Your recording interface!

kayDUB · 2012-08-02T22:10:28+00:00

So what recording interface do you use and why? What do you use it for? Think it will be interesting to see what different people are using. Feel free to expand on your full recording setup! Pictures welcome too! I'll start ? Presonus FP10 - because I got a good deal on one at the time, did not really research or anything... The only real use I've got out of it aside from recording some ideas and playing around is for recording scratch tracks to save time in studio. Hoping to spend a lot more time recording shortly - there's a lot to learn! It's hooked up to KRK VXT6 monitors and Audio Technica ATH-M40fs headphones. Using Reaper at the moment running on an i5 3.1ghz, 8gb RAM PC running Windows 7. Mics: SM57 and Rode NT2a.

DrGonzo

deefstes wrote
kayDUB wrote Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
While we're discussing differences; Could someone explain please what you can do with Pro Tools that you can't do with REAPER?

Haha good point... I guess its the professional "sheen" or whatever you can call it ?

DrGonzo

deanBailey wrote I use a RME fireface 800 upgraded from two firestudios projects..

Even though I'm 5 inputs less I needed an AD/DA upgrade and something more reliable.
Had syncing problems on the presonus...
The difference between the two interfaces are mixes and music in general sound (put simply) more spacious and there's an increase of depth. Almost like you can feel the space between the instruments panned out and/or moved back.

The difference might be dismal to non existent for some people but when you mix on one setup for years you notice the slightest differences.

Another problem was moving from 16 preamps on the firestudio to 4 on the RME...
which led me to getting two external mic pres, Great River Mp-2nv and API 3124 to cover the 10 inputs...I'm really enjoying the upgrade. ?

damn dude thats a nice setup!
I have a great sounding interface but i can't help craving higher and higher especially on the preamp side of things... The 2 preamps I have my eye set on is the UA 6167 and the Great River ME1V and to top that off a metric halo interface! so, now does anyone have R50000 for me!?!

Once you get locked into a serious gear collection, there is no going back I guess... ☹

Big-G

Gosh! I love those UA6167's! And I know exactly what you mean about gear collection.... Went today to pick up a DBX 376 vavle channel strip, and the lady I was buying it from had some serious nice kit she's parting with, including another 3 DBX 376's, an SPL Goldmike MkII Dual valve pre, and an SPL Kultube Stereo compressor! If I had the cash, I'd have taken the lot off her!

I've always liked the Goldmike, and the price she was selling it for is really good for the condition. Just need to sell all the stuff I have to afford it all!

Good luck with your wishlist though!

Cheers
G!

Averatu

deefstes wrote
kayDUB wrote Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
While we're discussing differences; Could someone explain please what you can do with Pro Tools that you can't do with REAPER?

You get what you pay for. Regular updates and bug fixes and actual support, not just some massive confusing pdf, much better automation functions, much better plugin integration, all things a pro studio would need. I dont know any studios that run Reaper. It frustrated the crap out of me. If you're doing stuff at home its fine. Some big metal artists use Reaper to run live backing tracks, as in synth sounds and samples.

kayDUB

Averatu wrote
deefstes wrote
kayDUB wrote Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
While we're discussing differences; Could someone explain please what you can do with Pro Tools that you can't do with REAPER?

You get what you pay for. Regular updates and bug fixes and actual support, not just some massive confusing pdf, much better automation functions, much better plugin integration, all things a pro studio would need. I dont know any studios that run Reaper. It frustrated the crap out of me. If you're doing stuff at home its fine. Some big metal artists use Reaper to run live backing tracks, as in synth sounds and samples.

From what I've seen it seems like editing functionality is more intuitive or "seamless" in pro tools. I've never actually worked in pro tools myself tho, so it probably helped that the person doing the editing was very skilled! Things like beat detective and elastic audio seem doable in Reaper, but with more effort. Overall I'm a big phat recording noob though so think I'm going to stick with Reaper for a while, and maybe consider pro tools when 11 comes out.
It also looks like you get some nice plugins with pro tools, which is something I'm not sure where to start with acquiring in Reaper. Things like quality compressor/EQ/reverb/delay/etc plugins.

Re studios not running Reaper, I think some of that could also be attributed to the fact that the general perception is that pro tools is the only real professional DAW, so for a studio to run anything else would be a risk. Clients may go to the "more professional" pro tools studio. Note I'm not saying pro tools is or isn't the best, just the perception.

deefstes

kayDUB wrote
Averatu wrote
deefstes wrote
kayDUB wrote Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
While we're discussing differences; Could someone explain please what you can do with Pro Tools that you can't do with REAPER?

You get what you pay for. Regular updates and bug fixes and actual support, not just some massive confusing pdf, much better automation functions, much better plugin integration, all things a pro studio would need. I dont know any studios that run Reaper. It frustrated the crap out of me. If you're doing stuff at home its fine. Some big metal artists use Reaper to run live backing tracks, as in synth sounds and samples.
From what I've seen it seems like editing functionality is more intuitive or "seamless" in pro tools. I've never actually worked in pro tools myself tho, so it probably helped that the person doing the editing was very skilled! Things like beat detective and elastic audio seem doable in Reaper, but with more effort. Overall I'm a big phat recording noob though so think I'm going to stick with Reaper for a while, and maybe consider pro tools when 11 comes out.
It also looks like you get some nice plugins with pro tools, which is something I'm not sure where to start with acquiring in Reaper. Things like quality compressor/EQ/reverb/delay/etc plugins.

Re studios not running Reaper, I think some of that could also be attributed to the fact that the general perception is that pro tools is the only real professional DAW, so for a studio to run anything else would be a risk. Clients may go to the "more professional" pro tools studio. Note I'm not saying pro tools is or isn't the best, just the perception.

I just want to be clear than I'm not being facetious in asking this question. Judged from the very steep price tag, I'd expect that Pro Tools must have functionality or quality that REAPER lacks - unless the world really has gone mad. I don't know Pro Tools at all and I know REAPER only from having used it for a year or so and not having recorded anything serious yet. It's just that I am amazed with what a software package as cheap as REAPER can achieve and I'd be curious what it is that sets more expensive packages apart.

DrGonzo

Well my 2 cents, as I know PT quite well and also have plenty background in Cubase and Logic,
All DAW's can do exactly the same thing, some just take a slightly different road to do it... but any DAW in 2011 is exaclty as capable as the rest.

I don't like Pro Tools that much (except for mixing - that mixer, groups and track management rocks!) but the thing is many ppl actually use pro tools, not by choice but because it makes it easier to collaborate with other players in the industry, as (most, not all) pro studios use Pro Tools and one can easy mix and match different sessions.

The editing features of pro tools are also great... but for Midi and composition, i find it painfully boring... it s capable, but lacks some of the slickness of logic and cubase in that department i would say.

overall, i prefer Logic, but also have a fondness for cubase (my first love ? )

it is nice tho, if you have the cash go for it,
If you plan on doing professional audio work (like as a career) it might help you down the line...
but then again if you just plan on doing home productions and you already have reaper, im pretty convinced that you can get the same results...

DrGonzo

Ok so seem as though we are talking about interfaces...

Mine has just gone up for sale at a incredibly reasonable price. I have just bit the proverbial bullet in a very rash (and probably regrettable decision)

the reason for sale is that i am making a high-end, long term investment that will hopefully pay it self off but i need to move this in order to help fund it... I will most certainly buy this unit again in the future when i need more IO in a studio setup...

I can really honestly say that you have to spend over R10k to get a better quality sound, and i personally wouldn't consider any other interface sub-R10k... i say this cause i have heard pretty much every major prosumer interface and i much prefer the detail and depth to the pre-amps in this unit than others.. and the DA is quite fantastic...

anyway, i posted more info about the unit in the classifieds, hit me up if your interested!

Mo-Facta

Late to the party, but I'll play. ?

I recently put together a home setup that I can mix and compose on so I started with my old studio computer as the DAW host. Saves me huge on going to the studio every time I need to make an edit or something.

My home setup:

PC: Core2Duo E6600, 4GB Ram, Windows XP (Still runs great!)
Interface: ART Tubefire 8 or MBox (Original)
DAW's: Cubase 6, Wavelab 7, Nuendo 5, Reason 3, Pro Tools 8, Reaper 4
VST's: NI Komplete 4, Waves Platinum bundle, Spectrasonics (All)
Monitors: Yamaha HS50M
Headphones: Sony MDR-7509
Mic: Neumann TLM103
Midi Controller: Roland PC-300

My interface choice wasn't really a choice at all, really. I have been running my studio, which is out in Edenvale, for eight or so years now and since we had this extra room at home (after my brother finally moved out!) I decided it would be nice to have a home setup where I could do a good portion of my studio work like project admin, editing, some minor mixing, etc. It saves me a hell of a lot of money on petrol alone. So anyway, after using my ART Tubefire 8 as an interface for a while, I decided to buy my buddy Gavan's old MBox because all I really need is a stereo playback facility, WITH a volume knob, and two preamps. Done.

Oh, and new gear? A solid studio chair and some speaker stands.

Cheers ?

BluJu

I'm pretty new to it but use,

TC Electronics firewire interface
M Audio Cx5 monitors
SM 57 (sometimes) mostly just go through guitar rig
Mixcraft
Core I5 Sandy bridge 3.4 Ghz with windows 7

My medium term plan is a decent condenser mic, headphones and maybe a controller to control guitar rig.
Possibly also learn about more sophisticated software.

Mainly use my setup for messing around and laying down ideas rather than serious recording.
Also been digging the guitar rig vibe.

DrGonzo

Brendon "BluJu" Neuhaus wrote My medium term plan is a decent condenser mic, headphones and maybe a controller to control guitar rig.
Possibly also learn about more sophisticated software.

Cool man if you need some tutoring on DAW's let me know... i think you could definitely do with a step-up from mix craft! what are u looking at?

DrGonzo

Ok, So I am very proud to say that I am now the near future owner of a state of the art Metric Halo ULN-2 audio interface...

I can't believe this actually worked out, they were having a mad sale and i just kind of did an impulse purchase and viola, should be here in 2 weeks or so...

Here is some info on the unit
http://www.mhsecure.com/v5mm/ULN2_2dExpanded.html

Its very portable which is my main reason for buying it and it is organically scalable with a whole host of digital connections like ADAT and AES/EBU spdif etc...
the coolest thing about it is apparently the MIO console which is its built in mixer, which has very high quality DSP effects, advanced routing and apparently you can use it for high quality digital summing with its built in 80bit mixer which is quite insane resolution...

All in all, i think I'm gonna be very happy for a very long time! 8)

AlanRatcliffe

Wow! Those specs are insane for any interface, let alone a mobile one: 72dB gain, .00005% THD, a response +/-.1dB over audible range and an E.I.N of over 130 dB.

That's a real worthy purchase. Congrats!

DrGonzo

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Wow! Those specs are insane for any interface, let alone a mobile one: 72dB gain, .00005% THD, a response +/-.1dB over audible range and an E.I.N of over 130 dB.

That's a real worthy purchase. Congrats!

thanks man! Ja those specs are a hell of a thing... and the fact that i can toss it into my backpack!

It was quite hefty price tag, but It will pay itself off over the next few months, so i think I made a great long term investment there.

Wiill obviously post full findings once the box arrives....

theantirockstar

Interface: Focusrite 18i6
DAW: Reaper / Studio One / Garageband
Monitoring: AKG K240's, looking for monitors at the moment though.
Mic's: AKG Perception 120 / Shure SM57 / AKG D5

DrGonzo

theantirockstar wrote Interface: Focusrite 18i6
DAW: Reaper / Studio One / Garageband
Monitoring: AKG K240's, looking for monitors at the moment though.
Mic's: AKG Perception 120 / Shure SM57 / AKG D5

How are the K240's? i have been mildly interested in them for a while now... its between those, the Shure SRH840 and the sennheiser 280...

kayDUB

Lekker, this thread's picked up nicely ? Some nice stuff guys!

Mo Facta wrote DAW's: Cubase 6, Wavelab 7, Nuendo 5, Reason 3, Pro Tools 8, Reaper 4

You use all those DAWs?!

DrGonzo wrote Ok, So I am very proud to say that I am now the near future owner of a state of the art Metric Halo ULN-2 audio interface...

Congrats!

Mo-Facta

kayDUB wrote Lekker, this thread's picked up nicely ? Some nice stuff guys!

Mo Facta wrote DAW's: Cubase 6, Wavelab 7, Nuendo 5, Reason 3, Pro Tools 8, Reaper 4
You use all those DAWs?!

Yup, mostly. Not so much Reason these days, but yeah I use them all. I actually just got Pro Tools 8 from a colleague who sold me his MBox.

I've run my own studio for the last eight or so years so I often need them. It can be such a time saver when a client comes in that doesn't work on Cubase (my DAW of choice). I also have Logic 8 but never use it because I'm not a huge Mac guy. I could go on...lol. I also have Ardour (Ubuntu).

Any of you guys use Ardour on Ubuntu? It's totally 100% free, full-featured, and as powerful as they come.

Cheers ?

kayDUB

I used Ardour briefly a while back but didn't get into it much. I did however waste a large portion of my life trying to get my interface working again after an Ubuntu upgrade... ☹
I know ez uses Ardour round these parts.

kayDUB

So I've been a busy boy the last few months and need to come clean ?
It's pretty messy at the moment - well ok, most of the time!

Basically everything in the rack is new, and I got some new mics. Also built the panels which I must still mount properly in the corners.

New stuff:

ART power "conditioner"
RME multiface
Focusrite ISA 2
Rupert Neve Portico 5012 preamp
2 x Avantone CR14 ribbon mics.

Been doing electric guitar, bass and vocals with this rig for our bands EP which should be out soon.
Used a Mojave MA301 for vocals which we hired for a few days - very nice. It ruined the NT2a for me!

Now I can focus on some guitar stuff again for a while ?

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