp/B00SCCSJVA - Pretty much the best DAC that money can buy unless you have the budget to startup an entire recording studio.

u/-MjD- · 1 pointr/edmproduction

If you want something small, then I'd recommend this, which is what I own. If you want something large, take a look at this, which comes in 49 keys, 61 keys, and 88 keys. Good luck! Of course these are just two examples of keyboards that I like, but I hope this helps.

u/onemanshownetwork · 1 pointr/podcasting

There are a few solutions. There is something called a Podcast Hotline Kit, but it's a little finicky with the model mixer. Another good solution is to use an Irig2 and create a mix minus.

u/proxpi · 2 pointsr/Bass

I've got a friend who has one of these for his bass, he's pretty happy with it

u/hollaverga · 8 pointsr/gadgets

Check this out, It does a pretty good job for a pretty low price. And it's easy to keep in your guitar case.

u/C01n_sh1LL · 1 pointr/synthesizers

In a Eurorack system you could use one of these: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/the-harvestman-english-tear

Or you could possibly run USB from the MS-20 Mini to a standalone MIDI host, then run a MIDI cable from the MIDI host's output to MIDI In on the Odyssey: https://www.amazon.com/Midiplus-USB-MIDI-Host-midiplus/dp/B074NGTGHN

Or there are more obscure vintage CV converters but they would be harder to track down. Apparently Korg made such a device over 40 years ago, the MS-02: http://www.cykong.com/Synths/Korg%20MS-02/KorgMS-02.htm

Or if you're good with electronics you could build your own converter. There are schematics out there: http://yusynth.net/images/CS10-EXT.pdf

Or you could use an external MIDI controller keyboard with a MIDI splitter and run 5-pin MIDI to both instruments: https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Solutions-Quadra-4-Output-Thru/dp/B0002GH8X4

Or you could use an external controller which supports both MIDI and CV. Arturia Keystep should be able to do this.

Any solution is going to require an additional piece of gear. I suggested a computer because it's your simplest solution if you already have one.

u/Alkalilee · 2 pointsr/drums

I think it's easier if I just explain what I use.

My drums are mic'ed into the Scarlett 18i20 interface which offers output mixing through its software. I then have my DAW (Reaper) recording while the interface sends the raw signal into a mixer which sits next to the kit (this one). I can then run another output from the PC with the track/click I'm recording to, and mix those two signals accordingly. I then use these in ear monitors which do a good job of blocking out my drums' acoustics and let me listen to just the mix at whatever volume I'm comfortable with.

Pretty simple setup.

u/Brinstakilla · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Hello,
I have an MXL 990 condenser mic currently hooked up to an MXL Mic Mate preamp (really cheap) that I plan on using for live streaming.

My question is: would using a Presonus TubePre v2 Tube Preamplifier DI Box help my sound out enough that its worth getting? Also, would it be worth it to invest in a Line 6 POD Studio UX1 amplifier as well. I'm not entirely sure what either would do for me or if it would even be possible with my mic, and appreciate any input you guys have.

Links to products mentioned:

Line 6 POD Studio UX1

Presonus TubePre v2

MXL 990 Condenser Mic

MXL USB Mic Mate - Preamp and USB Interface

u/Jarmanuel · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

Thanks. I found a used Alesis QX61 for ~$120. You think that's the best bang for my buck that I can get?

EDIT: Also found this. A bit more expensive, but seems higher quality and has semi-weighted keys, and it's only $50 more than the above for new. Doesn't have any/many MIDI knobs, but that's not too important. Also only $10 more for an 88 key version, which seems like but space would be a bit tight. Do you think that's worth it?

u/foreverthewin · 1 pointr/synthesizers

http://amzn.com/B00CO5IRSG This or any iConnectivity one would be my recommendation because I've used a lot of this brand and it's always great, but that Tbox thing looks pretty awesome too!
Edit: pasted wrong link first.

u/vowdy · 1 pointr/Guitar

Years ago I bought a Line6 toneport Gx for not even €90 which came with some amp-sim software called Podfarm. Then I just used the free program Audacity to record the tracks. It was a cheap and good enough way to make quick demo's especially since you can record multi track in Audacity.


Since then I've stepped over to Reaper + Bias FX and its been a real treat. The Toneport acts like any other USB guitar interface so it works with non-line6 software. And Bias has many people amp-matching their real amps and putting them on the cloud for anyone to use.

u/brennenmoloney · 1 pointr/drums

My bandmate who's going to be doing a lot of production work said that he's willing to drop the cash to get the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20.

How do you think that The Saffire holds up to The Scarlett? It would be great to free up some money to invest in other production gear. Also, how would you rank the quality of your microphones? From my current (and amateur) perspective, those seems like professional quality microphones.

u/HUP · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I used to have the mxl 990, and it's all right for a beginners mic. Don't know about the 991. That monoprice looks like it has a lot of features for $80. Having said that, if I were you I would try these: Audio Technica at2020 with either the monoprice or this. I have the art pre and it works very well. I used to have a pair of 2020s, and they were great at that price.


EDIT: should add that use asio4all with any interface you get.

u/mastermikeee · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Wow. Very well written. Most helpful advice I've ever received on this thread.

Definitely sold on the 2.0 and future sub.

So these speakers

And this amp?

u/spaceshipguitar · 2 pointsr/CasualConversation

I won't speak for him but as someone using a pair of powered Yamaha HS8 studio monitors (8" reference bookshelf speakers) controlled by a scarlet 2i2 audio interface, you don't need a sub, and adding a sub in a room that small, especially an untreated room that small would sound muddy as hell. Great monitors have punchy clean bass and nothing else is needed. For those who's favorite genre is dance / house /dubstep then you'll occasionally hit frequencies that need a sub for the complete low end, but you'd seriously want a larger room to add it in. If you're creating low end dance music then get the sub, if you aren't and your room is small, try a good pair of large studio monitors first (8" is great) and see if thats all you need. Note that there's a huge difference between studio monitors and regular old bookshelf computer speakers. If you're not making music than you don't need studio monitors, they're just handy for hearing things exactly as they are without coloration so you can mix it properly.

u/pixel_juice · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

I use a "Thru box" similar to this.

http://www.midisolutions.com/prodthr.htm

I know the MS-20 Mini is hardwired for MIDI channel 1. I don't know about the Volca's midi implementation, but as long as you can change the MIDI channel on the Volca something like that would work.

EDIT: Here is a nice one on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Solutions-Quadra-4-Output-Thru/dp/B0002GH8X4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419974222&sr=8-1&keywords=MIDI+thru+box

u/Chilly_Kazilly · 1 pointr/abletonlive

yes, If you dont have an interface with an instrument port than you can buy this device for pretty cheap if you shop around. I got mine for $20 and it works great, sometimes there is a little bit of a delay though.

u/Decesus · 2 pointsr/FL_Studio

For a lot of midi keyboards, the most you'll need is a USB cable which, if it doesn't come with one, are a dime a dozen. Worst case it will also need a power adapter and it should come with one if it needs it.

As far as keyboards go, I highly recommend starting with a 49 key controller. The extra octaves are really helpful and give you more freedom when playing and fucking around. I found this one on amazon that seems to have what you're looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Oxygen-49-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWU2CBA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1484448319&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_feature_ten_browse-bin%3A9316886011

u/LolFishFail · 0 pointsr/letsplay

XLR all day, I've literally got my stuff on order after doing tons of research all day. Amazon is the primary shopping place.

I've got an Electro Voice RE-320 Microphone on it's way and I think the Scarlett 2i2 interface is the best.


For the very beginners, getting used to the XLR set up, I'd recomment this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AW91CPG

This video will get you started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtlOodL16Tc
(Immediately you'll hear the mic quality is better than any USB.)

u/kloyN · 1 pointr/headphones

I can spend like $200-300 on an AMP/DAC or whatever I need. I don't have an external soundboard, nor do I have any space on my board..

https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-0702-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00SCBKPW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468364191&sr=8-1&keywords=shiit+magni%2Fmodi

https://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Converter/dp/B00SCCSJVA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468364191&sr=8-2&keywords=shiit+magni%2Fmodi

https://www.amazon.com/PYST-RCA-Cables-6-inches/dp/B00CICPTHC/ref=pd_bxgy_267_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=40H8DMB60JCKCZSAJCTT ($24 for a cable.. jeez..)

Buy all of those, then do what with them? Got a good video on the setup procedure? From one video, it seems like I should use the digital on the Modi 2, how is that going to plug into my computer? How is the comfort level on the DT 770? Some forums say the headband can get uncomfortable, and I'll be wearing these for 8+ hours a day. http://www.head-fi.org/t/478820/beyer-dt-770s-uncomfortable

u/battering_ram · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

You need an audio interface. You don't need that phantom power supply. I don't know why they even sell that shit as a bundle. It just confuses people.

GET THIS. It's what everyone here recommends for beginners. It connects to your computer via USB. It has a built in preamp, phantom power, and a headphone jack as well as RCA outputs on the back if you want to hook up speakers. Just plug you mic directly into the mic input on the front, turn on phantom power, adjust the gain with the gain knob and you're good to go.

If you want two mic inputs GET THIS. It's also got balanced outputs on the back if you ever decide to get studio monitors.

u/Neiizo · 0 pointsr/audiophile

I'm actually looking for new headset, so i've got many question....

First off, what are the main differences between a sennheiser hd 650, 600 800 and 6xx?

Also is it still possible to get a 6xx?

And then, What should be the minimum price value for a good amp for those? Because I know I don't want to spend thousands... I know there is this amp that amazon recommend me to buy with the 650, but i don't actually know if it's a good one for those headset, or not powerful enoug....

u/jseal777 · 2 pointsr/Music

M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV | 49-Key USB MIDI Keyboard & Drum Pad Controller (8 Pads / 8 Knobs / 9 Faders), VIP Software Download Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWU2CBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sljHAbE2X856H



u/ConceptHuman · 1 pointr/edmproduction

I assume you mean a midi keyboard. They come in several sizes, from 25 keys up to full sized 88 key models, and the prices vary accordingly.
For EDM, 61 keys is probably enough but in case you are interested in a full size model I've put links to a couple of options I'd recommend below.


http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-61-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWX2SR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459104788&sr=8-1&keywords=maudio+61+key

In case you want a full size model:

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-88-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWTS58A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459104825&sr=8-1&keywords=maudio+88+key

u/WildStyleMethod · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Oxygen-49-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWU2CBA

I have an older model of this, which doesn't have a drum pad, and it works well. Has aged well and has a good feel. Big enough to not always warrant changing octave up/down, small enough to fit most places, including your lap.

u/ZanzibarMcFate · 1 pointr/rocksmith

My amplifier also has an A/D converter so that I can record via USB into Reaper, Garageband, etc. My question was that the Rocksmith cable appears to be a pretty standard A/D converter, since you can also use it with a PC for recording, would that mean that I could use the USB audio signal from a different device to play Rocksmith?

I'm just curious if the game is looking for a specific deviceID or other magic USB info that prevents you from using non-Rocksmith cables. For example, could I use something like this instead, which is essentially the same thing? I'd just prefer to use something I already own, rather than buy a new cable (which by several reports, is very prone to breaking) just to try the game out.

I guess I'll just try it and see what happens.

u/IheartMsPacMan · 3 pointsr/Guitar

Record from a budget of $29 to $500 with iOS

$29 - Option 1 (more if you don’t have iOS)

Assuming you already have an iOS device, all you need is this adapter (and the lightening to headphone jack adapter your device came with.

IK Multimedia iRig 2 Guitar Interface Adaptor for iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad (IPIRIG2PLGIN) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T631UTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KcZTDb8XJH0A4

This adapter allows you to record directly into your iToy with GarageBand. There are a few sounds and amps you can simulate with the included iRig software or GarageBand.

$199 - $299 Option 2

Get a better amp. The Boss Katana 50 and above or Line 6 Spider V 30 and above have a built-in digital output in their USB ports that allows connection to an iDevice directly. You get all the benefits of the amp modeling and effects in your recording; plus a neat new amp.

u/RadicalMGuy · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

The equipment you get there will probably be about as good as you can get for that price. But you may wanna shell out a bit more for the big jump in quality. I started out on a Steinberg UR22, ATH-M50 and AT-2020 and all three pieces still serve me well hundreds of dollars later. The ATH-M40 can do the same job for cheaper in terms of headphones, too.

I'd say if you're planning on getting a nicer mic/headphones in the future, don't spend your money on the bundle unless your budget is really tight, because you may not find the headphones/mic very useful later on. If you just want to get recording and your budget is restrictive, go for it.

EDIT: correct me if I'm wrong but I think this bundle has better equipment for cheaper

u/brianf408 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

I would skip the sound card and go with a USB DAC and Amp.

Something like this with this.

Or a combined unit like the FiiO.

The mic can plug directly into your motherboard sound. If you want to do anything beyond just voice chat, I'd recommend going with an actual microphone setup.

u/amaraNT2oo2 · 9 pointsr/synthesizers

I'd recommend avoiding the cheap, no-name ones like this. Sometimes they just don't work at all, or sometimes they'll work for certain things (note-on) but not others (SysEx dumps, sequencer data, etc.). I actually had one that I connected to one of my synths, and it sent a bunch of garbled MIDI data that caused me to lose some patches.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend something like the $35 iConnectivity mio. I've had 3 different iConnectivity interfaces, and all have been rock solid and dependable. This doesn't require any drivers, whereas I think the equivalent cables by Yamaha, Roland, M-Audio do.

u/SoundEngineDotCom · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

Another solution might be to go from your Roland A-800 MIDI Out to a MIDI Solutions 4-output MIDI Thru Box. (https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Solutions-Quadra-4-Output-Thru/dp/B0002GH8X4)

​

You can then route one MIDI Cable to the Reface and one to the Microsampler.

​

Set the Reface to respond to MIDI Channel 1, and Microsampler to MIDI Channel 2.


You can then change the transmit channel between 1 and 2 on the Roland controller, or better yet (now that I'm looking at the A-Pro manual), change control maps between the two.

​

Another option would be to program a split control map on the A-800 to use both devices - depending on the notes you need to play during a given song.

​

​

u/Ronnzor · 3 pointsr/Guitar

Line 6 hardware is usually pretty cheap and does the job. I have http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-GX/dp/B001EHWD0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299001350&sr=8-2 and it's great.

u/CyriusBloodbane · 1 pointr/Guitar

Are you playing with other people?

I personally would get this or one of the higher models if you are just practicing/jamming in your room.

If you are planning on playing with others get something like this or similar for effects and you don't have to chain pedals. When looking at Multi Effects processors I personally tried to skip amp modeling as a feature.

And lastly, I will sell you a 100 watt tube combo amp for 300€ lmao.

u/Cottonturtle · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Okay, thanks for the help. I still don't understand the difference between a mixer and interface though. Doesn't this do the same thing as this?

u/Megaman_90 · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

This will have what you want to know: http://www.creativeedgemusic.com/2013/03/hi-z-vs-lo-z-impedance-di-boxes-preamps.html

Any DI box will do really. An Interface would really be your best bet though. Computer sound cards or integrated audio just don't work very well for a variety of reasons. Quality and latency being the top reasons.

Like I said this would be your best bet for a beginner.

You can get an interface, mic your own amp too but It doesn't sound like you have that option or equipment. Keep in mind without virtual amp software or plugins a guitar plugged straight into an interface or sound card will sound like crap. To sound decent a guitar needs a amp and a speaker, or something to emulate that.

u/orios · 2 pointsr/podcasts

Have you considered an interface instead? I made the switch to a Focusrite Scarlet 18i20, though they have models with less inputs. I love it so much more than a mixer. It allows you to record each mic by track individually for better editing.

u/losbeardos · 1 pointr/recordingmusic

IK Multimedia Audio Interface IPIRIG2PLGIN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T631UTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PxERCbDE6R31V

The mixer has 1/4 inch output, so connect a cable from the mixer into the irig2 and then plug the irig2 into your phone. You can control everything right from the mixer. Sync is perfect and sounds good.

u/Chocolove147 · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

I would like to bring up the Alesis V49 great for it's price and has 49 keys.

u/catchierlight · 1 pointr/modular

I dont know bc Ive never used it w Ableton but Im quite sure it does...you just need something like this to connect yr computer to it... https://www.amazon.com/iConnectivity-mio-1-out-MIDI-Interface/dp/B00CO5IRSG

u/euphoricentropy · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Here's some stuff I made with the band Indacoda Blue.

Lounge Room

Up on a Hill

Life to Start

If you're looking into getting some starter equipment, I would suggest something like an M-Audio interface like this one http://amzn.com/B00BQ6KSN6 and possibly a condenser mic like this http://amzn.com/B0002GIRP2 or go to your local music shop and see if you can't pick up a slightly used Shure 58 http://amzn.com/B0000AQRSS

u/sbcpunk · 1 pointr/recording

Your average computer won't have a sp/dif or TOSlink connection built in. Not without a PCI card at least. What you want is something with a USB connection.

Based on the price of what you linked on Amazon I'm guessing you're not looking to spend a lot and want something bare-bones. This should do the trick:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?qid=1427582228&sr=1-25&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=2+channel+usb+interface

Although I'd recommend getting something with built in mic preamps like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1427582455&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=usb+audio+interface&dpPl=1&dpID=41Eswt0wwaL&ref=plSrch#

EDIT I have not used either of these items and can't attest to their quality. I simply chose them as examples of something you could use in your situation.

u/larsgj · 2 pointsr/Android

I use this with my Nexus 10. It works alright. I use an OTG adapter and I'm good to go.

Haven't used it in a long time though because I got myself a PreSonus Audiobox USB for my pc which is lightyears ahead in quality and ease of use.

The only audio stuff I do on android is Caustic and Loopstack.

u/thefirm1990 · 1 pointr/edmproduction

Hey has anyone bought the focusrite scarlett 2i2 package?

http://www.amazon.ca/Focusrite-Scarlett-Studio-Interface-Recording/dp/B00AW91CPG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397058305&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=focusrite+scarlett+2i2

I've heard good things about their audio interface but are there headphones good for mixing?

u/Midouest · 3 pointsr/synthesizers

Unfortunately, the cheap USB-to-MIDI converters like that one have issues with stuck notes on the Mother-32. I have an iConnectMIDI2+ that works great with my Mother-32. I haven't tried the mio, but since it's from iConnectivity, it is probably better than the cheap adapters.

u/therugi · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

I decided on a M-Audio Oxygen MK4, which is much cheaper than what I was looking at and has plenty of keys for me to work with comfortably. I suppose I'll look at more expensive options once I have more experience. Thanks for the feedback!

u/thevideomaker2 · 1 pointr/drums

That's simple. Just pick up one of these, and connect it to an interface that supports it. Usually those interfaces already have at least 2 mic inputs, and can take additional external preamps. I found a few presonus bluetube preamps used that worked. Then connect the Behringer to the interface and you have usually up to 16 channels at once.

The following interfaces support ADAT, and already record 8 tracks, so you'll have 16 channels if you add Behringer unit, no need for anything else.

A good option is the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20.
Another one is the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC1820 if you need something a little cheaper.

u/krilu · 1 pointr/audio

You can buy one of these

Then hook it up to your computer, download and install Reaper, and find some free piano VSTs that will sound better. The sound will be coming from your computer, instead of the keyboard.

u/Hydraskull · 1 pointr/volcas

Third the keystep. Not sure what is meant by reliance on DAW. Keystep plugs directly into Volcas. The only con to the keystep for my setup is that it requires USB power source. For that, just get a $10 rechargeable USB phone charger.

I have my keystep midi out going into a midi thru box https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Solutions-Quadra-4-Output-Thru/dp/B0002GH8X4
The midi thru box plugs into each Volca and I can choose which gets Volca gets played by selecting the midi channel on the keystep. It's been working out great.

u/AnthraxxLULZ · 1 pointr/Guitar

This is the one I use. It's pretty good and it comes with an amp modeling software POD farm.

u/chucknun · 2 pointsr/Guitar

This is what I use and it works great. It comes with a limited amp modeling software. You can get the sound from your computer's sound card, or you can plug in speakers/headphones directly into the interface. I hope this is helpful.

u/Squishy60 · 1 pointr/ZReviews

Thanks for the response! I was looking at this DAC. It looks like it also has a preamp built in. https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Onyx-Artist-1-2-Interface-x/dp/B07664LMPQ?th=1&psc=1
Would this be a good option?

u/pantsofpig · 1 pointr/audioengineering

IMHO Amp Sims get a lot of unfounded hate around here. I've tried Amplitube, Guitar Rig & Pod Farm and you can get good sounds out of all of them. No, it's not the same as having the real deal but it's very, very close. Your bang for the buck when using sims is phenomenal. Also, the ability to save tones and get back EXACTLY where you were before shouldn't be dismissed. On the cheap, you could go with the basic Line 6 interface that comes with Pod Farm. Should run you about $100. http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-GX/dp/B001EHWD0I/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1380894482&sr=1-4&keywords=line+6

EDIT: Also, Reaper.

u/rap4th · 10 pointsr/synthesizers

First off, don't play around with splitters. You want to get a mixer. Something simple to start with like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Alto-Professional-ZMX862-6-Channel-Channel/dp/B004TM323C/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1485432445&sr=1-1&keywords=Alto+Professional

Then to get everything synced-up, you want to use a MIDI Quadra Thru:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Solutions-Quadra-4-Output-Thru/dp/B0002GH8X4/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1485432544&sr=1-1&keywords=quadra+thru

Then you will just need to get some MIDI cables and then 1/4" to 1/4" audio cables for the Monologue and 1/8" to 1/4" audio cables for your Volca Beats and Monotron as well as one to go from the mixer to your speakers (or you can use headphones by plugging into the mixer).

For syncing everything you would use a MIDI cable out from the Monologue, to the MIDI In of the MIDI Quadra Thru box. Then connect a MIDI cable to one of the MIDI Thru's to the MIDI In to each of your other devices. Now I don't own the Monologue, Volca Beats or Monotron, so there may be another way...but it should work fine the way I described.

u/overaid · 1 pointr/buildapc

No worries! It can be quite overwhelming if you never shopped for an audio interface before. The first thing you'll need is an interface with 48V phantom power, many microphones requires power and some audio interface does not provide it, you should avoid them since you will be limited in your microphone choice.

Here are a few choice, there's are 2 ins and 2 out interface (between $150 to $250)

PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2 In/2 Out USB

M-Audio M-Track Plus II USB

If you think you'll need more inputs (maybe you want to record a drum) these cost between $200 to $500

M-Audio MTRACK QUAD

M-Audio M-Track Eight 8-Channel

Focusrite Scarlett 6i6

Focusrite SCARLETT 18i8 18

Behringer FCA1616

If you're a guitarist you could consider a multi-effect processor like these ($700-$800):

Line 6 POD HD Pro X

Avid Eleven Rack

These two offers the advantage of having your amps and effect processing at basically no latency, they are also great for recording vocals with low-latency monitoring with effects.

There's a lot of choice but as long as you have enough inputs for recording all that you intend to record then you're good to go.

u/AshenDean · 3 pointsr/Songwriters

Second the AT2020 it's a good place to start.

EDIT: If you don't have a interface (Which I'm assuming you don't) it might be best to start with a usb mic or look at expanding the budget a little and get an interface with it. The AT2020 does have a Usb varient but it exceeds your price range.

I know this is out of your price range but this is everything you would need, with upgrading in the future being an option. If you bought a usb mic now and wanted to upgrade to a xlr mic later you would need to by an interface on top of that mic anyway. Just something to be aware of.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Studio-Interface-Recording/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1541401196&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=focusrite+recording+bundle&dpPl=1&dpID=41K2dCwPdgL&ref=plSrch

u/fantompwer · 1 pointr/audio

here is a box that is pretty cheap. I've heard people that like it for what it is.

u/sunilkchopra · 2 pointsr/LibreStudio

Finally got around to donating again. $45! I'll get version 4 & 5. yay!

Some technical details: I used one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Art-USB-Dual-Pre-PS/dp/B002KEAT78

plus a Rode NT1A, AKG C3000B, AKG C1000S, Fender Telecaster '74 thinline reissue guitar, Seagull acoustic 6-string, Old solid state Kay amp with a Peavey bass cabinet, Mexican Squier Fender Jazz Bass, Yamaha MO6 keyboard, drummer's drums, Hydrogen drum machine (for Lippity Lippity and temporary drums during recording)... and probably some other things.

u/TehGogglesDoNothing · 1 pointr/Guitar

DVFORGE

Behringer

Generic

Alesis GuitarLink

ESI UGB96

I'm sure there's more, but those were quick and easy to find. They 1/4"->USB adapter has been around a while.

u/amp3rsand · 4 pointsr/Metalcore

logic for tracking. superior drummer to program drums (this is pretty much industry standard now).

get this pod studio. it'll come with tones that people generally use and there are plenty of metalcore tones you can find online. no need for and pedals or anything.

u/LeTiger · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

I've had pretty good luck with the Scarelett 6i6 having really fluid volume control (for the price). It's got loads of inputs, and while larger and not marketed as a DAC/Pre Amp, it does a nice job. I've heard bad things about bus power from their smaller models, but have been quite liking mine so far (I do use it with powered monitors though)

Hope this helps, your thread seemed lonely :(

u/Lainz · 1 pointr/headphones

I would get this interface. https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Onyx-Artist-1-2-Interface-x/dp/B07664LMPQ/
It has a good soundcard, you can connect your microphone over xlr.
Also right on the money regarding your budget.

Personally I use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for my microphone needs, but I dont run my headphones on it.
And like Oratory said, stay away from the cheap Behringer gear.

u/Tony_T_123 · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

It's possible to learn some stuff without a midi keyboard, but I'd reccomend buying one. You can probably get a used one for about $50 on ebay if you're short on cash, or probably around $100 new. You don't need a great one, even a cheap one is way better than nothing. Just make sure you get one with full sized keys, not mini-keys. And try to get one with at least 49 keys so you're not cramped with a tiny keyboard.

Something like this maybe

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-49-II-Controller/dp/B00IWWZAM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478550971&sr=8-1&keywords=maudio+keystation+49

u/theycallmearze · 1 pointr/edmproduction

As for audio interfaces, you have two choices that are south of 100 pounds; The M-Audio M-Track (74 pounds), and the Presonus Audiobox (69 pounds). The only difference between the two is that the audiobox lacks two XLR outputs, while the M-Track has both XLR AND TRS. It's worth the extra 5 pounds, if you ask me. The M-Track is also considerably smaller.

As for stands, they're all the same; just there's a bit of a price difference between them all. A good pair will cost you about 50 pounds, so that would be driving you out of your budget range by about 40 pounds, so my recommendation would be to just buy the speakers and interface first and then wait a week or two to buy the stands, and until you get enough money to buy an actual pair, use some kind of makeshift stand.

LINKS -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-M-Track-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1414775766&sr=8-8&keywords=audio+interface

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Recording-System/dp/B00154KSA2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1414775766&sr=8-5&keywords=audio+interface

u/shijaaak · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

Here's my recommendation: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-49-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IWWZAM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416514151&sr=8-1&keywords=m-audio+49

Purchased and owned for a while before getting my M-Audio Axiom 61 (fucking great keyboard btw)

u/pigz · 4 pointsr/Guitar

>don't see a guitar input


There's a 1/4" mono input in the centre of the XLR.


That behringer unit is prettly limited, especially getting the audio back out of the PC to your monitors. Line OR USB, instead of line and USB.


In your price range, better choices would be M-Audio MTrack Plus, or MTrack 2, Focusrite Scarlett or Presonus Audiobox


They all come with some form of 'Lite' DAW software as well.

u/BOBALOBAKOF · 1 pointr/applehelp

iRig 2
or if you want to go for slightly better quality
iRig 2 HD

Of course the best choice is to get yourself a proper audio interface, but that's likely to cost more and is going to take a bit more setting up.

u/rxules · 1 pointr/FL_Studio

Let me show you my setup, im working just fine with everything here, its not a lot and im really satisfied about every product.

Monitors: https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-BX5-D3-Powered-Reference/dp/B01J66YEU0 (X2)
Midi: https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-49-II-Keys/dp/B00IWWZAM6
Microphone/Recording Headphones/Interface: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Generation-Extended-Warranty/dp/B01H4YW83G
Producing Headphones: https://www.amazon.com/Beats-Studio-Wired-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B00E9262IE