Reddit reviews Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 (1st GENERATION) 18 In/8 Out USB 2.0 Audio Interface with Four Focusrite Mic Preamps

> If a mixer gives you options to, well, mix, then why would anyone choose an interface instead if they're around the same price?

Mixers are analog, and the cheap USB ones only convert the mix to digital.

So a 10 input mixer will take ten mics, and you can adjust their volumes and pan them left and right in real time, but you can only record the left and right output of all the channels. If you want to record a live band "as it sounds" and not any editing, a mixer will work and per instrument they're about half the price of an audio interface in the cheap range. (Rough guess)

What are you wanting to record? This is pretty important.


What OS are you using?

What is "breaking the bank?" Hopefully you mean spending less than $1000, as even then you're not really in the "prosumer" range.

If you're okay with 4 preamps and the rest line + digital, then the 18i8 is $350 and USB and will serve you fine.

It (and many interfaces) have an 8-channel ADAT digital audio input, so you can later buy another 8 preamps for $200 (or more if you want decent quality preamps.)

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.

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!

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 :-)

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.

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 18 In/8 Out USB 2.0 Audio Interface with Four Focusrite Mic Preamps https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPCJI2C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EI9mxbXX6235P

Can someone explain to me how these products claim to have many more inputs than I see on the box?

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-SCARLETT-18i8-Interface-Preamps/dp/B00CPCJI2C/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1398437253&sr=1-1&keywords=Scarlett+18i6.

Says 18 inputs. What does that mean? I see 4 mic inputs on the front.

Just to get you started, on where to look:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-18i8-GENERATION-Interface/dp/B00CPCJI2C

> Will an interface plug directly into my computer…

Yes! Most audio interfaces use USB. I also often use mine on iOS devices via the Apple Lightning to USB connector.

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?

How many people are in the band? Do you want to single-track or multi-track? Do you want you have a DAW already? Do you want EQs on the interface? Do you want preamps on the interface? There are a lot of questions that need some answering, but here is my recommendation if you want to multi-track with decent/good/clean.

Here is my recommendation if you want to multi-track with okay/decent sound but have an actual mixer with preamps, panning, and EQs.

Here is my recommendation if you want to single track and need a DAW (granted it is only Pro Tools Express, I'm not sure on the limitations in this iteration).

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!