Reddit reviews Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 Professional 20 In/20 Out Firewire Audio Interface with Eight Pre-Amps

Sure!

My gear is easily affordable (except a few choice pieces being the studio monitors and the PC itself).

I use a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 - Which is overkill for recording, but I have other projects that involve a lot more inputs. The Focusrite Scarlett is more than adequate for this kind of work.

For my Mic, I use a [Rode NT2A] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/R%C3%98DE-NT2AANNIV-NT2A-STUDIO-PACK/dp/B004L06ZCM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415053266&sr=8-2&keywords=) for the bulk of the recording, I have a few smaller Clip on mics for some more sensitive recording.

For my electronic audio samples, I use a [Alesis QX61] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/ALESIS-QX61-Master-keyboards-Keys/dp/B006Z6VIZO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1415053433&sr=8-7&keywords=Alesis+Q) which for this kind of work is not necessary at all.

As for Software, this can get a little expensive but I've built this up over the years, I use Ableton Live 9 and a list of plugins to extensive to name, but 90% of the recorded samples have been edited very little, and if they have, the default suite plugins are more than adequate (EQ, Reverb etc).

I only really have to dig into specialist plugins when looking to create a certain effect - such as space, etc.

I'd probably get something like this for my audio interface. http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-40-Professional-Firewire-Interface/dp/B001MZQEZ2

Pick up some Shure Sm57's for your mics. As far as the computer, it depends on whether you or someone else wants to build the system yourself or not. You'll get a better deal if you buy all of the components and install them yourself.

If you want to get into recording your drums, you need to forget audacity. If you don't have the money to spend on a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation, think ProTools, Sonar, et al), check out Reaper which is open source. PreSonus has Studio One Prime which is free as well.

Then you'll want to get a beginner friendly interface that you can connect to your computer via FireWire like this 8 channel Focusrite.

The goal should be to plug each mic independently into your DAW rather than mixing it down from a mixer, then into RCA, etc. and into your computer. If you track a song, then realize you didn't have the snare as hot as you like, then you're screwed and you need to track it all again because you mixed it all prior to recording - so don't do that.

Once you have that set up, then you can spend time learning proper mic placement, EQ'ing each drum appropriately, compression, and all the rest of the goodies when recording drums.

What you're doing now is fine if you are just messing around, but if you want to head in the direction of getting good recordings of drums as you stated above, you'll need to invest a little bit more money and time.

You missed the recording interface, probably ~500. Example as linked above

> Allen & Heath Z-420

If you are using mixing board analog direct outs, that has nothing to do with your issue, which is localized to the interface and computer.

Your Delta set up "virtual studio" would make me uneasy on a good day. Maybe you should get a rack mount interface with knobs on it. Seriously, check out

alternately, lots of people are using a Focusrite interface with 8 ch. mic pre I/O for about $300. It is really very little pay-out for what you get.

You'll need an interface to connect the mics to your computer. I use this one myself.

I'm going to be picking up an interface for the first time, and I'm pretty unsure where to start. After doing some research I narrowed my picks down to the Presonus FireStudio Project, the Tascam US-2000, and the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.

I'm only really looking for 8 inputs. My computer is firewire capable, and my budget is pretty much up to 500 dollars. I'm willing to listen to other suggestions for interfaces.

The SP40 seems to get really great reviews on it's pre's, which I'd be using as opposed to external ones. I really like how the FireStudio project has all it's inputs on front, which is just generally more convenient. All that said, the price of the Tascam US-1800 or 2000 really can't be beat for the number of inputs.

Honestly, any guidance or opinions would be really appreciated.

Links

Tascam US-2000

Focusrite Saffire Pro 40

PreSonus FireStudio Project

This is probably a question for /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers - They're usually pretty great for answering music production questions :)

That said, Logic, Reason or Pro Tools are your 'staple' DAWs - They are all equally powerful (for your intents and purposes), and Logic is the cheapest, so Logic is a good idea. You're also going to need a USB Audio Interface (I recommend the Scarlett 2i2 for small projects, or the Saffire Pro 40 if you plan on micing a drum kit) to get signal from mics/guitars into the computer. Look into getting some cheap-ish mics (AT2020 for acoustic guitar/vocals/overheads, and the SM57 and SM58 for whatever else, at least for starters).

There are oodles of great Youtube tutorials that will teach you how to use Logic, and eventually you'll want to invest in studio headphones and studio monitors (unless you already have them), which are built specifically to give you an objective sound to accurately mix.


I'm not an expert producer, but I do freelance stuff locally out of my home studio - My work for reference

Feel free to PM with questions, and you should definitely post in /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers! They'll probably have better answers than me, but I hope this helps.