USB interfaces for computer recording...

[RandomHero]

I've got my Mac, with an older version of Garage Band, a couple of really nice mics, my guitar, and myself. I need some way to get my noises into my computer though.

I've heard of USB boxes that you can plug XLR and 1/4" jacks into... is this what's called a DI box?

I don't need anything amazingly capable. I don't care if it can only use a single input at a time. I'll pay for quality, but cheap is good... it's the -only- thing keeping me from getting back at recording again.

Any suggestions or nominations guys?

[D2o]

Hi RH,

For acoustic & vocals, I use a Samson CO1U - a USB operated condenser mic.

Straight in ... no software ... no EQ.

I like it.

For electric, I run a line from the headphone jack of my amp to the line in on the back of my PC (I don't know if you have one on a Mac) ... this also works fairly well.

Note that I cannot get similarly good results by plugging into the "mic" jack on the front of the computer - it only seems to be acceptable using the line in on the back (at least that's my experience on my computer - YMMV).

I hope that helps - good luck!

D2o

[JohnH]

I havent tried USB, but I get good quality sounds into the line-in on my pc, using a mixer. The soundcard is a basic 5.1 soundlive.

The Behringer Xenix mixers are inexpensive and very good quality, I have the smallest one which will take a dynamic mic and a couple of line ins. The next size up would be more useful. If Im wanting to mic guitar and vocal at the same time, I use our band mixer.

John

ps - thanks for adding the new quick reply, and the google search is a huge improvement!

[newey]

RH-

"DI Box" (for "direct injection") usually refers to a device to match the impedance to a line-level output for direct-in to a PA or studio. Some of these units have a USB interface as well. But to simply interface with your computer, a USB interface is what you need.

I use a Lexicon Alpha, about $70 at MF. There are others in the $60 range, and beringer makes one even cheaper. The Lexicon, however, has 2 channels, with either instrument level or XLR to each channel. It'll do stereo, obviously. It's USB powered, so no batteries. It doesn't have phantom power, though.

It has individual level pots for each channel, and a separate output level at the end of the chain, so you can do some basic mixing of the 2 tracks right on the front of the unit. It has a separate set of monitor outs, so you can run powered monitors off it separate from the computer soundcard, and there's a separate monitor level pot which adjusts the monitor or headphone level. Front-panel headphone jack as well. It came bundled with Steinberg Cubase 4 (which I find unduly complex and hard to use, but you can set the Alpha up to work with other software). They also throw in the Lexicon Pantheon Reverb plug-ins, which gives about 30 different 'verbs to play with.

There are certainly better units, but for about $70, you can't beat it.

If you just want a single channel unit, there are cheaper ones, as noted above. Personally, for recording into the computer, I don't think I could live without the separate headphone/monitor level control, very handy to have.

[ashcatlt]

Jan 9, 2010 16:11:01 GMT -5 newey said:

"DI Box" (for "direct injection") usually refers to a device to match the impedance to a line-level output for direct-in to a PA or studio.

Make that "mic-level". Thus the XLR. Some of the active ones could probably drive a line-level input, but they usually are meant to go to a mic pre-amp. Also (just a silly quibble) it's not actually meant to match the impedance (can you say serious tone-suck?) but to provide a more acceptable mismatch.

Hate to come through just to correct. I do have more I'd like to talk about here, but there are far too many other humans around me talking and stuff...

[ux4484]

Very happy with my line6 toneport ux1 (no longer available, but the ux2 and others are). Mac compatible with a nice software package as well, virtually zero latentency because you monitor through the device and not the computer. 1/4" and XLR inputs. Compatible with almost every Mac and PC recording package. You can find them at some GC's (old stock) and on eBay for around 60-70 USD.

[ux4484]

Line6 has repackaged the ux1 with podfarm, but the cost is $150. The older non pod farm version is the same hardware farmless.

[RandomHero]

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback.

My issue with my Mac is that the line-in is toast. A previous owner did something to physically fry the input jack itself. A plug won't fit into it; it looks like a little run of molten plastic on the back of the case. It's a miracle the sound card, and even the computer, work at all.

USB is my only option. I record a single track at a time, and I have about two or three tracks in a song, so the most spartan unit will serve my purpose. When I lived in Wichita, my cousin and I used a co-owned Tascam portastudio, which was awesome. I just need something, anything, to put my ideas onto media.

I'll definitely check out the units listed.

[newey]

Ux put it better than I did- zero latency since you're monitoring from the unit, not through the computer. That's a feature worth having.

[sydsbluesky]

Steinberg, with the help of Yamaha, put out a new unit that is 100% plug and play compatible with cubase 5. That's the one I'm going to be getting in the future. Oh, and it also come with cubase 5. How convenient!

As noted earlier, cubase can be a little overwhelming at times. It's nice to have some of those options available from time to time, however.


Currently using a small Tascam unit, and it's been nothing but trouble with Vista 64.

Obviously the Mac is going to be different...

Oh, and I do have the same mixer as John, I think. Very nice for small stuff.

I know I've seen a few mac-specific units out there made to work with garage band which, in my opinion, is one of the better programs out there when both quality and ease of use is considered.


As of late I've just been running everything live with my Yamaha pocket recorder. A must have for any wanna-be musician... such as myself

[ux4484]

RH,

I thought I'd give you an example of how easy/fast the Line 6 toneport is to use. I made *recording link removed* The day after I installed my toneport on a 5 year old PC (Sempron 1.6Ghz) using the software provided with the unit; Ableton Live (recording) and Gearbox (effects/amp emulation) which are both PC and Mac compatible (with the current $150 Ux1, Podfarm has replaced gearbox for emulation).
I laid the three tracks down in about an hour by myself. Track 1 was drums and rhythm guitar; drums were analog out from my Digitech pedal (via XLR into the Ux1), rhythm guitar (Yamaha acoustic) was directly into the Ux1 (1/4") with effects provided via the gearbox package), track 2 was bass (Fender JP '90) directly into the Ux1 (no effects some bass cab emulation via gearbox), and track 3 was lead (Epi LP) into the Ux1 with gearbox providing Marshall style gain and distortion and a bit of reverb (sorry, I'm poor at lead... and messy at the end).
The gearbox/Podfarm software works WITH your recording software and if the app is open, is effectively a pedal board into your recording software. You can turn the app off an use effects in your recording software as well, but as that is best done post production because the effects in the recording apps can introduce latency (with any recording device). If you use the toneport as your input device and monitor through it, you will never hear, record or playback any delay or latency...but if you try to monitor through the app, things get mighty wiggy. Older machines (Mac or PC) will have latency through the app no matter what (which can be tweaked by adjusting the recording cache and sampling rate but cannot be eliminated). Device monitoring fixes all that by playing back your already recorded tracks THROUGH the device (via Midi USB), since the toneport is basically a POD without controls (because it's controlled by the gearbox software) the playback tracks are for all practical purposes real time once they hit the UX1's headphone jack and allow you to record along with them with no frustrating delays or latency.
The device has been very reliable and is just about perfect for one or two people who want to record some songs. If I wanted it for band work, I think I'd pop for a Ux2.
A mixer board, a Ux2, and a laptop would be a killer mobile recording studio.
I have recently been considering buying a Mac Mini and velcro-ing it and my Ux1 to the back of an LCD monitor as a dedicated all-in-one luggable recording device (as I take over daughter #2's room when I record on her computer). While I am a PC guy, I just love GarageBand. This solution would only be a fraction of the cost of buying a MacBook.

I hope this helps some more.

BTW +1 Karma to the first person who ID's the song correctly.

*edit* song link removed... DUH! never read the sound samples rule

[ux4484]

RH,

Stupid Deal of the Day Tascam US-144 for $109 bucks.... it IS a good deal.

[thepossiblebag]

I use a Firebox into my Macbook, which is super!, but you don't mention firewire as an option.

Presonus also makes a usb-version called "AudioBox." I haven't read reviews of this, but if it is as sturdy as the Firebox, then it should be good.