Best products from r/linuxaudio
We found 10 comments on r/linuxaudio discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 10 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First
- Two natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamps with plenty of even gain; two instrument inputs. Two 1/4-inch balanced jack outputs to connect professional studio monitors; one headphones output with gain control; MIDI I/O
- Class-leading conversion and sample rates up to 192kHz / 24 bit; super-low roundtrip latency for using your plug-ins in real time without the need for DSP
- LIMITED TIME OFFER: FREE Venomode DeeQ, Maximal 2, and Pivot, plug-ins upon registration and download.
- Includes Pro Tools | First Focusrite Creative Pack and Ableton Live Lite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, Focusrite’s Red Plug-in Suite, 2GB of Loopmasters samples, Choice of one free XLN Addictive Keys virtual instrument, all available via download upon purchase and registration
- Compatible with Windows 7 and higher, and Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. Frequency response - 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.1dB. Supported Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz. Focusrite now offers a 3-Year Warranty on this and all other Focusrite products.
Features:
2. Blue Microphones Icicle XLR to USB Microphone Converter/Preamp
- Built-in mic preamp with analog mic gain control
- 48V phantom power
- Fully Balanced, low noise front end
- Driverless operation
- Usb cable included
Features:
3. The Audio Expert: Everything You Need to Know About Audio
Used Book in Good Condition
4. Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First
- One natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamp with plenty of even gain; one instrument input, Stereo line outputs on RCA phono for connecting to home speakers; one headphones output with gain control. You don't need a power supply, either - just connect with a USB cable and start recording.
- Class-leading conversion and sample rates up to 192kHz / 24 bit; super-low latency for using your plug-ins in real time without the need for DSP
- LIMITED TIME OFFER: FREE Venomode DeeQ, Maximal 2, and Pivot, plug-ins upon registration and download.
- Includes Pro Tools | First Focusrite Creative Pack and Ableton Live Lite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, Focusrite’s Red Plug-in Suite, 2GB of Loopmasters samples, Choice of one free XLN Addictive Keys virtual instrument, all available via download upon purchase and registration
- Compatible with Windows 7 and higher, and Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.25dB. Supported sample rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz; Headphone Dynamic Range:104dB (A-weighted). Focusrite now offers a 3-Year Warranty on this and all other Focusrite products.
Features:
5. AGPTEK 3M USB Male to XLR Female Microphone MIC Link Cable Studio Audio Adapter Connector
AGPtek USB Microphone Cable XLR female Supports USB 2.0/1.1. Plug and play, no driver installation required, unit is identified automaticallyEmbedded A/D convert with audio signal boostPower supply via USB interface, with USB connection LED indicatorHigh quality professional shielded cable and Canno...
6. Behringer Xenyx 502 Premium 5-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamp and British EQ
- Premium ultra-low noise, high headroom analog mixer
- State-of-the-art, phantom powered Xenyx Mic Preamp comparable to stand-alone boutique preamps
- Neo-classic "British" 2-band EQ for warm and musical sound
- Main mix, stereo CD/tape plus separate headphone outputs
- CD/tape inputs assignable to headphone output or main mix outputs. Power consumption 13 W
Features:
7. TISINO 1/4 inch TRS Stereo to Dual 1/4 inch TS Mono Insert Cable Y-Splitter Stereo Breakout Cable Patch Cord - 10 feet
- 1/4 stereo to dual 1/4 mono cable, This is an insert cable, generally used for audio consoles or other preamps that have a send/return on the tip/ring of a 1/4" TRS jack. It's a way to insert a component (like a compressor, EQ, etc.) directly inline with a preamp by using a single 1/4" jack.
- This "Insert" cable intended primarily for mixing/effects insertion applications, but it also can be used as a "Stereo Breakout Cable" since it is wired exactly the same way as a stereo breakout cable.This cable can also be used to split an unbalanced stereo signal into two unbalanced mono signals, or to combine two mono signals into a single stereo signal.
- The 1/4 TS connectors are color coded Black(Left/Send) and Red(Right/Return), It splits closer to the 1/4 TS ends, the distance to the split point is about 7.5 inches. Please make sure the power for all your equipmant is "OFF" when changing connections.
- 20 AWG 4N OFC Wire, High Density Shielding and Al-foil Shielded to Prevent EMI/RFI Interference ensuring the highest quality audio transfer without static, or popping.
- Heavy Duty Gold-plated 6.35mm connector resist corrosion, provide durability and improve the signal transmission, ensures minimal signal loss.
Features:
8. Antrader 4 Ports USB 2.0 Port Slot Plate Adapter Panel Cable Female Screw to Motherboard 9pin Header Panel Mount Cable Copper Extender Cable 30cm Long 2pcs
An USB 2.0 port extender panel for PC.Supports plug and play, no drivers needed.Up to 480 mbps USB 2.0 standard data transferring speed.4 Port USB Slot Plate. USB slot plate adapter converts the USB pins on your motherboard into four USB-A female ports.This USB 2.0 female to motherboard header adapt...
9. Korg microKEY 37-Key USB Powered Keyboard
- USB MIDI keyboard - thin, lightweight, and USB-powered
- 37 velocity-sensitive mini keys
- Comfortable and easy-to-play Natural Touch keyboard
- Octave Shift and Key Transpose features access the full MIDI note range
- Pitch Bend and Modulation wheels add expression to your performance
Features:
10. Inateck 4 Ports PCIe to USB 3.0 Expansion Card, USB 3.0 Express Card Desktop Compatible Windows XP/7/8/10, Mini Pci-E USB 3.0 Hub Controller Adapter, No Additional Power Connection Needed, KT4005
No additional power supply for normal recognition and operation needed anymore; one step update your Windows computer to USB3. 0 Easily with PCI Express to USB3. 0 controller adapter card; Supports USB hot Plug, plug & play; low energy consumptionOperating System compatibility: Windows XP, 7, 8 (32/...
Just to echo /u/Heikkiket, you can't really edit loops in Sooperlooper, and the stompbox analogy is pretty appropriate - you've just got some extra frills - unlimited tracks, independent control of each, etc. Also the ability to load audio files (wav/mp3/etc) into a loop - this might actually be a route that could work for you: create the track in Ardour, then load it into Sooperlooper, which will play it endlessly.
But yeah, in terms of your workflow - switching between programs, and with no external devices (like a midi controller: 1, 2*), you're gonna have a bad time. I'd recommend a foot controller to control Sooperlooper (see below), at the very least.
*I actually use this one, the Midibuddy MP128. It can be plugged into either a cheap USB/MIDI interface, or a guitar+midi interface like the Scarlett 2i4.
IF that is a microphone that outputs a level that's intended to be plugged directly into a computer's "mic in" port... then you'd at least need an XLR to TRRRS adapter for it in order to use it with your laptop. I doubt this is the case.
Is the connection on the microphone itself an XLR (3 male pins -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector)? My guess is that it's a real microphone that outputs a very low level that needs to be amplified in order to be used like that. In that case, you'll need some kind of mixer or sound card that accepts an XLR input and takes care of the amplification. At the very least, you'll need a device like you mentioned that adapts from USB to XLR and is actually a sound card/amplifier (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Icicle-Converter-Preamp/dp/B001EW5YQS).
This is certainly not a Linux issue. It wouldn't work in Windows or OS X either.
That is very true. When I think of audiophiles, I think of people who think cables sound better one way around than the other, people that ignore scientific tests and argue that null tests can't trump human ears (which is essentially saying that 1 minus 1 does not give you 0). Other people think that audiophiles are people that really care about audio, and in the mix people get very confused about what is true and what is not.
There is a LOT of misinformation going around about audio on the internet, specifically digital audio. A lot of it is to sell equipment/software that is 'superior', a lot of it is people believing and repeating what they're heard from companies trying to sell a product. A lot of companies willingly promote these ideas, a lot of them don't fight back against them cause it might damage their marketing.
If you really want to understand audio and cut through the BS, check out a book called The Audio Expert: Everything You Need to Know About Audio by Ethan Winer. He debunks a lot of hard held beliefs from certain 'audiophiles' with scientific tests. Well worth the read if you want to understand what matters in audio, and what doesn't.
If you give us the actual make and model of sound card you already have, we might be able to determine whether it would be supported or not. You might not need to buy anything.
Beyond that, I echo what /u/wolftune said.
Especially the Focusrite recommendation. If you want a relatively inexpensive interface that sounds good and works flawlessly under Linux, I can't speak highly enough of the Scarlett line. You can find the Solo used on ebay for $50-60.
Yeah my mic has an XLR output.
http://www.amazon.com/AGPtek-Female-Microphone-Adapter-Connector/dp/B00B6WZGHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419045567&sr=8-1&keywords=xlr+to+usb
Can I get away with that instead? Might be too late at this point but trying to save money...
Probably the easiest way to connect your Mic to the audio interface is with a cheap analog mixer with xlr input (for example the Behringer Xenyx 502). This will give you *way* more control over the sound from your mic, be it the input gain, the panning or the equalizer. If the signal that reaches your audio interface is shitty, no amount of tricks/filters will improve the sound.
The Arturia device has a 1/4" stereo output. The 6i6 has four 1/4" mono inputs. I guess you'll want something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Tisino-Stereo-Y-Splitter-Return-Insert/dp/B07K59LPDJ
What motherboard do you have? Should be a few 9pin USB headers available. If you do, something like this will provide the extra ports.
I would be shocked if the Alesis V25 knobs and pads didn't work on Linux. I'm sure they're just MIDI controllers. All MIDI controllers work on Linux generally. Where did you hear otherwise?
There's tons of options that work, basically any USB MIDI controller works. I have a Korg Microkey and it works fine, comes in 25, 37, 49, and 61 key versions. I also have a pressure-sensitive controller from Keith MacMillen. That works. I've never found a USB MIDI controller that didn't work on Linux.
I use this Inateck on my HTPC. It was plug&play with Mint 17.