Best computer recording equipment according to redditors

We found 3,262 Reddit comments discussing the best computer recording equipment. We ranked the 419 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

Next page

Subcategories:

Computer recording audio interfaces
Digital audio workstation controllers
Computer recording MIDI controllers
Computer recording software

Top Reddit comments about Computer Recording Equipment:

u/alexsgocart · 398 pointsr/DIY

I have always wanted to have a "smart" radio. My parents have always owned various Pioneer, Kenwood, and Sony radio decks, but they always had their cons to them (clunky OS, different type of touch screens that suck, lack of features, very expensive $800-$2000), useless features, etc.). I wanted something that runs Android 6.0+. I thought about using iPads, but I didn't want to waste a bunch of money for something that is going to be used in my car only. I wanted a budget friendly "smart" radio. That is when I found the perfect tablet, the Nexus 7 2013. Cheap, powerful, Android 6, compact, somewhat thin and small, and best part, it fits in a double-din radio deck.

After finding various projects that people have used, I decided to order a bunch of stuff from Amazon (everything was bought with Prime) and see if I could get this to work. It took about 3 weeks to work out all the bugs, but it runs perfect now. I never found anyone that did this mod in a Nissan Pathfinder, so that was difficult going on my own, reading various wiring diagrams and getting power, sound and steering wheel controls to work. After lots of testing each wire, and lots of trial and errors, everything is working how I want it too.

Questions that people have asked me that I can remember on the top of my head:


Q: How do you turn the tablet on and off if the power button is blocked?

A: Easy, with Timur's Kernel, and the USB car charger hooked up to the accessory power, when I turn my key on/start my car, the tablet detects power from the USB, which wakes the screen/powers on. (ELI5: there are 2 power sources in your radio, a constant 12 volt power, and an accessory key power. So when you turn the key to ACC or ON, it gives power to the tablet, but when you turn the key off, it takes away power from the USB port.)

Q: How does it hold up in the wonderful California heat?

A: Shockingly very well. It hasn't given me any issues in ~95F (+35C) degree weather. There was a day where it was 115F (46C) degrees outside, and that is when the tablet finally said NOPE and started locking up and freezing due to the ridiculous heat. After running my AC for a few minutes, it cooled the tablet down to reasonable temperature and ran normally again. When my car is parked, I have a windshield sun shade that helps a ton with keeping the sun off my black/gray dash, and/or microfiber towels over the screen to keep the sun off. If it's super hot, I just take the tablet/radio/air conditioner part out of my car and bring it inside (not that hard to remove).

Q: How do you control the volume?

A: With the JoyCon EXC, it translates either CAN, IBUS, resistive, or digital steering wheel control signals, to USB keyboard signals that the tablet can see. I have the Joycon setup to have Volume UP/DOWN, Screen ON/OFF, PAUSE/PLAY, and PREVIOUS/NEXT. Click here for more information.

Q: How do you listen to the radio/music?

A: Spotify Premium. While I can spend ~$10 on a radio antenna to USB to listen to over-the-air radio stations, I never listen to the radio. When I had my old stock radio, I never listened to the radio part. I always used my 3.5mm jack to plug in my phone for Spotify. Great perk about being a broke college student is getting 50% off Spotify Premium.

Q: Can you/do you watch TV or movies on it while you drive?

A: I can, but I don't. Pay attention to the freakin' road.

Q: How do you get internet on it since it's a WiFi version?

A: I use my Bluetooth hotspot on my phone to get internet for Waze, Google Maps, etc. I can also use the WiFi hotspot, but that uses more power. I can drive from California to Idaho running Waze the whole way and it uses about ~300MB of data.

Q: Can you make phone calls with it?

A: This has been something I have been trying, but have not had success with yet. I use an app called [TabletTalk] (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apdroid.tabtalk&hl=en), but it doesn't push the microphone/sound through the tablet. I gave up on this since I have a Samsung Gear 2 Neo smartwatch that has a microphone/speaker on it. Some day I will explore with this more.

Q: How do you power your speakers if you removed the radio?

A: I lucked out big time with this issue because my Nissan Pathfinder has the Bose System built in. That means that there's an amplifier already installed that powers the speakers. So the tablet sends the sound to the Behringer UCA202 DAC, that then converts to a 3.5mm headphone jack that then splits into the Left Front/Rear, Right Front/Rear, and dual subwoofer channels that go to the car wiring harness that then goes to the amp. This saves me hundreds of dollars. For vehicles without a stock amplifier that rely on the radio for power, that is when you will need to buy an amplifier to power the speakers. My 12 inch subwoofer also plugs into the DAC and works perfectly.

Q: I see the reverse camera, how did you get that to work with the tablet? How does the tablet know when you are in reverse?

A: There were 2 ways to get this to work, one way is by video detection, or the other way is by the JoyCon EXC. I chose to do the video detection way because it was simpler and waiting about one second for the app to open was fine with me. I use an app called EasyCap viewer.

Q: Why is there paper over the JoyCon, EasyCap, USB charger etc.?

A: The plastic pieces over the EasyCap and USB charger were bulky/broken. The JoyCon didn't come with a cover. Paper was the easiest/closest thing I had at the moment. If only I had a 3D printer. Someday..

Q: Why is the mic in the vent and not somewhere else? Doesn't the wind from the HVAC cause problems?

A: It was a last-second add-on and just put it in there without having to rewire the harness. I also didn't know where to move it that made it look "stock". I've gotten some great opinions on where to move it! Thanks for those!

I'll add more common questions here when I think of them.

Breakdown of Parts:



Price | Part
---|---
$100 | Nexus 7 2013 32GB WiFi (flo) (bought from /r/hardwareswap)
$5 | Nissan Radio Wiring Harness
$6 | AmazonBasics 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
$20 | Esky EC135-05 Rearview Camera
$95 | JoyCon EXC
$7 | Tendak OTG USB cable
$30 | Behringer UCA202
$7 | VideoSecu Amplified CCTV Microphone
$25 | Timur's Kernel v4.0 for Nexus 7 2013
$10 | Maxboost Car Charger
Free/Other/Already owned | EasyCap USB Video Capture Card, RCA cables, 3.5mm audio cables, USB cables, 12-16 AWG wire, grinder, zipties, paper, hotglue, other random stuff.
TOTAL COST | ~$305

TL;DR: Modified my Android tablet to work as a replacement for my radio. Worth it? YES. Best Radio Ever.

Have Questions? Ask away. Since I had to learn most this crap on my own, I can share my experience with others and give pointers in the right direction.

EDIT #1: Formatting.

EDIT #2: RIP my inbox. I would never have guessed this would get this popular. I'm just speechless. Wow. Thanks everyone! Trying my best to reply to everyone! Also added another question to this.

u/KoreaKoreaKoreaKorea · 16 pointsr/buildapc

$30 DAC - Link - Please know these aren't game changers, it's only offering better quality sound than your motherboard. If your headphones or speakers aren't that great, it's not doing to do much. Weakest link type of thing. If your headphones suck, these wont help. But if you have a decent set of phones, many people have sworn by these.

$75 DAC - Link - More expensive, better sound output. Again, should be paired with even higher quality sound gear. $100+ speakers/headphones.

$115 DAC - My Dac - Link - I needed a dac with a little power. I use speakers with my setup instead of headphones. This one is 2x25. It's honestly the most anyone should need for a 2.0 system.

$80 Speakers - Link - These are mine. I love them. Best combined $200 I've spent. Instead of a CPU that will need to be replaced in two years, these will out last many builds if I take care of them. The reviews are through the roof compared to the price. And I'd have to agree.

There are a million reviews about the topping DAC + Micca speakers. Things feel more immersive. I think that's the simplest way to put it.

u/DrChiz · 12 pointsr/PKA

Kyle's Setup

Microphone (Shure SM7B) - https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM7B-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002E4Z8M/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=shure+sm7b&qid=1549674292&sr=8-2

That runs into a clean gain booster, Cloudlifter (I didn't know he wasn't running this since he got his Shure in 2014. Once I learned that, I had him get one and he's been running that for about a month and a half now) https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Microphones-CL-1-Cloudlifter-1-channel/dp/B004MQSV04/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=cloudlifter&qid=1549674274&sr=8-5

Which goes into his mixer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CTKI10A/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Now if someone wanted to run this setup, I would say don't get the Behringer, they have problems but most of the time they're fine. But you want to get a Focusrite Scarlett https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T50LY/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=cloudlifter&qid=1549674274&sr=8-12 or Mackie Onyx https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Producer-Interface-Bundle-Polishing/dp/B07GJWQQM3/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=mackie+onyx&qid=1549674443&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1 (I recommend the Onyx but they're both fucking great, used both, currently running the Mackie in my new studio setup)

Taylor's Setup

Same exact setup as Kyle, even though I told them to get him this Blue Micrphone TUBE arm: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Compass-Premium-Tube-Style-Broadcast/dp/B078MLBGRM/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=blue+microphone+arm&qid=1549674585&sr=8-5

It's a way better arm. Kyle is using the standard Rode arm & either that's what Taylor's got now or he's using a super cheap ass one. But no way that cheap ass one would work with the Shure's weight, so he probably got a rode. But I recommended they both get the Blue tube arm.

Woody's Setup

Microphone (Electro-Voice RE20):

His preamp/mixer is all in his rack that's mounted with his PC which is down by his knee. I forget what he's using cause it's been many, many years since he built that thing.

The microphone arm he is using is the cadillac of microphone studio boom arms the K&M 23860: https://www.amazon.com/23860-Microphone-Desk-Arm-Black/dp/B00AXMM0L2?tag=paidinsi-20

-----------------

The Shure SM7B and Electro-Voice RE20 are the gold standard for radio and podcast production in studios. You can't go wrong. But if you get the SM7B then you need a pre-amp or something that's going to give you an additional 20-40db of clean gain.

If you don't have that Cloudlifter and just use it with that mixer, then you have to crank the fuck out of the gain which greatly increases and raises your noies floor. So you'll be audible and sound good, but you'll still get lots of white noise/background noise.

In my setup it's the Shure SM7B, Mackie Onyx, Cloudlifter, Blue Mic arm and quality XLR cables. When I plan to expand and add more microphones to do several people in studio productions. I'll create a rack unit VERY similar to what Lefty is currently running. With an electricity conditioner and the same preamp he has that I researched on my own and it's perfect for getting the clean gain added that you need so you don't need the cloud.

u/oddmanero · 12 pointsr/bapcsalescanada

the sm58 is a directional mic, and you need audio cables+audio interface for it (like a focusrite scarlett solo https://www.amazon.ca/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM or a behringer um2 https://www.amazon.ca/Behringer-UM2-Audio-Interface-Preamplifier/dp/B00FFIGYOI/ref=sr_1_18?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1541103504&sr=1-18)

the yeti can do 4 different modes, it's got a built-in preamp and it's powered straight off of the USB cable.

different setups for different purposes. i got a yeti but i want a sm57+audio interface to mic up a guitar amp setup

u/MainHaze · 11 pointsr/buildapc

I see a lot of people here recommending great builds, so I don't have anything to add on that from. However, no one here is mentioning the audio interface that will be needed to actually record his music.

There are a lot of different options available for those, and they definitely have a huge range in price. As an audio guy/musician myself, I use the Presonus Audiobox USB for home recording. It has the inputs I need to record with either a mic or by directly plugging in my guitar and using amp plugins.

If he's using large sample libraries, then he'll need a lot of ram. 16gb would be ideal, but he can get by with 8gb. It'll just limit the amount of libraries he can load in one recording session.

Also, I don't know if he already has a Pro Tools license, but that doesn't come very cheap. Currently, a Pro Tools licence goes for pretty much your entire budget (600$). If you want a cheaper solution, I HIGHLY recommend Reaper, which goes for about 10% of what it costs for Pro Tools (60$). I use it both personally and professionally for work and can say with some authority that it's an excellent tool for any kind of audio work that you need to do, be it music, sound design, or even scoring video.

u/Du6e · 10 pointsr/buildapc

Something like this makes a lot more sense, went with a white / black build.

u/grey_rock_method · 10 pointsr/Guitar

I like the Berhinger UMC204HD.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLCW

At this pricepoint all the market entries are going to have the same chips inside and similar performance, but the Behringer has the broadest feature set, with 'inserts' and MIDI.

I have two Berhinger interfaces, the UMC404HD and the UFX1204. I'm happy with both.

u/Mr_Liney97 · 9 pointsr/Flume

The two ROLI bags belong to the ROLI Seaboard Rise. Awesome, but pricey.
https://www.amazon.com/ROLI-Seaboard-RISE-25-Controller/dp/B0159ZO4U2?tag=equipboard-proof-20&psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0159ZO4U2

The small item to the left of it is a Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer.
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Engineering-002-AS-001-OP-1-Synthesizer/dp/B00CXSJUZS?tag=equipboard-20&psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00CXSJUZS

To the left of it is a audio interface, Scarlett. To me it looks like a 2i2.
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA

Below that is the Arturia BeatStep Pro.
https://www.amazon.com/Arturia-BeatStep-Pro-Controller-Sequencer/dp/B00V5BIKNW?tag=equipboard-20&SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00V5BIKNW

Below the ROLI bags is the Apogee Quartet Audio Interface
https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Quartet-Audio-Interface-iPad/dp/B009HPDNKS?tag=equipboard-20&SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B009HPDNKS

And to the left of that is the Yamaha Reface DX
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-REFACE-DX-Portable-Synthesizer/dp/B010UXJZWA

I don't know what the other things are, but I hope that I helped

u/djdementia · 9 pointsr/Android

As a DJ I just died a little bit inside. I sure hope they have a shitty sound system because driving even a halfway decent sound system off a phone is asking for serious trouble.

It will sound like shit, it will be distorted and have a serious lack of bass and high end.

Hope you put that phone in airplane mode, nobody wants to hear your txt message or phone ringing.

Please, I implore you not to do this. At the very least you should have a low end laptop running foobar2000 or something with the auto crossfader and a low end music/dj sound card like this one.

u/ZeosPantera · 8 pointsr/audio

You are playing too much Aphex Twin.

What you are actually hearing is a classic case of poorly shielded onboard audio hardware and/or poorly grounded hardware. Since pushing on the connector helps that means it is probably the latter. You have to ground the plugs manually by physically adjusting them or soldiering them. Another option is not using your onboard soundcard and getting something like this behringer dac to replace your soundcard and separate your audio from all the bad inside your PC.

u/Rrussell2060 · 8 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

To build a system using the minimum recommendations from this sub, let's start with this diagram: http://i.imgur.com/Z8FMJ.png
DAC is optional, so is a subwoofer but I recommend one.

DAC: Behringer UCA202 $29.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B000KW2YEI

Amplifier: SMSL SA-50 $68.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B00F0H8TOC

Subwoofer: Dayton Audio SUB-800 $99.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B0063NU30K

Bookshelf Speakers: Micca MB42X $89.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B00E7H8GG2

Wire: 16-gauge Speaker Wire $8.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B006LW0WDQ

With DAC, this cable: Stereo Male to 2 RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B00I0HPK6O

Without DAC, this cable: Monoprice 105597 3-Feet Premium Stereo Male to 2RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B0094A1F3S

This is a great starter system, I would have loved to had something like this starting out.
All of these pieces can be upgraded, do your research. Look for sales etc. Good luck and have fun.

u/mstassi · 8 pointsr/musicians

Garageband is a good option, since you have a mac. Audacity is free. You can find some other DAW programs for free if you know where to look. I plug my guitars (electric & acoustic) and mic into this interface and it works great for the level of quality I'm looking for. It aint free...but it's relatively cheap as far as recording goes and I'm sure you could find something similar for less if you look.

u/chimpanzeeland · 8 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

So assuming that all normal PC components are included (PC, display, keyboard, mouse), as well as monitors or headphones, this is what I'd do:

DAW: Cakewalk by Bandlab [FREE]

  • Having a DAW should really be the first thing you look at. I don't use Cakewalk personally but I've tried it and for the price, it's unbeatable.

    Interface: BEHRINGER UMC22[$59]

  • A very affordable interface with the very good MIDAS preamp. Great value for all of your initial interface needs.

    Mic: Audio-Technica AT2020 [$99]

  • Again, a very affordable, but decent, mic. As it's a large diaphragm condenser, it's extremely versatile and will sound great on everything from guitar to vocals.

    MIDI Controller: Alesis VMini [$49]

  • For the budget, you'd only need a basic midi controller and Alesis is a tried and true brand in this price segment.

    VSTs/Plugins:
    I'd try to get by using as many free VSTs, as well as what's included in Cakewalk. Here's a list of decent free stuff that'd get you started:

    Guitar amp sims: LePuo free collection [FREE]

  • LePou is really the gold standard of free guitar plugins. With a bit of tweaking, they sound great. I'd definitely pair them with the TSE Audio TS-808 tubescreamer (also free).

    Drum sim: MT Power Drum Kit [FREE]

  • A Steven Slate-style drum VST with good samples and a decent groove editor. For the price, you can't go wrong.

    Other plugins:

  • For synths, effects and other plugins, VST4FREE is your friend. They have a great selection of free stuff.

    Assuming your PC is relatively recent and has enough horsepower to run a production suite, and you have monitors/headphones that are fine for mixing, this would be a great place to start out. Also, even after buying extras like cables, mic stands, pop filters etc, I'd say you have about $200-250 left for whatever genre specific stuff you'd want - whether it be a used guitar, a second mic (such as the Shure SM57 [$95]) or a second hand hardware synthesizer, for instance.
u/bass-lick_instinct · 8 pointsr/Bass

I've said it before here, and I'll say it again: I think a cheap recording interface and a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is one of the most powerful tools for isolating issues, practicing, working through trouble spots, creativity, and more, and you can get started for about $100-$150.

I constantly use my interface and DAW. A very common use for me is to throw down an audio track with a song I'm having problems with, then I'll loop the tough sections and practice them over and over until I nail them. Some DAWs will allow you to adjust your playback speed without affecting the pitch, so if you're trying to tackle a super technical spot in something like YYZ, you can slow playback speed by 50% (or whatever) allowing you to play the song at a slower speed, then as you develop your chops you can increase the speed, ultimately easing yourself into playing the song at full speed.

I also use it for learning songs real fast. I'll start at the beginning of a song and loop the first ~25%, practice until I know it, then loop the next 25% of the song until I know it, etc until I've worked thorugh the whole song and I've found that I internalize songs much faster by doing this. The beauty is that you can lay a track down with virtually anything that can play through your phone (or basically anything with an audio jack). Just lay down a stereo track, hook up your phone to the interface via stereo cable, press record on your DAW and play on your phone.

I have a whole project for the songs I practice, each song has its own track, then below each song's track I have my bass line that I play, which I can then analyze. Recording yourself is like putting a magnifying glass on your playing, you might be surprised. I remember the first time I recorded myself I thought I nailed my part, then when I played it back I was quite humbled, to say the least!

There are tons of ways you can use a recording interface for practicing, but of course you can (and should) also use it for music creation. There are billions of free plugins out there which will work with most DAWs. Just get a cheap $30 MIDI keyboard and you'll have unlimited creative potential that would have cost tens of thousands of dollars to have just a couple decades ago in the analog world.

I personally use a Mackie Onyx Blackjack recording interface, which I would not recommend if you are using Windows (drivers are aging and Mackie doesn't appear to be updating them or supporting newer OSs, which is a shame). For a DAW I use Logic Pro X (only available on OS X), which is the best $200 I've ever spent, but you don't need to spend that (or anything) to get into a DAW. When you buy a recording interface it should come with a basic DAW that will do all the essentials, if you want something real powerful for cheap then try Reaper, which has a trial that doesn't ever cripple the software, and it's only $60 for a license (which you should buy to support the dev if you like it, it's a great piece of software).

For recording interfaces, the Scarlett Focusrite is super popular ($150). You can get decent recording interfaces for a little cheaper, I would just make sure it has at least two channels.

u/FunnyPocketBook · 7 pointsr/Bass

Focusrite Scarlett Solo/2i2 as audio interface. If you are certain that you're only going to record one thing at a time, the Solo will be sufficient.

I've seen many people recommending Reaper which is the WinRar version of free DAWs (I think?)

u/Licknuts · 7 pointsr/Guitar

Go play at open mics. This is great for networking with other musicians/bands.

You could also get a cheap recording setup, record band demos, and email those to venues. My old band recorded on a laptop from an SM57 going into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and we edited/mixed/arranged/exported all the audio through Audacity (free). That's it. Excluding the laptop and mic cables, all this costs around $250 Hell, there's even cheaper alternatives available if you're super strapped for cash.

As for actually finding venues that exist near you, try going to Indie on the move and type in your area and it'll give you all the venues that exist within however big a radius you put.

Hopefully this helps!

u/Beer_Is_So_Awesome · 7 pointsr/audiophile

This question might be better suited for /r/audioengineering .

Who will ask you what the fuck you're doing starting a label to produce cassettes. Nobody has a cassette player anymore. But at least some of the old-timers will probably have the know-how.

As a side note, the Behringer UCA202 (or 222, choose your color) is a really affordable USB interface with line-level RCA inputs and outputs. I use mine as a DAC outputting line-level audio to my headphone amplifier. It sends a nice clean signal and only costs $30. I assume you would take that line-level signal from the stereo RCA outputs and plug it into the input on whatever cassette recorder you wind up with.

u/talkingsmall · 7 pointsr/audioengineering

Haha, yeah welcome to recording things. You're never done spending money.

I just checked the user manual for your current interface, and yeah, you're not going to be able to use that with a condenser mic.

Something like this will work: http://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B00154KSA2. It's cheap, and probably a little better quality than the Line-6 you're currently using. Presonus makes high quality stuff, and I think for what you're doing, that's about the cheapest you're going to get (feel free to prove me wrong, other people)

Re: your question about phantom power adapters. I don't have any experience with them, but if anyone else does and likes them, it's really up to you.

u/pipsohip · 7 pointsr/HuntsvilleAlabama

It might be easier to just download Audacity and get an affordable audio interface and mic. Here's what I record with and it sounds great for what I need.

Focusrite Scarlett Solo - $89

Tonor Condensor Mic - $30

XLR Cable - $6

u/LSDoubleD · 7 pointsr/makinghiphop

To be honest, It really depends on what your budget is. If you have a $10,000 budget my recommendations are going to change drastically compared to if you have say, a $400 budget.

Assuming you want to keep price pretty low but still want pretty nice quality I recommend the following.

  • Microphone: Audio-Technica AT2020. It's a good mic for the price and most people start out on something like this or something similar. It delivers a good enough sound that you'll be happy with the results, especially considering how cheap it is.

  • Interface: Focusrite Scarlette Solo, This has kind of become the industry standard for beginner interfaces. It's a clean, simple interface. You hook it up to your computer, plug in your mic, adjust the volume and you're good to go.

  • Software: I personally started on Logic Pro X, If you have a Mac, I HIGHLY recommend it. Fantastic DAW, Arguably the next best thing to the industry's standard which is Pro Tools. Although it doesn't really matter what DAW you use. Most of them do the exact same thing, Just with different work flows.

  • Headsets: This doesn't matter that much. Find a pair of studio reference headphones in your price range and learn them like the back of your hand. Listen to tons of music on them, as much as you can. Some headphones boost certain frequencies and it's important you know what frequencies it's boosting so when you're mixing you dont add too much or too little of said frequency in.

    My one tip to anybody beginning is learn to mix and experiment. You can have a shitty mic and a shitty interface, but if you can mix well, You can make 90% of things sound at least decent and that's all that really matters in music. If you make a song that's a banger but it's not mixed that great, people will still listen to it. If you have a shitty song that's mixed by a world class engineer, nobody is going to listen to it. Don't get caught up in making sure everything sounds amazing, Just work and be creative.
u/Meesterwaffles · 7 pointsr/FL_Studio

Your best bet would be an Akai MPK Mini, in that price range, you get pads, switches, knobs, and a keyboard. Can't really beat it for the price, it's also pretty high quality and portable.

u/thatonekid57 · 7 pointsr/PostHardcore

If you're looking for a durable, good all-around dynamic mic for recording/performing, I would recommend the SM58.
If you're wanting a condenser mic, I've been using the MXL 770 for a couple years now and it's been great. Do you have an audio interface? If not, the one that I use is the PreSonus AudioBox.

EDIT: Feel free to PM me with any particular questions. I've been in a band for a few years and working on my second CD. Not an expert by any means, but if you have starter questions, I could definitely give you my two cents.

u/mwfisher3 · 7 pointsr/audio

The Behringer UCA-222. It's 30 bucks, acts as a headphone amp as well as a stereo RCA interface with optical out for easy connection to a stereo, mixer, etc. I use mine to plug my laptop into my living room home entertainment system. I never have to worry about a lousy 1/8" to RCA cable breaking or falling out of my computer's headphone jack.

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=pd_cp_MI_0

u/wcwouki · 7 pointsr/Bass

The aux in bypasses the preamp and tone adjustments from the amp so you need to adjust the bass with an equalizer app or bass boost app on your phone. One other option I have used is a mini mixer with stereo inputs using the proper cable from your phone to the inputs (probably RCA type) or 1/4" dual mono inputs on the mixer...I have a couple of these cheap Behringer USB 302 for around $50-60 (they used to be around $40 when I bought mine)...https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-Premium-5-Input-Interface/dp/B005EHILV4
These will allow you to adjust the bass and treble from your phone. Cheers

u/AvidyaZen · 7 pointsr/mindcrack

The headset that broke was the G35 headset from Logitech which goes for about $90 these days. It's a great headset but this would be my 3rd set in 4 years. The mic quality is average and often requires fussing with in post but overall it's a great headset.

While rocking this backup setup I've been using ear buds and I quite like it compared to the closed ear noise cancelling headset so I don't think I want to go the headset route again.

I've always wanted to go the XLR/Mixer route. This would allow me to manipulate any volume/noise issues with the mic on the fly and not touch it at all in post. I never settled on a solution that was afforable and always went with what I knew the G35.

This is the goal. It's not much more expensive than the G35 headset but is the correct tool for the job :Þ

  • Audio-Technica AT2020 XLR ^USB ^version ^exists ^too
  • Behringer Q502USB 5-Channel Mixer
  • XLR Microphone Cable
  • Microphone Suspension Boom

    A few notes about these choices. The 5 channel mixer is total overkill but this one functions as a USB audio interface meaning when you plug it in to your PC it shows up like a USB mic would. Behringer makes a 3 port USB mixer but I don't like the way it looks lol.

    Not all mixers have the ability to function as a USB device. On NON USB mixers you would have to run the output of the mixer into the input on your soundcard on your PC.

    I prefer the audio device approach. You plug your XLR mic into the mixer which is acting as the USB audio device. This allows you to control on the mixer what the computer hears on the audio device interface.

    Totally a long and involved answer but some might find it useful if in the market for audio upgrades :Þ
u/slightly_drifting · 6 pointsr/Guitar

Here, use this. There is NO reason you should be going into the line in on your pc for Christ's sake. It's got such low headroom you'll clip almost always. This setup doesn't come with a mic, but you can plug your guitar into it and get a cheap condenser mic on craigslist. If you're playing acoustic guitar and singing, then just buy this usb mic. Good luck!

Edit:The term you were looking for was "interface", not "preamp", which is why you got solutions that aren't going to work well.

u/d_troy · 6 pointsr/audio

Scarlett is known for making pretty good mic pre-amps for a reasonable price. I've used their 2i2 interface before, but the solo would solve your needs as well: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Compact-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG

u/exscape · 6 pointsr/Guitar

With a sound card made for studio usage, lag/latency shouldn't be a major issue. Some basic knowledge is required to set it up, but that same knowledge is required for any sort of computer-based recording, so it's easy to come by these days! There's tons of materials about this online, but I'll write a brief summary (not to be considered a tutorial!).
(I'm assuming Windows usage here. For Macs, the default sound card may be good enough -- it was in my 2006 and 2011 Macbook Pros. Apple's Core Audio API is really good for a OS stock one!)

You need a sound card (or: "audio interface") with good ASIO drivers. In practice, that means one that is designed for studio use. That doesn't have to mean anything very expensive, though. The cheapest ones are about $100-120, but a pretty decent one is probably more like $180.
A few examples:
FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 (a 2nd generation is on the way, so I wouldn't recommend this right now. Also, I returned my Scarlett 2i4 due to having issues.)
Roland Quad Capture (the one I use personally)
Presonus AudioBox 22VSL

The sound card you already have might work well enough with the ASIO4ALL driver, in which case you may be able to use the hardware you already have.

Once you have one of those, you install the drivers and set up the ASIO latency or buffer size (different names, same thing) to some low value. You might have to tweak this -- having too low a value will cause dropouts as the computer doesn't have time to apply effects and so on before it's time to move the sound to the speakers.

With that in place, there are a few ways to go. You need some sort of effects (like amplifiers, cabinets, delays, EQs and so on); the easy way to do this is to use some package. I mostly use Guitar Rig for this, but there are plenty of others, such as AmpliTube and Peavey ReValver. There are fully free options as well, e.g. the LePou plugins.

You can use those in several ways. The simplest would be to use a simple audio editor, like Audacity. Another way would be to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), i.e. an application used for recording music, with tracks and mixers.
I use REAPER for that, as it's about $60 and I still prefer it to ones that cost ten times as much. Other popular choices are Cubase, Logic (Mac), Pro Tools, and so on.

So, yeah, it's a bit of an involved process... but once you're there, the main difference between playing for fun (to a track or by yourself) and recording an album is clicking the record button before you start playing. :)
As for cost, that really varies. If you're lucky and your sound card works well with ASIO4ALL (or you have a Mac and that works well), you can do this for free. If you need to buy a sound card and want to use the software legally, you might have to pay a few hundred bucks for the combo.

u/skujaster · 6 pointsr/singing

Sure! I have a Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, although you could probably do the same with the Scarlett 2i2, Scarlett Solo, or most other audio interfaces. I then set the direct monitor to "mono", and turn the knob all the way to "input". Then I just plug in my mic (SM57), plug in my headphones (ATH-M50x), adjust the gain on the mic input and adjust the headphone output, and since it isn't being processed by the computer, its a virtually 0ms latency direct audio.

u/YarrJay · 6 pointsr/ft86

Equipment

  • Nexus 7 2013 w/ Timur's kernel (still in closed beta - open for donors)
  • Custom 3d printed housing
  • Alpine KTP-445U 4-channel Power Pack Amplifier
  • USB OTG Cable - Modified to fit
  • DC-DC Converter
  • Behringer UCA202 USB DAC
  • Bluetooth OBD2 Adapter - For getting real-time data into the Torque app
  • Add-a-fuse
  • Ground loop isolator ** Item still needs to be tested. This was purchased to hopefully eliminate a popping noise i get when first powering on the system

    Must Have Apps

  • GMD Gesture Control - Since i have no physical volume control buttons anymore GMD gesture control allows me to setup custom gestures like a 2-finger swipe to access volume control.

    Very excited to be ~95% complete with the install. A couple things left:

  • pull out the double-din housing i made and put the top on it which also includes a fan
  • address a 'popping' sound when turning on the system. possibly caused by the amp turning on before everything else? still seeking a solution here

    More than happy to try to answer questions for anyone else looking to do the same thing. Very happy with the outcome thus far.
u/l1788571 · 6 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Swan D1010-IV powered bookshelves cannot be best for under $70:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058QMRCK

Monoprice's basic 8" powered sub is just $60 right now:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=8248

So, at this point you should still have around $60 left to work with. I would recommend spending that on some kind of external DAC; pretty much anything will be an upgrade over the onboard outputs from your motherboard. This unit from Behringer is well-regarded and gets the job done for $30:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KW2YEI

Grab two of these RCA splitters from Monoprice; you'll use them to split the one set of left and right outputs from the DAC into two, to route each to both the Swans and there sub:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=663

Grab a couple sets of these RCA cables to run from the splitters, to both the Swans and the sub (they're available in 6, 12, and 25 feet; get whatever you need to reach, probably 6 for the Swans and maybe 12 for the sub):
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=2009

Let me know if you have any other questions (hooking things up, etc), or would like further recommendations. Enjoy!

u/Smutquery · 6 pointsr/linux

I've used a Behringer UCA-202 on Fedora 19, Fedora 20, and Debian Wheezy. It's always been a plug-and-play affair. It has a headphone jack and is reasonably priced.

It sounds good to boot.

u/metafizikal · 6 pointsr/audiophile

Best answer is probably/maybe. Here are some options at different price points:

$30 UCA202

$76 FiiO E10K

$100 Modi 2

$150 ODAC

u/broken_cogwheel · 6 pointsr/audio

Behringer UCA202 - This is what I use with my laptop.

Fucking excellent.

u/thepensivepoet · 6 pointsr/Guitar

Ableton is a great DAW and is my preferred software choice for recording/editing.

You can use the TASCAM to capture your performances and transferring those .wav files into Ableton for editing but you'll have a much better experience recording directly into your computer.

You can go a few different routes here. You can pick up an audio interface that accepts an XLR connection for a proper microphone like a Presonus Audiobox and an SM57 which will allow you to capture as good a single channel signal as you can really get outside of a big recording studio.

OR you can go with something cheaper like a Blue Snowball USB microphone. These things actually sound surprisingly good and have multiple settings for directional and omni modes for different situations.

Once you have a way of capturing audio directly into Ableton you can start building up your songs layer by layer. Experiment with things like EQ and compression/delay/etc to make your guitar tracks sound nicer. There are built in patched in Ableton for EQ like "Acoustic Guitar" or "Electric Guitar" and just dragging one of those onto your channel will be a great place to start.

That's a skill in and of itself but you have to start somewhere so start experimenting.

When starting out applying EQ to tracks I'd start this way :

  • Solo the track so you're only listening to the single layer

  • Create a single EQ filter with a high Q value so it creates a really sharp and thin "peak" and drag it upwards so it's amplifying a very narrow band of frequencies quite a bit.

  • Drag that "peak" left and right while the audio is playing and listen for something that jumps out at you as unpleasant. Now drag the peak DOWN to bring those frequencies down in the mix to remove whatever harshness you discovered. Bring down the Q value to make that trough a bit wider and smoother.

    Do that 3 or 4 times on a channel and you'll have something that sounds a bit nicer. If you do too much it'll sound hollow and empty so make subtle adjustments as much as possible. Don't dump that "bad frequency" all the way to the bottom, just bring it down a little bit so it doesn't jump out at you.

    You won't be creating drastically new tones this way, just polishing them so they sound nicer.

    Having a good pair of headphones or even some inexpensive studio monitors will also be extremely helpful so you can accurately hear what you're producing.

    Use the built-in metronome and record with headphones (so the click doesn't get picked up by the microphone) to keep things tight.

    Once you've finished your audio and it's how you like it THEN film your video and just play along with the click. Don't use any audio from the video recording and just pair the two back up in editing.
u/Silaryia · 6 pointsr/skyrimmods

If anyone's curious about getting an XLR setup, I can direct you to some pretty good starting gear! I personally use the Audio Technica AT2020 cardiod condensor microphone and a Focusrite USB audio interface. You'll also want to buy a male to female XLR cable of some kind. A pop filter is also a good investment! And, of course, you'll want a stand of some kind for the microphone. I personally use this but it limits your ability to move the microphone away from a desk.

If you want studio quality, be sure to record in 24-bit 48k, with an uncompressed format like a wav. That's the standard both Hollywood and indie productions have been using for years.

Oh, and if anyone's curious about credentials, I mix and record audio for commercials.

u/deandimarzo · 6 pointsr/audioengineering

You really, really need an interface. The built-in soundcard isn't quite up to snuff when it comes to audio input, and as /u/despicable_secret mentioned, condenser mics need 48V of phantom power to function correctly.

The most popular option is the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, but just about any of these will do the trick.

u/Blueman826 · 6 pointsr/Bass

What they are using is an interface, a DAW and possibly an amp simulator on their computer.Basically an interface is a box that you plug your instrument or mic into that goes into your computer. It turns the analog signal of the instrument or mic into digital information that the computer can read. These can be worth a hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on your needs.

The bass signal would then have to go into an amp simulator for the direct input signal to be heard like it's played through an amp. These amplify and change your signal just like an amp would do, providing a full sound for your guitar/bass. These are can be worth anything from 0 dollars to a couple hundred and each has its own sound and quality.

DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation and allows your instrument or mic to be recorded along with other tracks and instruments. These allow you to record songs and covers but also allow you to use tons of effects including compressors and eqs, amp sims and midi instruments.If you simply want to play and/or record your bass through your computer I'd recommend getting a simple 1 input interface like a Steinberg UR12 or a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. The Focusrite would have a higher quality build and sound, but the Steinburg will still get the job done. A great DAW would be REAPER, as it is completely free to use but will request a licensing of $60 that you do not have to pay. And there are tons of great free amp simulators online, but there are some really nice amp sims for a bit of money. I'd suggest checking out This list of free sims and checking out the other paid amp sims including Bias Fx and Amplitube.

Good Luck!

u/SinisterHumanoid · 6 pointsr/pcmasterrace

ATH-M50x's with brainwavz pads since the stock ones are thin and will fall apart after a year of heavy use. And a ModMic.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ - $150~

https://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Hybrid-Memory-Foam-Earpad/dp/B00ZGGG3KY - $30~

https://www.amazon.com/Antlion-Audio-ModMic-Attachable-Microphone/dp/B00R98O6R4 - $50~

Of course if you already have a mid the ModMic isn't needed. OR for just twice the price cut the second cord attached to your skull and get an AT2020 and even a Scarlett Solo for the best sound possible.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK - $100~

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM - $100~

u/brandon7s · 5 pointsr/Guitar

It's your audio interface, or rather, your lack of an audio interface. Crackling in audio like you're experiencing is due to the ASIO drivers and your soundcard not being able to keep up with the bitrate to play back your audio without dropping data packets.

Audio interfaces that will fix your problem and let you play at much lower latency aren't expensive.

If you really want to spend as little as possible then you can get this Berhinger interface at just over $50, but I recommend spending the extra $20 or so and getting this Steingerb UR12. I use the 2-input version (UR22) and it's been great.

u/the-igloo · 5 pointsr/singing

He's 16, so this advice is probably somewhat less relevant to him than it is for most people who ask this kind of question, but I'll give the advice anyways because everyone else seems to be suggesting normal things a singer wants.

When buying a gift for a hobbyist, one of the riskiest decisions you can make is buying them something they might need for their hobby. First of all, odds are they already own it or something like it that they prefer (singing/being 16 doesn't fit very well with this advice, but bear with me). Second of all, even if they don't, it's better to let them pick it out. Consider a grandparent buying a Lego set for a grandkid. Odds are, the grandkid knows exactly what they want, so the best possible scenario for a grandparent guessing and choosing has the same outcome as the normal scenario for just giving the money straight to the kid.

Obviously, gift-giving is usually more sentimental than that, so there's an art and a nuance to it better than just "take some cash, go see a Star War", but I'd say actually buying them something you think they might need is categorically worse than either giving them something personal that will affect them in other ways (unrelated to the hobby -- something you know as much or more about than they do) or just a gift card or cash or similar.

In this case, 40 € probably won't go far. A microphone might be the obvious choice (assuming he doesn't already have one), but it will either be sufficiently low quality it will be worse than his phone or a computer, or it will require other equipment (speakers and/or an audio interface) which he probably doesn't have and will cost more than that. It's probably safest to look outside of the realm of music-making, but if you do want to get him something related to singing, your gift could be taking him to the music shop and buying something he wants, or just giving him a gift card to an online store so he can save up for something bigger like an audio interface and microphone combo.

Just my two cents as a hobbyist who sees a lot of well-intentioned but practically guaranteed-to-misfire advice out there. =)

If I had to give an exact product (or product type) recommendation and if he's technically inclined and wants to record, I might recommend a cheap MIDI piano. Something like this, maybe. This will allow him to plug the keyboard into his computer and use GarageBand or another DAW to actively create recorded music.

u/TheRoyalGodfrey · 5 pointsr/hiphopheads

I'd say just mess around with chopping things up

i'd say buy a small MIDI keyboard (something like this or this) to start off and just play around with stuff. A lot of it is learning music theory and different chord progressions

u/Keshaluvr887 · 5 pointsr/synthesizers

I'm guessing you mean hardware, but there are some fantastic software synths out there. 80's pop music is largely made from FM synthesis, which is completely out of your price range for hardware.

Dexed is modeled after a series of popular Yamaha FM synths and is free https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed

FM8 is a top-tier software alternative http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths/fm8/

If you really want hardware, the Microbrute is a good option. They're great, some people on this sub hate on them for no good reason. If you watch studio tours of famous electronic musicians the Minibrute is probably the most common instrument in them.
Microbrutes are capable and fun. They're also pretty much one knob per function which is particularly good for beginners.

Another option is the Waldorf Streichfett http://www.juno.co.uk/products/waldorf-streichfett-string-synthesizer-with-the-waldorf/526565-01/
This synth was designed to emulate 70's and 80's synth pop sounds and falls into your price range nicely. It does not come with a keyboard, however, so you'd have to get one of those (small ones are really cheap/easy to find) or play it with your computer.

I'd go with the Streichfett. And this http://www.guitarcenter.com/Keith-McMillen-Instruments/K-Board-USB-Keyboard.gc or this http://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AKM320-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKMK64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454053448&sr=8-1&keywords=mini+midi+keyboard but used so it's a bit cheaper. That should be close to $300.

u/TexasThrowDown · 5 pointsr/audioengineering

Being an IT professional sometimes this sub's acronyms confuse the hell out of me. That said, has he looked into a Scarlett solo? It's what I use at home. It's technically an interface, but is powered over USB and is great if you only have 1-2 inputs. It's also pretty small and could easily fit into a backpack or messenger bag (really anything with pockets). May not be exactly what he's looking for, but it sounds like it might fit the bill.

https://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-solo

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483738306&sr=1-1&keywords=scarlett+solo+second+gen

u/beefqeef · 5 pointsr/WorldofTanks

If you're willing to spend a decent chunk of money on a sound card, don't. Get an external DAC- it does the same as a sound card but is further isolated from interference in your computer. Some also have built in volume controls and mute buttons.

I use a Scarlett Solo with audiotechnica M50X headphones.

This is a good small DAC.
FiiO E10K Headphone Amplifier and DAC https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Sh8FxbGKRG5TQ

And this is one which I use.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2nd Gen 2 in 2 Out USB Audio Interface https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Xi8Fxb55YAY5D


Edit: It's not worth it unless you have a good quality headphone set. I would recommend the audiotechnica M40 or M50 headphones for very good quality at low prices compared to other brands.

u/ingeniousclown · 5 pointsr/letsplay

This is one of the best entry-level audio interfaces you can get for the money. It might seem expensive, but trust me if you buy a 30 dollar Behringer U-Phoria you're going to get some nasty static noise because those things are garbage.

With that, if you're already breaking the bank, you can get a relatively cheap microphone that will sound reasonably good compared to the snowball, and then you can upgrade later on.

Also, what do you mean by "sound like I'm in a cave"? Perhaps your issue is something else... like a poorly treated room?

u/LuminescentMoon · 5 pointsr/singing

Good audio interfaces (like the Scarlett Solo) have a switch to directly monitor the audio from the mic (aka, it would feed it directly back to the headphones with 0 latency). Other than that, it's 100% your mic's quality.

If you're going microphone shopping, look for condenser mics instead of dynamic ones. Dynamic mics are more suitable for live performances (on stage) since they're vastly more durable than condenser mics but they're nowhere near as accurate as condensers.

u/_fuma_ · 5 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

The easiest way is to get an entry level pro-audio USB interface like a Focusrite Scarlett Solo (which has a 24bit 192KHz DAC built in).

u/SirClaytonBigsby · 5 pointsr/buildapc

This build will be adequate for music production, although just barely. Like others have said, an outboard audio interface that connects by USB is one of the most important components for an audio production PC (definitely cut that asus xonar sound card). this focusrite Scarlett series is an immensely popular choice https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1491756709&sr=1-2&keywords=audio+interface I would also recommend the behringer umc hd series as being much better value at the $99 price point (this is what I just replaced my ancient audio interface with) https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491757010&sr=8-1&keywords=umc404hd The audio interface will allow you to 100% bypass the motherboards audio chipset and will provide far higher quality and much more routing options than any onboard audio chipset can claim.

I wouldn't cut anything from this parts list. If you running even a few different VST's in ableton you may come to find the mechanical drive insufficient to allow you to smooth play back of instruments. An 250-500gb SSD would be a likely future upgrade for this build that would tangibly improve performance.

Also, if an audio interface is outside your budget, I would simply wait on buying one. Depending on what your doing in Ableton you might not find it essential right off the bat. Its not like its gonna affect your warping or timestretching ;)

u/BeardedAlbatross · 5 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Adding to this, if his source is a PC then pick up This, a pair of TRS cables and you should be fine budget-wise.

u/fasterflame21 · 5 pointsr/FL_Studio

Best thing you can do for a guitar sound is get a guitar. I spent weeks trying to get a good guitar sound while using a keyboard, and the best thing you can do is get the real thing. You don't need anything fancy, but a Lexicon Alpha and a guitar with humbucker pickups will do wonders for you.

That being said, it all depends on your goal. What kind of music are you wanting this guitar sound for?

u/DublinBen · 5 pointsr/headphones

The best portable, closed headphones are the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II which are only $175 right now. They will block out significant amounts of outside noise, and keep your music to yourself. Being professional headphones, they are very durable and can be easily repaired.

What you're asking for in a USB connection is going to require a separate DAC. That is a whole separate issue, and you can easily spend another $100 on that alone. This $24 Behringer unit would probably be the cheapest one worth trying.

u/BangsNaughtyBits · 5 pointsr/podcasts

A full setup that will record four local mics, max, or two local mics and a Skype caller. A choice of mics.

Behringer UMC404HD interface for $100 (needs a USB cable I think)

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM/

Behringer HA400 headphone amp for $25

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-HA400-BEHRINGER-MICROAMP/dp/B000KIPT30/

Needs two TRS 1/4" stereo cables, one for the headphone amp and one for Skype. $10

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CSS-105-Balanced-Interconnect-Cable/dp/B000068NYF/

Behringer XM1800S three pack of good enough mics for $40

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-XM1800S-BEHRINGER-ULTRAVOICE/dp/B000NJ2TIE/

or a slightly better Behringer XM8500 at $20 each

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultravoice-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002KZAKS/

or a very nice Blue enCORE 100 at $60

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-enCORE-100-Studio-Grade/dp/B002SQJL9U/

A couple 9-foot XLR cables for $12 or vary as you see fit

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Cable-Male-Female-Microphone/dp/B074KYQ66J/

On-Stage, desk stand for $13 (lots of options)

https://www.amazon.com/Stage-DS7200-Adjustable-Microphone-Stand/dp/B0002M3OVI/

You need some RCA to 1/4" TS cables. Technically two though there are reasons up to four and this six pack is cheap at $8. Wish they were shorter.

https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Patch-Cable-Cords/dp/B0010XVYGA/

or you can get by with one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CPR-201-Stereo-Interconnect-Cable/dp/B000068O16/

and my personal favorite, the UCA202 for $30

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-U-Control-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital/dp/B000KW2YEI/

This gives you full Skype access to the other rig for Two local mics.

!

u/Mshenay · 5 pointsr/headphones

Honestly, If I were in your shoes, I'd grab a BEHRINGER UCA 202 along with a Beyer Dyanmic DT 880 Pro 250 ohm, with a Schiit Vali 2

Upgrading from the DT 880 is difficult to do, as it's very neutral. You can compliment it with something like a Senn HD 650, but for less money you can just swap a Mullard Tube into your Schiit Vali 2, and then if and when you want more, you can easily upgrade the Dac, as the DT 880 will scale nicely!

u/mids187 · 5 pointsr/buildapcsales

get a audio interface with xlr outputs or 1/4 outputs. Also your're gonna wanna get balanced outputs.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER/dp/B00QHURLCW

u/Owl_Bear_Snacks · 5 pointsr/synthesizers

Well, you have a massive leg up on a lot of people in terms of music theory and chops. I'm going to assume you can read a fake book, a chart and are probably a better player than me. Jazz especially will align with composition, voicing and other stuff. Even though classical gives chops, I think (without explicit work) it leads to something that synths or production might not use.

The good thing is, it's not as much practice. It's a lot of toying around, reading and learning. But it's not like playing. You see the opposite problem with people that make a lot of noise but then want to start on composition or music theory. They have all this gear but they don't finish stuff. That's fine for some, just fool around but then there's not much growth. That's pretty much the end game. So what you're going to discover is a universe of TIMBRE. New sounds that are very dynamic. Modulation, timber over time. The problem is, a lot of this stuff won't exercise your chops. Maybe that's ok with you.

Do you have a DAW or a computer to record with? The cheapest way for almost anything is software. U-he makes great plugins and they have Hive as an intro synth. It's no toy either. It just has "
"accessible" priorities. They are releasing a new version soon so maybe wait on that. You're going to need a VST host to go that route. Maybe you have something already. Reaper is free to try. And you'll need a sound card. Almost anything is fine. Behringer has a cheap USB thing for $130: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER/dp/B00QHURLCW/

That'd be fine for a while. You'll want to upgrade it if you want to improve recording sound and/or complexity in projects (latency).

Barebones for a software synth:

  • midi keyboard for input, you'd probably want 61+ keys for two hands
  • a computer
  • a DAW program like Reaper (free to try forever), $60 to buy it
  • a synth like Hive
  • a soundcard

    Otherwise, you could go hardware. In which case, getting the Korg Minilogue is a great intro synth. It only has four voices which might be frustrating. It would teach you the basics of oscillators, filters and ADSR envelopes. Almost anything synth will (including software). If you want more voices, maybe an 8 voice Korg prologue.

    Flying Lotus and Jon Hopkins is more about production and layering in which case you probably want to learn a DAW pretty well. That's heavily produced and processed music which might not have a lot to do with "the synth". The sound you're after might be many layers of drums and effects. Hard to say. You'll need to learn plugins, mixing and how to work quickly.

    For playing with a live band, I'd only use a hardware synth.

    Another way to practice textures and having control over it is something like this.

  • Make a laser sound. It would be used in a sci-fi movie.
  • Make an ocean wave.
  • Make a bass drum and a bad sounding snare drum. Now make a decent electronic hi-hat.
  • Now find a gif (meaning silent) on the internet and layer many new sounds to create a sound effect track to go along with it. It might be footsteps with breathing and keys jingling.

    That's kind of the practice type material/goals you might take on. Then making "that bass sound you heard" is going to be way easier. There's also another synth subreddit /r/synthrecipes/ where people ask for tips on things they heard. I don't know much about that subreddit. Hope this helps ... ask questions ...
u/Taupter · 5 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Behringer UMC22 is US$48 on Amazon. It will do.

Behringer Uphoria UMC204HD is the best bang for the buck. If you can save some more money you can get it for US$80.

u/gutie5 · 5 pointsr/musicproduction

This is the one I use and it works really well, would definitely recommend for a first audio interface. BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD, 2-Channel ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_v0wkDbXTEJ1G7

u/R-A-S-0 · 5 pointsr/Guitar

You'll want a USB Audio Interface - something like this and a good set of headphones. Since you're using a Mac, you'll have access to GarageBand; grab the BIAS FX free trial for Amp + FX sims and load it as a plugin with GarageBand. You should be able to get a pretty nice setup for less than £100.

Edit: You can record in GarageBand just by pressing the 'r' key or by clicking the record button.

u/TheImmortalLS · 5 pointsr/headphones

I tried using my nexus 5 with a usb-otg cable that allows charging and usb-dac/amp


it's unnecessarily complicated, and a headphone jack is the sane choice, preferably a good one like the lg v10 has.

u/grandzooby · 5 pointsr/audiobooks

I still sometimes buy books on cassette - some older books are only available that way. And somehow it seems more fitting to hear and old-time book with old-timey tape hiss and frequency response.

I picked up a couple old cassette decks from a thrift store and use a decent digitizer (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B0023BYDHK) to record them to flac/mp3.

In fact, here's a bash script (I'm a Linux user) that I wrote to record sides of tape to flac:

!/bin/bash


usage()
{
cat << EOF
usage: $0 [Filename Base] [Tape Number] [Tape Side] [optional DURATION (default=60 minutes)]

Record from the ALSA hardare hw:1,0 (USB Audio) to a FLAC file.

examples:
$0 War_and_Peace 1 A (record 45 minutes to 01-A_War_and_Peace.flac)
$0 War_and_Peace 1 B 60 (record 60 minutes to 01-B_War_and_Peace.flac)

EOF
}

if [[ -z $1 ]]
then
usage
exit 1
fi

get command line arguments

TITLE=$1<br />
TAPENUM=$(printf %02d $2)<br />
TAPESIDE=$3<br />


DURATION=$(( 45 60 )) # 45 minutes 60 seconds

if [[ -n $4 ]]
then
DURATION=$(( $4 * 60 ))
fi


OUTFILE=$(printf %s%s-%s.flac $TAPENUM $TAPESIDE $TITLE)


avconv -f alsa -ac 2 -ar 44100 -i hw:1,0 -t $DURATION -y $OUTFILE


Of course, that's hard-coded to my audio setup (hw:1,0 in the last line).

One example of something I could only get on cassette was Asimov's The Complete Robot.

u/junglizer · 5 pointsr/DJs

I use one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0023BYDHK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394292147&amp;amp;sr=8-1

Nothing super special, but it sounds good and gets the job done. Just use it on booth/record out of your mixer.

u/hadapurpura · 5 pointsr/audioengineering

I'm a singer (both lyrical and pop) and I wanna start recording myself at home. I wanna make demos and write songs (since I don't play instruments and only know the most basic music theory, I have to record). I also have a very, very limited budget (I'll get a freeware DAW). I do have a "mic": this beauty, and I wanna improve my situation, because while I'm not starting a pro studio or anything right now, I do want my voice to sound as good and accurate as possible.

My sister is in the States right now on vacation, so I can tell her what to buy me, but I have to do it soon, and I don't know what's best within my budget.

I'm overwhelmed. I don't know if I should get a USB mic (like a Samson C01, Snowball, ATR2500, Yeti, etc...), a cheap XLR mic with an icicle, or a cheap DAW interface like this with a cheap condenser. I'm not even familiar with the brands or anything, so I don't know which is better, and virtually all reviews I've seen are geared towards podcasting or things like that. What would you recommend me?


u/[deleted] · 5 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Ok so here's a small list, don't know how much you have but here's a kind of good budget setup.

u/MyOpus · 5 pointsr/singing

Couple things... first, add POWER to your lower register. You got very muffled and flat when you dropped down, a good example is around 0:40. Watch a few videos on budgeting your breath to help sustain you when you drop down.

You have a few pitch issues, especially around 0:30 "everybody look to your right" the everybody was off. There were a few more like that as well. A good exercise for this is arpeggios.... learn them, sing them, love them :) They will help an aspiring singer a ton.

Finally, if you're serious, and since you're putting yourself out here for critique I assume you are, go ahead an invest in a good microphone and an interface so you can record yourself better. You can do it on the cheap with something like an AT2020 and a small Focusrite for around $200'ish. It will really make a difference.

You have some uniqueness to your voice, which is what everyone looks for, and you're already taking steps to improve and learn which means you accept criticism which is crucial if you're going to do anything in music... so good for you and keep working at it!

u/iMakeSoundFX · 5 pointsr/gamedev

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&amp;amp;qid=1415053266&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;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&amp;amp;qid=1415053433&amp;amp;sr=8-7&amp;amp;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.

u/yoitsmeab · 5 pointsr/Guitar

I use a mic to an interface to my laptop, which is the standard route.

For the mic, I use an sm57 for higher volume stuff (if you ask any musician what mic they would use if they could only have one mic for general recording, 80% will say an sm57). For lower volume stuff, I use a large diaphram condenser mic (requires phantom power)

For my interface, I have an old Tascam 1800 (it has 16 inputs, I used to use it to record percussion and orchestral parts.

For software I use Cubase and Reaper. Cubase is expensive and difficult and I kind of hate it but it works really well once you figure it out. Reaper is free and fairly simple to use.

This is a fantastic less expensive interface for recording guitar

This is the Shure sm57 microphone

Link to Reaper's site

Link to Cubase's site

Best of luck!!!

u/theknyte · 5 pointsr/recordingmusic

The go to interface for that price range is the Focusrite Scarlett

u/basics · 5 pointsr/audiophile

The same company makes an 8" or 10" powered sub that is usually recommended with these speakers. The sub itself is around $80-$90 iirc, so it would be difficult to get something under $100 total.

Also note that these speakers require an amplifier.... which will drive your total cost up a bit.
If you need an amp, you could look at
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-650

You could always add in a cheap USB DAC (digital to analog converter) such as
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1333570606&amp;amp;sr=8-1
To bypass your sound card (your sound card has a DAC built in, but its probably shit).

As far as needing the sub, it really depends on what kind of sound you want. I would recommend getting the 2.0 (just speakers) first, and adding a sub (bringing you to a 2.1 system) if you feel like the bass is lacking.

I have those two speakers, without a sub, and I am very pleased with them.

These speakers are frequently recommended for people looking for the best sound at a low budget.

u/FavorMusik · 5 pointsr/audiophile
u/ranterbach · 5 pointsr/ZReviews

Behringer UMC22

$60, plug and play (no driver fuckery that some people encounter with Scarlett), front 1/4" for headphones and rear L/R 1/4" for use as a preamp with powered speakers.

u/pigz · 4 pointsr/Guitar

&gt;don't see a guitar input


There's a 1/4" mono input in the centre of the XLR.


That behringer unit is prettly limited, especially getting the audio back out of the PC to your monitors. Line OR USB, instead of line and USB.


In your price range, better choices would be M-Audio MTrack Plus, or MTrack 2, Focusrite Scarlett or Presonus Audiobox


They all come with some form of 'Lite' DAW software as well.

u/Aezalius · 4 pointsr/Twitch

A Samson Q2U is a good option since you mentioned breathing and keyboard noise. It's dynamic as well as both XLR and USB, so you've got both upgrade paths in the future.

If you're set on a condenser mic then the AT2020 is a great choice. I'm using one with a Behringer Q802USB mixer, but you can get a cheaper UMC22 or UM2 which will sound just as good.

edit: If you want to go with XLR and Dynamic, then I highly reccomend the Shure SM57-lc as it sounds absolutely amazing, and there is a ripoff version of it which sounds almost identical called the pdmic78 for $20, but some people say it's not as durable as the sm57 (you can run over that thing with a bus and it still works).

u/davou · 4 pointsr/synthesizers

Heya guys, I dug through the faq and even did that website but Im still a bit lost.

I work in an office where I'm not allowed to have a computer or a phone at my desk; and I'm not allowed to connect anything to the work systems.

Apart from that I'm pretty much allowed to do whatever I want while I idle waiting for work to happen.

I've decided that I wanna try and learn to play some keys and maybe make some beats while I idle; with that in mind I have some requirements on a synth/keyboard.

  • It needs to work without needing to be plugged into a computer while I play (putting sounds on it from a computer before I play is fine, since I can do that at home)

  • It needs to have a headphone jack so that I can jam without upsetting people around me/distracting people.

  • It needs to be compact and not a full sized unit.

    Apart from that here are some things I'd like for it to be able to do also, but wont fuss over.

    line in would be cool, so that I can play along with music from an MP3 player
    Drum pads would be awesome.

    I was looking at something like this but Im not sure if that will run without having the comptuer plugged into it.

    That thing is just about the perfect size and layout for what I want; Quality isn't so important since this is going to be mostly a time waster and quick try at something. If I find I like it, I will get something better down the road. I also realize my needs and wants are pretty specific, so I'm not opposed to spending some money.
u/tPRoC · 4 pointsr/makinghiphop

arturia minilab mk2

if you want full size keys try this or this

stay away from the launchkey it has terrible keys that feel like ass, it's only good if you want the clip launching features for ableton

the akai mpk mini is okay while it lasts but eventually the keys will break off. not might, will. Akai also just released an updated version of this controller, no idea if the keys are any more reliable on it though.

$200 is a bad amount of money to spend. either go cheap ($100) or go expensive with midi controllers and get something like this or this, everything "mid range" feels like ass for the price you pay &amp; you will be disappointed with it.

u/thomasxx3 · 4 pointsr/Guitar

hmm maybe something like a simple usb keyboard that connects to your pc?

you can record directly with that and put it in your software + they are way smaller

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Performance-Ready-8-Assignable/dp/B00IJ6QAO2?ref_=Oct_BSellerS_8882496011_0

im by far not a pro but this is what i would do^ :)

u/ShreddyZ · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I was referring to something like the Akai. While you can record a midi keyboard using just a usb cable, you'll need some sort of interface to record signals from your microphone. I suggested a pci device because you're building a pretty badass rig, and pci devices are much faster/have better latency/have more inputs and outputs than usb or firewire devices. However, they're also usually quite expensive. Plus, if you're only going to be recording with one microphone, you really don't need all that nonsense. For this reason, I highly recommend getting a usb device. What's your budget going to be like? There are a wide variety of very high-quality interfaces to be had for under $200. Off the top of my head, two that I can recomend are the PreSonus Audiobox and the Line6 UX2 (which I use).

u/reteov · 4 pointsr/audioengineering

Much of the weight involved in XLR is for shielding from EM interference. If you're going for a clean sound, this will work against it. Also, consumer sound cards do not have the kind of preamp that would work with larger microphones, so you would also need to get a preamp. You're better off just getting a low-cost USB audio interface or mixer.

An example would be the Behringer Xenyx 302USB (http://amzn.com/B005EHILV4). It's good enough to be both functional and portable. Granted, $80 is not exactly pocket change, but it's still two-digit.

u/sexyfail · 4 pointsr/ableton

I had good experiences with my Lexicon Alpha unit.

u/tek_fox212800 · 4 pointsr/FL_Studio

Happy Cake Day duder! Here are my suggestions!

Under 100$

[Lexicon Alpha](http://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Alpha-Desktop-Recording-Studio/dp/B000HVXMNE/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1412270622&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=lexicon+alpha)

Scarlett Solo

Tascam US-32

Over 100

Scarlett 2i2

M Audio M Track Plus

Steinberg UR22


Personally, I use the UR22, mainly because I need the Midi in/out for my outboard synths, and the d-pre amps are quite nice for basic mics. I work for a music shop, and our best seller is the UR22. However, any of these interfaces would work well with FL Studio, and you would not be displeased with any of them. Let me know which one you get, dude! Cheers!

Ninja Edit - Stay away from Behringer, Gemsound, Pyle, and Pyramid. They are low cost, but have poor quality builds, poor converters, latency issues, and a myriad of other problems. Also, if you need multiple inputs and mixing capabilities down the line, I suggest these;

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-MG10XU-10-Input-Stereo-Mixer/dp/B00IBIVL42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1412271070&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=yamaha+mixer

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Audiogram-6-audio-interface/dp/B001F1WNAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1412271058&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=yamaha+interface


u/fuimani · 4 pointsr/audiophile

That's almost certainly your GPU causing some interference. A cheap, surefire way to fix that would be to grab an external DAC, like the one in the UCA202.

u/Ohgrinho · 4 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

If you can find a used Steinberg UR12, I would recommend that.
I use one myself for one of my laptops, when I'm not in the studio.

It comes with Phantom power, XLR, monitoring, 192khz, 24 bit and even some direct monitoring. A new one would cost €99. So you might find a second hand one for something around 40-70 €/$.

https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR12-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00QY4RLRQ

u/TwoKiwi · 4 pointsr/synthesizers

Hey, I'm new to the hardware world of keyboards and synthesizers. I'm looking for a hardware keyboard that's capable of synthesizing instrument sounds (piano, organ, strings, trumpets, etc) and capable of synthesizing sounds from scratch (oscillator, filters, LFO, portamento, etc). I don't care whether the synthesizer is a true analog synth or a virtual analog/analog modeling synth. Does something exist that is capable of doing both of these types of sound synthesis in one device? Or do I need to buy 2 separate devices?

I currently own a midiplus AKM320 (32 key usb midi keyboard), but I'm finding the number of keys limiting while trying to learn music theory. Would it be feasible to buy a larger keyboard such as the MicroArranger then feed it into another synthesizer like the microkorg/MS2000 Rack Mount to achieve both types of sound synthesis?

Thanks for the help!

u/spdorsey · 4 pointsr/audio

I have a Focusrite 2i4 and this thing is very nice for the cost. Great inputs, clean sound, and good hardware.

u/Trees_And_Porn · 4 pointsr/battlestations

Hey guys! I know this just looks like a generic RGB battlestation. I recently just bought a house for myself, and was finally able to set up my own gaming room, and I wanted to show it off .I plan to eventually set up my VR stuff in this room somewhere. I know the photo quality sucks, but I don't own a camera, and my iPhone camera sucks.



Case - NZXT Phantom 410


Mobo - ASUS TUF SABERTOOTH Z97


CPU - i7-4790k Devil's Canyon


CPU Cooler - NZXT Kraken X42


RAM - Kingston HyperX


GPU - ASUS ROG GTX 1070


Storage - Samsung 860 PRO 1TB


Keyboard - Ducky Shine 4


Mouse - Corsair Scimitar


Headphones - Sennheiser PC 360


Microphone - Audio-Technica 2020


Audio Interface - Focusrite Scarlett Solo


Monitors - Asus VG248QE x2

u/Trifax · 4 pointsr/VoiceActing

If you're going to do voiceover semi-regularly to very often on even your own projects casually, it's worth doing better than the Blue Yeti or Snowball. You can get a much better sound than that if you can manage a little more cash—I'm sure you can get creative.

AT2020 ($83), Behringer B-1 ($89.95), MXL 770 ($74.99) or 990 ($87.67), or the Samson CO1 ($38 used, $62 new).

All XLR condenser microphones, which means that you also need an interface and an XLR cable. The Focusrite Scarlett is the most popular and most affordable.

u/SOGOpod · 4 pointsr/podcasting

Let's start from the top.
____

  • Here's my Handy Dandy Microphone Guide to get you started. I recommend you create a budget before you go mic shopping.

  • Avoid any and all hardware mixers. If you mess up your EQ from the get-go, there's no fixing it later. Always record flat, and EQ in post. Digital EQ's are all but indistinguishable from their analog predecessors.

  • If you want to use an XLR mic (read the guide) you'll need an interface. A Focusrite will be an excellent investment, if you choose to go that route. A Focusrite Scarlett Solo will be perfect, if it's just you, or your cohost won't be recording in the same house as you, but an 18i8 will be pretty much the max any podcaster will ever need (I use an 18i20, but I later realized it was definitely overkill)

  • As for software, Garageband is perfect to start. I would recommend Mixcraft, or Reaper, but they're both Mixcraft is Windows-only (Reaper has a Mac version. Thanks for the correction @Cassinpants), and I assume you have a Mac, since you have GB.
    ____
    My personal setup is:

    -Focusrite 18i20

    -Electrovoice Re20 + Heil PR40

    -Custom PC (i7 6700k/ Fury X/ 16Gib DDR5 RAM, Hard drives for days)

    -Mixcraft 8

    -various plugins

    -Libsyn

    Hope this helps, for now! See you back, soon, to figure out RSS ;D




    Edit: Added multiple links
u/krtr · 4 pointsr/Guitar

It's a bit more but I'm finding my Scarlett Solo does the job.

u/mellovibes75 · 4 pointsr/battlestations

Not OP but I can help you out here. Let's break this down by component:

  1. Speakers - There are two types: active and passive. Active = amplifier built into each speaker (i.e. most dedicated "computer" speakers from the likes of Logitech, Creative, etc.). Passive = 90% of speakers out there, must be connected to an amplifier to work. Typically passive speakers will get you a better speaker for a given price for an active but you have to figure in the cost of an amplifier. For a passive speaker set up, the cheapest system recommended over at /r/audiophile is a SMSL SA-60 amp and Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers. If your budget is higher, ask in the daily purchase advice sticky there (read the rules/suggestions thoroughly). I don't mess around with active speakers so I can't recommend any.

  2. Microphone - For simplicity's sake, I will recommend you look into USB connecting condenser microphones as they are affordable and have good sensitivity. Something like the Audio-Technica AT-2020 or Blue Yeti are popular mics for under $100. I have the Yeti and can attest that it is a very good and sensitive multi pattern mic. They can be hooked directly up to your PC or if you want to get really fancy, check out an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or Scarlett 2i2. The nice thing about an interface is it allows you get a nice mic with an XLR connector (generally better than a USB connection) and it will work with your PC.

  3. Headphones - Don't waste your money on "gaming" headphones. A nice 2 channel pair of cans with a standalone mic like I listed above will hands down outperform the likes of Turtle Beach and Razr headsets. /r/headphones has a really good wiki with more info than I can provide here and headphones broken down by price range and characteristics. Plus, then you can use them both for gaming and general music listening and have a good experience, something you don't get with dedicated "gaming" headsets. The amp I listed in the speakers section is fine for headphones but Schiit makes absolutely fantastic headphone amps and DAC (digital to analog converters, check out both /r/audiophile and /r/headphones for more info on them and why they are good for your set up) with very respectable price tags.

    Hope this helps. Higher quality audio equipment can be confusing and daunting, what with all the technical details, wide price ranges, parsing through all the marketing bullshit and the sometimes snobby attitudes of some "audiophiles". I wish you luck and feel free to ask me if you have any questions.
u/Audbol · 4 pointsr/techtheatre

The new Behringer interfaces are solid as a rock. Highly recommended. [link](BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC404HD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UahPzbFF7V6TQ)

u/YaBoyNazeem · 4 pointsr/podcasting

One problem is that mixer doesn't have two XLR input channels. Most mixers or interfaces that are used with multiple mics have multiple XLR inputs. That Mixer does have line in inputs though. So I think you would need to either get a new mixer OR try to use something like this.... https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-YMP-434-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B0010D0HO0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=1%2F4+stereo+to+female+3.5mm&amp;qid=1556022969&amp;s=musical-instruments&amp;sr=1-3

&amp;#x200B;

I don't know how well that would work because I have never done it but it's worth a try if you're strapped for cash.

&amp;#x200B;

This can connect your 3.5mm input from your Toner mic in to your Line in 2/3 input on your board.

&amp;#x200B;

An example of an interface with two XLR inputs is this:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC202HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA-2-Channel/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3OV6SCTD4YARR&amp;keywords=behringer+umc202hd&amp;qid=1556023240&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=behringer+u%2Caps%2C156&amp;sr=8-3

&amp;#x200B;

A mixer with two interfaces is this:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Q802USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B008O517IC/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=behringer+xynex&amp;qid=1556023157&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-6

u/tcooling · 4 pointsr/buildapc

These Swan M10's are meant to be quite good, you could use the spare cash to buy a cheap DAC.

An even better option that is very upgradeable is this selection of components for just over your budget at ~$170.

Another option is M-Audio Studiophile AV40.

Just a word of warning, try to stay away from any speakers that are marketed as for "gamers". An example of this are Logitech (although the more expensive 5.1 setups are know to be fairly good).

Good luck!

u/Bottomonium · 4 pointsr/ZeosReviews

Hi Zeos,

Which combination would you recommend?

Headphones:

u/noiserr · 4 pointsr/Amd

EMI interference is a pain. It's impossible to test all the combinations of motherboard and GPUs.

One thing you could try is moving the GPU to a different PCIE slot.

Or you could just get an external DAC, these are really good for the price and will beat most any onboard audio: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

u/explosivo563 · 4 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

A dac, possibly (depending on your source). An amp, definitely skip. Unless you plan on getting more detailed or power hungry cans in the near future. I'd be more worried about your source files at this point. And if you are curious about an entry level dac, the behringer uca202 is like $20-30. I still use mine to rip vinyl and connect optical to my receiver.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1505704590&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=Uca202&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41IUcFvupvL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

And black friday is just around the corner.

u/nistco92 · 4 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Mixxx's wiki about this subject

X-Session Controller

USB soundcard for master output

Use your regular headphone out on your laptop for cueing.

u/triple_platinum · 4 pointsr/audio

Not sure what perspectives you are looking for but here are my thoughts. :)

I am more on the Pro Audio/recording side of things but you can run the music from anything that plays YouTube and get a mic/interface that can be plugged into any pro system. (Your living room setup can become a karaoke machine)

The standard mic for live is a Shure SM58 which is not too expensive. Then you can get a used audio interface to run the sound from your computer. For example the PreSonus AudioBox USB. Granted, you would need speakers but could plug into your current home Audio system or buy a bundled system with a mic, interface, and speakers, etc.

The advantage of using the computer is you can easily record her singing! Just another route to consider, although I suppose the appeal to a machine is simplicity and having it all in one box.

u/General_Annoyance · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I'm /u/whitefeather14's friend. If it's solely for headphones and you're not looking to spend a lot, then I would strongly recommend something by Fiio. I have an older one, the FiiO E7. They don't sell this one anymore, but they have a newer one called the FiiO E70k. I haven't personally used it, but I can only assume it's like mine but better.

If it's a little more than you want to spend, then I'd look at the Q1. I've heard good things about these as well.

These are nice, because they double as a USB dac and a portable headphone amplifier. Which means if you're traveling or something you can plug your phone into it and still get the amplifier out of it, no need for a USB source.

If that doesn't interest you, then there's the FiiO K1, which is just a USB DAC, and does not have an analog 3.5mm input, only the micro USB.

Now, understand that any of these aren't going to be the greatest DAC ever. Sub $100 is pretty cheap for a DAC, and I'm pretty sure these are all 24-bit, with 32-bit being more or less the best you can get (There's some debate on whether or not you can hear a difference, but that's entirely a different conversation.)

If you do want something a little more pricey and nice, the Schiit Modi DAC and Magni amp are really quite nice. They also have a Amp/DAC combination for $80 which I haven't heard anything about, but Schiit is pretty good.

The one /u/whitefeather14 said is a PreSonus AudioBox USB. You probably don't want this, as it is primarily an audio interface for recording instruments and microphones, and isn't a dedicated DAC, though the DAC is pretty nice, and as a bonus has a 1/4in headphone out as well as two 1/4in outs for L/R powered speakers, such as studio monitors, if that's of any benefit for you.

As for the SMSL one you posted, I have also heard good things about that one, though it's a desktop unit and does not have an analog 3.5mm input.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help.

u/ge4096 · 4 pointsr/buildastudio

I think the setup is definitely overkill, and you're missing out on an audio interface, which is IMHO the most important part of a setup like this. I wouldn't get the preamp at all - preamps (and especially preamps under ~$400) won't do too much to affect the sound, at least in a way that'll be noticeable when you use it for streaming. And you probably don't need a compressor either - they can be tricky to learn to use and even trickier to learn to use well. I would skip that too. If you ever need to compress something you've recorded, use Audacity. And compression shouldn't really matter if you're just streaming. And a mixer isn't really necessary for just one microphone.

But then, even if you got all of this nice equipment, everything would be ruined if you just ran it into your computer's mic jack. You should get a USB audio interface to connect your microphone and computer. I would recommend something small, like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. And this would remove the need for a preamp and a mixer, so all you should need then is the mic, the one long cable, and the interface. This isn't really overkill for streaming, and this will also allow you to record covers with decent quality as well.

u/Aksen · 4 pointsr/buildapcsales

I commented about this in a thread about the new Razer mic... not really a big deal but here goes.

If you are looking for truly good audio, these USB mics wont cut it. It's not that they sound bad, it just bugs me that they are marketed as "studio grade," when they really are not. It is like buying a "Gaming PC," from HP.

If you plan to use it for any real content creation, you'd do yourself a favor by buying an inexpensive interface and inexpensive mic. Yeah, this option puts you over $200..... but those are two very cheap options considering that they are viable for pro audio. And they specifically are strong in features that people in this thread would use. The Focusrite Scarletts have amazing (for the price) microphone preamps, and the MXL condensers are amazing (for the price) VO mics.

Everyone in this subreddit is familiar with the price/benefit curve of buying video cards etc... this setup is probably 4x better than a USB mic at 2x the price. From here, you'd have to jump to $800 before you saw any real benefit.

u/SelectaRx · 4 pointsr/audioengineering

If you can scrape together about 125 more Euro, I would suggest this Focusrite USB interface. It's a great little unit for the price, and if you're just getting into things, this should keep you busy for a while until you start needing more options.

u/cotle · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I have had a fair bit of experience in the field of audio engineering, and so hopefully I don't talk out my ass when I say this but:

If this build is audio-orientated, why haven't you included a sound card or other audio interface? This kind of equipment is pretty much the most important part of your setup if you are seriously seeking to create high-fidelity recordings.

Unless you already have an external audio interface or a decent sound card that you're planning to recycle from a previous build, I would highly recommend investing in one. A mid-to-high end sound card will reduce hiss/buzz/interference and will allow you to sample audio at much higher bit-depths.

When it comes to the actual gear (as per usual) your budget dictates the hardware you should purchase, but I give some general guidelines. If you are only planning to do simple recordings (guitar + 1 or 2 vocal mics), I would go with an external soundcard like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. If you're interested in richer recordings of perhaps larger scale (drum kits, bands, etc), something similar to a Focusrite Clarett 8pre X or other rack gear would probably suit.

At this stage, we're talking about spending more on an interface than your actual PC, and I'm guessing you came to this sub to find computer advice. Nevertheless, I hope what wrote helps in some way. Good luck with your auditore endeavours!

u/mr_audio · 4 pointsr/audio

Focusrite 2i4

Seriously, save up a little more money. You will be far happier than with the Behringer, the Mackie, or the Yamaha. You will most likely discover you get what you pay for. Also, you will probably be replacing the cheaper products sooner rather than later.

The Focusrite will allow for a single headphone monitor mix for the engineer, as well as two balanced 1/4" TRS outputs to speakers/FOH, as well as 4 RCA outputs, which could be used for monitors/wedges.

Also, the Focusrite preamps sound way better off the bat, so less EQing.

u/MookieFish · 4 pointsr/makinghiphop

I use this mic for any vocals I do and I get pretty decent results for a bedroom. You can find cheaper mics than that, but make sure you get a large diaphragm condenser mic and make sure its XLR, not USB. It doesn't come with a mic stand. I learned that the hard way

You'll need an audio interface as well. That's probably the cheapest interface that's worth getting as well from what I hear.

About $250 or so for a cheaper setup, but it's a one-time purchase and the added quality is worth it I think.

u/shab1b1 · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I know that a lot of streamers use the audio technica microphones so here's one. There is also the Blue Yeti. In terms of budget microphones, there is the Blue Snowball and the CAD u37. You also might want to consider an audio interface as well. Here's an excellent combo, cause its awesome.

u/belak51 · 3 pointsr/buildapc

The SM57 is a pretty good mic... The problem is most likely the adapter. And the fact that you have less control over the gain of the mic. Dynamic mics shouldn't need phantom power, but I've only used adapters like that when running one into a real mixer. And if you're considering an adapter like that, something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_36RzybA61JRPK would be a much better option. I'm using a larger version of the same thing to run my audio when streaming.

I realize it's a long shot but if you're in the San Francisco bay area, I've got a few extra USB audio interfaces I don't need

u/sittingbox · 3 pointsr/tifu

Look you may need a small amp between your guitar and the interface but I doubt it.

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_g3qXKNij2Nsgu

Currently my interface for simply recording voice, no instruments. Cheap and really reliable. Let me know if I can be more help.

u/MetalVolnutt · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

First of all, thank you so much for such a helpful and detailed answer! I wasn't expecting this kind of awesome comments from everyone!

About the virtual instruments, I was thinking that I would really get inspired if I bought the expensive ones, but you are absolutely right. I'm just starting and probably should try learning everything with the free tools that are available (which don't sound that bad actually). I'll check out everything you recommended, including the audio interface. I just have one question about that. I'm about to buy a new digital piano (This is one of the reasons I started to take interest in the computer compatibility), and since (as you said) those have MIDI ports, should I avoid this interface and buy this one instead, since the first one doesn't appear to be compatible with MIDI? Sorry if this is a very obvious question. I'm a real newbie to this fascinating world and I would really want to make the right decisions, especially since I'm about to spend on a piano already and have limited money for this project (at least for now).

u/jbehrmusic · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Scarlett came out with the 3rd Gen recently. Do you need the 2i2, would you be OK with the Solo? I'm from the US, so I am not sure what the prices would be in EU. But here is the link for the 3rd Gen Solo ($109 USD)

- https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/

&amp;#x200B;

As far as mic, there are plenty of options under $200. But the Rode NT-1 is an awesome mic. I actually own it, and have been using it for the past month or two with my Apollo Twin USB. It has a flat frequency response which is great for allowing the most flexibility when manipulating the audio in post. Don't get fooled by the graph, as they have updated the NT-1 [The old NT-1 had a different frequency response]. This is the new response graph.

- http://cdn1.rode.com/nt1_datasheet.pdf

&amp;#x200B;

If you're looking for used, I would check out Reverb. They have the NT-1 on Reverb for sub $200:

- https://reverb.com/p/rode-nt-1-kit-w-slash-shockmount-and-pop-filter

&amp;#x200B;

Another good mic for $200 is the sE Electronics X1 S. They have a vocal bundle on Sweetwater for $200

- https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/X1SVocalPk--se-electronics-x1-s-vocal-bundle

&amp;#x200B;

Lastly, there's a $150 mic called the AKG P220.

- https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P220--akg-p220-large-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

- https://www.amazon.com/AKG-High-Performance-Vocal-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00M9CUJ6W/

&amp;#x200B;

All these microphones are Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphones. And as already stated, they all have a pretty flat frequency response.

u/kingzmoke · 3 pointsr/Logic_Studio

Honestly dude you should just buy a audio interface and a condenser microphone.


Edit : i have a scarlett solo for anyone interested $50.00 shipped anywhere in United states.

u/NewOrchata · 3 pointsr/edmproduction

In regards to lightening the CPU load, this is not the case.

You can shift most of the workload to a sound card or an interface and gain a ton of slack for your CPU. You can make this upgrade *relatively* inexpensive, but you can easily get into more bells and whistles with external interfaces.

&amp;#x200B;

Here's a few links for some examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X4XG/

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA/

https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR12-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00QY4RLRQ/

https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-96-Interface/dp/B06ZZCR6P4/

Check out this page to get a little more info on how to reduce latency issues while using Ableton for a little more help: https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209072289-How-to-reduce-latency

u/entropy_pool · 3 pointsr/midi

This?: https://www.amazon.com/First-Act-Discovery-Portable-Keyboard/dp/B07BLGB6VZ

It is not a midi controller, looks like you would be limited to onboard sounds.

If you are going to be sending midi to a computer, I'd say go with this:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-32-Key-Midi-Controller-AKM320/dp/B00VHKMK64/
or this:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDITECH-Controller-i2-32-BT/dp/B078YJ5SX8

&amp;#x200B;

If 5din midi out is important to you (maybe have sound module or something), spend a little more:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-keyboard-controller-49-Key-AK490/dp/B01IND48OY
or

https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AK490-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKM72Q

u/WaterDemonBaku · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

This question is kinda too vague to answer. What kind of music are you making? How experienced are you with keyboards? What do you want/need, and how much are you willing to spend?

Assuming you're completely a beginner, I'd recommend this:

https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AKM320-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKMK64/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1526281198&amp;amp;sr=1-4&amp;amp;keywords=midi+keyboard

As cheap and as good as it gets for the price. If you decide to invest in music more down the road, I recommend an Alesis v25/v49, or an Akai Professional MPK Mini.

u/theredwoodcurtain · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers
u/FireLordRob · 3 pointsr/buildapc

want to get something like the Focusrite Scarlett 2 input 4 output the nice thing about this is that it has a MIDI in and out with is perfect for someone doing electronic music and will have midi instruments.

u/erniuss · 3 pointsr/buildapc

as the above guys said the usb audio interface you gonna have couple advantages, basically if you ever planing to upgrade into studio speakers or so, you already gonna be having audio interface, and for studio speakers audio interface its must have thing otherwise you losing more than half of the speakers quality , same goes for microphones, if you ever consider buying some microphone and it has XLR connection, or even 3.5mm jack, you can buy adapter to get XLR or so , and even for some £20 microphone you gonna have pretty clear and more than enough quality for skype talks or so , and it would be many times better than directly plugging into your motherboard or front 3.5m socket. / and the last one its what you need the Headphones quality, usally if you buy headphones for few hundread bucks or so, and you using 3.5mm jack to plug into your motherboard, you losing more than 50% of your audio quality , So with some certain interface you can get the full of your headphones/speakers/mics etc. So for audio interfaces you can go for https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-PHORIA-UM2-BEHRINGER/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1484581921&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=usb+audio+interface that would be the most basic and it would do the job more than enough. The 2 more choices is either M audio or Scarlete , m audio : https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2X2-Interface-24-bit/dp/B01FFH5XMC/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1484581921&amp;amp;sr=8-21&amp;amp;keywords=usb+audio+interface thats also one of their newest audio interfaces , and it has pretty good design doesnt it ? :P The other one https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1484581921&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=usb+audio+interface , its literally up to you which one you prefer, you can go for more basic option if you not planing to get some expensive pair of speakers or so , if you thinking that you might get some KRK studio monitors or so you can pick one of them 2 £100 worth audio interfaces , the quality between m audio and focusrite wont be noticeable . But to mention again if you literally need it only for those headphones and you not planing to get anything in future just go for the 50 usd audio interface and you will be more than happy :) ( sorry for not fluent english hopefully you can understand )

u/Limro · 3 pointsr/voiceover

In that case I would just put the $100 for Scarlett Forcusrite Solo (2. gen) - Personal recommendation.
Install the driver, and you are good to go.

u/demonic_intent · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

IF you arent trying to spend too much money on it, I'd recommend just heading to a local studio and renting some time to record what you need. That is, unless you are trying to make this a regular thing.

I'll go ahead and throw some links up on what I list as good, low-budget options to get you going.

I'd recommend getting a cardioid condenser mic (AKG AT2020 ~$100), an audio interface with at least one mic preamp and phantom power (Scarlett Solo ~$100), and a pop filter (Audio 2000s AWS4071 ~$10). You'd also need a DAW to edit the tracks, such as cutting out long pauses and words you didn't intend to make into the final cut, and adding a bit of compression and EQ changes. Most likely the audio interface will come with an intro DAW that'll do just enough for what you want to do. For better results you can also pick up an acoustic shield (Monoprice 602650 ~$65) to help isolate the sound, which doesn't seem important just getting into it but once you hear the difference you'll see why its important. Oh, and you'll need to get an XLR cable (~$8) to plug the mic in, but you may or may not want one that's a bit longer than the one I linked.

Something I want to throw in there as well is you'll also probably want to learn how to get on de-essing. In a vocal take, often times an "s" sound will come out very harshly if left unedited. A method to avoid this is to not talk directly into the mic, but slightly off center. Alternatively, you can buy a VST or program that can do it automatically for you. Also, a good thing to do is to reduce noise either through careful automated eq cuts or by using a program such as reafir which can be downloaded for free from the developers here.

If you do get involved with all this craziness, and I know its all pretty intimidating, I'd be happy to help you get on your way to making some great recordings. Just send me a message any time.

u/shindiggety · 3 pointsr/microphones

If you're new, let's introduce you to the different types of microphone.

First, there are traditional microphones, and USB microphones.

USB microphones (like the Blue Snowball) don't need additional power or cables apart from the USB cable. The USB cable alone will power the microphone and carry the audio signal fine.

Traditional microphones use XLR cables and require a preamp. If the microphone is a condenser mic, it will ALSO require power which we call phantom power or 48V power.

If you go with a USB microphone, you just need to buy the microphone and that will work fine by itself plugged into your computer. If you decide you want a traditional microphone, you would also need a preamp, and possible phantom power. This is the purpose of an Audio Interface. An Audio Interface such as a Focusrite Scarlett Solo, a Presonus AudioBox iOne, or a Behringer UM2 include the preamp your mic needs, plus phantom power if you are using a condenser mic.

So with a traditional mic, you would need to buy both a microphone and an interface to convert that analog signal to digital, amplify the signal, and provide power to your mic.


I know this is a lot, but I hope it helps you figure some of this out.


If by daily communication, you mean for gaming and skype/chat, I would go for a simple USB mic. There are cheaper options than the Snowball that are also very good. Look at CAD or Samson. Both have good options.

If you have other questions, feel free to send me a pm.

u/battering_ram · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

You need an audio interface. You don't need that phantom power supply. I don't know why they even sell that shit as a bundle. It just confuses people.

GET THIS. It's what everyone here recommends for beginners. It connects to your computer via USB. It has a built in preamp, phantom power, and a headphone jack as well as RCA outputs on the back if you want to hook up speakers. Just plug you mic directly into the mic input on the front, turn on phantom power, adjust the gain with the gain knob and you're good to go.

If you want two mic inputs GET THIS. It's also got balanced outputs on the back if you ever decide to get studio monitors.

u/BL4CK_CAT · 3 pointsr/singing

Don't get a USB-Condenser Microphone. Yeah they are easy to handle, but you will need a XLR-Interface if you get any Type of "better" Mic in the Future.
A USB-XLR Interface is not really expensive, and is a one-time buy. If you know you'll only do Vocals, just get something like the Scarlett Solo or similar.

For Mics: the Rode NT1-A is an absolute classic for Voice/Vocals, because it offers a lot of Value for the Money and you can Record basically everything with it. Also, it's cheap. If it's not cheap enough, the AKG P120 is even cheaper, but imho the NT1a is worth the money.

And: don't forget a stand and a pop-filter (you can build one yourself, just google diy-popfilter)

u/Turbosack · 3 pointsr/SiegeAcademy

First of all, the feature that the other commenter is referring to is probably Discord's attenuation feature, which lets you turn down the volume of other applications on the system while you are speaking. That may work for you, but it's not the same as monitoring.

Second, as you noted, Windows' builtin monitoring feature has enough latency that it's essentially useless. If you don't already own a headset that supports monitoring, then the only way to do this properly is with an audio interface (for example; there are probably cheaper ones that would work, I just don't know a good one off the top of my head). They can do monitoring without latency because they send the sound directly back to your headphones, without doing a round trip through the computer.

u/Pyroraptor · 3 pointsr/letsplay

The Rode podcaster is a REALLY great mic. However, it is also a dynamic mic which has a low sensitivity. It is meant to be used a few inches from your mouth and probably would not be very well suited for picking up multiple people.

The best way to mic multiple people on a single recording is to get several XLR dynamic mics and feed them into a mixing board or preamp. The Akai EIE is great for this because you can have multiple audio streams output to your computer. However, a Behringer Xenyx 1202USB or a Tascam 1200 would work well too. Pair that with a few

If you want to do mic multiple people with one mic then you're looking at a condenser mic. For the price of your podcaster($230) I have a few suggestions. I would still look at getting an XLR setup, because they are much better IMO.

u/cinepro · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Does he have a phono preamp that he's happy with? If so, you just need a "USB Recording Interface". There are tons to choose from, and since you're just doing stereo, almost any will do.

24bit - 48kHz resolution should be good unless he wants to go nuts (maybe do an AB comparison of higher bitrates or frequencies to make sure it's worth it).

Something like this:

Presonus Audiobox 2x2

If it's just this one recording project, then you can buy used and then sell it after you're done. I don't know what the market is like there in Germany (I tend to have a good selection for that kind of stuff here in Los Angeles.)

If you need a good phono preamp too, that gets a little more expensive and complicated.

u/GothamCountySheriff · 3 pointsr/vinyl

You can get a USB audio interface. The better the turntable and interface the better the end product. But for a turntable the level of your LP60, this Behringer unit should do the job fine:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B0023BYDHK

u/dloburns · 3 pointsr/vinyl

It'd be better to get a USB audio adapter* and just a normal dj turntable like a Technics SL-1200 (assuming you want to queue up certain parts).

Some things to know:

  • Direct drive vs. belt drive
  • Using Audacity to record
  • You might need a preamp (you could stack them to distort the sound too)
  • An adjustable counter-weight and replicable needle are probably the two most important parts that separate a cheap TT from a Quality TT

    *rca jacks would be the best, and if you have a desktop you could get a sound card installed that has them too. Other wise you could use the line-in plug which might require and adaptor.
u/zachsilvey · 3 pointsr/audiophile
u/neuromonkey · 3 pointsr/raspberry_pi

I've used a Behringer UCA222 with a Pi 1 and a Pi 3. It isn't audiophile quality, but it does sound pretty good. (I think I paid $22.)

http://wiki.linuxaudio.org/wiki/raspberrypi#supported_usb_devices

u/Zeeall · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Thats assuming he got optical output on his laptop


I'd go with a Behringer UCA222 instead.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B0023BYDHK

u/Kerb3r0s · 3 pointsr/pocketoperators

$30 and it works with phone, tablet, and PC. Just need a cable or adapter to convert stereo 3.5mm to RCA.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kUrTCbYY19BCS

u/proxpi · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Your mic is a good one, your mixer is probably fine... it probably is the sound input on the laptop. Laptop integrated audio is usually pretty shitty to begin with, as it is crammed in close with a bunch of EM-producing circuits, not to mention general cost cutting and the fact that most inputs on laptops aren't meant for anything but a crappy headset-type mic in the first place.

What you need is an external sound card, or, more accurately when talking about music production, an audio interface.

The simplest route to go would be to get something like a Behringer UCA222. It's cheap, but pretty bare-bones. You would simply plug in the RCA output of the mixer into the RCA input, and you should be able to record via that.

For the next level up, there's some better options. One would be the ART USB Dual Pre, which would let you use TWO microphones. Seeing as you don't have two, and it's fairly limited otherwise (it would ignore your mixer completely), I would rather recommend something else...

..such as the Tascan US-100. This is a more complete audio interface, with mic/instrument and stereo in. You could run your SM57 directly into it, to the computer and have the lowest noise possible (any analog connections introduce some level of noise into the signal). You could also connect the RCA output of your mixer to it. The only drawback is that it does not have phantom power, but your mixer can supply that if you ever end up getting a condenser microphone.

All of these options should sound QUITE a bit better than running your mixer directly into your computer.

You didn't mention what software you use, but almost anything should work with any of these.

Hope that helped a bit!

u/RaN96 · 3 pointsr/ImSavingUpForThis

Don't buy a Yeti!! Blue mics are generally overpriced and offer the same quality that a cheaper alternative will get you. Get an AT2020 XLR and a phantom powered mixer. It'll be much much better than a Yeti and you can fine tune your audio settings with the mixer. If you don't want to deal with a mixer there is a USB version of the AT2020 that should save you $30.

There's also this bundle for $180 that comes with a Windtech Windscreen (Which is awesome, I use it on my AT2035) a pair of headphones and the AT2020 USB+.

u/carllimbacher · 3 pointsr/Bass

I think that piece of kit is just a mixer and won't work as an interface to for recording.

Luckily, Behringer makes an even less expensive mixer/interface that will do exactly what you're looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-Premium-5-Input-Interface/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1407273279&amp;amp;sr=8-9&amp;amp;keywords=behringer

u/ollee · 3 pointsr/Twitch

Can't go wrong with a Behringer. They're specifically what I use. I originally started with console capture, having both PS3 and 360 so I sprung for the xenyx 802 for the extra channels. This is a list of their small mixers. I know a couple people(larger streamers) Running the 502usb...it seems nice. I'm using a 1622fx atm but that's big. I got it second hand at guitar center, it's fairly safe to check what they might have that's small, you might get something cheaper than online, or something better for the same price, but you ARE taking a chance.

Another option if you're going for a traditional XLR mic(since windows mixer w/ OBS/Xsplit is strong for PC gamers) you can get an audio interface. This basically is a piece of equipment that turns your XLR into a usb device. The Behringer 302usb is just an interface/small mixer that looks like it might be nice to use. There are also things like the babyface that is expensive as shit but absolutely wonderful, or the much more budget focusrite that are both solid devices. These are actually best as you're taking balanced audio directly translated into a digital signal through a device designed to eliminate interference, but they can get expensive.

Good audio costs money, but you can alleviate the cost some. Don't by a snowball...get something you can shockmount and popfilter and boom to eliminate ambient noise...that is if you don't have a good mic yet.

^_^

u/jparkerwillis · 3 pointsr/AskGames

If you get a mixer you can plug any old headphones into it and get really good quality sound out of them.
But if you're looking for a headset I doubt you'd find a good quality one for $80. Definitely don't buy Logitech headsets. They break really easily due to how the ears swivel where they connect.
If you had the money and didn't wreck your headsets I would especially recommend the Sennheiser PC363D. Sennheiser make some awesome headphones.

u/MisterJellybean · 3 pointsr/audio

You will likely want an actual audio interface.

Behringer has a number of cheap USB mixers. That will give you a simple EQ, gain, and simple mixing with physical knobs. This might be better to learn on?

Edit: for a little more, this one would give you a few more features to play with and learn on, and give you more capacity down the road if you get into it a little more.

u/ChuckEye · 3 pointsr/Guitar
u/lightrefracted · 3 pointsr/ZReviews

If you want to play several audio sources at once then you need a mixer to combine the inputs. A simple Y-splitter cable won't work for this and most DAC/Amps only play from one source at a time. There are affordable USB mixers that act as USB audio interfaces (both playback and recording in PC), like this one BEHRINGER XENYX 302USB. It combines analog audio inputs and you can listen to the output via the headphone out on the mixer itself, the line out from the mixer to a separate headphone amp, or using the PC's audio playback if you treat the interface as a recording device and enable listening on it.

As for the optical, as long as it's just a PCM signal and not DTS or Dolby Digital (those require decoding), then you can convert that to analog using a simple digital to analog converter ($5-10) and run that analog output (RCA, 3.5mm, 6.5mm, etc) as another input on the mixer.

u/captainvideoblaster · 3 pointsr/giantbomb

&gt; this Blue Yeti set

Lots of people start with that but soon upgrade. You can get better quality mic in a same price range (like Blue XLR models). You still need some kind DAC but those are cheap while giving better sound quality for playback than onboard audio (handy for reviewing audio quality of a game).

u/ProtectYaShek · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Well here's where it depends on what you want to do with the recordings after the initial recording. If you aren't looking to mix and edit the individual instrument tracks afterwards, you could use the 8 mic inputs on your mixer, and output the audio to your pc via a usb interface like the Focusrite 2i2:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA

Now miking exerything up: You've got Bass and keys which could easily be lined directly into the mixer. For vocals, you're looking for a straightforward dynamic micropohone, a common workhorse is the SM-58 or SM-57, now at around $100 this might be more than you are looking to spend, but then again, you can never go with a 58 or 57. If you wand a good budget clone, I'd look at the $35 GLS ES-57 https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Instrument-Microphone-ES-57/product-reviews/B001W99HE8/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;showViewpoints=1&amp;amp;sortBy=recent
For guitar, again the industy workhorse is the SM-57, so again you could grab another ES-57, and move on to the Drums.
You've got 4 channels left, so You're probably going to want Kick, Snare, and 2 overheads.
Kick drum you probably want to go with something with a larger element, and while nothing extraordinary, Cad makes a couple kick mics for around 40 bucks https://www.amazon.com/CAD-Audio-KBM412-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002D0Q7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1474769856&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=Kick+drum+microphone
Snare, grab another ES-57, as an SM-57 would be the go to.
Overheads, If your mixer can supply phantom power, there's a plethora of small diameter condenser microphones to choose from. For $100 you can get a set of Monoprice condensers and while you're not going to blown away by the sound, for $100, they'll be more than enough in this situation. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=600700

Add in 6 15' mic cables at 10 bucks a piece via monoprice https://www.monoprice.com/category?c_id=115&amp;amp;cp_id=11509&amp;amp;cs_id=1150902 - 4 1/4 cables for the bass, keys and to go from your mixer output to the audio interface and thats about it.

1 - Focusrite 2i2 - $125

3 - GMS ES-57 - $120

1 - Cad kick drum mic - $40

1 - Stereo Pair Monoprice condensers - $100

6 - Xlr microphone cables - $60

4 - 1/4 Cables - $30


Grand total $475.


With this, whatever comes into the mixer is what you're gonna get, so you'll need to make sure you have all your panning, eq, and levels set the way you want them, because aside from some post production eqing, that's pretty much what you're going to get. If you're looking for individual tracks for individual instruments, thats going to take an audio interface with at least 8 inputs, and probably set you back 400-500 on the low end.

u/Alstroph · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I assume you play guitar. I would recommend either Cubase, Reaper, or Ableton for your DAW (digital audio workstation/recording software).

For drums I would recommend either Superior Drummer 2 with the Metal Foundry expansion or Addictive Drums 2

For guitar amp simulation I would recommend either Guitar Rig Peavy Revalver or Podfarm

And finally I would highly recommend a recording interface. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is awesome and you can't go wrong with it.

u/2ndRatePianoPlayer · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Hello! I have a noob question for my setup that probably isn't relevant enough to warrant its own post but it might be simple enough that you could answer real quick.

I just bought these studio monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E and have the top left L and R inputs connected to my Scarlett 2i4 audio interface (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q) in the balanced inputs 1 and 2 on the back right with TRS cables, but now I don't know what to do to actually be able to get my computer to "recognize" them and use them in my DAW or otherwise be able to control them through my audio interface. The monitors themselves work fine because I can still use them with the auxiliary cable plugged directly into my laptop, but that is a temporary fix because then I can't use my audio interface to control them. No idea what to do and I feel so dumb!

Any help would be huge. I'm using a PC with Windows 10 and my DAW is Reason 10 if that helps at all. Thanks!

u/nighserenity · 3 pointsr/buildapc

I'll give this a go, open for suggestions from others to improve. This is obviously higher than you asked for at $833 after rebates, but it's good value. You can save maybe about $130 by going down to 8gb of ram, GTX 950, and dropping the SSD. It would still be a great pc.

You can easily add RAM later. I really like the speediness of putting the OS and your main software for production on the SSD, and using the HDD as storage for all your recordings. It's slightly more involved if you add an SSD later and move your OS/software over, but doable.

For using your digital piano and MIDI, I highly suggest getting a good interface like this Scarlett which is basically an external sound card with excellent preamps and midi in/out.



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6600 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor | $209.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H DDR3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $66.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $77.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $45.99 @ SuperBiiz
Video Card | MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card | $179.99 @ SuperBiiz
Case | Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case | $44.99 @ SuperBiiz
Power Supply | Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $52.99 @ Amazon
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) | $80.89 @ OutletPC
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $863.81
| Mail-in rebates | -$30.00
| Total | $833.81
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-02 15:15 EST-0500 |

u/BarnacleBoi · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I agree! Other people with Tascam interfaces are having driver issues. Luckily I just found an M-Audio interface that's cheap, has good reviews, and is plug and play so I don't have to download or update drivers!

u/SpicyThunder335 · 3 pointsr/Twitch
u/JohannesVerne · 3 pointsr/VoiceActing

Just project with your voice, and keep the mic about 6" away. If you get farther from the mic, you will pick up a lot more reverb from the room, and have a higher noise floor (the gain would need to be higher, and so everything else would have a raised volume too).

&amp;#x200B;

As far as interfaces go, the Behringer U-Phoria UM2 is the cheapest I know of that will still give you a good sound, or there is the UMC22 which has slightly better preamps (which shouldn't be an issue unless you are using a dynamic and need high gain to get a good volume). The Focusrite Scarlet Solo is also really popular, if a bit more expensive (~$100). As far as the mic goes, the AT 2020 is very popular, although I prefer the MXL V67G which is also a bit cheaper, or the Lewitt 240 Pro if you have the money (I use the 440 Pure, but it's more expensive, so not the best place to start). Hopefully that helps, at least to get you started. I know I listed a lot of gear here, but it isn't the gear that makes you good, it's lots of practice that will really make the difference. While you will need some gear to get going, there are plenty of pros that use the AT2020 and the scarlet solo for all their recording, so don't sweat about all the high-priced stuff. The top end products do have benefits over the "beginner" gear, but not so much that you need the high end stuff to record professional sounding audio.

&amp;#x200B;

So the cheapest setup will run you around $100, although you will also need a mic stand, XLR cable, and pop-filter (which are all fairly cheap), and a shock mount is recommended. You will also want to make sure your space is acoustically treated well, as a good XLR mic will be sensitive and pick up any extra reverb, but I didn't hear anything out of place and echo-y in the demo you posted, so you may have enough treatment already (you will have to play around with it).

&amp;#x200B;

Here is a test-track I threw together that hopefully demonstrate the tone and pacing I mentioned in my first reply, and also give an example of how focal fry can be used to good effect (I don't have much in my voice, but when used properly it can add a lot to a performance). It's just my voice, no extra effects (slight EQ was applied), to be as clear as possible about the difference in tone quality. I was going to throw it in an edit of my original, but it will fit just as well here. It's not an actual demo, just a piece I did to cut in as part of a demo, but hopefully it gives you a better idea of what I was talking about.

u/Stranger-Sun · 3 pointsr/synthesizers

How are cheap are you talking about? What are you trying to do? Do you want to record with a PC/Mac, or something like an iPad?

&amp;#x200B;

I have a cheap Behringer audio interface that I keep in my travel bag. Since its USB audio is class compliant, I use it with my iPad. The iPad powers it and I can send two channels of audio in to record stuff. Cheap, lightweight, easy to use, and it sounds fine to me.

&amp;#x200B;

Here's something I recently recorded with it. I'm no audio engineer, but I think it sounds good:

https://soundcloud.com/strangersun/comet-head#t=1:33

&amp;#x200B;

Here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=behringer+umc22&amp;qid=1559237676&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3

u/iansteele · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

So when recording vocals and guitar at the same time, like you'd like to do, the debate on what to do is really about how much control you want over editing in the end process.

- If you don't care about control on the individual levels of guitar and vocals AND want to record in one take with both instruments, all you need is one mic, XLR, Mic stand, headphones, and an interface to get the signal into your computer.

In this situation, you need A. and Interface that is cheap but not a POS because it really affects the sound of your recording. Behringer makes a cheap interface for 1 Input (microphone) and actually has a decent Preamp in it. B, you need a microphone and cable (XLR, Balanced) to capture the sound and send it to the interface. This area people could talk forever about, but for just getting the job done and a decent sound, AT2020 Condenser (Currently On Sale) is a great option for capturing both your voice and guitar. any XLR will do $10 or something like that.

- If you wanted to track the guitar and vocals separately, one at a time, the only change I would make is the microphone. Shure SM57 would do great for vocals and guitar individually. There have been many singles and albums in the rock, acoustic, and folk category recorded on these mics alone with fantastic results.

&amp;#x200B;

- If recording the guitar and the vocals at the SAME TIME is the route you want, it's definitely possible. 2 Input interface, Two mics, Two XLR's, Two Mic stands, headphones.

- a change in interface is needed from the first behringer to this one because they have the same sound only difference is the amount of inputs for ~$50 more. Next would be buying two microphones, both options listed above are probably going to be the cheapest you'll find with a decent sound. You can find packages like this on guitar center and other audio retailers, but the mics come with a lot of bad frequencies in my opinion, but hard to argue $99 for two microphones. get the cables, plug everything up and record enable two live tracks in you preferred DAW.

&amp;#x200B;

As far as the computer goes, Ableton hands out free versions of its "lite" program, and I believe you can record in that version. That would be the best route in my opinion for DAW, Reaper is a good option, I'd stay away from fruity loops if you are mainly just going to be recording audio.

Most of these solutions will put you under or around $250 so I hope this helps, if you have more questions let me know.

u/ReginaldGrey · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

get an audio interface and monitor speakers. the audio interface will allow you to record any instrument/mic that uses an instrument cable or an XLR cable. make sure you get one with the right amount of inputs u want. if you JUST wanna record vocals, you can get a pretty cheap single-input interface on amazon for like $40. here's a pretty good cheap one that you can also hook monitor speakers up to with the Left and Right outputs in the back.
(https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1519988949&amp;amp;sr=8-8&amp;amp;keywords=behringer+interface). For monitor speakers, I've only ever used KRK rokits. I have the 8" and the 5" ones. Obviously I like the 8" better but the 5" ones are still very accurate and impressive. you can go to a guitar center or whatever and listen to a bunch of different brands though if you wanna hear for yourself before you buy. and if you have any leftover money, save it for after you find out what your ideal production workflow is. i personally use maschine and it does everything i could ever want and more, but it might not work out for you. i'd say the interface and speakers will elevate your game instantly and will lead to producing better quality music.

u/_Apex_ · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

Check out my home studio. Gotta' keep the list building!

List:

u/toxicfreeLoL · 3 pointsr/smashbros

you kind of just need an audio-interface that provides X inputs and X outputs. Check out the stuff from Native Instruments, especially the Audio Kontrol devices, there should be sth that fits your needs.

edit: the NI-stuff is probably an overkill, its more fit for music-recording/production, maybe you can find a cheaper alternative with less features.
maybe sth like this

u/jfb112697 · 3 pointsr/SSBM

What is the correct way to setup caster headsets so they can hear each other and such, audio is definitely not my strong suit. I'm using OBS and have one of these if that helps.

u/jabob513 · 3 pointsr/PCSound

I personally recommend the Klipsch ProMedia as the best sub-$200 option. Sound is really solid and it's definitely got the bass. Plugging your computer in is straightforward and I believe the newest version has bluetooth as well. Best Buy used to have it as a demo with their computer speakers, not sure if they do anymore.

A better option might be studio monitors like the JBL LSR305/LSR30X which are also an insane deal. You'd need to get a bluetooth adapter and you'd need to worry about inputs (many studio monitors take 1/4" or XLR, which would require janky adapters (probably won't sound great out of a headphhone out without something like this) or a dac/audio interface like this or this. The JBL approach will get you a better sound (more accurate to the music, more balanced sound, magical amazing beautiful and perfect imaging) but will probably be a bit above what you'd like to spend. Most of that stuff can also be bought used if you are okay with that.

I would try and stretch or save up a bit for the monitors. They're a pretty solid step up from most all "computer speakers," and the JBLs in particular are one of the best bang-for-buck deals in audio that I've seen.

Best of luck, and feel free to shoot me a PM with more questions or what you decide to do!

u/ajxela · 3 pointsr/Bass

If you have a Mac then you have garage band which has some decent sounding bass amp sims for free. You just need an audio interface, which you could find for probably under $40.

First interface I got is this one, https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HVXMNE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1520916937&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=lexicon+alpha+audio+interface&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=31JIs7zmfCL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch and it’s $48.

Not great but definitely gets that job done.

u/ZKSteffel · 3 pointsr/audiophile

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI

This USB DAC will give you the best bang for your buck until you want to drop big money on stuff. I've been using mine for about 6 months now, and really dig the quality. It's also great for using headphones (if they don't need a dedicated amp), since it's a much higher quality than your typical pc headphone jack. Soundcard's aren't really worth the money, IMO, unless you're gonna try setting up a 7.1 system or something. But with your current setup, the USB DAC -&gt; RCA output -&gt; receiver -&gt; speakers should be solid.

Also, check into building some monitor stands, or stacking some books up to set them on. Getting the tweeters around ear level makes a big difference in the sound at your listening position.

Placement makes a big difference. /u/zeospantera has some nice guides on setup, often referring to this diagram he's drawn up of the suggested placement for a 2.0 system. You can also play around here with different recommendations from around the web with a good visual.

u/AverageJoeAudiophile · 3 pointsr/audiophile

This well be worlds better

Infinify Primus p153 x2 $150


SMSL SA 50 amp $70

Behringer USB DAC $30

$250

If you can add a sub

Dayton Sub-800 $110


You can also checkout /r/budgetaudiophile and /r/zeos for more recommendations.

u/LordGarak · 3 pointsr/linuxquestions

Spotify and cellphones are certainly not high quality audio sources. If your having trouble with a particular sound device on linux you might just want to try a different device.

Are you paying for Spotify? The free version audio quality is pretty terrible. With premium if you set the quality to very high its ok.

The sound interface on most phones isn't all that great. It's optimized for speech and not music. Some phones are better than others.

These are slightly better than your typical built in audio interface and work good under linux:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA202-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=behringer+usb+audio&amp;amp;qid=1565255621&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sr=8-5

u/mourningyou · 3 pointsr/Guitar

The line in on your soundcard is built for literally pennies. Using it will almost always result in horrible audio, regardless of what software you use. Audacity is fine for recording direct tracks.

The next step up would be to get a usb audio interface, it will sound much better recording through that.

Here is a cheap one:http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1396199199&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=UCA+202

If you can't buy ANYTHING.... well do you have a smartphone? Your smartphone's mic placed 5-10 feet from the amp with a decent volume will sound better than the line in on your sound card. Do a bunch of takes until you find the best placement and amp volume.

u/keanex · 3 pointsr/headphones

Instead of spending $30 on a USB headphone splitter the OP would be much better off in every way buying an actual amp/dac for the same price.

u/aiklfelw · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Yes. That's the exact sound it would make. In that case, a USB DAC would probably help, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Even this would probably be an improvement: http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI

u/asdf4455 · 3 pointsr/headphones

I have no idea whether or not it would damage the headphones or if it would even really work, but I'm curious if you have a standalone DAC or DAC/AMP. usually any noise you get from headphones on your computer would be caused by interference in the motherboards on-board audio. If you don't have a dac or dac/amp, consider getting one as it might just eliminate the noise you experience without having to use a device like this. You can get a cheap standalone dac like this or this. Now, idk what version of the DT770 you have, but if it more than the 32 Ohm, you could also consider getting a cheaper DAC/AMP combo from SMSL or FiiO.

u/shamusl · 3 pointsr/audiophile

for the price, this is an excellent DAC. Not $400 quality, but you probably aren't looking for that. Optical out is a big pro btw. http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1325278076&amp;amp;sr=8-1

u/2old2care · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

You are coming from the stereo output (2 channels) of your mixer. You need an interface with two inputs. You could use the Scalet 2i2, but the Scarlet interfaces are made for microphones, not line-level inputs like your mixer.

All you really need is one of these. Depending on what computer you are using, all you may need is just an RCA to 3.5mm cable like this.

Hope this helps!

u/vkgfx · 3 pointsr/headphones

Maybe someone can correct me, but according to the manual for that receiver, it has an output impedance of 470ohms. That's a bit high for HD800s (and just high in general, like most AVRs jacks).

You're also possibly double amping it by amplifying the signal out of your MacBook and then again in the receiver. I think people tend to overstate this as a problem though.

Apple usually has a good reputation for DACs, but a cheap external DAC like this one will feed a line level signal to your receiver at least. This DAC just got an update with a new DAC IC that people are excited about.

You'll find tons of amp recommendations for the HD800 here so I won't even bother going into much detail.

Ultimately though, if it's loud enough and it sounds good, I wouldn't bother tinkering unless you really want to.

u/priorityliving · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile
u/youreoutofthemovie · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Hey /r/audiophile! Three questions for you today.

I have seen the Behringer UCA202 recommended on here a few times for a DAC, but I am considering the UFO202 instead because I want to also be able to record vinyl to my computer. Is this the right choice? Will I still be able to use the UFO202 as a DAC for playback?

Also, if I plug a 3.5mm to RCA cable from the headphone jack of my computer to the AUX input of a receiver (Yamaha CR-450), will I get any additional benefit from adding a DAC, or does the receiver serve as a DAC?

3rd question: If I were to use that same 3.5mm to RCA cable to go from the headphone jack of the UCA/UFO202 to the receiver, would that be just as good as getting an RCA-RCA cable, or would that throw away some or all of the benefit of the DAC in the first place?

Thanks!

u/phys1cs · 3 pointsr/audiophile

For the DAC, I'd suggest the excellent behringer UCA202, but the speakers are by far the most important part of the system. Getting the best speakers might mean going without an external DAC for a while.

u/Ghost_Pack · 3 pointsr/audio

First double check that your PC doesn't have a combo jack (3.5mm analog and 3.5mm optical in the same port). a lot of modern PCs (especially macs) have this and if that's the case this is your best bet for audio. This is what you'd want.

&amp;#x200B;

If you're using HDMI output (especially if you're using a receiver or multiple HDMI inputs), something like this is a good choice.

&amp;#x200B;

If not, your next best bet is a internal soundcard with optical output (like this one) if it's a desktop, or an external USB soundcard with an optical output if it's a laptop (like this one).

&amp;#x200B;

If neither of these work, and/or you're on a device that only has a 3.5mm analog output and nothing else, you can use one of these with one of these adapters. It's known as an analog to digital converter (ADC) and will take in analog (RCA/3.5mm) and convert it to a digital format like optical. This isn't super recommended, as it add extra conversion steps to the process and will reduce the sound quality of your soundbar somewhat unless you pay out extra money for a high quality professional ADC.

u/polypeptide147 · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

You're looking at the wrong stuff here. All of these are going to sound terrible.

USB DAC. That way you can plug into the computer via USB.

From there, go into a Lepai amp and Dayton speakers. This setup will sound so much better than the ones you were looking at.

u/djkoolstorm · 3 pointsr/cuemusic

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-U-Control-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital/dp/B000KW2YEI?crid=1RLE08EIBRMC&amp;keywords=behringer+audio+interface&amp;qid=1537566551&amp;sprefix=behringer%2Caps%2C162&amp;sr=8-10&amp;ref=sr_1_10Get one of these then use the controller output into the usb souncard rca inputs the pc will pick it up as an USB input so will B.U.T.T i actually own one and it works great .

u/HarryTheCaveman · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Connect your laptop to this DAC with USB, then connect that with a pair of red and white phono leads to an amp like this or this which will power your speakers. There are loads of little amps like that on eBay that can be had for very little money if you're willing to wait for delivery from China vs getting one from a UK 3rd party, (my SA-50 was £33 and took about 3 weeks to arrive.)

u/sk9592 · 3 pointsr/buildapc

So you have a couple of different options.

You can get a PCIe sound card with an optical output on the back:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zRckcf/asus-sound-card-xonardgx

Or a USB audio interface:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B000KW2YEI/

I personally prefer USB based options. They are easier to swap between computers if you need to do that.

u/AndrewLucksNeckBeard · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Go for a used pair of active KRK, Roland, or Yamaha studio monitors. If you're patient I bet you could find a steal for ($100-$150) on craigslist. Hook em up with a behringer usb audio interface (used as well) and toslink digital cable. You could get a MUCH better setup for around $150.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KRK-Rokit-5-G3-RP5G3-5-Active-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Speaker-White-/181573222913?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Speakers_Monitors&amp;amp;hash=item2a469b8201

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI

u/R39 · 3 pointsr/headphones

Yes. /u/I_eat_mangoes is pointing you in a good direction. Definitely need an amp. I also recommend looking into the O2 or the O2+ODAC Combo. I've heard really good things about both. The Schiit Stack - Magni and Modi - are a little less expensive. The nice thing about them is you can just get the amp at first and add on the DAC later if needed.

I have a UCA202 floating around somewhere, and the sound is surprisingly good for the money. It certainly might be all the DAC you need.

If you can only afford one thing, I would get whatever amp you can afford and add a DAC later.

u/LD5ifty · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

I know you said under $100, but I've never known anyone to regret spending that little bit extra on a set of cans (except people who bought Beats™). Assuming you're going to be using them for mixing work as well as leisurely listening, I can highly recommend [Sennheiser's HD 380s] (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-380-Pro-Collapsible-Professional/dp/B001UE6I0G). There are very few other products in your price range that compare.

When you have a little extra scrilla on hand, I also recommend picking up one of these so you can boost the output level to the 380s. The power, clarity, and control offered by this combination is an amazing value.

u/RatherNott · 3 pointsr/linuxhardware

Like /u/ulgreswo, I used a different card; the Xonar DG. In my case, it did work under linux alright, but I'd always have to tamper with a setting under alsamixer in the terminal to get it to output sound on any fresh install of linux. Not sure if the DGX would be any different in that regard.

Also the audio-quality wasn't really all that spectacular, as I would still get buzzing and beeps due to interference from the LAN port.

In the end, I sold it and instead replaced it with this external USB DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), which was very affordable, and put out excellent sound. This particular DAC interested me due to the well written review on the Amazon page from Jayteck, where he describes replacing the capacitors on the board for even better sound quality. I followed the instructions contained in the comments, and found that it does indeed sound quite superb when these modifications are done (though it sounded better than the Xonar DG even without the mod).

Alternatively, I've also read great things on various audio enthusiast forums about this Behringer DAC, which is also quite affordable.

Due to using USB, both of those DAC's are plug-n-play with Linux, and require absolutely no configuration to get working. The only potential downside is that they do not have microphone inputs, and only output stereo audio.

u/Nine_Cats · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Assuming you mean acoustic guitar, the cheapest setup I would recommend is these three items:
GLS Audio ES-57 which is $40 and very similar to the legendary SM57.
AT2020 condenser microphone for $50.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 recording interface for $150.

You'll then need cables and stands, which will run you $40 at the cheapest, but you might want to get some better cables which can be around $10 each.

I recommend cables with rubber connectors like this, the ones with smooth metallic ends generally have really terrible soldering and are very breakable.
(Ones like this are okay).

This is a lot better than just getting a microphone that already has USB, and the AT2020 for $50 is a steal.

u/SirSparrow · 3 pointsr/Songwriting

Buy a Scarlett 2i2 USB interface

Download Reaper (a free Digital Audio Workstation)


Buy an Audiotechnica AT2020, a great all-purpose mic


Take songwriting classes and production classes, or try and find lessons on Youtube or something. Learn music theory and how chord progressions and good melodies are written. It doesn't matter how good your hardware/software is if you don't first spend a lot of time learning how to create a well-structured song.

If you don't understand how chords and melodies fit together, and how to make a well-structured lyric (at least subconsciously) at a music theory level, it will be very difficult for you to progress if you are trying to make catchy music - Find a professional and invest in classes!

u/karnac · 3 pointsr/ableton

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA
I have one of these and it is awesome. great sound and great build quality. it looks great on my desk as well.

u/prowler57 · 3 pointsr/livesound

Is the speaker going to be using any kind of amplification in the room? If so, the easiest thing to do might be just to take a split from the live mic into a small USB audio interface. There's tons, something like this: http://www.amazon.ca/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1405700687&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+scarlett+2i2 would be fine. If there's somebody running sound for the room, they can probably help you with a feed from their board, and maybe setting up a room mic to capture audience sound as well.

If you're all on your own, it might be a little more difficult. Is the focus entirely on one person speaking? If so, one mic close to the speaker is probably going to work best. If there's a lot of involvement from people in the room, it's trickier. You'll need to capture the audience generally to get audience questions, but you'll probably also want a mic on the speaker to put the focus there.

Really, your best bet if they want anything halfway professional is to hire a pro to deal with it.

u/Inappropriate_Comma · 3 pointsr/audioengineering

Every interface I can think of has a 48v phantom power... And you wouldn't need to rely on RCA cables (which are unbalanced) to make it in to your DAW (your Digital Audio Workstation, the software you use to record.. i.e. Ableton, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Pro Tools, Reaper, etc.). For $100 you could buy a simple two channel interface with better preamps (marginally, but still better) then the Sampson you purchased that would hook directly to your PC/Mac via USB. For an extra $50 you could get something like the Scarlet 2i2 which will give you 2 solid focusrite pre's and a clean signal path into your computer.

u/slash178 · 3 pointsr/Guitar

A Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is the way to go. Excellent quality at an insanely low price. Plug your amp straight into it.

u/vanguard_anon · 3 pointsr/PKA

Well, I like your list. I don't know that Rode mic in particular but Lefty had two different Rode mics during PKA and they both sounded great.

I'd personally point you toward the RE20. I love mine and you don't have to be right on top of it to sound great. I also love my Shure SM7B but more than one person has mentioned to me that they can hear me breathe so I'm either going to switch back to the giant foam pop filter or to the RE20.

This package is $500 but it comes with the mic, shock mount, cable, boom, etc. http://www.amazon.com/Electro-Voice-Microphone-Shockmount-Two-Section-Broadcast/dp/B00U1S4YY4/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1457378551&amp;amp;sr=1-2&amp;amp;keywords=re20

I don't like your audio interface. In particular it's analog and in my experience if you turn up the gain on an analog mixer you get a hiss. It's not a subtle hiss you think you hear either, it's a real problem. (Or maybe the one I had was just extra bad?)

Anything in the scarlet focusrite series will do, this one is $100: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Compact-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1457378874&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite

For $150 you can get two inputs: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1457378874&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite

Let me know how to sound wedges do. I typically just count on curtains, shag carpet, oil painting and furniture to break up the sound.

u/MrSparkle666 · 3 pointsr/guitarpedals

You'll want to get some kind of USB audio recording interface such as this:

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

Most of these types of audio interfaces have high impedance instrument inputs built into them, so you can plug a guitar or synth directly into it.

A DI box isn't really necessary unless you are doing long cable runs, plugging into a mic input on a mixer, or have ground loop hum issues.

u/razzie-dazzie · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

Yeah I totally agree, excet he's mentioned a new interface in the past and I have that in my shopping cart right now: [Focusrite Scarlett 2i2] (http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/)
I know he uses Logic and Reason to make his beats and if anything I want to help add something to his pool of equipment that he could capitalize on later.

u/edocentric · 3 pointsr/recordthis

It really depends on how much you want to spend and what you're planning to do with your setup.

I personally use a Rode NT2-A with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface (or you could get the Solo and save 50 bucks, but I needed two input ports) and I am pretty satisfied with my setup - I've been using both of them for a whole bunch of paid audiobooks I've done over the years, so they've paid for themselves many times over.

I started out with a Blue Yeti myself, but I decided to change it as soon as I started getting more work. It's not a bad mic, but it's not stellar. When it comes to cheaper USB mics though I'd recommend the Rode NT-USB - my NT2-A broke down over the summer and I was supposed to be recording an audiobook, so I needed a decent replacement until my main mic got repaired. It's slightly more expensive than a Blue Yeti (goes for around $170, while the Yeti is around $100), but I think it's a better quality mic. I still keep my NT-USB at home to use for smaller work that doesn't require going to the studio.

u/sjv7883 · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Those JBLs are meant to have a balanced input (commonly used in the pro-audio scene). Your Sonar DGX puts out an unbalanced signal (commonly used in the consumer and home theater/hifi scene). A DAC that outputs a balanced signal would take care of your interference issues. Take a look at the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

u/FG730 · 3 pointsr/singing

I recommend a Focusrite Scarlett as the audio interface based on my own experience. I am not a pro or anything.. I just record guitar/singing for my own amusement. I personally use a Scarlett 6i6, Sony MDR7510 studio headphones, and a Shure SM57 mic (which admittedly, is not ideal for recording vocals), though I ordered a Rode NT1 condenser mic just yesterday and am excited, since it should be great.
Foscusrite has a starter bundle that you could get (http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1452070488&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite), though I personally would not get the bundle since the mic and headphones are not the greatest.

The Scarlet 2i2 interface, some good "budget" studio monitor headphones (sony makes several for around $100), and a good "budget" condenser mic (Rode NT1 or NT1A... ~$225-$275) is what I would buy. You're looking at $400 at least. I know that sounds like a lot of cash, but if she is even remotely serious, go ahead and do it and don't buy the cheap shit, cause you'll just end up buying better stuff later anyway. After you have all that you may want to look at Reaper as the DAW instead of Audacity. It's only $60 and does a LOT... VST plugins, etc... a 60 day trial is free.

u/Fu-Schnickens · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I have the same setup and use a Scarlett solo. Never had a problem, very easy to use and good looking too.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (1st GENERATION) USB Recording Audio Interface https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hAyUzbGRGF014

u/isidor3 · 3 pointsr/audio

It would probably be better than your internal sound card, but if you're really worried about sound quality, you'll need to get a proper recording interface.

u/Condawg · 3 pointsr/Harmontown

I prefer Reaper to Audacity, but that's just personal preference. I find it waaaay easier to edit. It's not free, but it has a pretty much unlimited trial with no restrictions other than a box telling you to buy it when you open the program. Should you get use out of it though, you totally should buy it. It's cheap as hell for a DAW and worth every goddamned penny.

I use an Audio Technica AT2020, which should be a decent step up from your ATR2100. If you want a leap up, the Shure SM7B is one of the best mics you can get, but it requires a shitload of gain so you have to make sure you get a mixer or audio interface that can support it. Since I can't afford to get both a new mixer and a new mic, my next mic will likely be an Electro Voice RE320 dynamic microphone, which seems like a great mic for the price.

Making your audio sound better is not a cheap venture. Once you start your way down this rabbit hole, be prepared to spend a lot of money over the years on it. I'm a voice-over artist, and most of the money I make doing that goes right back into my setup. This room needs audio treatment, I need a better mic, I need better isolation, maybe a full recording booth, but god damn I could build that myself for a fraction of the cost, but will my mediocre craftsmanship be worth the savings? etc etc etc.

If you're just looking for a good setup for a podcast, an XLR AT2020 and a Focusrite Scartlett 2i2 should keep you satisfied for a while. Make sure you also get a pop filter, and good XLR cables.

u/iamhewhodrums · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Here's the one I use. They're great if you can spare the cash.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-Audio-interfaces-USB-Red/dp/B009B15N0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1415059684&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite

Pair that up with some good headphones/monitors and you're all set.

u/terriblesounds · 3 pointsr/synthesizers

Definitely understand being new to the game, took me a while to figure out what I needed for live use.

Here's my 2 cents:

u/3agl · 3 pointsr/synthesizers

Edit- Thanks for clearing that up! One is on the way! (3-6 months from now...) Yeah, they're 79.99 on amazon and a bunch of other sites, if you don't mind waiting this looks like a really freaking good audio interface if you're reading this and you don't have one. I have read that usb 3.0 and the drivers from behringer are required. Also apparently macs will handle this puppy without drivers I think. Yay!

Again, thanks for all the help you guys! I'll pin this sucker to my fridge lol ;P

Original post:


Yeah so I have plans to do a live show, triggering audio and midi clips from the launchpad and possibly soloing/talkboxing live when the midi to the synth isn't playing. I don't want to get a whole bunch more equipment, I'm looking to get just the behringer umc 204hd (currently on sale on amazon right now for less than the 202hd)

I've tried explaining this just via text before but really i'm more a visual kind of guy

I want the audio to go into the daw without also going out live through the back end, so that I can apply sidechaining and mixing eq effects to it and end up with a finished master channel that is more polished and much more controlled than just trying to mix in the synth outside of the daw.

Being able to put a master compressor on everything and know that it's gonna sound dope as hell as it comes out is basically what I want to do. Make a live experience that is super polished and took a lot of work to set up, but is also flexible enough to not feel "prerecorded", everything is just a little bit more planned out than a dj set may be.

Also if you could recommend a similar audio interface which can do all I ask of it, as stated above, that would also be great.

Cheers and thanks for trying to decipher my chart/diagram! I spent all of 30 minutes making it as neat as possible with just a mouse.

u/beley · 3 pointsr/podcasting

I did some testing with multiple USB microphones and was able to setup a virtual audio device in Mac OS and Windows. They were different microphones, but I would assume if they were the same make/model it would have worked as well. The quality was okay, but you've got a lot of room for interference and bandwidth issues on the USB bus doing it this way. What I did and what I recommend you do is move to XLR microphones and a USB audio interface. I have the Scarlett 2i2 but for more than 2 XLR inputs you'd need to upgrade to a 4 or 8 port version. This Behringer 4-port interface is only about $129. Then you'd just need 3 XLR microphones, I have the MXL 770 which goes on sale pretty regularly for about $65. The Audio-Technica AT2020 is also a great choice under $100. The ATR2100 is also a surprisingly good podcasting mic and has both XLR and USB output.

u/blackking023 · 3 pointsr/Reaper

So as another 29yo musician figuring out reaper over the past few weeks. Definitely watch tutorials, how to's, and basic use videos from youtube and stuff posted here. You'll learn way more from doing that faster than you will from poking around. Most of the time i just google something like "Reddit Render Midi track in reaper" and i'll get a link to this sub with a video.

Definitely get an audio interface, i'll help tremendously with overall sound and latency. I think something with two channels will work well for you. You'll most likely only be recording one instrument at a time if you're doing this solo but the option of the second channel will let you record an acoustic performance if you ever want to. I have no brand loyalty so here's a few options, you can do research on them as you see fit or search some out yourself:

UMC202HD , Scarlett 2i2 , AudioBox USB 2x2

Or if you need to be more budget friendly, this guy is a great bang for you buck, however it is only one channel:

Behringer UM2

If you dont have any 1/4" headphones, pick up a 1/4" male to 3.5mm female adapter as well so you can monitor your sound and for playback through the interface. You can find these at bestbuy or somewhere local pretty easily.

You'll want to look at some 3rd party VSTs for effects instead of your phone. I'm currently in the process of trying different free things out, so i don't have too many suggestions unfortunately, but maybe some other people can chime in with their favorites. I'd watch youtube tutorials to learn how to setup and use these. two I could recommend so far are:

MT Power Drumkit 2 - Simple drum VST that allows you to pick from a select of beats in different styles, then once you import them into reaper you can change the beat with the MIDI editor as you see fit. Watch some youtube tutorials on it to get going using it.

AmpliTube Custom Shop - Comes with a few amp, cab, and effect options that should get you going with some guitar sounds. You can also get the demo version of AmpliTube Full and it will run for 30 min, then you have to close and reopen it for it to work again (seems to be a common setup for demo versions of VSTs), but you can get a good bit in 30min if you know what you want going in.

u/randomdoohickey · 3 pointsr/Twitch

The Cloudlifter would be a complete waste of money here and many people use them where they aren't needed.

The bad news here is that Behringer's classic mixers are just plain garbage. End of story. Good for seeing how high it will bounce when being thrown off the roof of a building though.

I would go so far as to say you shouldn't even look at mixers at all unless you're playing an instrument like a guitar in addition to using the mic. You mix where your sources are, so on a gaming PC you need to mix in software on the PC, not in some external box that you need to setup loopback on. The type of software mixer you're looking for is Voicemeeter.

Behringer's "HD" audio interfaces, however, are pretty decent on the cheap. I just wouldn't touch anything less than the $60 UMC202HD though.

At the end of the day, a 2-input/2-output USB audio interface like the Behringer UMC202HD is all you need. I wouldn't bother with an external hardware mixer at all. It's just not needed. If you want to spend a bit more on a nicer interface, Tascam, Roland, and Zoom are worth looking at. Just don't buy Focusrite Scarlett as their Windows 10 drivers are straight-up broken and won't be fixed any time soon.

Get a decent mic arm like the On Stage MBS5000, plug one end of the XLR cable into the SM58, then the other end into your audio interface, e.g. UMC202HD. Plug your speakers and headphone into the interface. Done. That's all you need. You don't even need a foam ball as a vocal dynamic like that SM58 has a built-in pop filter foam behind it's screw-on head. You can stop using your motherboard's onboard audio entirely too. Maybe do an isolation mic clip if you're feeling fancy.

Remember you need a mic arm as putting your mic on the desk is too far away from your mouth and the mic will pick up more keyboard, mouse, and room noise than it will of your voice.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BWM5E8C

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZO60I

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURUBE

Some adapters you might need, maybe, depending on how your PC speakers are setup:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010D0HO0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000068O3S

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000068O18

u/ilrasso · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

this behringer umc202hd might be just what u need. You can setup how what you want to monitor, so having both the mic recording and the playback in the headphones while recording only the mic audio is no problemo. Consider using the recording software called Reaper. It is cheap/free and very nice.

u/darkworldaudio · 3 pointsr/FL_Studio

Well this interface is really highly rated, exceptional quality for the price and this DI box was standard use back in uni. Hope that helps get you started anyways.

u/SpongeBobNudiePants · 3 pointsr/Twitch

I'm actually more of a fan of the 5 mic idea rather than one condenser, for the reasons that /u/carlmmii outlined below. I'm also going to second the idea that running the mixer via Line In, while it may work, isn't the best way to go about doing it. It will work, but the chances of having unintended audio issues (hum, etc) are increased. Instead, I would recommend pushing the mixer budget a little bit to get one with a dedicated USB audio out, or running the mixer L/R outputs into something like this.

&amp;#x200B;

As far as good mics in the $50 range, I'd go with Shure PG48s. They're cheap, sound decent, and Shure has a reputation of being incredibly tough. Regardless of which mic you pick, I'd recommend dynamic over condenser to cut down on the amount of vocal bleed (i.e. the voice of Player 1 getting picked up in Player 2's mic) and overall reduction in table noise/dice dropping/etc.

u/spankymustard · 3 pointsr/podcasting

Here's my recommendation for a podcast starter kit:


u/ShiftyAsylum · 3 pointsr/unixporn
u/humbled · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Just buy the Behringer UCA202 and be done with it.

It's only $30. It has great quality for the price. It has a headphone jack (and volume potentiometer) as well as RCA line-outs for going to a line-input (NOT pre-outs - use in conjunction with a preamp/receiver). It also has optical out for direct digital passthrough, should you decide to get a better DAC in the future.

u/e60deluxe · 3 pointsr/hometheater

ok, your desktop PC should have a blue plug at the back:

http://i.imgur.com/sXF0D.png

plug the console into this port with the adapter.

now, connect the speakers to the green as usual.

go into your sound properties on your computer:

for windows 7 it would be control panel -&gt; sounds -&gt; manage audio devices

click on recording and you should see the line in option. turn on listen to this device. now, when you do that, you can see it pop up in the volume control. open volume control in the bottom right near the clock and click mixer. you can control how loud the console is in comparison to the PC sounds.

http://i.imgur.com/sS7Tr.png

if you dont want to do all of this PC fiddling, you need to get a mixer:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009XH4HU/

which does the same thing, but has more inputs and does not rely on the PC.
if you want more inputs for your pc, you need to get something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KW2YEI/

which will add one more stereo input.

u/jackemrys · 3 pointsr/audio

An interface goes between an audio source and a computer. It converts an analog signal to digital, and sends it to your PC via USB, FireWire, thunderbolt.

In your situation, iPad-&gt;interface-&gt;computer.


An interface is the correct solution. Using your line input on your computer is an option and may work, though.

Ninja edit: you would plug in what you call an aux cable to your iPad and something like this

Double edit: even cheaper

u/dozens_of_us · 3 pointsr/audiophile

zed is on point with what hes saying. I would add that the 8050 seems to be pretty similar to the 8255 in terms of the quality of sound reproduction. ie same THD. The 8050 does have more power and the bells and whistles that zed mentions.

You need to check out your computer first. What kinda of sound card you have and if you need a better DAC. If not do you have digital out for sound. As far as I know most laptops dont have a digital out so you would still "need" a USB DAC. (You might find that the integrated sound card does the job and you can use the headphone out on the computer.

Personally I look for barebones stuff for an amp/reciever and I would prolly go for the 8255 and save the $100 difference. Then you could see if the headphone out works out well enough and if not grab a DAC.

u/sh3rog · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Sounds like your line level is a bit low - maybe a poor output from your soundcard?

I recommend dropping like 30$ and getting this http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI to see if that doesn't help your problem.

I'm guessing the dynamic range on the output for your sound card isn't great and music tends to be on the louder side so the issue isn't as apparent there.

Also could be poor noise floor on your amp - solve this by putting an inline pre-amp (to raise your signal level for quiet material) or unless you have a real high power amplifier (explaining the poor noise floor) I'd just grab a T-Amp or a cheap stereo amp like this http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-DTA-1-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B001PNOH2I/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1346872929&amp;amp;sr=1-2&amp;amp;keywords=t+amp (lower power higher fidelity). I say this because you will have to remember to turn the pre-amp down for louder material to avoid breaking your amp (it may not care, but more than likely you will damage it if your signal input gets too high)

or this http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PCA1-30-Watt-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B0012KZNP4/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1346873001&amp;amp;sr=1-2&amp;amp;keywords=2+channel+amplifier (little more power, probably not as good SQ but it is well enough reviewed, and I'm sure there is probably minimal audible noise at listening levels)

Also could be noise from your soundcard output - if you unplug the signal cable from the amp is the hiss still present? if not just grab that behringer dac I linked to above and it will sort you out

u/Amidaryu · 3 pointsr/hardware

I could recommend a 7.1 card, and if you must have a 7.1 sourround headset, this is a fairly swell soundcard it: Asus Xonar DS

Having done as you ask, let me ask something. Do you really need a gimmicky 7.1 Headset? Because that's what it is: a gimmick. The individual drivers in the headset will not only be smaller (and thus lose any quality in bass, and be incredibly tinny in higher trebles), but the incredibly limited space for driver placement (opposed to how with a home theater, you have the entire room to place the speakers for surround) in the headphones, meaning that you'll find it incredibly difficult to actually discern the direction of a given sound in the 3d environment of a game, making the feature ever so slightly pointless.

Infact, in my experience (I've owned both a Turtlebeach 5.1 headset, and a 7.1 Razer Megalodon), even software virtualization techniques (for example, Dolby's Pro Logic software) beat a given 7.1 equipped headset in ability to make clear the direction of a given sound.

As many no doubt will recommend you do in this thread, I must recommend you pick up a quality set of headphones, and this is a good place to start looking for one. Along with that, I'd recommend you get a quality DAC (Digital-to-Analog converter, they function kind of like soundcard, but offer alot of benefits over a sound card, at the price of being outside the computer) such as this.

Of course, it's all subjective, and there's no way for me to convince you of the lovemaking-sounds a high quality set of headphones (with a DAC) can provide, without your experiencing it yourself. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck to you.

u/_elote · 3 pointsr/Amd

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

Saved you ‭$200.01‬ American dollars and you get a better product for a low price of $28.99.

u/wolfcry0 · 3 pointsr/audio

The UCA202 is pretty well recommended, it's a good DAC and has RCA and Optical outputs

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

u/heatseekah · 3 pointsr/audiophile

not sure how much you thinking of spending, but a USB audio interface would be nice for those studio monitors. Presonus Audiobox is a popular choice

u/drfine2 · 2 pointsr/cassetteculture

Get one of these, it is inexpensive. I use it with Audacity. My difference is that I record out of a home tape deck, not a box like yours. I think I can help you up to a point. The Behringer has a ton of reviews and very high ratings. I have the one in Red also, it came free with another device, a guitar effects pod.


https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B000KW2YEI/



I've read your manual, although they combined it with ES23 model. Cycle through the Sound settings to EQ Off when dubbing. Turn off or Cancel the sound virtualizer effect. On this Panasonic you have an advantage in that you can control the volume digitally. Start at 6. Level 7 might be better. You will be able to figure out which is best, but adjust it depending on the volume of the entire tape when you move on to another tape. Simon and Garfunkel would be a different setting output SLIGHTLY than Metallica, etc.


On your computer, reboot. Don't have the jack plugged into the computer. Do have the playback Panasonic prepared. You want to test one song. You want to monitor at the end of the chain, so you want to use your computer speakers, or connect via bluetooth to speakers or headphones, somehow.


My laptops now only have one port for sound In and Out. When I plug into the jack it opens a box with a question of how I want to use it. I'll go see the options on mine after I post this, but you don't want Microphone in, you want recording in or something else if you have a choice. If the Audio Device selection doesn't pop up, google it, there is help "How to get a popup when device is plugged into audio jack" - Or if you know your computer pretty well, open the sound panel options for the input/output to see what options are there.

You want LINE IN.

&gt;Here are the options in the sound panel on my Acer with one jack:

&gt;The current connected device is:

&gt;Which device did you plug in?

&gt;Line In [this is the one you want to use]

&gt;Mic In

&gt;Headphone

&gt;Speaker Out

&gt;Headset


This is where the Behringer USB device will come in handy. Audacity will find it, and you can simply monitor via the interface or on your computer.


Audacity, if you are new to it, it defaults at fresh install to 48khz sampling rate in my experience. You want to set that to 44.1 khz, the CD Audio standard. You can google that. I personally record to WAV file on a clean partition, but recording to high rate MP3 or something else might be what you want to do.


Your cables need to be good, and you need to notice if there is dust affecting the signal in the headphone port or the port on your computer. When you are monitoring at the business end DURING A SILENT PAUSE MODE, you can rotate the plug that is in the jack, you will hear if there is a crappy connection. You can clean the mini headphone jack ports just google it.


I hope you have got a way to monitor what is coming in to your computer after you do all this, it is really the only way to go. Like I said, considering the disadvantage of recording from a boombox headphone output, your advantage is that digital level control on the output, so you might turn out a fairly good recording.

u/MagnaFarce · 2 pointsr/Music

Generally you can get a better standalone turntable and an RCA to USB converter (I use this Behringer one) for the same price.

u/helez_ · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Behringer has a few cheap audio interfaces that will do it well for $30
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital/dp/B000KW2YEI

u/TMobotron · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

I'm pretty sure you can get a crappy little USB device with a 1/8" mic input and use that. The sound isn't going to be great but it might hold you over in the meantime. Something like this or this (along with cable adapter(s)) i think would work.

Otherwise, I'd probably be spending all my time learning the blofeld and making patches for it. That synth is basically limitless with its possibilities. Try to make some patches that sound like the gear you want (e piano, etc.).

And get some VSTs! There are plenty of solid-sounding free ones - you can compose your ass off with just free software.

u/RuchW · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I would personally go for this. When I was looking to build my system, it came highly recommended on this subreddit. Plug it into the USB and bypass your soundcard altogether.

u/cannedleech · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

what is an interface? and do you have a suggestion for which one? noob here :)

Edit: would this one work?

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

u/TheLegendOfZero · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I use a USB DAC so that it appears as another audio source in the OS. This way I can use keyboard shortcuts to switch between headphones and speakers, rather than using a physical switch.

u/jankenpwn · 2 pointsr/audiophile

On what budget? Beringer UCA202 if you just want something cheap.

u/Some_Chords · 2 pointsr/headphones

No, that's just electrical interference from your computer being a computer. To fix it, you'd have to get a cheap DAC like the Behringer UCA202 or FiiO D3 , other than that, just deal with the static.

u/manirelli · 2 pointsr/hardware

Here you go. Works like a charm and will eliminate any noise from interference in the case.


Behringer UCA202

u/rswalker · 2 pointsr/podcasting

To use that with a computer, you’ll need something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KW2YEI/

u/women_are_pretty · 2 pointsr/audiophile

It seems unlikely that a wire degrades over time. If rebooting works, it's more likely related to the computer.

You could buy a cheap DAC, you could try the headphone jack at about 60% volume and see how that works.

u/12stringPlayer · 2 pointsr/OSMC

On-board audio interfaces suck on almost all computers.

I use the JustBoom DAC on the RPi 3B+ CD Player I built for my GF. It sounds great!

Another alternative is to use a USB audio interface like the Behringer UCA202. I had one laying around from when I used an old laptop as a media controller, and it works fine on my OSMC RPi.

u/Velimas · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Right. If you're not American, tell me and I'll re-evaluate. So as for speakers I recommend the Klipsch RB-51 II's at $420. Pair this with a Yamaha A-S300 amplifier for $330, and the Klipsch RW12D subwoofer for $350 dollars. Lastly, you're going to want a DAC, which are much cheaper than soundcards. Take the Behringer UCA202 at $30 Very hefty prices, but for a subtotal of $1110, you'll have an absolutely amazing setup. If you're a bit taken aback by the price, I can cook up something cheaper with not much of an issue, so tell me what you think!

u/0perator00 · 2 pointsr/DIY

You want a Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface. I purchased one specifically for use with these speakers. It's just a USB Digital Audio Converter (plug it in via USB, and it detects as a sound card, and has RCA outputs.) You could probably get away with using your onboard soundcard with a 1/8 jack to RCA as well, but, onboard soundcards are notoriously bad.

Also, get a good cable as well.

After getting a headset I moved onto a asus xonar essence stx so that I had something decent to power my headset and my Behringer UCA202 has been retired.

u/1369ic · 2 pointsr/audio

If you want to get the most out of your new gear, you should buy a DAC. On-board sound cards are not high quality and you'll be better off getting your DAC chip out of the electrical shit storm going on inside your computer. You can spend anything from $30 or so up to the price of a new house on a DAC. The Behringer UCA202 is popular at the $30 range. If you want a nicer one, I'd recommend the Schiit Modi. And it goes up from there.

As for an amp, opinions vary. Most audiophiles will tell you an integrated amp is better than a receiver, and separates (a power amp and a preamp) are better, and dual mono all the way through is even better (separate amps for the left and right channels).

You could get a craigslist or eBay special and be perfectly fine. If you want a popular and solid integrated, the Emotiva Mini-X a100 is on sale for $170. Emotiva is the kind of the go-to for a lot of budget-minded audiophiles.

Lastly, while those speakers are going to sound very nice, "absolute best" is not only a relative term, it costs a lot more to achieve. Check out /r/zeos/ for a lot of good information.

u/applevinegar · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

That DAC has a dual purpose out, you can either connect an analog 3,5mm jack to it, or a mini toslink (which has identical physical dimensions but an optical end).

I had never heard of that DAC but it should be ok as it does have an headphone amp.

Some alternatives could be the evergreen Behringer:

http://www.amazon.de/Behringer-U-Control-UCA202-Interface-Soundkarte/dp/B000KW2YEI/

or this:

http://www.amazon.de/HifiMAN-tragbarer-Kopfh%C3%B6rerverst%C3%A4rker-Soundkarte-premium/dp/B0066AHES4/

or this if you prefer a volume pot:

http://www.amazon.de/FiiO-E10K-OLYMPUS-WANDLER-schwarz/dp/B00LP3AMC2/

(all should ship to the NL)

u/_donkeyqong_ · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

spend 10 more dollars

spdif out, headphone out, and rca out.

u/PlasmaSheep · 2 pointsr/audiophile

How much money are you willing to spend?

If you're only looking for a headphone amp, a solid (and probably one of the cheapest) options is an O2. If you have the tools and know-how, it's easy (and cheaper) to DIY.

If you're also willing to buy a DAC, the UCA-202 is a popular recommendation, and it's pretty cheap. If you're willing to spend a bit more money (or in the future) you can upgrade to the ODAC, which does measure better. I do not think you'd need a DAC that measures better than the ODAC, at least not with your current setup.

u/imightbearobot · 2 pointsr/24hoursupport

Audio out of the PC is easy:

The Cheap Way using internal sound card

Or using an external DAC

For the 360 it will output audio and HDMI at the same time, there is just a plastic shield over the hdmi port when the component cable is plugged in. Options are:

you can break it off the plastic tab so both the component cable and hdmi cable can be plugged in at the same time or

Get an xbox vga cable

I didn't think the wii had hdmi out so I have no idea what you are doing there.

u/mxmr47 · 2 pointsr/audio

You can use this. Connect it to the computer and send the ps3 rca cables to the input of the uca222, it has a switch(monitor) that let you hear whatever you connect.

u/borge689 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

From what it says in the specifications, it comes with an RCA adapter? You could use the audio input from an RCA connection from this to get audio through USB. I'm currently using this particular USB DAC and it works fine. It's got left and right channels for input as well as output.

As for the loss of audio quality, I don't know much about this in the way of distortion, but I've noticed no distortion whatsoever. Somebody else, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about this.

u/admiralteal · 2 pointsr/Android

This is a USB DAC, for example. A USB DAC is basically any kind of audio device, such as a USB sound card, headphone, or speaker.

DAC means digital to analogue converter.

u/AcidAlex303 · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

For gear demos I use one of these to record straight into my iPhone using the CCK.

Behringer UCA202 U-Control Ultra low-latency 2 In/2 Out USB/Audio Interface https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GGtaBbH7WP55F

If I am recording a track then I record the audio into a Zoom H1, then I master it on my Mac before importing the audio into iMovie and attaching it to the video.

You can see/hear how this turns out on my latest video
https://youtu.be/BywKoNRX9wY

u/Janununuh · 2 pointsr/audio

You certainly can go cheaper than that. You’re just plugging in a mic/guitar/headphones yeah? If so you can use pretty much any USB interface with 2 inputs. Should be around $100

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07664LMPQ/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074F2V6VJ/?th=1&amp;amp;psc=1

That’s your best option, the cheapest option would be to continue using your Yamaha mixer, and to connect the LINE OUT from the mixer to your computer using a cheap USB converter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/

u/ratbut · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

i'm not sure what this is, or if it's any good, but this is what i use to bypass my laptop's shitty on-board audio.


Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface

u/thiio · 2 pointsr/battlestations

Behringer UCA202

Also, since I'm getting a lot of questions, might as well post my headphone guide

u/Rock_Me-Amadeus · 2 pointsr/DJSetups
u/nevermind4790 · 2 pointsr/vinyl

Plug the turntable into a phono preamp with USB support. Or if you already have a nice phono preamp (without USB) or your receiver has a nice phono preamp, you can use an audio interface like this one.

So, to break it down in simple terms, these good options:

Turntable -&gt; USB phono preamp

Turntable -&gt; phono preamp -&gt; USB audio interface

Turntable -&gt; stereo receiver with phono input -&gt; USB audio interface (via receiver's "Tape Out")

u/breakerfall · 2 pointsr/Nexus6P

I have this one working in my car (through an OTG adapter):
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

Still looking for a hub/OTG adapter that will let me charge the phone at the same time, though.

u/Robstaaa · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

I recently bought one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KW2YEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1
Sound quality is fantastic and there is no audio delay. Would definitely recommend it

u/ZeroKarizma · 2 pointsr/podcasts

I also vouch for the Behringer XENYX 1202. It's relatively inexpensive and reasonably powerful. You'll also need one of these for USB interface:

Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface

u/mrklever · 2 pointsr/battlestations

That's the amp! The speakers are Pioneer SP-BS41-LR and the stands are Sanus NF36B. There's also a Behringer DAC that I've hidden on the left side of the cable rack.

u/mailor · 2 pointsr/audiophile

your boses will probably not benefit from the amplifier but that won't hurt either.

also have a look at things like this one, they're pretty popular around here.

u/paracog · 2 pointsr/reasoners

Hi; if you have powered speakers, a simple device like this one, which I've used for years with no problem, should suffice:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

u/Freezerburn · 2 pointsr/audiophile

If you have a question about a youtube video check the description. I'll be nice and spoon feed you like a child.

&gt; Published on Aug 7, 2013

&gt;MUSIC STARTS AT 7:25 .. A mostly in-depth look at my makeshift 2.2 setup. (Lots of Annotation Corrections and Details) May not be repeatable without the exact parts found here. Which makes it one of a kind. Cheap speaker builders of the internet. I challenge thee.

&gt;Like always recorded with a GoPro Hero3 : http://amzn.to/15i5RQb and a Tascam DR-40 http://amzn.to/10muUkS (Slightly over-modulated in this video) all of it dubbed over in Audacity. Here is the Behringer DAC I can't praise enough http://amzn.to/T5fG38 and the NEW daytons that are 96% as good as these old Dayton B652's http://amzn.to/17K6TIT . Everything else is vintage or non-existent like the Design Acoustics PS-SW10 sub and the Pioneer VSX-D1S Receiver.

&gt;Join my damn Ventrilo - dc01.nagametech.com port 8701

u/jensyfrenzy · 2 pointsr/raspberry_pi

I used an analog USB sound card (specifically, this one).

u/Proper_Refrigerator · 2 pointsr/pocketoperators

Well I record my PO-20 using this interface and this wire. It's all worked perfectly well for me.

u/itsthevoiceman · 2 pointsr/AskMen

We've got kind of an array of equipment, as our studio isn't funded too well. Fortunately, we got an upgrade a few years ago, and we've got some nice stuff to work with:

u/evilpirateguy · 2 pointsr/Guitar

If just want to play into you computer, the quarter to eighth inch jack will certainly work. However, if you want improved audio quality you can purchase, as mentioned by the guy above me, and audio converter that plugs in via USB to you computer. The two leading units are probably the scarlet 2i2 or the audiobox usb. They both pretty much do the same thing.

u/scnickel · 2 pointsr/Guitar

You can probably get a used Presonus Audiobox USB within your budget:

http://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00154KSA2

I have one and it's been solid. The most budget friendly option would be that or something similar and headphones. The computer will not handle the amplification. If you try to output through your pc sound card, there will be a slight delay. If you plug pc multimedia speakers into the interface, it's not going to sound good. You'll either need studio monitors or headphones.

u/Styrant · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00154KSA2 - Cheapest external soundcard (US Link).
edited parts list
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/yYm9WX

  • added a gpu (750 ti)
  • 1x 256gb ssd (instead of 2x 128gb ssds; 1 256gb ssd was cheaper)

  • Changed processor to non-k for price and motherboard
  • removed cpu fan, processor comes with stock fan
  • got cheaper memory 16gb (your motherboard couldn't support 3200 memory)

    total is about the same as before.
u/DavidLean · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

You can do this in FL, but if you're starting out, I think FL is about the most confusing DAW to record audio tracks into. Audacity is free and will work fine. If you want something more polished, Reaper is easy to use, free to try for 2 months, and $60 for a full license—worth trying out.

&amp;nbsp;

But, like /u/BartonPatrick says, you're going to want an audio interface between your mic and your computer. If you buy a new audio interface, a lot of them will come with a basic DAW—so look into that first.

u/AliceWolff · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

Would this device work for amplifying three headphones? I remember it worked pretty well in Music Production class in high school with this interface. I need it to be able to connect to that (I have an RCA to 1/4" jack adapter) for near-zero latency listening to playback from live instruments.

u/MasterVamp · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

First, sorry for bad english.

I think you misunderstood the noise canceling feature, your headsets cancel noise from getting into your ears, not your microphone.

I live in a very busy avenue in my country, and i have a similar problem. Mic was picking up cars and stuff from the street. Your best chance to avoid this noise is getting the mic closer to your mouth, reduce the volume (or sensitivity from your mic) and speak louder. thats why i prefer headsets instead of regular desktop (or tripode) mics.

if reducing the volume and getting the mic closer doesnt work, you probably need a better mic.

After searching for a long time i find the best price-value "noise cancelling" mic is the audio Technica BPHS1. But it isnt usb (it is xlr) and you need a audio USB interface to use it in your pc. This headset is designed to use in sport breadcast, in very loud enviroments.

Link to the headset:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Broadcast-Stereo-Headset-Dynamic/dp/B003D87JI2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1412137022&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=bphs1

Description:
Created especially for on-air news and sports broadcasting, announcing &amp; interviews, this rugged stereo headset offers natural, highly intelligible and focused vocal reproduction, closed-back circumaural (around-the-ear) ear cups to seal out background noise, and a high-output dynamic microphone mounted on a flexible gooseneck boom. The headset's microphone has a cardioid polar pattern tailored for pickup of speech with maximum voice intelligibility over a wide range of frequencies. It is more sensitive to sound originating directly in front of the element, making it useful in reducing pickup of unwanted sounds. The flexible gooseneck boom swivels for easy positioning on either the right or left side.

Link to the audio interface I use:
http://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B00154KSA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1412137064&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=audio+box+usb

After switching to this headset i cant hear almost any unwanted noise. I even apologise for a loud truck of something but people cant hear anything :).

But be carefoul, the speakers arent that good as others gaming headsets, but i think it is the best solution for your problem.

Hope it helps! Sorry again for bad english, im still learning a lot of stuff and my keyboard doesnt helps :c.

u/unicorn_defender · 2 pointsr/audio

First, I'd like to point out that in your situation it would be redundant to run your mic through the mixer and then through another interface (unless your mixer has incredibly awesome pre-amps, which is something I'd argue most Behringer products lack).

If I were you, I'd ditch the $10 mic for a used SM58, and the Behringer usb mixer for a decent cheap interface like the PreSonus Audiobox, or if your budget permits, something from the Focusrite family.

That said, you may be able to increase your sound quality 10 fold just by upgrading the mic and leaving the XENYX. I don't have any experience with either of those products, but they are by brands I would warn any newcomer to steer clear from. Good luck!

u/mintorment · 2 pointsr/PS4

Quality seems great, I use it with an AT2020 mic and from what I can tell it sounds really nice.

My Audiobox looks almost exactly like that, but doesn't say '96' and has a few other very slight differences (I'm guessing that one supports up to 96kHz sample rate while mine only supports 44.1k or 48k). See here for the one I've got. I would imagine the 96 would work too, but I can't say for certain.

u/audiotecnicality · 2 pointsr/audio

Buy a USB audio interface like the Presonus Audiobox.

u/fvig2001 · 2 pointsr/Philippines

I bought myself these:

  1. Scarlet 2i4 Audio Interface
  2. A pair of LSR305 studio monitors

    Got to up my music gig.
u/OhAces · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

you can get a cheap sound card and plug your sound from your controller into it, then route the sound to your computer through usb and out to your speakers with rca, you will get a far better recording than splitting the sound. Audacity and any other recording program will recognize pretty much any sound card immediatley. this one is only $25 CAD. I have this one bit more expensive but it works great.

u/MantisToboganMD · 2 pointsr/audio

Beaky is right, at that price you can find an interface with built in pre's. Way better.

120 shipped with prime refurb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005OZE9SA/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;condition=refurbished

Model up new shipped with prime for 138
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B009B15N0Q/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;condition=new


These act as offboard sound cards, headphone amps, dacs and can drive 2 xlr mics in stereo. Way better deal/upgrade overall. You could probably find em even cheaper, I just searched 'focusrite' on amazon. The focusrite scarlet series is fantastic for the price.

u/Sleeper256 · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

MAudio MTrack found here http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6

I agree the top end seems lacking through it, you think that's because of the preamp? Do you think it's broken, or just cheap? I don't think the simulators are the problem anymore, because I even tried a trial of Guitar Rig 5 and it still sounded lacking...

u/giubaloo · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I have this and I like it a lot because there is a mix knob to adjust the balance from the direct input and your computer signal. That basically means you can play through AmpliTube as if it were an amp and not hear any of the dry signal from your guitar. Any audio interface will do so long as you can disable direct monitoring.

u/paulbamf · 2 pointsr/Guitar

No he means something like this. A physical unit where you can connect mics, guitars etc. Audacity is a very simple DAW. If you buy an interface you can use Reaper for free (though it's cheap to purchase) and that's comparable to ProTools and other industry standard DAWs.

u/badtaylor · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

for $200 you could get this interface and this microphone

and you'd have money left over for a stand if you didn't have one before.

if you want the sm7b then you're looking at a vocal recording setup of $500+

u/v_m_ · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

It's kind of hard trying to fit into that budget. I'd suggest saving till you can get a somewhat okay setup. A decent audio interface would be the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 but it's $150.

Might try looking into this:

Interface:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-2-Channel-Portable-Audio-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1425251263&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=m+audio+usb+interface

Mic:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1425251333&amp;amp;sr=1-3&amp;amp;keywords=xlr+condenser

Sorry for the long links. I personally have the AT2020 and I love it as a beginner mic. Just learn to mix okay and you'll be set.

Also if you can't/don't want to buy a pop filter (assuming you have a stand or desktop tripod thing) you can make one out of an old wire coat hanger and some pantyhose (yeah it's kinda weird, but it works okay as well)

Hope I could help.

u/audioscience · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I'm in the same market as the OP and the m-audio m-track looks like the most full-featured piece of hardware. Note that there are two different versions with different software bundles, one with ProTools Express and one with Ableton Live Lite. I'd go for the bundle with Ableton Live Lite.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;smid=A172LXRNAST084

u/o0turdburglar0o · 2 pointsr/linuxquestions

That has a single XLR input, and onboard effects. Doesn't seem very flexible to me. For the price, I'm not at all interested.

Unless you are specifically wanting an 'all in one' outboard solution like that, which requires quite a bit of compromise in terms of price, flexibility, and usually quality... I personally would rather go with a modular solution and software effects, as that would remove all limitations and be more easily upgraded at a later date... Not to mention it would be cheaper.

Free effects are abundant on Linux. A nice all-inclusive option would be something like Guitarix. It's a full suite of 'guitar' effects (which would work fine for vocals as well.)

You'll need the following hardware (examples included:)

  1. XLR input:
  • Scarlett Solo has 1 XLR and 1 line in. Great sounding preamps.
  • Behringer UMC22 is similar in features, very inexpensive.
  • Depending on what you'll be using this for, you may want to consider an option with two XLR inputs in case you want two people (or just two mics) simultaneously.

  1. Control surface: These have knobs/buttons/sliders that can be assigned to anything in your software.
  • Akai MidiMix - Lots of sliders and knobs.
  • Behringer Xtouch Mini - Inexpensive and portable

    So if you went with the Scarlett Solo + Akai MidiMix, you'd have more flexibility, better preamps, and more easily portable setup for less than half the price.

    With the Behringer options listed above, it would be 1/4 the price, again with all the benefits I listed.

    FYI, the example products in this comment are just that: examples. There are dozens of other options available.
u/therealvodius · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I can't speak personally for this DAW but some people like it well enough. Well timed Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com/software/the-beat-goes-on-software?hmb_source=navbar&amp;amp;hmb_medium=product_tile&amp;amp;hmb_campaign=tile_index_5

Behringer has this audio interface that will get you what you need for guitar/bass/mic for less than a new video game https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-audio-interface/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=audio+interface&amp;amp;qid=1565824932&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sr=8-5

Have you tried asking people at your school what they're doing? Maybe someone wants to be a producer and is looking for someone to collab with?

u/cecilkorik · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Well, first of all, it requires 48V phantom power and additional cables or it will not work. As the description on Amazon states:

&gt;PLEASE NOTE: Sound Card, 48V Phantom Power, 1/4" to XLR Cable &amp; XLR to XLR Cable are needed to purchase additionally.

Neewer has their own 48V power supply, I would recommend you get that. You may also need an additional XLR cable.

Assuming you've got all that figured out, you may be able to use your built-in sound card, as the description suggests that it comes with a 3.5mm to XLR cable. If the quality is not satisfactory, they also sell a USB sound card, or there are many others to choose from, from cheap one trick ponies like this up to and including professional audio boxes that connect directly to your PC. For a professional mic like that, those may be the best option. But they are not cheap.

Edit: links.

u/SHOWTIME316 · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Probably a silly question but I figured I might as well ask. On the [UMC22] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6), using the direct monitor headphone output, can you hear whatever audio your computer is outputting as well? Since my main use for this interface will be gaming, for example, would I be able to monitor my own comms while also hearing my game and Spotify in the same headphones? I'm trying to see if I should bother replacing my lost 1/4th adapter that came with my AT M30xs.

u/Crymoricus · 2 pointsr/audiodrama

This - $58.99

This - $99.00

This - the one with the stand ($48.00)

and This - $12.50

Total: $218.49

The "soundproof shield" on the mic stand isn't enough. The only reason I say you should get it is because it will allow you to hang a blanket over your mic. You want something heavy with a cotton-like, or very dense surface. You can hang the blanket there and "duck in" to do your voice work. You can take a phone in with your lines on it so you don't have to duck in and out so much. The point is that there is no such thing as a good mic that doesn't need soundproofing, period.

With this condenser mic, good soundproofing (blanket), and the heavy pop filter, you will be surprised at the quality. The Behringer audio interface is basically an amp, you know, and it's totally fine for voice work. And remember, this is NOT a USB mic! It NEEDS an audio interface.

I realize it's more than the option already presented, but it's just so worth it. It really is so much about that blanket. The fact is if you want to sound pro without spending pro money, you need to stick your head in there and just put up with that. The results are 100% worth it.

One other thing: if you find that pop filter isn't enough, and you're still hearing "mouth clicks" (this setup, without filter, will pick up every little sound the inside of your mouth makes -- and the inside of your mouth actually makes a LOT of unintended noise, if you didn't know it), start layering on thin nylon fabric (panty hose will work) until it's gone to your satisfaction.

Here's me using this exact setup (I have tried other inexpensive setups!)

https://soundcloud.com/dan-williams-214914755/credits-1/s-881qi?in=dan-williams-214914755/sets/a-house-in-wayward-canyon/s-cfvoq

u/Kizamus · 2 pointsr/Twitch

I'm not too sure on what else you could do TBH. If you're already using noise gate. The blue yeti is a pretty sensitive mic and not one that I would recommend. You could always try selling the yeti and going for a different mic. Maybe an XLR Shotgun. You can get one under 100 including the phantom PS. I may add some links to this reply

Edit:
Audio Interface:
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1517463363&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=Behringer+UMC22

Microphone:
https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-centimeters-Uni-Directional-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B018DYTFUU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1517463442&amp;amp;sr=8-4&amp;amp;keywords=neewer+shotgun+XLR

Those are under 70 USD. I've used the Audio interface in the past and it's actually really good for its price.
You may need to look for a different stand, or maybe figure out a way to keep it pointed towards you while you play your games ect.

Hope this helps

u/certifiedrotten · 2 pointsr/podcasting

You could make your life a lot easier with a USB interface like this one. BEHRINGER audio interface UMC22 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ye-yCbZ96YS9K

u/Skitch_n_Sketch · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Cool, then the loss of inputs from the R-15PM shouldn't matter much. I'd definitely recommend adding some kind of physical volume knob inbetween the speakers and computer though, easier to prevent yourself from blowing up the speakers.

Audio Interfaces are pretty popular for this, but you can find cheaper options that still have some features. This things 20 bucks and has a volume knob, speaker outs, and a headphone jack. Even this $8 knob does the trick.

u/Lucidiously · 2 pointsr/microphones

Hello, I'm looking for a cheap(preferably under €50) desk mic for voice recording/streaming and discord. I'm not looking for the highest quality, just something that will do the job well enough and is a good value. But I'm completely new to this and not really sure where to start and what to look for.

I might be able to get a used Blue Snowball including arm, shockmount and filter for €45.(new without any extras they are €60 here)

Other than that I've been looking at this Neewer NW-700. Reading up on stuff it seems to me that my onboard audio wouldn't be enough to give a decent sound quality and I would need a preamp, am I right in thinking that? If so would it be a good idea to pair it with a Behringer umc22, which would cost me about €65 total.

So my questions are these, what would be the best out of these two, do I need a preamp with an XLR mic and are there other options that would be better for around €50?

Thanks!

u/MPGlenn1202 · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

What about something like this?

I’m not dropping $500+ on something that might work out

u/WildDoktor · 2 pointsr/VoiceActing

Awesome; then /r/JohannesVerne 's suggestions would be great...and you could upgrade to the umc22 (less self-noise, I'm told).

Also, you'll need better headphones. Your Logitech are probably fine for gaming and pleasure listening, but not mixing VO work. I'm learning that most gaming headphones really boost the bass, and you need headphones with a super flat response for mixing your VO work. Look up a video where they compare a raw VO track with a processed one and listen with your Logitech cans...you probably won't hear much of a difference. Then buy a pair of Sony MDR7506's and listen again. Wow...what a difference! You won't use the Sony's for "pleasure" listening, so keep your Logitech set for that.

A better mic could possibly give you *worse* sound quality, because it'll pick up *everything*. So you'll also need to tighten up your performance and your room if you want a better mic to help you sound better. "With more mic comes more responsibility", or something like that! :-)

All that said, I think it's awesome that you have a budget and a passion, and I say "go for it"!

u/MoogleMan3 · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

It's in the title, but yeah, needs an audio interface.

Here's a decent interface for $42.71.

u/Dracomies · 2 pointsr/VoiceActing
u/xtwrexx · 2 pointsr/ableton

For live sound, you'll need some sort of USB audio interface, one of these, that have some sort of monitor out. This will act as a digital to analog converter from your laptop to the house PA for the highest quality audio. It will also give you an input to either DI your guitar, or mic it or a speaker cabinet. You'll also want something to trigger your loops and and adjust things on the Ableton side, but I'd have to know a little more about what you are looking for on that end.

u/bnich11 · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

Just to be clear, you will need a 48V power source to operate this mic. A friend of mine has this mic and uses a BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC22 mixer. It sounds really good.

u/WordOfMadness · 2 pointsr/buildapc

By the time you get that and an XLR-USB cable, it's not much more just to get a proper interface. There are some ones that do an okay job on the cheap, like this $40 Behringer.

u/LegionsReddit · 2 pointsr/Twitch

Please do yourself a favor and get an AT2020 or 2035 XLR. Most people that have been doing this for some time will tell you, get a mic that will last. Don't go the upgrade path. In the long run if you go from headset mic to yet/snowball then eventually upgrade to XLR and a mixer, you're spending unnecessary money. Spend the little bit now to get the end game, and use it for years! Enjoy the high quality the whole time!

&amp;#x200B;

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=xlr+usb+audio+interface&amp;qid=1555079970&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-9

The link above has a bundle of frequently purchased together with the AUI and XLR Cable for $150

https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Anti-Vibration-Suspension-Diameter-46mm-53mm/dp/B01LY7QM1N/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=at2020+boom&amp;qid=1555080248&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3

This is a pop filter and shock mount for $14

https://www.amazon.com/RODE-Swivel-Mount-Studio-Microphone/dp/B001D7UYBO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=CUJDIZ6156GX&amp;keywords=rode+boom+arm&amp;qid=1555080384&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=rode+boom%2Caps%2C151&amp;sr=8-3

This Boom = $100 (Worth it)

This is the boom arm i have that was recommended to me, I've had lower quality ones that didn't work out well and you don't want to know what its like to have almost $200 of equipment dangling on a $15 boom let em tell you. You also don't want to use the desk mounts as from my experience they don't provide the quality that booms do (so much noise every time you move your mouse or get animated and bump your desk slightly. Ive had this boom 3 years and love it still, great investment.

Total: $265+Taxes includes..

AT2020

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Audio interface

XLR Cable

Pop Filter

Shock Mount

u/ThatSoundGuyChris · 2 pointsr/leagueoflegends

Okay this is going to be a long post, so here goes.

&amp;#x200B;

If you really want to get into sound design, youre going to need a few essentials. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), an audio interface, a handheld recorder, and a microphone.




DAWs

As far as a DAW goes, there's a few alternatives you can go with. I personally use Avid Pro Tools for near everything I do, but also mess around with Reaper. I've found that most studios will use one of these two. Most DAWs will have a pretty steep learning curve, so be ready for that.

Pro Tools First is the free version of Pro Tools. It has a lot of limitations, but for starting out it should be fine. If you want less limitations it costs big money, but I'm sure you can find a crack or two as long as you don't use it commercially.

Reaper is starting to grow on me lately. You can customize it to your needs, and the full version is only $60. You can also just deal with a popup everytime you open the program for ten seconds and use it for free. I mainly prefer Pro Tools over this because the video engine in Pro Tools is much better. But for batch editing multiple sound files, Reaper is muuuuuch better.

&amp;#x200B;

Audio Interface

This basically takes over as an intermediary between high quality audio and your computer. You can plug a microphone right into it to record sound straight to your computer. You can do this with a USB microphone as well, but the quality is a million times better with one of these.
I would recommend either the Behringer UMC22 or the more advanced Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Both will do the trick, I just prefer the mic pres on the Focusrite a bit more.


Handheld Recorder
Handheld recorders allow you to record anything you want to without having to deal with any cables. They should be compact but durable.

The Tascam DR-40 is a great intro recorder. It was the first recorder I got 5 years ago, and it still holds up. I've dropped this thing so many times and it still powers through.
Another favorite is the Zoom H4N. This was a favorite among most of my classmates as it was the one my school supplied, but I didn't feel like going through the checkout process all the time so I saved up and got the Tascam. It has a newer version, the Zoom H6, which is pretty slick, but comes at a higher price point. It also comes with some interchangeable microphone capsules so you can get different types of recordings. I'll cover more of this later.
I'll leave off with the recorder I have now, the Sony PCM-M10. This thing is a godsend. It's discontinued due to a newer version coming out, but you can find this guy on eBay for around $300-400. It's smaller than a phone, and the sound quality is amazing. If you have the money to shell out for this guy, definitely go for it. Every sound designer inn the industry I know swears by it.


Microphone

So the first thing you need to know is that there's a load of different microphone types. Its a lot to cover, so I'm just going to link you to this article that will cover the basics of what you need to know. Basically I would recommend different microphones for different things, all depending on what you're trying to capture.
A good all-around microphone is the Shure SM57/Shure SM58. They're essentially both the same microphone. But these things will LAST. Like,people have run over them with trucks and they sound fine. Definitely a good starting point

For vocal recordings, I would recommend the Rode NT1A. This mic is a great starting point for capturing voice, and is durable to boot.

For capturing foley/field recording, I would go with the Rode NTG2. Its a shotgun mic with great quality for the price, and never let me down in all the years Ive been using it. I won its successor, the NTG3, in the Riot Creative Contest a few years back, but still use the NTG2 from time to time when I need to.


Some Extra Stuff


Theres a lot of cool, free plugins out there. I've used both Blue Cat's and Melda's plugins, and they all get the job done with a bit of tweaking.

As far as building up a sound library goes, I would recommend recording literally everything you can around you and playing with those sounds with plugins as a good starting point for building up a library. There's a few resources out there that give out free SFX every once in a while, GDC has had a bundle go up for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. You can also check out the BBC Sound Effects Library. Be careful about getting libraries and bundles though, as they add up quick. I have to go through my sound library soon, and I probably have around 500,00+ files but only really need a few thousand.

For all your sounds, you're going to want a file manager. A great and free one is Mutant. You just add the directory where you downloaded your sounds to, let it load them in, and voila. You can search easily for what you need.


Hopefully, all this was somewhat helpful to you, or to anyone else reading this who's interested in sound design!

u/mnha · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Given your interests, I'd probably pick up something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FFIGZF6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

and a proper mic. Discrete solutions tend to be better than onboard, the mainboard chips have a lot of electronic noise sources around them. Powered USB hub for the ports.

Learning to code isn't resource intensive, it's bigger projects where hardware matters. You'll survive waiting 2-3 seconds more for compilation. As for maintaining, good PSU and dust filters, e.g. Silverstone filters. Nothing beyond that is really necessary.

u/berserkcucumber · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

The Arturia Minilab Mk2 isn't bad, but I think the Launchkey Mini Mk2 is better. I've found I don't use the knobs as often as I'd thought, the extra pads are a more than welcome exchange for it. Plus, it has easy-to-install drivers, works with most DAWs, and great feel on the keys for the price, too.

Make sure you get what works for your workflow. If more knobs are better, then go for that. If having more pads readily available without having to press any buttons is better, go for the Launchkey.

Another option is the Akai MPK Mini Mk2 but I've heard it can be really wonky with certain software.

u/CaptainYankaroo · 2 pointsr/loopdaddy

I have an Akai MKII that I plug into a pretty basic setup using FL Studio and have spent hours making 8-12 bar beats of various genres. Its good fun. There are thousands of hours of youtube of people making stuff in FL Studio for lessons, and you can kinda point/click to make simple beats then just play the Rhodes/Piano/Synths over the top to your hearts content. It is the best way I've found to poop on it so far. Im close to buying the looper he uses but Ive spent a long time playing around with just that keyboard (99$) and learning FL Studio. Knowing the software, and finding your style are probably the key things. Being able to find instrument packs to get the sounds you want etc.

u/mindcryme · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

I will jump in and sayi f you want to get into producing I would highly recommend getting a 25 key midi keyboard. AKAI MPK Mini is a solid choice. If you want to used pads AKAI MPD218 is a good choice as pads on most midi keyboards are not ideal. Other than that, a DAW and some monitors is really all you need to start.

u/Xulrether · 2 pointsr/TechnoProduction

The volca stuff is great, though if you are going to use Ableton a good starting point may be the Akai mini so you can work with various software instruments and have tactile elements - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LzWxDb6DVGZPF

u/irish_guy1991 · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

Which of these would be more useful to some one who enjoys playing around with this as a hobby, not trying for a professional level. All I have right now if fl studio and am thinking about buying my first bit of equipment . I'm a fan of hip hop and sampling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Numark-MixTrack-Platinum-Controller-Capacitive/dp/B01J3S8MUO

Or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AKAI-Professional-Performance-ready-4-Way-Thumbstick/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=akai+mpk+mini+mk2&amp;amp;qid=1567268323&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sprefix=akai&amp;amp;sr=8-3

u/RedDeadRedemptioner · 2 pointsr/FL_Studio

If you're looking for something compact, check out the MPK mini MK2. It's right at $100, comes with a pretty decent synth(Hybrid3), and it just gets the job done. I've abused mine for over a year and it hasn't given me any issues. Definitely worth a look! Best of luck!!

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII | 25-Key Portable USB MIDI Keyboard With 8 Backlit Performance-Ready Pads, 8-Assignable Q-Link Knobs &amp; A 4-Way Thumbstick https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kIgADbBHGN19A

u/skeletalG0d · 2 pointsr/dxm

hey, i enjoyed the report. Good to know that even with a stomach full of food the DXM works. I listened to your song, trippy haha. What program do you use to create? I am not a well versed in midi keyboards/pads but I did do a bit of research before buying the one I did and I love it. https://www.amazon.ca/Akai-Professional-MPK-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2?th=1&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;source=googleshopping&amp;amp;locale=en-CA&amp;amp;tag=googcana-20&amp;amp;ref=pd_sl_8ui5vlk1ju_e. It comes with some free downloads for sound banks and had its own DAW. I've hooked it up to FL studio and it worked. I think you'd like this keyboard for many reason but mainly the little knob/stick in the top left corner is able to distort sound by pitch and speed, is super satisfying warping sounds while baked. Also everything including pads are really sensitive to the pressure you are trying for and play well with real time sound.

u/mxer125 · 2 pointsr/battlestations

Here's an Amazon link!

u/unia · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Reaper's trial is full-featured, it just opens with one of those WinZip-style "Hey, please do actually pay for our program at some point" messages that you have to look at for 5 seconds or so. You don't need to worry about not being able to save or anything. It's also only $60 to buy a personal license anyway. (Here's the link, incidentally.)

As for the MIDI keyboard, I've been recording for about three or four years now, and I just bought my first MIDI keyboard about a month ago (the new MPK Mini, which I'm rather liking so far). It depends on how you like to work. A lot of people are all about playing things in live with a keyboard. Personally I'm very meticulous with my arrangements and have a high tolerance for tedium (not to mention I'm a terrible keyboardist), so I got a lot of mileage out of just clicking the notes onto the MIDI roll with a mouse. I have a professor currently who's an incredible EDM producer and doesn't even use a mouse most of the time, just the trackpad on his laptop.

So in short, you can probably go very far without a MIDI keyboard, if it turns out that your workflow is good without one.

u/GeneralTS · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

&gt; arturia minilab

Is there something particular in the Arturia that you are looking for or is it one that you have settled upon? They make amazing gear, but there are so many products out now that you can find one that directly fits your needs.

For instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Novation-Impulse-25-Controller-Keyboard/dp/B005M02VJG

This is a bit more, but has transport controls and rocker-style pitch and mod wheels and some extras. It can be found used but new for $139.90.

I personally was at Musik Messe in Germany last year; Largest Electronic and Audio Expo in the world. There are so many people making gear now that you really can find pretty much what you are looking for. Additionally there are tools like

http://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-MINI-MKII/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=pd_cp_MI_0

Not trying to sway your vote one way or another. I just have spent thousands over the years on all sorts of controlers over the years, have been doing this for a very long time, and want to help educate those who are pursuing similar paths.

One word of advice, having a hopped up gaming computer is great. However, the "tuning" I was speaking of in the thread pertaining to digital audio recording is a lot different than how one would tune a computer for gaming. Both can still be achieved well on a single computer, but there are some major differences that have to be lived with on the gaming side to ensure best recording experiences possible.

u/thestarheart · 2 pointsr/gamemusic

It's actually pretty easy. I have a lot of experience playing music, but 0 experience playing any kind of piano or keyboard...and I use a MIDI controller/keyboard to make that stuff.

So you really don't need to have crazy skills or anything, just an ear for what you're into. Got this one for 100 bones on amazon, but I bet you can find even cheaper ones.

I then use this program called Reason to emulate synthesizers and drum machines and stuff. Set a tempo and get to recording!

I put some more of my stuff up for you to check out if you're interested on that account.

u/itzDeniiz · 2 pointsr/musicproduction

thanks for the quick answer!

I think i'll go for the 25 keys one because i do not need a big keyboard. Thanks a lot btw it seems perfect!


EDIT:
What do you think about this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Performance-Ready-8-Assignable/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1543602444&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=midi%2Bkeyboard&amp;th=1

u/wikerroot · 2 pointsr/ableton

Another vote for the scarlet interface. As far as a controller, as the others have said, this depends on what you're interested in doing. I would recommend either the McMillen k board (has good ratings, good reactivity, and the soft keys can function well for a wide range of inputs. It is just a stripped down midi controller, no frills, no knobs. Supposedly indestructible and very low profile, small footprint.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PRSMRVA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_N.4TBb0BEJ5VK

Another option is an akai mpk mini. Feels a bit like old school casio entry-level keyboards, but it has both keys and a set of 8 pads. The pads are good and it's got some nice options for additional control of your DAW.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_Af5TBb712R4KB

I outfitted my entire studio (minus the push 2) for about 500 by getting equipment used off of amazon, offerup and craigslist. Be patient, get what you need to get started and spend most of your time learning your DAW and its core functions and stock plugins. Watch tutorials and read the manual. Experiment a bit and research when you run into an obstacle. Start with too much and you'll get overwhelmed quick. Take your time and you'll feel like a wizard.

edit: A quick afterthought. Both of these keyboards have smaller keys. If that's an issue, you may want to look at other options. I list both of these because they have good quality and versatility for the price, with a nice addition of being highly portable should you want to take your setup mobile.

u/diversionmary · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

You can get by with as little as an Akai MPK MINI. Headphones are always on sale. Get sennheisers or grados. Or get maudio studio monitors.

u/BoomBapJazz · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

I would get this midi keyboard

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Ultra-Portable-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1536448710&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=mpk+mini+mk2&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=416Tlwn7yzL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

This thing is really affordable and is the best bang for your buck. It's portable, feels great, and convenient. The drum pads feel amazing and the keys are kinda small, but still velocity sensitive so it's great for laying down synth leads or chords. It's a great intro piece to your production. Its so much better than a computer or laptop keyboard. You'll find out even early on how limited just a laptop keyboard is.

So idk ask for this for Christmas, mow some lawns. It'll be one of your greatest investments in early production.

u/Grandclosing · 2 pointsr/FL_Studio

&gt;https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_cp\_apa\_i\_kIgADbBHGN19A

RedDeadRedemptioner,


Thanks for the suggestion! Now THAT looks like a sexy midi keyboard. I'm strongly considering getting it. Perfect size for my desk especially.

u/Cyrax89721 · 2 pointsr/aphextwin

Sorry I don't have any advice on the units you're looking at since I'm new to the space too, but I can share my experience.

The route I ended up going was purchasing an Akai MPK Mini, and used that to get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite. It's giving me the opportunity to experiment with soft synths to see what I'm capable of before taking the plunge into the rabbit hole of $1,000+ units, just in case I end up getting overwhelmed or bored with the creation process. Luckily, so far I haven't.

u/dreadpirater · 2 pointsr/WeddingPhotography

I also use midi2lr. It's a life changer. I keep meaning to buy one of the X-touch-mini's, but I already had one of these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_boEuX_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;amp;pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&amp;amp;pf_rd_r=Z06DHTG7ACHWCTNRHX2Y&amp;amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;amp;pf_rd_p=faffebcf-0ddd-527b-962e-cdd5b006e17a&amp;amp;pf_rd_i=11973721

So I just use that for now. Map next and previous photos to big buttons... I have the 0-5 rating numbers assigned to the left most white keys... my most used presets assinged to the right most white keys... the knobs control all of the basic panel sliders. It's amazing how much faster it makes editing.

u/illimist · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

I'm also looking at &lt;$150 controllers, but I've been checking out the AKAI MPK mini. Doesn't look like there's too much difference in quality but I've heard that AKAI drum pads are always good.

You absolutely can learn piano on 25 keys, dont limit yourself. Once you know your way around the 13 keys in an octave, it's just repeated up and down the keys.

Would love to hear from someone who had experience with some of these controllers

u/Onotaro · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

Yeah, and there are plenty of options depending upon what you want to spend. Of course, new is more expensive. If your budget is a little flexible, my recommendation is to grab an MXL 770 and a [Steinberg Ur12](https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR12-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00QY4RLRQ/] or Mackie Onyx Blackjack. They are very similar, but if you think you'll also do audio editing at any point, the UR12 offers higher sampling rates, which means you can edit at higher quality; otherwise, the Mackie may be the better option just because it lets you control monitoring from your voice with with a knob on the interface. If you need a mic stand and XLR cable, check out this ebay listing for the MXL 770. These sub-$200 combos would last you a long time, and sub-$200 is very cheap for a complete new audio setup.

If you can't/won't pay that, you can keep the great mic and go for a cheaper interface; the Behringer U-Phoria is $30.00 on B&amp;H (see the link). It's out of stock right now, but it should be back by the end of the month. It's also $50 on Musician's Friend. It's not as good as the Steinberg, but it gets the job done for audio at a very low price. So that's $130-150 for solid entry-level audio recording. If you got this setup and wanted to upgrade in the future, I would replace the interface first, probably to a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

If your budget is really flexible, I would spring for the 2i2 from the outset, personally. You could also invest in a better mic stand or mic cable, but any of these builds will get you started at a good price.

Edited to include the Mackie Onyx Blackjack.

u/Diviark · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Hello!
I am thinking of buying Steinberg UR12 Audio Interface and I have 2 questions. Any better alternatives at around the same price? I am aware of the focusrite but I've seen people complain they have problems on windows so maybe would be a bad choice for me (I use windows 10 64bit)?

And now for the stupid question...is it fine for an audio interface to be pluged in-out a lot of times? In the morning I will have to plug it in to my laptop and at night take it out. Will there be any problems with this? I guess not but doesn't hurt to ask!

u/CmoreClams · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Can you make a recommendation on a beginner keyboard?

I played guitar for a few years in high school, and also took a piano class that I learned very little from. I’m familiar with making music, but never really learned theory or got into anything advanced.

I’m now 10 years removed from that and looking to jump back in. I recently got an acoustic, but I’d really like to learn piano and music theory, so that I can make electronic music sometime down the road.

Do you see any obvious issues with this? https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AKM320-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKMK64/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=midi+keyboard&amp;amp;qid=1562161755&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sprefix=midi+ke&amp;amp;sr=8-4

I figure it’s cheap enough that I won’t get upset if I can’t dedicate enough time to it, but cheap enough to buy it right now while the motivation is there!

Thanks in advance.

u/bag_of_puppies · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

If you want to continue to use FL Studio, I strongly recommend you switch over to using a PC - you will always have problems with the FL Alpha/Beta/whatever for OSX until they actually make a fully native version (which is a day that may never come.)

If you want to stick with OSX, then yes, learning Logic or Ableton is the way to go. Both are great, and really won't take you that long to get the hang of. There are also some pretty awesome deals to be had for MIDI controllers out there.

u/BallPuncher2000 · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

this guy is fine for starting out. $40 ultra portable. Upgrade when you can justify the expense to yourself. At least that's how I roll.

I get most of my VSTs from vst4free.com and vstwarehouse.blogspot.com.

u/blazednconfused86 · 2 pointsr/audio

Oh in that case I would switch up it

&amp;#x200B;

Interface - The one you had didn't have Phantom Power (48V), which is required for 90% of condenser microphones, I wouldn't buy an interface without it. Focusrite is going to offer better preamps, expandability, and is just a better offering. Yes this adds +$20 but if I were to compare value add I would say the Focusrite interface adds $100 if not more over the Line6.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T50LY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Focusrite+Scarlett+2i4+USB+Audio+Interface&amp;qid=1565645877&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3

Microphone - while that AT2020 is a nice microphone, I wouldn't be an audio nerd if I didn't recommend consider trading it out for a Shure SM58. It's a rite of passage mic, it's going to sound good out of the box, but you can learn how to make it sound even better. It's also going to pick up less unwanted noise (mom yelling that hotpockets are ready, cops bursting in your room when you been swatted.

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B000CZ0R42/ref=sxin_4_osp1-d1fabffa_cov?ascsubtag=d1fabffa-c2ec-4fa0-ae31-2e07a178f49c&amp;creativeASIN=B000CZ0R42&amp;cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.d1fabffa-c2ec-4fa0-ae31-2e07a178f49c&amp;cv_ct_pg=search&amp;cv_ct_wn=osp-search&amp;keywords=sure+sm58&amp;linkCode=oas&amp;pd_rd_i=B000CZ0R42&amp;pd_rd_r=a40496d4-0539-4f37-a1f5-06c41f3afb62&amp;pd_rd_w=zLA9w&amp;pd_rd_wg=YvsDi&amp;pf_rd_p=c501273b-119a-4fc9-ad78-eda5006b0be9&amp;pf_rd_r=K79XXEN93XVP9C4Z5Q2R&amp;qid=1565646518&amp;s=gateway&amp;tag=popularscience_os-20#customerReviews

&amp;#x200B;

The boom arm you have will work with any mic so you leave that.

&amp;#x200B;

If your budget is strict here's a bundle that has the Scarlett Solo and the AT2020, which has solid reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Interface-Bundle-Microphone/dp/B07V4MNBMX/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=Focusrite+Scarlett+solo&amp;qid=1565646973&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-10

u/aerofly0610 · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers
u/ravine420 · 2 pointsr/audio

From my experience, I think you should probably go with an external audio interface like this (cheaper options out there, just get one with midi in) and use the midi input. With the asio4all driver I was getting latency under 10ms and it felt fine. Just get buffer size as small as you can without getting distortion. As for playing along, the easiest way I've found to do that is just download the track and import it into your DAW. It's a little more work but I never had good luck trying to use my browser or media player separately. Hopes this helps you.

u/riot-punch · 2 pointsr/nrl

If you just plan on dealing with the PC's audio output, then a midpriced audio card will give you better amplificiation and conversion.

If you want to record to the computer, your best bet is a USB device, like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T50LY

https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR44-Audio-Interface/dp/B00HLTLTGW

u/PoohBear-in-The100AW · 2 pointsr/GWABackstage

I use Shure SM57 running through a Forcusrite Scarlet 2i4 2nd Gen. My oldest technique was using Voice Record Pro 7 on my iPhone, and strategically recording in certain rooms, or setups. Afterwards, I edited in Audacity, but I've since moved over to Reaper.

Some mistakes I made along the way (and extra):

  • Smartphones are perfectly acceptable and money conscious way too record. The catch is you'll need to be good at editing to get the sound quality your probably looking for.

  • I researched a ton, before I bought, and when I finally had the money to purchase it, I still didn't feel comfortable (there's a reason why). Even if you think you're done, research it more. Be absolutely 100% with no maybes, while also being realistic.

  • What I was paranoid about what the Scarlett 2i4 having some sort of issue of being quiet/compatibility issues, or the mic would break easy. Well it turns out neither of those are true. That is unless you pair them together and then everything seems true. The SM57/58 don't work well with the Scarlett 2i4 without a preamp to run between the DAI and microphone, such as a Cloudlifter CL-1 or CL-2.

  • Know what your mics do, and what they excel at. Seriously, know your microphones well.

  • Don't cheap out on a stand; buy something of quality. You don't want to drop a $500 condenser mic, because you wanted to save $20 on a stand.

    My wishlist is annoyingly long, so I'll refrain from posting it.

    E: I'm not sure if many will see this, but it's still worth posting. I did a walk through of my house using my iPhone 6+ and Voice Record Pro 7, showing off how different rooms sound, as well an unedited recording can be (you should always edit). Blanket monster is your friend.
u/DicedPeppers · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Any interface would work. Save money and get this one

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

Take the money you saved and put it towards a better mic or something

u/tunnelsup · 2 pointsr/podcasts

I'm not good at equipment, but I seem to remember that a condenser mic needs phantom power to work. I'm not sure if that converter works but something like this would work:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1510076865&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+solo

It has the XLR input, USB output back to computer. Also it has a headphone jack so you can hear what the mic is picking up.

u/CBarberena · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Okay then what I would do is buy a guitar headphone amp they are cheap like less then $20 USD, and plug it into the out for the fx loop, and your headphones into that. This only utilizes the preamp portion of you amp but it is probably the most cost effective. If you do this and the guitar headphone amp has a gain option turn that all the way down. A similar option to this would be to plug your fx out into a DAW or some kind of audio mixer this would also give you the option to record yourself on a computer without being effected by room acoustics. If you want to you can use the other output but that will damage your headphones unless you buy a line level converter. Then the analog from the converter to a headphone amp, and from there to your headphones. This would require you to do some simple wireing, but hey if your up for it why not try.
I also want you to make sure you know the people on this thread including me are NOT professionals and you should do you own research and only do what you feel comfortable doing with your money and equipment.
If you would like to do more research here is a good place to start.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_level
Also here are links to example of the things I mentioned
Guitar headphone amp - Monoprice 611500 Mini Headphone Amplifier for Guitar, Clean https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHE5E6/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_95ZExbPNDRWFP
Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp Portable Practice Amp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UIBQEI/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_E6ZExb9S9N2V7
DAW - Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_N7ZExbDTYTZC7
Mixer - Behringer Xenyx 302USB Mixer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_58ZExb4RMVW9V
Line level converter - PAC SNI-35 Variable LOC Line Out Converter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EAWS3W/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_O9ZExbPEZPHXN
Hope I helped in some way and hope you find your solution!

u/lovebot5000 · 2 pointsr/hometheater

First, I don't think this is the right sub for this, but I do have some experience with mics and interfaces. I use the Focusrite Scarlett interface with my mics and it sounds very good.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2A5UC636NFJF9&amp;keywords=scarlett+2i2&amp;qid=1563802357&amp;s=musical-instruments&amp;sprefix=scarl%2Cmi%2C148&amp;sr=1-6

If you're just doing simple, single mic recordings, then the interface i linked to will be fine. If you're doing multiple mics, Focusrite makes interfaces with more XLR ports so you can connect multiple mics and control their levels individually.

The Behringer mixer you linked to is really for turntable DJs, and does not seem to have XLR ports so it won't work with the mic you're looking at.

u/cunningwatermelon · 2 pointsr/skyrimmods

Sorry for the delayed response: Yeah, step one is to usually invest in a decent cardioid mic and an audio input. Here are the ones I'd recommend for getting started. Good enough quality to be just under professional tier, though capable of producing professional quality sound, but not so expensive as to offer you features you don't need for years to come:
Mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QAUOKS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1
Audio Interface (to be able to plug that or any other professional mic into [XLR input]): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

and this is optional but can be helpful to understand the true sound of your recordings, monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QVMBT9/ref=twister_B07NDRK282?_encoding=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1
(either the 3.5 or 4.5 would be totally fine)

Aside from t hose t hings, the only other things you'd need to get set up would be soundproofing foam, either putting panels up around your space, or around the mic itself. Conversely, you could set up inside a closet full of clothes and accomplish the same task for free, cable length and space permitting.

Good luck!

u/oatmealfoot · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

Actually the Scarlett SOLO is a bit cheaper than that even!!

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM

It only has a pair of RCA outputs so maybe not the best for home studio usage. But it's PERFECT for me to take on the road for ableton gigs 😎

u/troll_is_obvious · 2 pointsr/Guitar

The established brands like Ditto, Boss, etc are going to be $100+. You might take a chance on something like this, but I've never heard of them before.

You might also consider getting a cheap audio interface like this. Though, again, you may actually get better value by spending a little more money. Many interfaces come bundled with DAW (Ableton Live, ProTools, etc) software licenses, like this Focusrite.

It's not as easy as plugging a loop pedal into your chain, but you'll be able to do a lot more with your investment if you climb the DAW learning curve. There's plenty of free VST plugins for pedal and amp emulations out there. Even some free open source DAW, but I haven't researched what's available in some time. Ardour appears to be the top google result at the moment, though I'm not sure how suitable it is to playing live (vs. only recording for playback).

u/Lycosnik · 2 pointsr/screaming

So you have some options, and ultimately it comes down to future ability.

Starting out, you can buy a SM58 for cheap, and it'll have pretty nice quality. It outputs mic level signal though, so it will need amped by something, which is where your choices come in.

If you're looking to keep it cheap, you can pick up an audio interface to get the mic up to a reasonable level and into your computer. Something like this. This setup will run you ~$200 in total (mic and interface), but will limit what you can do with the equipment you purchased.

If you're willing to shell out just an additional $100, you can grab a mixer like you said. This would be my recommendation. It gives you 4 mono inputs and 2 stereo inputs, opposed to the 2 mono inputs the interface above provides. It's also a fully fledged board, so you can use it for more than just getting audio from your mic into your computer. Its USB interface is pretty handy, too. It'll send 4 channels to your computer and your computer can input 2 stereo channels back to the board.

Initially I only used my board for getting my mic into my computer, but I've ended up using it for mic and guitar input into my computer, as well as computer audio &amp; DAW output to my monitors.

The board's pretty handy, but if you don't need it there's not much reason to buy it. If you're only ever going to use one channel to get your mic into your computer, you're probably better off with the interface, as setting up the board can take some time. Plus, if you don't have studio monitors / speakers that take analog input, the board isn't going to help you in getting signal to them.

So it pretty much depends on what you need, and if you plan on expanding or not. Rule of thumb, however, is to plan ahead so you don't end up spending more buying something you could have bought earlier. And if you plan on getting serious, you're going to want to pick up some studio monitors.

But again, if you're just going to be recording some covers every now and then in your room and not much else, I'd recommend going the interface route opposed to the full on mixer route.

u/Koalaazz · 2 pointsr/audio

So, what you're saying is that if I get an Audio Interface (looking at this one currently https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1540419648&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=audio+interface) I would eliminate most of the static created by my sound card?

u/zenophobicgoat · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Are you trying to play out, or record?

If you're trying to play out, research looper pedals. This will allow you to either create multiple tracks on the fly, or play live over stuff that you've pre-recorded and saved. I have a Boss RC-30 that has served me well, but it has a bunch of functions and may be more than what you're looking for.

If you're trying to record, you'll need to get an audio interface and some recording software (bundles like this are available that have both). This will let you directly connect your instruments to your computer, to create and manipulate sound files. If you don't want to learn all about different types of mics, mic placement, isolation, etc. this is the easier way to go. In terms of software, I use Adobe Audition, but Pro Tools is industry standard.

In terms of mixing, I wouldn't worry about being knowledgeable. Learn your setup (especially the software) and play around until you find levels, presets, patches, EQs, etc. that you like. Remember what you did and/or write it down.

And I guess write shit that you want to play.

u/LapisNLazuli · 2 pointsr/Twitch

XLR mics with phantom power for the win! If you're going for professional quality sound, save your money and invest in a good XLR mic.

&amp;#x200B;

The problem with USB mics like Blue Yeti is the fact that they use the integrated sound on your computer's motherboard. If your motherboard's sound system is older (2 years or older), the voice from the USB mic could sound robotic or it might not capture your entire voice range. This is especially a problem for folks with deeper voices. On older computers, you might sound far away or your voice could break up. If you have a brand new computer, feel free to use a USB mic until you can afford an XLR microphone.


XLR microphones require phantom power. Scarlet Focusrite (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM) is a good product for phantom power, but there are affordable, good quality sound mixers that provide phantom power as well. Alot of streamers have used Berhinger Xenyx 302 ( https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B005EHILV4) or Berhinger Xenyx 502 (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B000J5UEGQ). I personally use Roland VT-3 (https://www.amazon.com/Roland-AIRA-VT-3-Voice-Transformer/dp/B00IGDXK9Q) because it's a voice changer, sound mixer, noise gate, and phantom power all mixed into one machine.

&amp;#x200B;

For mics, I admit I'm using a cheap Pyle PDMIC58 . (Hey, I got this XLR mic for free with my Best Buy points. I didn't have enough points for a good mic). My problem with the mic is that it's too bright for my voice, and I have a low voice for a woman. I need something that captures my full voice range alot better. I'm planning to upgrade to a RODE NT-1 mic (Not the Rode NT-1A) before the end of the year.

Like others have stated, take your time and do research. Don't rush! Find the mic that fits your voice best. Good luck!

u/kickedtripod · 2 pointsr/Twitch

Hey Tony. That's a great question.
My Credentials: I do 2 podcasts (Well Met! and The Payload) and live stream. I have thousands of dollars in microphone equipment.

&amp;nbsp;

Your Answer: You'll need something else to power it. The AT2035 requires +48V Phantom Power. Meaning, your 3.5mm jack wont power the microphone. The good news: These aren't that expensive. I personally recommend FocusRite interfaces. I use a Scarlett 2i2, but you'd be totally great with a Scarlett Solo. The only difference is that the solo has 1 inputs, while the 2i2 has two inputs. This wont only just give you phantom power, but the digital-to-analog converters (often called DAC) are REALLY good for spoken word and vocals... Like REALLY good and it's a preamp so it'll amplify the signal to the proper amount.

&amp;nbsp;

Disclaimer: There are some XLR to 3.5mm adapters that you can plug in to a standard plugin or USB to get phantom power, but I highly recommend in investing in an interface. It's one that, no matter your microphone, you'll be able to use for a long time. If you need other options in different budgets, let me know!

u/staxnet · 2 pointsr/Bass

This or this or this + laptop among other options.

u/fumblesmcdrum · 2 pointsr/VoiceActing

The way Condenser mics work requires them to have 48V "Phantom" power, which is transmitted over the microphone cable. This won't come from your PC, you'll need an audio interface that is capable of supplying phantom power over it's connector.

Here's a cheap one .

That button on the front supplies the 48V you need to operate your condenser mic.

EDIT: Even Cheaper . But I don't know about its quality

u/omen7288 · 2 pointsr/hardware

Sound cards intended for recording audio are typically called Audio Interfaces and they have lower latency and preamps intended for recording. This is critical for recording music and using sample because if you are trying to record live midi or use virtual instruments, the latency must be low, otherwise it is difficult to keep a beat when what you play comes out delayed (&gt;10ms).

I think an external one like the focusrite scarletts are good recommendations (I personally have a 2i4 2nd gen https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1478001786&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+scarlett). I've had some other audio interfaces in the past that were firewire, but the new usb stuff is good enough and the latency is pretty low. On my older windows box with that card I get about 10ms round trip while I can get down to 3ms round trip on my 2015 macbook pro.

He might not need that many inputs. I needed midi in because I record electric drums running midi -&gt; vst. I use the mic input and I record guitar.

u/Vendus · 2 pointsr/VidCon

If you want to try what I'm playing around with I can send u a few Amazon links.

30 dollar xlr mic
ZINGYOU Condenser Microphone... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756V2B6R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Sound board
Focusrite Audio Interface Solo -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Cable
AmazonBasics XLR Male to Female... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JNLTTKS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

voicemod is the program I'm currently using on my PC to make it sound louder (voice mod)

I'm not 100 percent on this being the best setup and I definitely have a list of better xlr microphones but those are more expensive at the moment.

u/brettmac808 · 2 pointsr/Twitch
  1. Microphone

    https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK

  2. USB Audio interface Option #1 (Has RCA + 1/4 inch balanced)

    This is the golden standard for high quality Mic input as well as output. The audio drivers on the Scarlet models are simply crisp and clear. There are other options that work, but like a bicycle...they all ride different. This is simply the very best without a doubt at your price range. You could easily spend $500-$700 on an audio interface, but for youir streaming needs, this is literally perfect

    Note, this is what I utilize for my Stream, and get compliments on the professional audio quality of my Mic almost daily.

    https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1525297509&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+2i2

  3. USB Audio Interface Option #2 (Has RCA outputs only)

    *Next best option, if you do not plan to run to Speak Monitors like KRKs or Mackie's. This will give you the same quality of audio input from your Mic. But if you are planning to use Monitors, the 2i2 above will give you the best output audio quality being that the 1/4 inch is balanced audio.

    https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1525297603&amp;amp;sr=1-3&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+solo

    Trust me. Anyone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to audio, not just streaming...will agree. LMK if you have any questions...happy to help.
u/Shado_Temple · 2 pointsr/Twitch

Having just gone through this myself, it isn't so bad. Essentially, all you need is an XLR cable (duh) and some kind of USB interface. I personally got the Scarlett Solo to run my Shure SM7B, and it's working like a charm.

u/PostRinseAndRepeat · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I've been wondering the exact same thing! I use a Rocksmith cable currently but been looking at this focusrite interface for a while. If anyone could weigh in on if it's worth it I'd appreciate it!

u/plumeofsmoke · 2 pointsr/Songwriting

Yeah i mean i wouldn't fight your creative process but embrace it. Only try different approaches when you get stuck. If electric works, use it.

If its a noise issue, i recommend buying a digital amp that you can use with headphones. The Fender Mustang Amp is hella cheap and lets you model a ton of amps- the twin reverb setting is the best though. You can even plug in your computer to experiment with modeled effects pedals for more inspiration.

Or what I really like to is use an audio interface like this and plug my guitar directly in. Then with certain DAWs that have it like Logic you can use the amp modeling and effects modeling and listen through headphones also.

u/Tremorr · 2 pointsr/headphones

What mic? If it's a stage mic like a sm57 they usually have an xlr ouput. If that's the case you're gonna need a pre amp. Your mic needs power, probably 48v phantom and your computer cannot provide enough power through a 3.5mm.

This is the cheapest one ill ever recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_boF8P_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;amp;pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&amp;amp;pf_rd_r=N4PXG9RSKFRVZX6CHPRQ&amp;amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;amp;pf_rd_p=55d65d49-6443-5eff-9508-2fc1f0b697f7&amp;amp;pf_rd_i=11974581&amp;amp;th=1

u/ThatVRGuy_ · 2 pointsr/piano

Here's everything I bought for mine:

  • Bench - $30

  • Stand - $60

  • [Garritan CFX VST] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KLFF91O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1) - $170

  • Audio Interface - $100 Comes with ableton which can be used to record the midi and also comes with a free addictive keys piano. Pretty nice for the price. There's about 7 ms of latency when I use this setup on my laptop which is completely unnoticeable.

  • [VPC 1] (https://www.musicstore.de/en_US/EUR/Kawai-VPC1-Masterkeyboard/art-SYN0004258-000) - About $1400 dollars after shipping and a duty tax of $76 will be charged if you live in the U.S. Still cheaper than I was able to find it elsewhere

    You'll also need a nice pair of speakers or headphones. I use the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x's which are open back and they sound pretty good. I actually got a set of Sterling MX5 studio monitors in addition to my headphones to set on top of the piano and they sound amazing. If you ever think you will be playing for anyone or performing I recommend getting a pair of the MX5's. It's about $200 and then $10 for a cable. They will hook right up to the audio interface.
u/blechinger · 2 pointsr/homerecording

I believe you're looking for something like the Focusrite Scarlett series of DAC/ADC units. I'd recommend this one: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SuVxDbSC995WD

There's a toggle on the device that allows you to switch between "monitor" mode and a regular pc pass through. So you can leave your headphones plugged in to the device, and the device plugged into the pc, while still being able to switch back and forth between game/jam sessions.

u/kyL0h · 2 pointsr/Twitch

personally i'd probably go with a scarlett solo or 202hd amp and a e835 or sm58 mic around that price point; i'm a bit of a dynamic mic fanboy though

u/raistlin65 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Technically, "active" means it has it's own amplifiers in each speaker with active crossovers. For example, those Rokits are "bi-amped" with a separate amp for each tweeter and driver. People now commonly misuse the term active monitor synonymously with powered monitors that do not have active crossovers with bi-amped speakers. But it has never meant it has a built-in DAC.

Those speakers may be fine without any external DAC. If you find you hear noise, then you would want to get an external USB interface with DAC, such as one of the following so you can run a balanced connection. But you may not need it.

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-1-Channel-UM2/dp/B00EK1OTZC/r

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/

u/gorcorps · 2 pointsr/edrums

This is the best answer.

By connecting the drumset to the interface directly via a midi cable, you won't gain much of anything... you might as well keep it plugged in directly to your computer via USB (that's what I do). I also use AD2 so have a lot of experience with it.

What the audio interface does is act as a dedicated sound card, so your biggest gain with the audio interface would be to change your AD2 settings to use that audio interface as the sound output instead of your built in sound from your laptop. Then you either plug your headphones or speakers into the interface for audio. This is where your biggest gains in both latency and sound quality will come from. Your internal sound card is okay, but a dedicated audio interface should make a noticeable difference.

I personally recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 3rd gen. I had a Behringer which works fine, but the Scarlett had better sound quality. I would recommend the Solo for your uses: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB

Plus that interface doesn't require a separate power supply, it's powered entirely through USB which isn't true for all of them.

So in the end you should have 2 USB connections to your laptop (one to your drum set and one to the interface) and one audio connection to the interface (either headphones or speakers).

u/AbrahmLion · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

You don't need an XLR connection.

A new 3rd Gen Scarlett Solo costs only about $10 more than the interface you have. It has balanced TRS outputs, and those will connect to your HS5 monitors through TRS 1/4-inch cables.

u/BobaFettThicc · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Ok.

If you want to pursue good audio I recommended the PreSonus Eris 3.5, they are good budget studio monitors. For headphones, I would recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm version. These are very good headphones for the price. Then I would pair the Beyerdynamic headphones with a good Audio Interface like Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) it's a good budget audio interface that doesn't break the bank. For a microphone, a Blue Yeti USB mic will do well. However, if you want an XLR microphone, which is better btw. A well-rounded XLR microphone is the Audio-Tecnica AT2020.

u/R530er · 2 pointsr/audio

TL;WR: I don't know how to do that, but if you'll indulge me...

First of all, my professional opinion would be for you to sell the headphones and just buy good stereo ones, since surround sound doesn't work when every speaker only plays for one ear. It's absolute snake oil. I'd also say you should avoid USB headphones, partly for these kinds of reasons.

What's happening when you use USB headphones is that the signal in that cable is digital, ones and zeros, a speaker can't play that, it needs to be converted to analog. In a USB headphone this usually happens using a DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) built into the headphones. These are almost never particularly good, especially not when they have to push 7 channels of audio and still be light enough to hang off your head.

Issue here is that W10, generally speaking, can only output through one DAC per program. And if you're legitimately pushing surround sound to your headphones, then splitting that signal to another pair of stereo headphones is going to be even more trouble, since you've got 7 channels and he's got 2.

The natural solution would be a virtual aggregate device, playing one signal through two DACs, but as far as I know it's impossible to create aggregate devices on Windows on a system level. As far as I see it, you've got two options: Either go back to the way you did it before, or sell those headphones and spend the money on a decent entry-level DAC and some good stereo headphones.

Sorry if this wasn't of much help. I seriously do want to help, because I was annoyed with the same problem before, when I was stuck with my old Mad Catz headphones, so if you have any questions or thoughts, throw them at me.

u/Nautical_operator · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Of course, although I don't claim to be any expert in microphones or anything. I just have an [AT3035] condenser mic with a Presonus firestudio project as an interface plugged into my iMac via Firewire. I like to have lots of inputs, which is why I got one with 8, but you'd probably only need one. I'd check out the presonus audiobox as its cheap and simple, and uses USB.

u/SedateApe · 2 pointsr/ffxiv

First off, make sure you have a decent soundcard. My laptop's soundcard is balls so I use an external audio interface -the difference is huge. If your soundcard isn't up to snuff, look at grabbing something like this. You can get them used (or other versions) for cheaper, and they're a good utility to have around. You can also look for simple USB DAC (Digital to Analog Converter).

For speakers, if you want really good sound, look for powered speakers, they have built in amps to drive them so that you don't need to worry about an external amp hanging out on your desk. I use reference monitors, these have an excellent frequency range and soundstage that's hard to produce with a two-way desktop speaker otherwise. These are what I use currently, and you'd be hard pressed to find something cheaper that can produce the same sound. Also of note are the Rockit 5's at about the same price point. These are pretty future proof, if that's your thing. The next step up from a setup like this would be a sizable chunk of money more.

Of course, this is just my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt and all that. This focuses largely on clarity of sound, frequency range, and small footprint at this specific price range. There are certainly other setups that use subwoofers, forgo DACs, etc.

This setup will, at the very least, blow the Klipsch speakers you have listed out of the proverbial water, but the extra cost is there. If you have the money, I'd buy better speakers now, rather than upgrade in the future when you decide yours aren't doing it for you anymore.

u/goingTofu · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I got the Presonus AudioBox a couple months ago and I'm very pleased with it. Definitely would recommend it. I don't do dance music, but if you want an idea of how the preamps sound, here is example of something I did. (SM57 on a guitar amp straight to the Audiobox)

u/tycoonking1 · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Cheapest option would probably be to get a cheap Audio Interface like this, find a free DAW (I use ableton, they have a free version that would work for your needs but any should work), then learn enough about the DAW to add backing tracks and stuff.

u/tcookc · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Having two mics is a good call, but instead of recording vocals and guitar together, I'd would HIGHLY suggest recording your guitar in stereo with both mics and your vocal in mono with one mic (performed separately). When I started out, I used AT2020's which are very affordable and will sound okay until you're able to upgrade to something better.
Also, Reaper is a steal at $60. Use the trial version for a while and see if you like it...comes complete with all the basic, entry-level plug-ins that you'll need.
You'll also need an interface and a good pair of mixing headphones. Good luck!

u/xeonoex · 2 pointsr/audio

The AudioBox is in my price range, but the only advantage seems to be the MIDI in and outs. Is there an upside to running a keyboard through the USB interface rather than straight to the PC via a MIDI to USB cable? I will be doing almost everything on the PC anyways right?

I was looking at Reaper actually. I've used various software like Sonar, Audacity, Reason, some Cakewalk products, and Project 5, but I haven't really done recording. I think this will be the first software I try.

u/barbequeninja · 2 pointsr/Music

I've bought all this and your estimated are way high.

My setup:
Audiobox USB: $149 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00154KSA2

Behringer condenser: $94 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245575-REG/Behringer_B_1_B_1_Condenser_Microphone.html

Behringer stereo mics: $58 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/373764-REG/Behringer_C_2_C_2_Stereo_Matched_Studio.html

2x XLR, 2x 1/4" cables: $20 or so monoprice

Stand: $35 (local shop)
Midi keyboard: $50 used off eBay

Headphones: $50 closed ear


Well under $500 for a good setup that lets me record electric, vocals, accoustic, and my piano.

u/polymonic · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I did this with a Tascam 424 by getting 2 Behringer U-Control UCA-222's ($60 for a pair) and creating an Aggregate Audio Device on my Mac.

This way each of the 4 outputs was sent to their own dedicated track in Logic Pro X and I could mix it as I'd like in Logic.

u/findingejk · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

Also consider:

Behringer U-Control UCA222 Ultra-Low Latency 2 In/2 Out USB Audio Interface with Digital Output
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_AJrkDbQRRQ7VX

As an option. I have it and it works great to give an rca interface to the PC, you can then "listen to" this USB input on any of your connected output devices whether that be 5.1 aux cables or USB headset or literally any of your output devices.

u/bornrevolution · 2 pointsr/DJs

well, i figured this out, i think, if you're curious to know.

it seems OBS will recognize any audio device that your computer can, however it will only listen to channels 1 and 2 of whatever mixer you're using. you can sort of hardware-hack around this, by routing an rca-to-rca cable from the record out to the channel 1's in, thus making your audio heard within OBS, however you lose out on an entire channel just for this purpose.

i decided to get an extremely cheap usb/rca device, which will do the trick a lot more efficiently and will save me the channel i need.

this was the only video that actually shed some light on my situation.

u/bassist_human · 2 pointsr/Bass

I'm not familiar with Massive, but I can help with getting your bass signal to your pc.

As a first option, there are 1/4" guitar USB devices sold expressly for this purpose. Behringer makes the cheapest one I know of: Behringer UCG-102. Ran across it while looking for a general purpose USB audio interface, but I didn't buy it because of the reviews complaining about the drivers. There's a $30 Mac cable I've seen used, too, but I don't know if anyone has PC or linux drivers for it. There are a lot of others, most of which start around $100 that I've seen. The Native Instruments one runs several hundred $$, I think.

I have a cheap jerry-rigged method that suits my needs, though. If you have a desktop pc, a DI pedal, or a better soundcard than usual, you might be able to do something like this more easily, but this is what I threw together one day after picking up the ground-isolator and USB audio interface for other purposes:

1/4"-to-3.5mm adapter into the headphone-out of amp, then a 3.5mm-to-RCA converter on top of that. Ground-loop-isolator (mine has RCA inputs and outputs, hence the converters) from that into the USB audio interface. I'm using the Behringer UCA-222. The interface connects to the PC via USB, or course.

Two things worth noting: 1) you'll probably want to install "ASIO4ALL" drivers to decrease latency times on this or similar USB audio interfaces and 2) you may not need a ground loop isolator, depending on your hardware. I'm using a laptop in this setup, and if it's plugged in then there's some interference. Easy way to check: while the pc's plugged in, if you can output your pc's audio to the Line In on your amp without hearing static, you probably don't need a ground loop isolator.

Hope that helps.

u/YouShouldBeProud · 2 pointsr/headphones

My motherboard has ALC892 and upgrading to a DAC has a significant improvement in my system, even the cheapest DACs sound better. But depending on your mobo implementation of that chip, and your PSU etc, YMMV. Sound card is still in your case so any EMI you may hear with your mobo sound will likely still be there, better to buy a external DAC like this one:

www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B0023BYDHK

u/_shadow_banned_ · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

So what's the application? Is this at home? How do you want to control it? You can get a Raspberry Pi and install PiCore There are DAC that rival anything available. You can get the HiFiBerry DAC/AMP and plug in a USB drive. Play all your music off that. Control it with your phone.

The Audiosource is a nice amp, and the ELAC are great. I am not a huge fan of the Fiio, it's nice, but it's not very robust. I have had better luck with those cheap Behringer UCA 222

u/podheadrod · 2 pointsr/podcasts

I use that mixer for my podcast. Bought it off Craigslist for 40 bucks about four years ago and it's still going strong. It gets the job done and I really have no need to upgrade. But like others have said:

  • Don't record with an onboard soundcard. You'll pick up a ton of static (I learned the hard way).

  • If you can save up for a USB mixer it's probably a better choice.

    But like I said, that's the mixer I use, granted I didn't pay $90 for it. The way I'm able to record to my PC is with this Behringer USB audio interface. Sure it's a lot more cables, but it was a much cheaper alternative back when I was starting up and didn't have the funds for a USB mixer. I would check your local craigslist or eBay for some used Behringer or Mackie mixers, both are built to last and there are some great deals to be had. Spend the extra money you save on better mics and you'll be on your way. If you're the paranoid type you can always invest in a digital recorder for back up, since someone else mentioned there's always a risk the program or PC will crash. Hasn't happened to me yet, but you never know. Be sure to let us know when your first episode is up!
u/i_dont_know · 2 pointsr/computertechs

You're asking this question in the wrong sub, but what you want is a low-latency audio interface. The Behringer UCA222 is an inexpensive USB option. I haven't used that interface (I use an Apogee Duet), but the specifications look good for the price and the reviews are mostly positive.

That $30 audio interface should work much better than an old sound card.

u/spinal2k · 2 pointsr/NintendoSwitch

I use this to avoid using the 3.5mm jack on the switch.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UCA222-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2FPMNL3YYLOI4&amp;amp;keywords=beringer+usb+audio&amp;amp;qid=1569309803&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sprefix=beringher+usb%2Caps%2C157&amp;amp;sr=8-8

I have absolutely no problems with the "sleep mode" hiss that you mention (no need to disconnect) and it's better sound quality IMO.

My setup isn't that different from yours, I have a mixer and a focusrite saffire 6 USB. You combine everything at the focusrite level, I do it at the mixer level (in my case, there's a reason for this that is unrelated to the switch). Some sound sources I don't want them to go through the DAC, so they go straight to the mixer.

u/evilmonk99 · 2 pointsr/Reaper

Depends on your price range. I started with a Behringer UCA222 then upgraded via a Steinberg UR-22 which broke after a while. Now I'm using a Behringer UMC404HD which has lasted well so far. You could go for the smaller version, which is surprisingly cheap, if you don't plan on recording many instruments at the same time.

People say good things about the Focusrite Scarlett series as well. I've never used one but they are a little bit more pricey than the Behringers so I always end up with one of them instead.

u/txby432 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

Depends in the controller. I got the Numark Mixtrack Pro as my first controller. It has a mix input and I use it with virtual DJ, which has a built in recording option. If you don't have that option, Behringer has a great external sound card that will give you RCA inputs in your computer to use a free program like audacity to record. Won't be studio, but will work.

u/sharkamino · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Behringer U-Control UCA222 USB DAC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023BYDHK/ $30, may be all that you may need.

u/marssaxman · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

I played on a Mixtrack Pro for years - bought it as a cheap experiment, figuring I'd upgrade when it wore out, and then it just... didn't wear out. I ended up playing quite a lot of gigs with it. It was really nice to have a cheap indestructible controller I could throw in a bag and take out to a warehouse or some forest or whatever.

Only thing the non-Pro Mixtrack is missing is a sound card, which would let you have a separate headphone cue output from the master output. But for $40, what have you got to lose? Try it out. You'll probably have a good time. If you like it, buy a sound card, or buy a better controller. I think it's a good plan.

u/Runninback405 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

Wow you are so helpful, thank you.

So I think I've found a way that will work that involves less pieces. I cross posted this question in r/iphone here. The comments led me to this potential set up:

From my XDJ-RX's dual 1/4 TRS output, I'm going to have this male TS to male RCA cable going into the RCA input ports on the Behringer UCA202 (or UCA222), and then I will have that plug into the Apple Camera Connection Kit via USB, and then that goes into my phone. And THAT should get me a stereo signal.

Does that sound right to you? I'm like 95% sure that plugging two TS plugs into two TRS jacks (on the XDJ-RX) will only reduce the connection to unbalanced, but keep it stereo.

But it's good to know that if this setup doesn't work, the one that you suggested will. Finally this is all starting to make sense!

u/pink__sky · 2 pointsr/pocketoperators
u/the_cody · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

To be able to hear it on your computer, you will need an audio interface, or, an audio input on your built-in sound. If your computer is a desktop and you have external speakers that are driven by audio out (and not usb) and are powered (aren't passive), you could just get a Stereo to Left+Right cable to plug the Microkorg into. If the speakers are passive (don't plug into power), you will need and amp to boost the signal from line level out to speaker level (or it will be very quiet).

To be able to control FL Studio / have FL Studio control the Microkorg, you will need a midi interface.

Something like the PreSonus Audiobox USB is a great 2 In x 2 Out Audio and 1 In x 1 Out Midi interface ($100 at Sweetwater. You can get cheaper midi and audio interfaces, but I wouldn't trust them all that much ... personal opinion ... though for starting out, it might not be a bad idea to test the waters as it were.

u/Cool-Beaner · 2 pointsr/raspberry_pi

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Interface-Software/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=sr_1_1

The little Behringer UAC222 is the same price as the Griffin iMic that you linked to. Probably uses the same chip so it should just work. The main difference is the the Griffin uses a 3.5mm jacks where are the Behringer uses RCA jacks. Get which one suits your needs.

The size is wrong on Amazon. it's 3 x 2 x 0.8 inches. Also, if you need a turntable input, look at the Behringer UFO202.

u/ProgHog231 · 2 pointsr/Bass

I suspect you're not going to have much luck trying to plug straight into the mic input for your sound card.

You really need some sort of audio interface. Depending on how strict your budget is, maybe something like this Behringer. I have a slightly different model of this and it works OK. If you need something even cheaper, then one of the generic 1/4-inch to USB (often marketed as 'Rocksmith' cables), could do (about USD 10), but you could run into quality and compatibility issues, in which case your money might be wasted.

Once you have audio, your speakers will probably sound like crud, but at least you'll have some sound. If you have some decent headphones, you could listen through them. Either way, keep the volume reasonable.

u/PoopyButt_Childish · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

I used THIS usb audio interface for recording and it worked well enough for what you want to do. You record into Audacity by setting the input to USB. A separate mic input is not needed. I used it on an older MacBook Pro.

u/moonlightmelody · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

holy shit, thank you so much for the explanation and the link - that helped me out a TON in even understanding what i'm getting into.... so basically, i have everything from 5-7 (i got beyerdynamics dt 770 pros a while ago), what i need is the others and an audio interface ... question: is it problematic to buy a cheap audio interface for my purposes (like, say, https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Interface-Software/dp/B0023BYDHK ) ?

and, since i can get a new beyerdynamics m99 for 300€ (im from europe), would you say thats an alternative of the same quality to the shure sm7b (which would cost 80 euroes more)? i'm trying to get the entire package for 500 euroes. my current setup is an usb microphone, so i'll need to get all the gear.

u/seezed · 2 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

Unless you need the extra ports and utility, higher price doesn't increase audio quality only functionality.

My best purchase in recent time was a BEHRINGER U-CONTROL UCA222.

u/MHMoose · 2 pointsr/piano

Here is how I can hear both my computer sound and Yamaha P71 sound through my headphones.

  1. I bought this device on Amazon.

  2. I bought this cable on Amazon.

  3. For the cable, the stereo end goes into your keyboard, the two RCA plugs go into the device above.

  4. The device above connects to your computer to a USB port.

  5. Your headphones plug into the device. You can then hear your keyboard and computer at the same time, like if you wanted to play along to a backing track on YouTube or something.

    Hopefully that is helpful. Took me a while to figure out but it works really well.
u/sfish · 2 pointsr/VaporwaveMiniDiscs

Yes, there are at least three options (maybe more I am not familiar with). If you purchase an external audio interface with a USB -&gt; Toslink digital path (like the Behringer U-Control UCA222), and an appropriate cable, you can transfer all the digital audio content you want in real time from your computer to your MZ-N505. Then you'd need to place your own track marks and name the tracks manually. With NetMD software running on a PC, you can transfer WAV files directly to an MD at LP quality and naming files is much easier. There is more modern software for Windows, Mac, and Linux that can afford SP transfers and which also automates file naming, but you'll need to be comfortable with a command line interface. Setting up any of this is a little outside my ability to support directly, but there are many tutorials online to be found if you look/ask around.

u/LstrCk · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Check out the Mackie Onyx Blackjack. Has 60dB of gain but apparently the drivers might be a bit average. One of the reviews said he was using a Heil PR40 which is similar in sensitivity to the ProCaster.

What is your budget? It seems most people get a CloudLifter with the ProCaster in general anyway.

u/LiarCityBrian · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Awesome. You really can't go wrong with those microphones.

As far as interfaces go, I've used a whole bunch over the years, from Focusrite to Tascam, single input to 18X24. For the last two years, I've been using a small, inexpensive one with my laptop for my podcast, and it's so good and has so much clean headroom that I've been using it for guitar and bass too. It's a Mackie Onyx Blackjack.

It's also angled, so it's sleek as hell. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Here's an Amazon link.

Listen to a couple minutes of my show to get a sense of just how clean these inputs are.

I don't know how expensive the Scarlett you're looking at is, but 90 bucks for this thing is a steal. The beauty of this stuff now is that there's very few wrong things to buy, even at the low end. That wasn't true even a few years ago. It's a real golden age for bedroom recording.

Edit:

Link screwed up. Fixed it.

u/cphuntington97 · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Mackie Onyx Blackjack

I like Onyx pres.

u/Mantelmann · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

If you have money at your disposal, use This. You can put it on top of your desk and simply switch jacks when needed. It sounds tedious, but it's better than to crawl under your desk. Also, you can have multiple audio sources and can configure bass levels.

u/FullmentalFiction · 2 pointsr/audiobooks

Use either an analog mic into a mixer or a usb mic with built in monitoring, then use headphones to hear the mix during your recording session. You can find a cheap usb audio most for about $50, I use the Behringer xenyx 302usb, for example. You'll find that these tend to give better audio recording quality than a standard mic in port as well, since they are usually shielded better and build to a higher quality standard.

u/Rosenworcel · 2 pointsr/Bass

I use a Lexicon Alpha interface. Its about as basic as it comes, but hell it works just fine. One instrument and one mic input, I usually plug my bass straight in or run it through my amp output since I'm too cheap to get buy a DI or a good mic for bass. It also comes with the program Cubase. Again, its basic and its kinda finicky, but its as functional as any other software once you learn how to use it. There could be better interfaces at this price though, it looks like Behringer also has a pretty competent interface for $50 but I've never used it.

u/HanSoloBolo · 2 pointsr/CasualConversation

I'm partial to Behringer tech so I'd recommend [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UM2-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1524521333&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=xlr+interface) or [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1524521333&amp;amp;sr=8-10&amp;amp;keywords=xlr+interface) if you're planning to record alone. If you're going to have guests, I used the [XENYX Q1202] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-1202-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B000J5Y282/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1524521461&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=Behringer+XENYX+Q1202) for a long time and it served me well.

Social media and promotion is hard, but necessary if you want to build a listenership. I'd recommend tweeting about more than JUST links to your show. I don' think anyone wants to follow an account that's all about self promotion. My shows are all comedy podcasts so I lucked out in that I can just throw out dumb jokes/observations all day and people enjoy them. For a more serious show, it's a bit harder.

To get started, follow a bunch of people that follow shows similar to yours, wait a week, unfollow anyone who hasn't followed you back, then follow a bunch more. If people post things you like, interact with them. Retweet, respond, whatever. It's basically about building a community. I've built up 1,200 followers doing all that, which is puny next to my podcast listenership, but it's nice to have a place to let people know what I'm up to.

Also to build a podcast audience, guest on a bunch of shows that are similar to yours. Guest on science podcasts, have them on yours, promote it on Twitter, etc. I've had different guests on all the time over the last few years and it's really helped me build a big international audience in Australia and the UK, reaching people who never would have heard my show otherwise.

u/rowanthenerd · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Yes, a mixer is required if you want both. I presumed you wanted to just hear audio from whichever device without re plugging the headphones, which is a common request.

There are tiny mixers that would be suitable to your application.
I'd go for something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B005EHILV4

This lets you take line in from your PC via USB, which will be marginally better than using its line out, and you would plug in your PS4 using a cable that ends in 2x RCA. It also allows you to use your headset with 1/8" cables directly (including the mic!), provided you get a TRRS to dual TRS adaptor.

I was originally going to recommend the Behringer micromix discussed elsewhere in this thread, but it's a 4 to 1 mono mixer, so not what you want.

u/Rollonmath42 · 2 pointsr/Rockband

Here's the mixer I'm using with the cables unplugged, this (I think) is it on Amazon. For power I have it plugged into my computer via USB, although when I first started using the mixer with Rock Band, I just had it plugged in via a power outlet.

These are the two cables I use for plugging in the kit and PS4 controller. Here's the mixer with the cables plugged in. The middle white and red RCA cables are plugged into the AV receiver, which is a Sony STR-DG820 (my dad purchased it years ago and just had it laying around somewhere).

Under the Quick Menu &gt; Sound/Devices on the PS4, this setting has to be put on All Audio so that way when you plug in the controller, it'll route all game audio to the mixer.

Here's a video of how it sounds with me playing through bits of In Waves, Snow (Hey Oh), and Sulfur. Before playing Snow, I swapped the aux cords so the ReTrak cable is connected to controller and the other to the kit since for some reason the audio for the guitar riff that plays throughout most of the song can't be heard when I have them the way I mentioned above. Besides that, it all comes together pretty well. Hope this all helps.

Edit: fixed swap mentioned at bottom.

u/edinc90 · 2 pointsr/Filmmakers

Assuming you already have a camera, you need everything from the camera output until it hits the interwebz.

Magewell HDMI or SDI USB capture device. It shows up as a UVC device (like a webcam, no drivers necessary) on Macs and Windows.

You also need a way to get audio into the computer. Cheapest way: Behringer 302USB. No drivers for this either. One mic input, one RCA stereo input.

For the computer, you need something relatively powerful. A modern mid-spec notebook will work. Make sure it has USB3. For software, OBS. It's free.

You need internet also (duh.) Wired when possible, best to bring a long CAT5 cable with you. If there's no internet in the venue, I've had success with cell hotspots.

u/ErroneousDylan · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I'm just using a dynamic XLR mic and an audio interface that I had sitting around since I do some studio work. Also a boomstand behind the table.

Interface: http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-Premium-5-Input-Interface/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1376861795&amp;amp;sr=8-8&amp;amp;keywords=xlr+to+usb

Mic: Shure SM48

u/ScouseLite · 2 pointsr/mixer

Generally speaking, the more software you use, the more things can mess up when trying to link them into OBS. I personally never recommend software mixers just as they have a nasty habit of screwing up when live.

One thing I can't stress enough when it comes to audio, don't go too cheap! Fundamentally, you do have to spend a little bit to get a setup that works. An entry level audio setup will still set you back around $100.

For entry setups I'd recommend looking at the Neewer kits on Amazon. They do need a phantom power source too, yet they're still better than using a basic headset mic. From there, with them being all XLR based, you can use essentially any usb mixer you want. Behringer have a huge range of these with USB output to hook them into PC, starting around $40 too.

u/Arve · 2 pointsr/audiophile

If you want to connect multiple units to your speakers, a passive volume control is not really an option. In that case, you are left with two options:

  1. Mixer
  2. Hi-fi pre-amp

    The - by far - cheapest option here is the Behringer 302 mixer, which includes an USB audio interface (which I suspect is the same as the UCA-202). While it's not something I would actually use for producing music, it's going to work well for the price and the use you are suggesting.

    In this case, you would be connecting the phono stage/preamp to the "line in" on the 302, and your Audioengines to the "main mix" outputs using regular RCA cable.

    Alternatively, there is the Q502USB, which has an extra pair of inputs so you could connect an MP3 player or TV as well.

    The Behringer options are both available in Australia from Galactic Music Australia, and prices are 59 and 79 AUD, respectively.

    With that being said, mixers aren't particularly pretty, and there are pre-amps out there that would be better, but then you should be prepared to spend the entire $300 budget on it, if you're buying new.

    Do you have an Aussie equivalent to Craigslist? If you post that, /r/audiophile has been known to search classifieds for good bargains.
u/MrEleventy · 2 pointsr/headphones

Unplug from PS4 and plug into PC.

If you want everything plugged into one central location, then you're going to have to look at buying a mixer and experiment with the wiring yourself.

u/BobLoblasLawBlog · 2 pointsr/Twitch

If you're on a budget
This mixer with this mic and this stand

The mic is a dynamic as opposed to a condenser (and on amazon comes with a free cable) So it won't pick up background noise nearly as bad as a condenser (especially the yeti) would, and the stand comes with a pop filter. When you decide to upgrade the mic, you can buy an inline phantom power box for like 20 bucks (the unit only has 15v, which isn't enough for most condensers) if you decide to go the condenser route down the road.

u/Yentihs · 2 pointsr/vinyl

This is what I use so my speakers work with both my PC and my turntable at the same time

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005EHILV4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

I have my PC set to to a DAC and this mixers allows for inputs from both the turntable and the DAC. This all then goes to the output (speakers)

u/cdargis · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Have you thought about micing your amp? I much prefer this method over using "line outputs". You can pick up an SM57 and an audio interface for a decent price off Amazon. This way you can setup your computer to play audio through the interface (and into headphones) when recording.


As far as the delay in Audacity, you can set up "Latency correction" in "Edit -&gt; Preferences -&gt; Audio I/O".

u/Novux · 2 pointsr/macsetups

The mixer is a Behringer 302 USB, it's affordable and versatile. I use my mic primarily for communication, but it could be used for music vocals recording.

Got the lamp 8+ years ago from Wal Mart, sorry!

u/morjax · 2 pointsr/letsplay

Note that acoustic treatment is typically much less important for dynamic mics than for condenser mics :) It's a little trickier for multiple person commentary (as you sort of need a dynamic mic per person, which means probably XLR over USB, but you'll be saving on sound treatment, so there's that). Something like a Focusrite scarlett 2i2 interface with two ATR2100 mics or two Shure SM58 mics (SM58s are tanks, and are usually in great quality when gotten used).

Joint commentary is tricky. You can either do a shutgun mic, or condenser and try to manage unwanted noises, or you can go the multiple dynamics route, which should give a very good signal-to-noise ratio.

u/DM-ME-UR-PUPPY-PICS · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

my boyfriend has been really into music (mostly hip hop/rap) since he was a kid and has recently expressed an interest in the producing side of things. he’s mentioned a couple of times that he’d like a keyboard or synthesizer, so i thought i’d get him one for Christmas this year.

i should emphasize that he’s never played an instrument before; i’m sure he doesn’t know how to read notes or anything. i played the piano for about 10 years growing up so i at least can help him out with some of the basics, but what i don’t know anything about is keyboards or synthesizers.

i just want to get him a solid option for beginners. i don’t want to spend too much money (hopefully $150 or less?) in case he tries it and isn’t into it. i don’t know if a keyboard or a synthesizer would be a better fit for him and his interests. below are a few options i pulled from amazon, but again, i don’t know anything about any of this so if you have suggestions please let me know! i really really appreciate all your help in advance, i’ll send gold to a few of those who reply later this evening :)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

u/Atojimusic · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

I really like the Akai MPK Mini MK2. Check it out! It's got 8 drum pads, 8 knobs, and a mini keyboard. All for $100. I have one myself and absolutely love it!

u/teddybandit · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-GENERATION-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG


this what i got- good starting point- watch the vid on the side- it's easy/portable.

u/engi96 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-SOLO-Audio-interfaces/dp/B00MTXU2DG/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1414323206&amp;amp;sr=1-3-catcorr&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite

this is an interface that does both digital to analog and analog to digital, but it is half the cost of the D1 and will sound as good. behringer dont make anything worth owning.

u/unforgiven60 · 2 pointsr/Guitar

If you enjoy acoustic style playing, I feel it can be beneficial to developing a better playing style as you branch out to electric. Acoustic guitars require a little more attention to finger placement and fretting technique. Mistakes are more noticeable and you can fix those problems early before they become bad habits. Electric guitars tend to "cover" those mistakes more easily with all the effects and distortion (once playing at a high level they become more noticeable again). Things like hitting extra strings, fretting a note that is dead, etc.

I definitely regret not learning more on an acoustic first. I jumped straight into electric and never really looked back.

As for gear and making the transition to electric, it depends on what you want to do with your guitar playing.

If you are going to just play and practice by yourself at home, I recommend at least researching amp simulator software for use on a PC and getting an affordable audio interface.

I recently bought a brand new Jackson 7-string guitar for $180 (it's actually not bad either was on sale), an audio interface for ~$75 (included free DAW software, was on sale as well), and purchased a large amp/cab/effects bundle on Revalver 4 for $100. I already had headphones and a PC. I also bought studio monitors but that's neither here nor there.

I know that's over your budget but you can try most amp sim software packages for free and you can buy the amps, cabs, and effects a la carte for pretty cheap prices (a few $ each). It unlocks a huge range of sounds and possibilities and you can learn the types of amps and sounds you like. If you ever want to buy a real amp/cab, then you have a direction you would like to go.

Just for comparison, by the time you buy a guitar, some floor pedals (can range from $50-100 each), and a practice amp (which may or may not sound good at this price level), you are probably over your $300 anyway. With the software/interface option, you can have like 15 amps, probably like 25 cabs, lots of microphone sims, and tons of effect pedals inside the software for like $350.

I'm into metal as well and I've found the high gain amps and sounds in Revalver to be pretty good. Different amp sims do certain things better than others.

Good luck on your journey

u/RedMoth11 · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

none of them need mic capability.
just plugging the mic in to the mic jack on the computer is fine.
unless you have a nice mic, which you would get a usb interface for.
the audio thru a mic input, is more based on the mic quality rather than the sound card quality.
usb interface: scarlet solo + mic: at2020 or usb mic at2500usb

u/lovesongsnhouseflies · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

I've personally never used that interface, so you'll have to rely on the Amazon reviews (or hopefully someone here has had experience with it). The preamp (what you plug the mic into), and the mic you use, determines the sound you're going to get. Again, you're gonna have to read the reviews. You're just starting off, so I wouldn't stress it too much. You'll get a better sound than just plugging a USB mic into your computer.

If I were in your position, with a small budget, I'd save up a bit more and buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Compact-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1452061607&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+solo

The Scarlett series, in my opinion, is the best in terms of budget audio interfaces. Their preamps, and the system, overall, is of great quality.


When you're ready for that mic - put enough together to buy sayyyy this:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1452061954&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=Audio+Technica+AT2020

...and you got a good little startup.



The mic stand should fit pretty much any mic. It has both the clip, and a part to screw in the mic's shock mount (look up "shock mount").


I always recommend that you get warranty with your equipment, cause, you know...shit happens, so you should check if there're any music stores around that sell whatever you're interested in, and offer the warranty, as well.

u/KleyPlays · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Focusrite Scarlett solo and Reaper has a free trial that is really good.

u/thesnakefoot · 2 pointsr/audiophile
u/guuutbutttt · 2 pointsr/Guitar
u/m1stertim · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

For that mic, or any XLR mic, you will need an external preamp. That's why you can't use your motherboard's sound card and you need a USB sound card - just not like the one you linked. As you noted, the $5 one won't help you here.

They are more commonly called "audio interfaces," and here is a cheap example.

Alternatively, you can get a combination device - a microphone with USB out, which has a preamp built in, like this one.

More information on these basics can be found in the sidebar over there --&gt;

u/sofaraway731 · 2 pointsr/audio

The cheapest way would be this guy, but only if you have a line-level output on your computer... which I think most do.

The better option would be to get an audio interface like this, which connects over USB, and

u/Mort1186 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

A external sound card (audio interface) like such ;

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURLCW?aaxitk=uvWivV0TJ-U1M9WdqXhZsQ&amp;amp;pd_rd_i=B00QHURLCW&amp;amp;hsa_cr_id=3638016320001

There are tons on the market, just depends on what you looking for, there is a guy named Podcastage on youtube that gives a good break down on cost effective pro audio equipment.

The audio interface will help you manage your sound between your laptop and mixer more effectively, plus it could also help with any digital to analog problems.

Hope this helps

u/SoundEmerge · 2 pointsr/country

Wow, 25? Don't tell anybody in the music business :)

Seriously, I thought your video shows promise, the best thing you could do is pick up a cheap USB audio interface and a "large diaphragm condenser microphone" and some headphones. Set it all up, then practice without recording for a few ways to get used to the feel of singing with your audio feedback in the headphones. Once you a re comfortable, hit record..!

Here's some gear that would worthwhile to look into... adjust to your budget and taste.
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLCW/ref=sr_1_14?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1496707506&amp;amp;sr=1-14&amp;amp;keywords=usb+audio+interface

and pair it with either a microphone like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Nady-SCM-800-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B000R4LQ4S/ref=sr_1_12?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1496707358&amp;amp;sr=1-12&amp;amp;keywords=condenser+microphone

or get a pair of large and regular condensers like this:
https://www.amazon.com/MXL-550-551R-Microphone-Ensemble/dp/B002LASBS0/ref=sr_1_11?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1496707358&amp;amp;sr=1-11&amp;amp;keywords=condenser+microphone

Those are just suggestions, check out this guy's channel, he's got some great tips!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZRnrA5GOx0

u/ohias · 2 pointsr/piano

If you want to use it as MIDI keyboard, then connect it via USB and it should work. But if you want to record its audio, then better get an external audio interface. Something like https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER/dp/B00QHURLCW/

u/Yaberflap · 2 pointsr/livesound

Your condenser mic needs power, and it can receive power over a XLR/mic cable from a preamplifier with a 48v switch.

The preamplifier needs to be connected to an analog-&gt;digital and digital-&gt;analog conversion circuit to work with your digital computer.

The devices that handle preamplification AND D/A A/D conversions are called AUDIO INTERFACES. A cheap one: behringer ucm2

u/RawAustin · 2 pointsr/letsplay

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC 204HD is a great one, I use it myself with my AT2020.

Another alternative is the 202HD which doesn't have MIDI ports but is cheaper. Depends what you need.

u/RobotAlienProphet · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

Huh. Well, butter my grits -- that one is indeed made only for mic and instrument level sources. Presonus actually suggests that line level sources could damage it:

https://support.presonus.com/hc/en-us/articles/210044713-Can-I-connect-a-line-level-source-to-my-AudioBox-USB-or-22VSL-

I'm also a 0-coast user, and I'm using this Behringer, which is relatively cheap and works fine (there's also a smaller two-input version):

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM

u/jfrenaye · 2 pointsr/podcasting

I do not think so. Do not know that piece but if you are considering USB, I believe that is only USB out.

I prefer a recorder rather than a laptop or computer, but if you can record directly to the computer an interface via USB is probably the way to go without breaking the bank.

The UMC404HD is a decent one for $99.

u/kaeles · 2 pointsr/MusicBattlestations

I have a similar setup, though it's all digital.

Here's what I do, and then I'll suggest a setup for you.

My equipment:
vocal mic - at2035

audio interface - umc404hd

midi pedalboard - fcb1010

midi controller - maudio code61

I have both my vocal mic at2035 and guitar plugged into my UMC404HD.

The UMC404 allows you to record 4 input channels (2 stereo) into the computer via USB, it also has midi inputs if you want a midi controller that isn't USB.

That allows me to monitor the input directly and to monitor after passing both through ableton live. The direct input monitoring (using the mix knob on the umc) doesn't have any effects applied to it since it's only the mic and guitar that are straight into the recorder.

The UMC also has 4 output channels, which allows you to send some outputs to the monitors, and some to the headphones, I use this for "cue" tracks and the metronome, which gives me a click track in my headphones, but not over the output I would use for playing live.

I then have a code 61 that I use for pad drums, midi control and keyboard input.

I want an FCB1010 to do the looping and etc inside of ableton itself, so it's a single contained unit and everything goes through my laptop, but currently I just program my sustain pedal on the keyboard to trigger looping.


What I would do for you is...

If you're using an amp / pedals for your guitar, get something like a shure sm57, plug that into the UMC, and point it real close to your amp so that you're capping it without any room noise.

If you're looping guitar, you can have the looper pedal connected in line before your amp.

If you're only wanting to loop vocals, you can inline the looper pedal to the mic before input to the computer/umc.

You can loop both with a single pedal, but at that point, your output probably should go into the computer only, skipping the guitar amp. You can direct monitor that, and have it inputting to the PC. You can have midi / etc backing on the PC playing back at the same time into your headphones/monitors.

I personally use amp modeling VST on the PC and just playback my guitar through my monitors anyways.

A much cheaper (but still good) alternative to the code61 is the akai mpk mini 25.


If you want to skip a loop pedal and only loop in software, this is specific to ableton, there are a few ways to do that.

I've seen 2 main methods.

  1. Map a pedal switch to the "session record" button in ableton. It's the empty circle to the right of the transport controls at the top. When you hit this, it triggers midi / audio recording for every armed track in the session view. I know this will overdub midi notes, but I think it will simply overwrite audio.


  2. Map a pedal to arm/load/play the looper VST on a track. If you want to loop more than 1 track, you can set the track output to be send only, set the looper on a send, and direct the audio output from those tracks to the send with the looper on it. This will allow you to trigger the looping for any track thats getting sent to that single send/fx channel.

    Here is a video explaining one of the ways to do looping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFQzc8bYE2g

    If anyone else knows better ways to do looping in ableton, I'd love to hear about it.
    Hope this helps.
u/Triumph_4_Eva · 2 pointsr/podcasting

Our set up with the audio interface and XLR mics has been so much easier to work with. We use the Tascam MiniStudio. It's a good little machine that works well for just the two of us. Also lets you plug your phone/tablet in to record music, but not as a separate track. Ultimately, will probably upgrade to something like this, this, or this. That Monoprice mixer however may not be great for recording more than 2 people on separate tracks. But the Behringer and other Monoprice audio interface look good.

We use the Samson Q2U microphones. I really like them, and think they have great sound quality. If you want to hear the difference between our USB episodes and our XLR mics, check our podcast out: https://fanlink.to/bzYq. Episodes 1 and 2 were recorded with a Blue Snowball and Yeti Nano, and the rest of our episodes are with the Samson Q2Us.

u/lushpuppie · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

I’ve tested this with a powered usb hub, and it works with CCK. You could have your synths going into this and then you’d hear everything (including iPad) out to your amp or recorder, and it has midi in/out for the monologue and mininova. You could also use it as the interface in an iOS daw for when you’re ready to record.

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC404HD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ikThAb96GJNVE

u/Bobsorules · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

I'm just getting into the game and am looking to pick up a good inexpensive audio interface, how does this look? I know most people here recommend the focus rite ones, but this one has pretty good reviews and is less than half the price.

u/honkimon · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

iPad + UMC404HD + Korg nanokontrol2 + AUM and you'll be all set. Replace the UMC404HD &amp; nanokontrol with any class compliant usb audio interface of your choice and the nanokontrol with any midicontroler of your choice. These are just inexpensive options.

Or just buy a full fledged mixer. There are too many options to list.

u/OrendaBass · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

That depends on your set up. Most basic home studios have some kind of audio interface that your monitors and headphones will all be plugged in to.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1499395618&amp;amp;sr=1-5&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

u/posidonking · 2 pointsr/audiodrama

Hi, I'm the co-editor for podcast production and I think I may be able to help with your questions.

Mics: Depending on your current recording space you have 2 options, Condenser or Dynamic Microphones. Condenser mics are very good at picking up detailed sound but they are most of the time to sensitive to be used without some sort of sound proofing or acoustic treatment to the room as they are really good at picking up even the quietest of sounds. but if you have a treated room or a acoustic shield then that might be an option to look into. Dynamic mics however are really good at capturing loud sounds and because of that, they are mostly used for singing and instruments. however they are also often used for narration because you don't have to go all out with the sound proofing as they are less sensitive. now since my talents are in post production, I don't need an expensive microphone to get a good sounding recording, so I just use a $20 Dynamic microphone from amazon, they're great in fact I bought 4 of them for a podcast I was doing, I can give samples if you would like. As for price, Condenser are on average going to cost more because of everything that goes into it. Dynamic mics are older tech, so they aren't as expensive. my friend who does the vocal recordings has the Rode NT1a, a rather expensive condenser microphone $229, and I record using the Behringer Xm8500 Dynamic mic $20 on amazon. so it's really up to your budget and editing know how.

Rode NT1a

Xm8500

You will also need a audio interface if you're going to be using XLR mics, which I highly recommend you do. Here's the one I use, although you may not need that many channels

&amp;#x200B;

Software: I use Adobe Audition around $20 a month subscription. However I have in the past used Audacity and if you know how to use it, you can get some really good results. If you are looking to get into industry standard software I would recommend Pro Tools also I think $20 a month.

&amp;#x200B;

Yes, people who don't use a studio generally record to their preferred Audio editor and mix/edit then upload to a hosting website for their podcast, the production I work for uses Blogtalk which I think has a free option. However there are many options for hosting websites (E.g. Acast, Podbean, Libsyn, Ect.) I recommend reading this website for hosting options.

&amp;#x200B;

People typically find voice actors through Casting Calls which they themselves set up or by going through a casting call website, and yes voice actors are typically paid although some may offer volunteer if they're just getting out there or for charity. For the sake of professionalism always assume you are paying for their services, that way if they decline payment then that's their choice as an actor.

&amp;#x200B;

If your podcast gains enough listeners then yes, you can definaty make money through podcasting, but you should never go only for making money. because one, it takes a while ti gain listeners and two it's just no fun if your only in it for the money.

&amp;#x200B;

I remember being exactly where you are now asking these questions, so If you need any help don't hesitate to ask. I hope this helps :)

&amp;#x200B;

&amp;#x200B;

TL,DR

Mics: I use a $20 Dynamic mic which gives me great recordings, although there are more expensive and higher quality options out there.

Software: I use Adobe Audition to edit everything but there are a myriad of other audio editing options out there including the free software Audacity.

Yes it can be as simple as Record/Edit/Post depending on what your doing and the type of podcast your going for.

You find actors through casting calls, and typically you always pay actors for their services. Always expect to pay.

Yes you can make money through podcasting depending on your listenership and Ads and things like that.

u/blakedance · 2 pointsr/audio

If you want multiple tracks to edit in your software I would probably get something like this instead https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9KznzbCHMHMGM . If you still want to use your mixer your going to run into issues trying to record separate tracks at the same time because I'm assuming the mixer only has 1 output. If you don't mind only having 1 track to edit I would say keep the mixer and get a cheaper interface to make that 1 output USB :)

u/GrooveTank · 2 pointsr/podcasting

So we use the Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audio Interface for our show that has 4 hosts, and I love it (I'm also the guy who edits the show and sets up our recording setup). It provides the power to all 4 mics, but it needs power. Also, we were about to buy a mixer and quickly learned that is not what we wanted. If you are wanting all your mics to have a separate audio track in your program than what you want is a USB audio interface, which is what the UNC404 is. I would highly recommend it.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM

u/RonaldFoose · 2 pointsr/audacity

Assuming you mean 4 mics with 4 separate channels. We do it for our podcast.

We use this interface: https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-4-Channel-UMC404HD/dp/B00QHURLHM

It's a little tricky because there are you have to use an older version of the Behringer software (3.29.0) and the following drop down settings in Audacity: Windows WASAPI, Behringer LINE in, and then you will have the option to have 4 inputs in the last drop down.

If you go this route and have questions, let me know and I'll be happy to help.

u/CharlesWiltgen · 2 pointsr/podcasting

&gt; I believe the Blue Yeti is a USB mic, meaning you're not going to be able to use multiples of it anyway without having to jump through a lot of hoops to make it work.

On a Mac, it's pretty easy (search for "aggregate device"). On Windows, you can use something like VoiceMeeter Banana.

But to /u/wittiestphrase's point, USB mics are really for one-person setups. For multiple participants, a better budget setup would be a "starter" audio interface and starter XLR mics.

u/ImprovObsession · 2 pointsr/podcasting

Yeah, I really love the Behringer UMC404HD. Not a lot of options to play with it, but I did buy one and return it to amazon no problem.

u/undskyldja · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

The Behringer U-Phoria is probably the best value for a mixer I've seen. I also second the Focusrite, but they are a little more than the Behringer.

u/ModernHeathen · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I second the Behringer UMC404HD and an SM57! Add some software for recording, I use Studio One, and you are definitely still within the limit.

If you want to get more complex in the dorm: I live in an apartment and have to worry about how loud I'm being at night especially. Learning about the amp sims and VST plugins you can get will really help. Mercuriall makes some KILLER sounding amp plugins that I use.

Here's a sample of the Mercuriall Tube Amp U530. This guitar is just plugged directly into the Behringer UMC404HD. I was pretty pleased with how much like my amp it sounded.

Hope that helps!

u/Alar44 · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Ohhh, I see.

You need a USB audio interface, get rid of the Behringer.

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-4-Channel-UMC404HD/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=4+channel+audio+interface&amp;amp;qid=1554232697&amp;amp;s=gateway&amp;amp;sr=8-3

Something like that. Run your microphone and audio out from your gaming rig into the interface, into the streaming PC, and then you will have separate channels to play with in Reaper and then push that to OBS. Connect your speakers/headphones to the streaming PC.

u/Joe_Paquin · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Here’s my personal recommendations:

For an interface, this is the best bang for the buck on the market right now (again, in my opinion), especially if you’re just starting out :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QHURLHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1520813639&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=umc404hd&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41q-puettzL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

For a mic(s), it really depends on how extensive (and what) you’re going to be recording, and specifically if you plan on recording real drums or not. I’d recommend just getting one or two mics to start with, and getting more slowly over time, because if you use sampled drums in the beginning (which is a reality for many small home studio owners), you can do quite a lot of work with 2 mics. I’d recommend the following:

Any large diaphragm condenser in this price range will get the job done, but here’s what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D6RMFG6/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1520814113&amp;amp;sr=8-14&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=condenser+microphone

An SM57 is a standard in many studios, and is also versatile and good to have around:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000AQRST/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1520814292&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=sm57&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=31KR2%2BJ86GL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

Now, for a monitoring situation (a.k.a. How you’re gonna actually listen to what you’re recording and mixing), it’s not the smartest idea to invest in monitors (which will eat up a substantial amount of your budget) without investing in treatment for the acoustics of your room. You could easily spend $500 on these two things alone, so I’d recommend just getting a pair of decent headphones for starting out. I know mixing on headphones is a whole can of worms on its own, but while you’re learning, it’s really not gonna make a difference, as long as you have something better than apple Earbuds (not that they aren’t useful). Just get something where you can really understand the sound of it, and reference on a lot of different systems, especially your car. (Disclaimer, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than $100 on headphones, and try to look for something with a relatively flat response, instead of something with cranked bass and hi end, so you can hear as accurately as possible)

As far as DAWs go, I know how appealing it is to buy the same program that people at the top of the industry might be using, but the truth is that most DAWs nowadays can essentially do the same thing. If you only take one of my recommendations, let it be REAPER. You can use a fully functionally demo for as long as you want, and chances, it’ll do everything you need, especially while you’re starting out. Hell, I know professionals that swear by it, and for good reason; it’s insanely flexible and useful, and for the price point (basically free, but if you end up sticking with it, you really should buy a license, it’s only like $60), you just can’t go wrong.
http://reaper.fm

Edit: Unless you’re gonna be mixing 50 track songs right out of the gate, your MacBook will probably be just fine for the time being

Hope all of this helps, good luck!

u/AvgKirch · 2 pointsr/Twitch

$60 USD Samson Q2U: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R747SG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PYRxDbX6NHYK4

$96 USD Behringer UMC202HD:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_p3RxDbKEGEK61

Look at the manufacturer website for accurate information about specs. The Amazon listing for the 202 had info about the 404 model.

u/Kristoffer__1 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I'd not get a dac, what you want is an audio interface.

Like for example something like this. (I've got no idea if that one is actually good or not but it's got separate volume control for headphones and speakers which is incredibly useful if you use both.)

u/seldomstatic · 2 pointsr/AudioPost
u/errorcache · 2 pointsr/indieheads

Generally, cheaper interfaces will have worse preamps and lower bit-depth/sampling rate capabilities (try to shoot for min 48kHz/24-bit).
Behringer's interfaces with midas preamps are quite good for how cheap they are. Something like this would be good enough for pretty much anything except recording drums https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC202HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA-2-Channel/dp/B00QHURUBE

u/blackjakals · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

An audio interface with balanced outputs would work best. The have outputs for monitors and headphones.

A DAC/Amp combo would work too, but you may get more noise.

I suggest any of the following for an interface:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Onyx-Artist-1-2-Interface/dp/B07664LMPQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538615994&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=mackie+onyx+artist&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41g1YyxjwFL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch


https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC202HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538616381&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=behringer+u-phoria&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41LnZHDgziL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538616639&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+2i2&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41L6SD2-BwL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR22MKII-2-Channel-USB-Interface/dp/B017MVUAHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538616711&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=steinberg+interface&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41NuXCXoVGL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

For a DAC/Amp combo, I suggest the following:

I personally own this and it is great.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-OriGen-G2-Resolution-Preamplifier/dp/B01N14SY65/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538616843&amp;amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=origen+g2&amp;amp;psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/FX-Audio-Optical-Coaxial-Amplifier/dp/B072JJT7SF/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1538616970&amp;amp;sr=8-8&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=dac%2Famp&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41iOCuvyjdL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

http://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-1


https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-o2-sdac-dac-amp

or this:
http://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1
plus this:
http://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1

u/SacredMaskMusic · 2 pointsr/homestudios

You can get a MXL 770 for under $100 and a 2-channel Behringer U-PHORIA for around $100. This will definitely be enough to get you recording. I use this set-up (mostly for recording samples and very limited vocal work, as I do electronic instrumentals for the most part) and it does the job. That leaves you $200 for accessories (you're gonna want a stand for the mic and a pop screen before you even think about acoustics). You can get an acoustic shield for well under $100. Pop screens are as low as $10 on Amazon. You can definitely stay in that budget if you're only looking to record rap vocals.

MXL Mics 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007NQH98/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Hhj2CbR9JD6X1

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD, 2-Channel ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Rij2Cb226B0WC

(I haven't actually used these two products before, just providing you with quick search results. Definitely shop around first)

LyxPro VRI-30 - Portable &amp; Foldable Sound Absorbing Vocal Recording Panel - Stand Mount https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012OFI98I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Wkj2Cb78J3YWP

NEUMA Professional Microphone Stand with Pop Filter Heavy Duty Microphone Suspension Scissor Arm Stand and Windscreen Mask Shield for Blue Yeti Snowball, Recordings, Broadcasting, Streaming, Singing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JHCL3KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Coj2Cb8MF5N0G

u/Widget_pls · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

Seconding a big SSD (I like the Samsung ones, and among the types of SSDs, NVMe is usually 4x the speed of SATA if you have an M.2 drive to put one in, but only really new computers will have an M.2 port.)

The SSD won't really make anything faster but really big projects with an "old" spinny hard drive can take like 3 minutes to load.

Basically if you have a true ASIO card (and not a card which is "compatible" with ASIO4ALL since all cards are but it's fake ASIO) anything with an i3 or better (i3, i5, i7, i9, Xeons at 2.4ish GHz or faster, any AMD Ryzen or Threadripper processor) is probably fine.

It's worth pointing out that Intel laptop processors are like half as powerful as desktop ones, and a laptop i5 is usually about as fast as a desktop i3 (so subtract 2 from the "i" number.) For the most part AMD doesn't have good laptop processors yet but they'll be coming soon-ish (also under the Ryzen brand.)

I'm a fan of the Behringer UMC202HD because even though Behringer's history makes their products somewhat suspect, meaning it might break after a couple years, the drivers are "good enough", the audio quality is basically flawless, and it works with condenser mics. (To be fair it's mostly their DJ equipment people hate as far as I know since their DJ stuff doesn't like to take a beating unlike most other companies'.)

Edit: On the Amazon Questions for the specific computer you linked, someone said they were able to install a Samsung Evo 970 NVMe SSD in the M.2 port it has, but it was somewhat difficult to get to (probably because there's a bunch of stuff right next to it and NVMe drives are really small - about 2/3 the size of a stick of RAM.)

u/mstrblueskys · 2 pointsr/TwinCities

I have a buddy who runs a music studio, but if you needed the space, he'd definitely set it up for a podcast interview.

I do tend to agree that you should be able to get pretty close to studio sound on a budget assuming you have a computer already. I understand that sometimes owning stuff is a huge hassle itself, but if it's something you want to do a few times, the cost savings would start to be there.

Since no one has given you any real advice on how to do this, I can give it a shot.

I'd start by installing Audacity on your computer. It's super basic, but what you're doing is super basic. And it's super free. That's a huge plus.

Next, decide how you want to do microphones. First, you'll want stands. If it's an interview/two person thing, you'll need a couple of these (or more if you want more mics). We're at $25 for two now.

Next, decide what quality you want to be at. The Blue Snowball is a pretty great entry level microphone. I've honestly never run two into a computer before, but I imagine it'd be easy enough to record two different microphones on two different tracks in Audacity. That would bring our total to around $150. To upgrade in this way, you would go to something like the Blue Yeti. At over $100/unit, that adds another $100 to your cost.

The other way to do microphones is using a USB Interface for your computer and buying standard microphones. I'm keen on that option because it's a little more flexible if and when you look to upgrade your setup. You can use $15 microphones to get by or if you're locked and loaded, you can upgrade to really nice condensers.

As far as soundproofing goes, you can decide if that's possible wherever you're at. The last voice over project I worked on, I hung blankets in my bedroom and that was perfectly fine. Obviously that's not the most professional look, but there wasn't a pile of ambient noise to deal with and the directional mics do a good job focusing on your voice. You can build sound dampening walls with plywood, insulation, and fabric if you really want. It takes a staple gun, some screws, and about an hour per panel.

Assuming you have the time, an okay computer, and about $300, you could really build yourself a nice studio. If this is a one off kind of thing, it's definitely not worth it. My buddy's place is called, The Petting Zoo and I'd be more than willing to ask him details if you want.

Either way, good luck!

u/iscreamuscreamweall · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

grab a cheap/free DAW like reaper or audacity or even garage band

grab a 2 channel audio interface


plug the stereo line outputs of the tascam tape recorder into line inputs 1 and 2 of the interface.

set the DAW to record at 16 bit 44.1

press record on the DAW and play on the tape machine

???

profit

u/russiandressing · 2 pointsr/VoiceActing

+1 for being in the same boat as you! 31/F/originally from NY. Professional singer of 10+ years; have always been told I have a very unique and soothing voice. I've honestly been stewing on this for over a year and hadn't pulled the trigger until last week. I sat down and figured out what it would ACTUALLY take me (financially and space-wise) to give it a real try.

I have a closet in my current "studio" with all of my guitars and what not; I figured I could commit to turning this space into a booth. I did the math and realized I could treat the space acoustically for $179. eBay had 2" foam panels for way cheaper than anywhere else. Is it the BEST product out there? Probably not - but it will definitely get the job done.

Equipment wise, I figured out that I'd need an updated USB interface and a dedicated VO microphone. I ordered both of those things for $130. Here's what I ordered:

Mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007NQH98/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

USB interface: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QHURUBE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1

Again, not top-of-the-line products, but I did my research and these both seem to be solid choices for beginners. I've cleared out the closet and I'm currently waiting for the panels to arrive. They get here tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be able to install them on Thursday or Friday morning. They need to "sit" for a bit to uncompress. Haha.

Anyway, I hope my story has helped you! As soon as I get my booth set up, I plan to take webinars and learn, learn, learn. I'll also spent a significant amount of time just recording practice scripts. I learn by doing, so there will be a LOT of doing going on. Haha. I feel as though I could be a tiny bit ahead of the game since I have experience recording and I'm comfortable with recording software and gear. I've also been using my voice as a tool for over 10 years..but in a different way.

Good luck and feel free to hit me up if you need some motivation! I know I've doubted myself multiple times since committing, but I've gotta go for it.

u/ColonelSandurz42 · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I have an old usb audio interface that I use as a separate sound device. I have my speakers plugged into the mobo and my headphones plugged into the interface which allows me to change the playback device.

u/snowtx · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Despite the fact that both speakers seem to be a similar price, the Inclines will considerably cheaper and closer to your budget once you account for cables and a subwoofer (provided you actually need one).

Regardless of what you buy, I suggest first trying the speakers without a subwoofer to hear whether you actually miss the last bit of low frequency sound. Both of my suggestions produce fairly low bass, JBL 305 rated at 43 Hz +/- 3 db and who knows about the Inclines as Def Tech doesn't report frequency response using the standard +/- 3 db (most likely they reach somewhere in the 50s?).

For the 305s, you are less likely to need a sub. Also, connecting a sub to the monitors can be complicated and will depend upon your overall setup. A related issue is whether you will be using an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) - I recommend you do so for the improved sound quality and that you get one with a volume control. I think the best value approach is buy a pro audio interface - these have a DAC, volume control, and the types of cable connections that would facilitate mating your monitors and sub, plus other features that are used by recording musicians. I have the Steinberg UR22 (paid about $115 shipped new off ebay) but you can do fine with cheaper options: Lexicon Alpha has been recommended https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-2-Channel-Desktop-Recording-Studio/dp/B000HVXMNE/ref=sr_1_6?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1472738288&amp;amp;sr=1-6&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface or the Behringer UCA202 https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1472738288&amp;amp;sr=1-5&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

I went ahead and got the matching JBL LSR310S, but it is expensive ($400 usually but I got mine new on ebay for $279). It was worth it to me as I work from home and listen to some electronic music. Here are ebay listings now: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;amp;_sacat=0&amp;amp;_nkw=jbl+lsr310s&amp;amp;_sop=15 Monoprice has a studio sub at $220 that would work (http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&amp;amp;cp_id=11504&amp;amp;cs_id=1150401&amp;amp;p_id=605999&amp;amp;seq=1&amp;amp;format=2 For cable connections it will depend on what audio interface you get (suggest you buy cables from Monoprice for their support - don't bother with Guitar Center or similar places as their cable prices are very high), however, I think you need the following: for the Behringer you have to use unbalanced connections, qty 4 TRS male x RCA male cables, a) connect the interface to your computer with the supplied USB cable, b) then connect the interface input to the sub input using two (left &amp; right) male TRS x RCA cables, and c) then two more male TRS x RCA (one each, L&amp;R) from the sub output to the 305s input. For the Lexicon Alpha, you would connect in a similar manner but can use balanced connections, total of 4 male TRS x male TRS.

For the Inclines and in considering your initial budget goal, you could go with any of the budget subs. My son has the Dayton SUB-800 http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-800-8-80-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-627 ($99 - $5 Labor Day coupon + $6.95 shipping). I'd spend another $20 and get the Dayton SUB-1000 because it supposedly goes down to 30 Hz http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1000-10-100-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-628 You would need a subwoofer cable for the connection, such as https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Subwoofer-Cable-Feet/dp/B003FVYXY0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1472740255&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=subwoofer+cable

As I mentioned before, one the nice things about the Incline is that it has a built-in DAC; however, the "manual" isn't very helpful - this review does a good job of explaining the source input hierarchy and how to engage the DAC (there isn't an input selection switch so you have to unplug cables to make sure the DAC overrides your computer onboard sound card - in any case, use the USB input or optical for DAC): http://www.audioholics.com/computer-speaker-reviews/definitive-technology-incline-desktop-speakers-review

u/Kimiwadare · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Not lame at all. When I was in high school I was obsessed with The Pillows. Probably because of FLCL. Learned pretty much that whole score. If you're a new player, though, you might want to consider getting something like a $100 usb audio interface that you can plug your guitar into and use your computer to model an amp. Unless you plan on playing with a band - then you'd need a real amp.

Example of Audio Interface for under $100

AmpliTube Free for making your guitar sound awesome through your computer

u/AntarcticanJam · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Here's a short lists of what you need to start recording:

  • Computer
  • DAW
  • Audio interface
  • Microphone/instrument

    Computer: I'm assuming you already have this, it allows you to do work.

    DAW: stands for Digital Audio Workstation, and this is where you'll be doing most (if not all) of your work. A popular and cheap option is Reaper, but you can also use a less powerful (and free) program like Audacity. I would recommend starting off with a "full featured" one like Reaper (which I believe has a 30 day trial period?) because if you do end up getting really into it you'll be glad that you have a bit of background knowledge. Some might argue that certain DAWs are better than other, but it really boils down to personal preference. All DAWs can allow you to have multiple tracks going on at once, for instance, overlaying lyrics over an instrumental track.

    Audio interface: this is the hardware that sits between your computer and your instrument/microphone. It allows the signal from the microphone to be converted from analog to digital which the computer can interpret. If you're just starting out, go with whatever you can find on eBay or Craigslist, but make sure it has what you need (correct number of input/output, USB or firewire connectivity, phantom power if you're using condenser mics).

    Microphone/instrument: without this, you won't get far. The microphone you linked above I think is generally used for vocals, as most condenser microphones are. A solid recommendation that a lot of people give is the SM57 dynamic microphone for micing cabinets or instruments; some people even use it for vocals (myself included, 'cause honestly, it gets the job done).

    The link that you gave looks like has a microphone and a DAW, but no audio interface. I think this might be because the microphone itself has some kind of hardware on the inside to be a plug-and-play, using your computer's motherboard as an interface. So for now if you wanted to use that package for recording instruments and vocals with that specific mic, you're good.

    My personal recommendation to start writing music without breaking the bank that will leave you a lot of flexibility going forward:

    Interface: some random 2-input audio interface with decent reviews Keep in mind that you would only be able to use dynamic microphones on this, as condenser require 48v phantom power.

    Microphone: simple dynamic mic

    DAW: I highly recommend trying out the 30-day trial of Reaper, but like I said, this is all your preference.


    Bottom line: the Blue Yeti All-In-One can get you started, but it has limitations (no audio interface) if you want to start getting deeper into it.

    Sorry if this is a bit rambly, I'm at work and kept getting distracted while writing this, let me know if you need any more info or clarification.
u/UltraFlyingTurtle · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Get an audio interface for your PC.

Plug it into your USB and you're golden. You'll get way better sound, you'll be able to record at much higher resolution and quality, plus you can plug in multiple devices (on the bigger models). Also you'll get less latency if you use recording software and monitor your recording of apply real-time effects.

Typically they cost from $100 to $200 for budget ones, like the Scarlet series which are often recommended as entry-level audio interfaces, used for home studio setups. If you're semi-serious about recording, those Scarlet interfaces are the way to go (older generation models are fine).

That's what I've been doing to record vocals (and guitar, and other instruments) for years on my Macs and PCs.

However if you really want to go cheaper, Behringer has this $50 model that should get the job done. It can handle up to 48 kHz.

You'll need a cable adapter to convert the 3.5mm microphone to an XLR output, something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Campro-Stereo-3-5mm-Female-Adaptor/dp/B00CODJFIE

Or this (this one says it's mono instead of stereo, if that matters):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IU04QHU?psc=1

While looking, I saw this really low budget USB audio interface. It's only $29. It has 16-bit/48kHz converters. No personal experience with it, but the reviews are positive.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UCA222

It uses normal RCA jacks so you can just get an RCA jack to 3.5mm cable, something like this should work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ISHC36A?psc=1

Edit: Also saw this Lexicon Audio Interface at $47 bucks. No experience with it either, but it's another option:
https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Alpha-Desktop-Recording-Studio/dp/B000HVXMNE

u/wondroushippo · 2 pointsr/headphones

Hmm, interesting!

If you want to stick with your source, you could try a single-ended to balanced converter: https://www.amazon.com/ROLLS-MB15b-Promatch-and-More/dp/B0002IL4B4/

Or you could go straight-up with a balanced DAC. The Lexicon Alpha has balanced outputs: https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Alpha-2-Channel-Desktop-Recording/dp/B000HVXMNE/

(if your budget is $400, you could try the Cambridge DacMagic Plus, which has balanced preamp outputs, haven't used it but I'm definitely intrigued myself)

u/MojoMonster · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Unfortunately, with guitar interfaces, you get what you pay for.

And anything under $350 is going to have limitations and make compromises.

Cheap: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

Cheaper: Lexicon Alpha Desktop Recording Studio.

ASIO4All if the drivers suck.

If you find you want to record, get Reaper.
Free to try, cheap to own.

u/PinkFloydJoe · 2 pointsr/pinkfloyd

Hey! Thanks, I am currently mic'ing my acoustics, but that's just because my Acoustic-Electric has a broken output jack right now.

Here's my full signal path for my Acoustics:

Ibanez Talman Acoustic (with broken Output Jack lol - Radioshack 33-3004 Dynamic Microphone (with foam Windscreen) - Lexicon Alpha Audio Interface - Cubase 5 (with Compression &amp; EQ as insert effects, and a reverb send effect.)

From there it's all about Mic placement and subtle changes to Compression and EQ. I like to position my mic right where the neck meets the body, to the left of the Soundhole.

All the rhythm guitar after the start of the 2nd verse ("And did they get you to trade") is Double Tracked, and panned 60-40 L and 40-60 R.

Hope this helps!

u/MoDuReddit · 2 pointsr/embedded

You're right, I thought OP wanted to sample, my bad. 24 bit for sound output for humans is dumb and wasteful.

Meanwhile, cheap USB 24 bit 192kHz ADC-DAC

u/Dreyka1 · 2 pointsr/headphones

Try this:

https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-2-Channel-Desktop-Recording-Studio/dp/B000HVXMNE

It is a DAC with balanced output.

The Wyrd will not fix the issue. Electrical noise is present on all the rails and not just the ground and +5V.

u/thesneakywalrus · 2 pointsr/audiophile

My suggestion? Grab an outboard DAC.

Personally, I like the Lexicon Alpha and two TRS cables.

u/JammySTB · 2 pointsr/audiophile

2 TRS cables, yes, but the Mixer will connect to your PC via USB.

EDIT: Wait, maybe I'm being stupid. Hang on a sec.

EDIT2: I know that some mixers connect via USB, but I had a look at the pictures of that Behringer, and I don't see a USB port.

EDIT3: I would probably get something like this rather than the Behringer. I think this may use TS, rather than TRS, but I'll check now.

EDIT4: Nope, TRS! Seems like a good product, and I'd certainly get it over the Behringer.

u/drtonmeister · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Well that optical adapter just translates between ethernet on fiber and ethernet on copper CAT cable. I've used them a bunch in a facility that oddly has lots of installed dual-mode fiber on SC connectors, but no installed networking infrastructure...
So your toslink digital audio fiber won't even fit in the fiber port, let alone do anything useful.
But that does remind me that there is a 5th way to get audio into a retina Macbook -- if you have a (multi-thousand-dollar) digital console using DANTE or similar digital snake system, you can add a computer to the CAT5 loop. Useful for multitrack recording of gigs, but the latency is awful.
You seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel, when for less money you could get a [Behringer 302USB USB](), Alesis Multimic, or Lexicon Alpha that just do what you want, and provide zero-latency monitoring of your recording input. Each of these has decent descriptions of how to set them up and do what you want, and each has lots of people here who use them and can offer advice.

u/JohnBooty · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I've seen the Lexicon Alpha consistently recommended for the LSR305 since it has balanced outputs + low cost + performance. IIRC it has some kind of problem with macOS, not sure, look into it if you're on a Mac.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HVXMNE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AV80KMVI6ZWQL&amp;amp;psc=1

These would be the cables for you I believe (thankx NoAudiophile.com!)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068NYH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;amp;psc=1

Tons of other good DAC/amp combos out there; the Alpha is unique b/c of the balanced outputs which should eliminate hum/interference issues.

Disclaimer - I don't own any of this gear personally.

u/Aelpa · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

A Digital to Analogue convertor, it turns the binary data stored on your PC into an analogue electrical signal, every digital device that can output audio has to have one.

The ones built into old motherboard tend to be atrocious with an awful SNR (signal to noise ratio).

Picking up an external DAC or headphone amplifier will fix your issue, as the noise is induced at this conversion stage.

This DAC is widely regarded as an amazing bargain, and it has a dedicated hardware control for your headphone volume, which is always really handy.

Click for Behringer UCA202

A review of the Behringer

u/ultramoustache3 · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

i use a behringer uca202. its a usb audio interface that you can usually find on used sites for like 25 $. you could use it as a headphone amp too and itd be better than yr computers soundcard..
https://www.amazon.ca/Ultra-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital-Output/dp/B000KW2YEI

u/Kaligraphic · 2 pointsr/audio

A simple audio interface: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital/dp/B000KW2YEI
with an RCA to mono 1/4" cable. The main output will be in the range you want. Configure as mono on the attached computer.

Don't use a headphone amplifier.

u/y0y0ma · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I've heard of their 3020, but supposedly the Concept 20 is the same driver in a different cabinet? The What HiFi review makes it sound like the cabinet alone is worth the price difference. That could be true, but I am not going to rely on their word for it. I think it would be best if you could arrange for an audition or, better still, buy them with a good return policy so you can send them back if you are not satisfied with them. This is the most reliable way you could test out 2 speakers because you know best what is important for you. As for bass, it is also part of the music and I feel a faithful reproduction is essential to the experience. I do not own a subwoofer myself because I am satisfied with my MB Quart 490 and their 7.5" woofer. The bass is present but not overpowering at all and it makes all the difference when listening to Pink Floyd or The Coup.

Anyway, what I meant was the audio files will be converted from digital to analog at one point. In your case, it would be the PC's onboard solution. Now, depending on your PC, your onboard solution could be great or it could suck (distortion/constant hum etc.) ! To get around this some people use the digital output on their PC (USB/HDMI/Optical) and the conversion is performed using another device. Since usually stereo amplifiers do not have any way of accepting digital input, the go-to choice is a separate DAC like Fiio D03K / Behringer UCA202. Some people also a get a headphone DAC like Fiio E10K because they need a portable amp for their headphone in addition to a DAC. Others may need more than just a DAC - for example there could be a need to take the HDMI input and send the video to a TV and the audio to speakers. This is where a receiver comes in. A receiver is basically an amp + many more options for inputs, but it could be overkill if you only need a DAC. Used receivers could be cheap, though, and they are quite popular because of the input options you get. Goes without saying that you may not need a separate DAC at all, but just something to consider.

Phew! Hope that helps! :)

u/asdf767 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

this is the cheapest usb dac that i would use. Or an fiio e3 if you have optical or coax output on your pc.


For about $80 i would get a fiio e10k

u/Guardian-Of-Nothing · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

That Emotiva amp has been around for a few years in various trim. Sherbourn marketed it as a small integrated amp too. I've owned the Sherbourn and the A-100 and they are both good. The A-100 is great for headphones too.

As for the DAC, what is the source? CD or a PC? A decent CD should have a built in DAC, and for a PC Behringer makes a great sounding DAC for $30, model UCA202. DACs do not need to bust the bank account.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA202-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=behringer+dac&amp;qid=1566878565&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3

u/thorltd · 2 pointsr/headphones
u/minja · 2 pointsr/audio
u/LocalAmazonBot · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: http://smile.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|




This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

u/swinegums · 2 pointsr/audio

I definitely want my speakers to be running through a DAC if I have one, but thanks for the input. This was recommended by Zeos so I'm going to try it and see how it goes.

How do you find the Fiio E7? Is there any background noise/interference when using it with headphones?

u/Umlautica · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Most will recommend against spending $500 on a DAC for $500 dollar speakers. That being said, you can get a great DAC like the $100 Schiit Modi 2 or the $150 JDS Labs ODAC.

You hit diminishing returns quickly with DACs though. Both of these will maybe sound around 5% better than the $30 UCA-202.

u/hack_tc · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Hahaha, I think the juxtaposition of budget and audiophile drive us all to the brink madness :) . Anyways, I think I just hid it in a link like this without actually naming it. I'll have to work on making my links a little more clearer. But yeah, that behringer dac is a definitely a great affordable option.

u/tmccoy00 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

Plugging the Line Level output of the mixer to the amplified microphone input of your laptop is probably resulting in excessive clipping - hence the distorted output.

An Audio Interface with at least one stereo input is probably what you are after. There are a number of options like the Scarlet FocusRite series are worth looking into.

Maybe even something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1409908950&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

u/Smarble53 · 2 pointsr/Twitch

This is the way i've found out i could do this (at least on my computer). I can tell skype to go to whatever output you want, say the front headphone jack. Then have the game audio coming out of the speakers. Run both of those inputs to the mixer and you're done.

If you don't have an extra output, you could always get something like this, or maybe 2 if you want the 1/4 inch jacks to go into your mixer. Just set one as the skype out and the other as the system's main output

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/

u/SaneBRZ · 2 pointsr/SuggestALaptop

&gt; ... so what specs should I be looking for in that regard?

With your budget you could get something with an Intel i5 and a 1080p display.

If you can wait with your pruchase, then get a Acer Aspire V5 473P-5602, which has a 1080p IPS touchscreen. It's currently out of stock and I don't know when it's going to be back, so ...

If you don't mind something refurbished, then I would recommend the Asus Q501LA which has also an 1080p IPS display. But check the warranty and the return policy. Not everyone is okay with that.

If you want to buy now, a Lenovo Z40 wouldn't be a bad choice. It even has a dedicated GPU.

&gt; Great audio: Yes

Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface. Get this. Laptops with a "decent soundcard" aren't a thing.

u/indifference_engine · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

iPad, 'camera connection kit' &amp; behringer UCA202 works for me

u/qMorick · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Get a good cheap pair of bookshelf speakers (or smth more expensive) connect them to an amp and either use a splitter cable to plug it directly into mobo's integrated sound or use a usb dac (with rca cables). You will also have to spend some money on speaker wire to connect speakers to amp.

EDIT: another option is to skip amp part and get a pair of powered studio monitors.

u/username303 · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

the audio 2 DJ interface, what does it do?

I'm completely out of my range here. is it for splitting the audio output into 4 channels? if so, would this do?:http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-%0AInterface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;amp;qid=1322396456&amp;amp;amp;sr=1-1

u/pdxtone · 2 pointsr/Guitar

That's what I did, except I run it to a $30 USB soundcard. It took a lot of tweaking but I'm not even using a preamp and it doesn't sound bad at all. Spend more money if you can though.

u/jj69rr · 2 pointsr/vinyl

You can get a Behringer UCA202 for $30 which will take care of it.

u/simon425 · 2 pointsr/CarAV

I've got a nearly identical install to his, but mine is not a fixed install so I can take the tablet with me.

The DAC is pretty crucial, and compared to the rest of a car AV set-up, is pretty cheap. The Behringer UCA-202 is another great one for low cost.

u/jallsopp · 2 pointsr/PCSound

Behringer UCA202 is a decent budget DAC and should work perfectly for what you want.

u/hpham033 · 2 pointsr/DJs

Hey! Hopefully I can give you some insight. I am not sure if you can use the USB out if the RX2 into a computer to get an audio signal (someone let me know if I'm wrong). Something you could do is purchase an audio interface. I use this one that is relatively inexpensive for my streaming purposes and it works great! I use it with a Mac and if I remember correctly, it was plug and play. The system would recognize the interface from the streaming software and you get a good quality feed from the mixer. It worked out for me and isn't too overly complicated. Hope you get everything worked out!

u/dramahitler · 2 pointsr/buildapc

You'll need an external (or internal) soundcard or DAC with digital optical toslink S/PDIF ports as there is no way to directly convert to this via most digital and analog connectors. This one is decent for the price:

https://smile.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1500070400&amp;amp;sr=1-8&amp;amp;keywords=external+sound+card

u/egamble · 2 pointsr/vintageaudio

There are a few ways to do this, the simplest is with a bluetooth receiver and cellphone, I have this one and it sounds okay: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000910-Bluetooth-Audio-Adapter/dp/B00IQBSW28

The best way to do this is with a USB DAC, this is the cheapest: http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI and works pretty well. There are lots of different ones with different features, you can spend from 30 to 300 easily.

USB DACs will work with windows and android cellphones with OS 5 (lollipop) and higher. I'm not sure about mac or linux support. Something like this may be useful: http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B005PWPUW6 if you just want to connect optical or coaxial out from a device.

u/MXIIA · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I think he just wants speakers for his computer and doesn't realize you can use bookshelf speakers to do so with an amp.

My current setup, and one I recommend to him, is as follows

Computer --usb--&gt; Behringer UCA202 DAC --rca--&gt; Lepai LP 2020A+ Amp --speaker wire--&gt; Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers

That'll give him the dial he wants - on the amp - as well as amazing sound quality by bypassing the computer's built in DAC.

u/minty901 · 2 pointsr/postrock

OK, so my recommendation:

Zoom G1on ($50): http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-G1on-Guitar-Effects-Pedal/dp/B00IOSJ68C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1421777443&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=zoom+g1on

This will give you SO much great stuff. Loads of amp+speaker simulators for recording direct (vox, fender, marshall etc.), as well as loads of distortion, chorus, reverb, echo synth, wah, filter etc. effects that can be linked together in a chain. I have a lot of experience with guitar effects, and this unit is by far the best way to spend your money.

You still need a better way to input from that pedal into your computer. If you want to be able to use stereo effects (recommended), meaning the reverbs will be wider and more spacious, then you will need to go for a 2-channel USB interface. Something like this might work for you:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1421777678&amp;amp;sr=8-7&amp;amp;keywords=2+in+audio+interface

...however I have no experience with that so I can't vouch for it. You could try to find one a little pricier that might work better, I don't know. Look around for reviews etc., but if that works fine then you should have pretty much all you need to record a good quality sound in Audacity.

For drum sounds and others such as piano and strings, check out this software:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/sampletank3free/

I use it myself. It should work as a plug-in with Audacity but I haven't tried that myself. Either way it's free and has some good sounds in it.

u/psychul · 2 pointsr/DJs

I've recently gotten myself a fancy new setup to record. Along with using a Novation Twitch and an Akai MPK25 to control Serato DJ, I have a lighting rig, which I use while mixing to make it more dynamic. I use a chauvet Obey 40, with two Chauvet Mini Kintas and two generic LED spotlights, to create an atmosphere. AAANNDDDD along side that, my most recent addition is two video cameras on tripods to catch the whole mix from different angles, which I then take into Sony Vegas 13 to edit it all down and make it look cool. (Oh, and I've got my mix recorded in Serato while I play, which I sync up with the video via a few clap samples that I play from my speakers). Here's the final product ( don't mind my kinda boring mixing, I just wanted to test out my whole setup to see if it worked) http://youtu.be/MkKARNRvfU8

And to help you out with the recording situation, Behringer sells rather good quality input/output sound cards for about $30 (Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_5zRVub1GCHXDR), and you just plug in the output from the mixer into it, and use audacity (or your favorite recording program) to record it all.

u/hagrid100 · 2 pointsr/audio

If you're going to get a cheap USB audio card, spring the extra few dollars and get one of these if you can. It'll be a lot higher quality.

u/jejetteaway · 2 pointsr/reasoners

I have Reason 7 and a Mac Book (13 inch, non retina, 2012). Everything is just fine and projects from Reason 3 can be used with no problem.

When I was buying a Mac Book the retina was like $600 more than the base model so I went with that, and I'm glad I did. You don't need a retina display to make music.

Also I use an external display, so I never even open the Mac (actually I could probably have just bought a mac mini and it would be the same).

So, you're an engineer...be careful - just get a limited rig and then start making music. Do NOT start reading about everything that's available, your engineering brain will take over and you'll never get around to making music - instead you'll just fall into gear acquisition syndrome.

I would also advise getting the following:

A bluetooth Mac keyboard, a blue tooth mouse, and 4 or 8 rechargeable AA batteries (the batteries are key), and an external display.

For monitors a pair of Jbl LSR305. These seem to be the best "bang for your buck" monitors and in online reviews people will not shut up about how good they sound for $150. Avoid Rokits.

As for midi, I'd say get a good midi keyboard and a good set of drum pads. If you want cheap and easy I'd go for a nanoPad2
If you want something a bit more involved (and actually this is what you should get) go for the padKontrol

You'll need keys. Since you say you're a composer you'll need at least 49 keys (61 and 88 are obviously better, and best). When I was buying stuff the MPK49 was pretty much the best thing you could get (except for the pads). The MPK249 is coming out soon and supposedly has better pads, but we'll see.

And finally an audio interface. I have an Echo Audiofire4 which isn't made anymore (btw it's fucking awesome so if you can find one used, do it). It seems the focusrite 2i2 is the most popular choice among newbies...personally I'd go for something with more inputs. RME and MOTU seem to the best but you'll pay a lot more (though in the long run it's worth it).

I would also say, go slow. There are a ton of cheap midi controllers (like $50-$100) so just get one, see what you like and move on from there. DO NOT cheap out on your audio interface. Your audio interface is the most important part of the whole chain.

So, Reason 7 on a Mac and an external display/mouse/keyboard, some keys and pads, an audio interface, and a good pair of monitors and you're set.

Hope this helps.

u/xnoybis · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Plenty of people will encourage you to get a focusrite scarlett 2i2. At 150, it's a great purchase, and will be far cleaner (in terms of sound quality) than running a USB mic, especially if you're using a laptop (even with an SD, laptops introduce a fair amount of noise). This is what we'll call your AI, or Audio Interface.

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

Next, you need a mic. Starting out, I'd recommend you look around on craigslist for some used mics, read up on them, then snap up something simple. That said, plenty of people use SM58s. They're reliable studio workhorses. At 100 (far less if used) new, they're fantastic. Next you'll need an XLR cable for the mic (~10$), and a 1/4" TRS for the guitar (she probably already has one for an amp). The scarlett supports 2 ins (both can be 1/4" TRS or XLR), so she can record herself playing guitar and singing simultaneously. So you're currently out 260. You might also consider getting a decent pair of closed ear headphones for monitoring (cheaper than actual monitors), but many people will argue on this point. Decent closed ear headphones are very expensive (~270 and up), but this may be going beyond your present needs. Let me know if this helps.

u/MisterKpak · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Currently using the AT2020, running through the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

This is actually the same audio interface I installed in a radio production studio, and is essentially the same setup minus the in-my-case-unnecessary sound board, just without the electrovoice RE20

u/ThreeKon · 2 pointsr/battlestations

I love them, I use to use them for my DJ setup downstairs and recording. I use this http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA They sound great though. If you were going to go with studio monitors, these are a great cheap option. I still prefer yamaha monitors though, thats why I have those downstairs for my DJ equipment =)

u/theroarer · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Nope, it would absolutely be perfect. Get a Scarlett 2i2 to start you off with a really nice, but basic set-up.

You can gradually move on from there.

Even just buying a second microphone, like a dynamic mic for other applications (plug for a SM57 clone) would make your versitility unbeatable on a budget.

You will learn a ton, and achieve pretty great sound if you work hard.

u/andonato · 2 pointsr/Guitar

How about a recording interface? I'm asking for this.

u/Jakecore · 2 pointsr/battlestations

I can only imagine that the PAD would shut them up. If your that concerned about picking up background noise in an open mic setting the only way I see to go about it is to have an audio interface (I have the modestly priced scarlett2i2 http://www.amazon.ca/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA which has wonderfully warm sounding preamps) and then a mic that hooks up via 1/4 inch or XLR. In which case you cant go wrong with a blue spark (http://www.amazon.ca/Microphones-Spark-Condenser-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B004BR20OM) Which I love or even something cheaper. Ive had a couple apex mics around the 100 dollar mark that actually sounded quite nice as well.

EDIT-I can't spell

u/munkomanko · 2 pointsr/synthesizers

Shit, so I just gotta get this here thingamabob? I'm down, absolutely.

ELI5: If I get this doodlygadget, (plus a audio cable, right?) then I will have the capability to: hear the sounds that I can hear right now on the monologue, directly on Logic Pro X. And to do that, I would need to: plug in the MIDI cable that I already have, AND plug in the audio cable, THROUGH the doodlygizmo, and then plug THAT into the computer. Am I correct? So do I actually need two more cords, to send audio through the interface and then into the computer?

Man I am in over my head

But I have so many ideas for cool music I gotta do this

u/FinalRed · 2 pointsr/podcasts

Not sure how you're able to speak while monitoring with latency, it's incredibly distracting. In fact, this is how speech jamming works.

Like /u/JeamBim pointed out, you need an interface which has direct monitoring of audio before it goes to your computer (such as the Scarlett 2i2)

The cheapest option would be to not use headphones at all but if you need to hear audio from your computer, you'll need to get something to monitor.

u/TheReveller · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Hey, I'm kinda in the same boat, I'm going to buy some Monitors, and I need something for the PC to make it worth it. I'm sure your PC already has some kind of sound card, but I'm guessing it's just got a 3.5 mm stereo jack.

You could get a splitter e.g.:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8N23HS1217&amp;amp;cm_re=3.5mm_rca-_-9SIA8N23HS1217-_-Product

Then you need to convert the RCA to TRS (that's the only input, right?), you could use something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2E11AU1608&amp;amp;cm_re=RCA_TS-_-9SIA2E11AU1608-_-Product

  • Or you could use some other combination of cabling to get your sound into the right jack format.

    So - this MIGHT work ok, but it might not as well. Two reasons:

  1. If you have a basic PC sound card the sound quality is likely to be shit, and you might get white noise coming through the speakers all the time
  2. Using unbalanced connectors in a balanced input might also give noise and won't sound as good.

    So you might find you aren't happy with the setup. The next step is to get some kind of Audio Interface (fancy name for sound card) that's designed for this kind of thing.

    Just getting a dedicated audio interface will improve the sound a lot. You could get one with unbalanced outputs - just RCA out. Since your monitors are so close it probably won't matter.

    Here's the cheapest I could find that does have balanced outs, but there's probably others:

    http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1457608397&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+2i2

    The plus side is these things usually have a separate headphone output and volume control, which is super useful if you just want to listen through headphones for a bit and not use the speakers.

    Hope that's useful.







u/evilmnky204 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

For $400, you could either go with bookshelf speakers + an amplifier though someone else would have to fill in the suggestions on that route for me. You can also go with powered monitors (meaning that they're already amped) such as the JBL LSR305s. Keep in mind that you'd need to make sure wherever you purchase these from that they'll come in a pair as studio monitors are sometimes not sold in pairs. As for a cheap interface to connect it, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a solid purchase. This example specifically is about $260 for the speakers, and $150 for the interface so just at about $410. Keep in mind there are many cheaper interfaces you can use or even just a DAC such as this one which would be cheaper by a decent amount.

Either way, both options would be far, far better than the Audio Engine A5+, imo.

u/MrJackBurton · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I've been looking to get a pair of JBL 305s myself. I agree with others here that the hissing is likely due to using your on-board sound card versus an external USB DAC. Although you are likely using these studio monitors for listening rather than recording, a lot of people seem to use a USB audio interface with monitors like the Scarlett 2i2 that acts as a DAC with instrument recording capability. It has balanced 1/4" TSR outputs for monitors and if you ever decide to get an XLR condenser mic it has the input for that too.

It might be overkill for just a listening setup, but it's cheaper than an Audioengine D1 DAC. I can't speak to the quality difference since I own neither, but it seems you'd get a lot more for your money with the 2i2. Some comments I see is that the 2i2 doesn't have a very robust headphone amp built in for higher impedance headphones, though the same is likely true of the D1 DAC since it is also USB powered.

u/pouchkiller · 2 pointsr/ultrawidemasterrace

M-Audio Firewire 410 . It's the audio interface that runs the Rokit 8s

It's pretty old and no longer supported by its maker. I've replaced it with an Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface.

u/justanotherdickweed · 2 pointsr/audiophile
u/IShotTheSky · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I'd go with this:

1.) Yamaha HS80Ms ~$500

2.) Shure SM57 ~$100

3.) Gauge ECM87 ~$150

4.) Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ~$150

5.) ART Tube MP ~$40

Then I'd probably use the remainder to get odds and ends like stands and cables, etc. But with that, you should be able to make some killer stuff. Industry standard dynamic mic, high-value U87 clone condenser, really nice entry level interface, decent tube pre, and the crowning jewel being those HS80s. You'll be able to record your guitars and bass and mix all your tracks easily with this set up.

u/Clayman0809 · 2 pointsr/Bass

This guy here is awesome!

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

Sure, you can find cheaper M-Audio and knockoff ones, but the preamps in focusrite interfaces are worth every single penny! I used an M-audio Mobile pre for three years and it got the job done, but I didn't know what I was missing till I upgraded to Focusrite, I wish I did it right from the get go.

The advantage of this type of interface is not only can you record Bass and Guitar, you can also record at Mic level, so you can plug in a microphone with an XLR to record, even a condenser that requires phantom power. As well as line level, which would be like keyboards or an already DI'ed signal.

If you plan on recording your own stuff, even if it is just for demos/ personal use, an interface like this will make a world of difference and will help you realize your potential as a musician.

u/140dB · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

As everyone else is saying there are a ton of choices. If you are sure all you want is two channels for recording I would go with a 2 Channel USB interface such as the Focusrite Scarlet which is only $150. For a live multitrack like you describe that's what I would choose.

However, whenever someone asks me about what interface they should get I always say, "Plan for the future." Sure you only want 2 channels now, but in the future are you going to want more? Are you going to need MIDI or Digital Ins? A 2nd monitoring path for two people recording? Like kim_otcj said, If you buy for the future you'll save money in the long run.

u/MrEditor · 2 pointsr/GWABackstage

Why are there still fake-real knobs and such? Because.....

There was a long time where analog was it. It's all there was. 4, 8, 12, 16 track analog recorders. Behemoths of recording consoles. If GWA existed somehow in that day, we would all own little 2-track recorders, a small mic pre-amp unit, and a microphone. And you'd maybe have an analog EQ and compressor, big physical units that looked like this.

So when everything went digital, a decision was made. To preserve brand identity and user familiarity, they copied the physical unit into a digital VST application. Compare This real world Shadow Hills Compressor unit with The Shadow Hills Compressor Plug-in.

There isn't any reason beyond that. There is reasons to choose analog or digital, but not to have a UI reminiscent of analog units.


As far as heaphones go, I'll take you through what I own, and what I use most.

Sennheiser HD 650

Sennheiser HD6 MIX

These were gifts through a brief endorsement deal I had, and I run these through this headphone amplifier

For higer-end earbuds, I use Sennheiser IE 60's and Sennheiser IE 80's. These I primarily use for simple editing on the go, giving to performers to use on stage or using myself on stage, or for women tracking vocals or instruments who don't want to mess up their hair with big over-the-head headphones.

But, my most used setup, what has become my dream setup, and the one that I will always reach for first, is far from the priciest.

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, run out of the computer through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

This is my favorite setup. The 280 Pro's are $100, the Scarlett is around $150. The headphones are crystal clear, have tight response all through the spectrum, are rugged enough to get chucked the fuck around, are comfy, and come with a great quality screw-on adapter so they able to be used into a 1/4" connection or a standard 1/8" headphone jack. Their impedance means they don't need an amp and can be used as normal headphones. They sound JUST as good as pairs ten times their price, and they have a certain special something to their super-low end and high-mids that I haven't found. Go get these today. Trust me.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 isn't used as an amplifier in this case, since the 280's don't need it. It serves as a USB feed out, with a nice little volume knob. USB out will always trump 1/8" headphone jack out audio. Plus, the 2 inputs are nice to have. I own two of these units, and one always travels with my laptop for an easy, portable solution for HQ audio monitoring, easy L-R in recording from a sound board, or easy audio out from my laptop.

Together, these things have a certain magic, and I don't have to break my bank or handle them like china dolls. They're both rugged and sound AMAZING.

EDIT: I forgot my in-ear molded earphones. I own a pair of Alclair Reference IEM's. They are a great price, sound incredible for stage or studio, and I got mine with wood backs and DAMN are they sexy.

u/kiwiandapple · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

Well, I decided to provide you with a cheaper suggestion compared to /u/Du6e great suggestion.
I did include a external

I changed a few parts to reduce noise.

  • CPU: Went with a locked CPU. This means less heat, which reduces in less fan speed required to cool the CPU.
  • CPU cooler: The NH-D15 is absolutely amazing for the price, but this little cooler is also in the category of amazing. Very easy to install, more than silent enough and keeps the CPU cool enough.
  • Motherboard: Because I went with a locked CPU, we don't have to pay the small premium for a Z97 board. This motherboard got everything you will want and will work absolutely fine.
  • Storage: Changed the SSD to a slightly faster one. I personally have the exact same one and I love it. Here is a benchmark of the performance.
  • Video card: The difference is mainly the cooler. Here is a comparision between the EVGA, MSI, Asus, Gigabyte &amp; Stock GTX980Ti. Under load (so during games) the Gigabyte card is the loudest one of the cards tested. MSI beats the EVGA/Asus versions by a small judge.

    I will also provide you with a couple of great guides to help you build the PC.


    ---

    As for the Focusrite audio recorder.
    Here is a great video explaining and showing you why you want this.
    Here is a review of the one that I am suggesting. A slight amount cheaper compared to the one used in the video above.

    PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

    Type|Item|Price
    :----|:----|:----
    CPU | Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | £217.76 @ Dabs
    CPU Cooler | CRYORIG M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler | £16.49 @ Ebuyer
    Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | £85.98 @ Ebuyer
    Memory | Kingston HyperX Fury White 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory | £60.99 @ Amazon UK
    Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | £117.00 @ Amazon UK
    Storage | Western Digital Blue 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive | £53.94 @ Aria PC
    Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked ACX 2.0+ Video Card | £528.53 @ More Computers
    Case | Fractal Design Define S ATX Mid Tower Case | £58.96 @ Aria PC
    Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | £74.99 @ Amazon UK
    Monitor | Dell U2515H 60Hz 25.0" Monitor | £265.86 @ Aria PC
    Monitor | Dell U2515H 60Hz 25.0" Monitor | £265.86 @ Aria PC
    Sound recording| Focusrite Scarlett 2i2| £99.00 @ Amazon UK
    | Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
    | Total | £1845.36
    | Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-22 09:11 GMT+0000 |

    ---

    Guides


    ---

    Now before you have a look at all these guides. The best guide in most cases will always be your MANUAL. Some manuals are garbage, but most of them are more than good enough to be able to help figure out most problems.

  • How to build an Intel 115x socket PC? This is my personal favorite because it goes in depth, but still keeps the video relatively short. It also got great camera work so you are able to follow all the steps very well. I decided to skip the start of the video. The reason being that the video is posted on 17th of May 2013, he gives the rationale of his selected parts at the start. This is a very long time ago, so the parts are very old, so no need to hear this out. But building a PC is still pretty much the same. No drastic changes.
    There are a lot of different build guides on the internet, but I really like this one. It's easy to follow.

  • How to install a 115x CPU? Very simple and easy to follow guide again.
  • How to install thermal compound? Now, to be clear! Every single heatsink will come with its own thermal compound. Even the intel/AMD stock heatsinks. So there is no need to buy this.
    It's only recommended to buy when you either have very bad temperatures or when you want to overclock to the extreme. The temperature difference between the best and the "worst" thermal compound is a couple degrees Celsius.
    Be careful though! More is not better! It needs to have enough, but too much will dramatically increase the temperatures of the CPU. Thermal compound helps with the contact of the cooler + the CPU. The CPU + heatsink both have microscopically small gaps, which the thermal compound fills up to let the heat get too the heatsink.
  • How to install RAM? It's very simple these days. For DDR4 it's pretty much the same.
  • How to install Windows 8(.1) or 10 from an USB drive? You have to download "media creation tool" which is located at the bottom of the page (blue button). Run that program with a 4GB+ USB flash drive plugged into a PC. Then follow the simple steps and the program will make the USB drive bootable. After that all you have to do is build the PC and boot from that USB drive to install Windows.
  • How to set up your SSD &amp; HDD? This video is another older video, but it works pretty much the same in Win 8/10. He does talk about a few things that aren't very important, but it's good to know.
  • How to use Ninite? This video explains it very well, as well as their recommendations. For security I advise to only get Avira (if you don't mind to get an add every day; if you do mind - just use Microsoft Defender) &amp; Malwarebytes. If you want to pay for an anti-virus; Webroot! Light weight; very high detection rate.


    Hope you like it and If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

u/toastyj247 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

This is the best option I've seen although, I'd go for a cheaper MOBO and i5 4460. Audio production is definitely not CPU intensive nor do you need fast memory (or a lot) but I can't speak on photoshop. As for Audio Production a DAC and Soundcard is not needed. Balanced headphones (ATH-M50x) definitely are but you also need a Audio Interface, the Scarlet 2i2 is very popular (You can probably get it cheaper else where)

u/Catechin · 2 pointsr/Bass

Does your amp have a DI out? A Scarlet 2i2 + Reaper would run you $210 and allow you to do everything you need. I honestly highly recommend Reaper over most other software. Once you've used a proper DAW you won't want to go back.

If you don't have a DI out on your amp it becomes much trickier. While you're fine mic'ing a guitar cab with an SM57 you may find it lacks low end with bass and something like a Beta 52A tends to be a lot more expensive. If you don't have a DI on your amp, your best bet would probably be to buy one, and a decent DI is going to eat your entire budget at least.

u/alexburnsredd · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

For vocals i'd recommend getting a Rhode NT1a. Pretty standard microphone and really versatile - http://www.amazon.co.uk/RODE-NT1-A-Condenser-Microphone-Bundle/dp/B0002PSCQM

You may be able to get a way with a Shure SM57 (for vocals) which is the industry standard microphone used for drums and guitars, etc... This will be your best option for guitar. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shure-Sm57-Unidirectional-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B000CZ0R3S/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1452608377&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=sm57

As for recording music into your computer, you'll need an audio interface. The majority of beginners on this thread are using Scarlett Focusrites. I'd recommend a Focusrite 2i2

If you want something a bit more 'all-in-one' then get yourself a Line 6 UX2 which comes with PodFarm 2.0 this will let you plug in your guitar and choose from a wide array of amplification emulation as well as pedals, modulations, effects, etc...

You'll also need a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW to record all of this into. I'd recommend [Reaper.] (http://www.gak.co.uk/en/line6-pod-studio-ux2/18736?gclid=Cj0KEQiA5dK0BRCr49qDzILe74UBEiQA_6gA-gBCk9lx0GnveFDFGFZYNA_DnIs7sX9ozCRg7TgEon0aAi1J8P8HAQ)

There's some great YouTube videos out there that will help you with all of this stuff. I'd recommend this guy: https://www.youtube.com/user/recordingrevolution

u/IAmTriumph · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Your instinct would be correct (at least in my opinion). Make sure you buy a pop filter and a mic stand as well. An entry-level interface would be something like a Presonus AudioBox USB or the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I highly recommend the former (I have two musician friends who both have it and love it), also this bundle comes with the cables you need, some decent tracking headphones, and Presonus' StudioOne Artist DAW. So that's essentially everything you need right out of the box. I hope that helps.

u/OilsFan · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB interface which you can get for about $115 if you shop around. For a mic I have a Sennheiser e609 ($109) and a AKG P120 ($79) but the sennheiser is way better than that particular AKG. I use Reaper for recording.

Someone mentioned the little handheld digital units like a Tascam Dr-07. Those work pretty good but you have to then copy the file into your computer if you want to edit it.

u/bluehat9 · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

Guitar --&gt; 1/4" cable --&gt; input on audio interface (scarlett 2i2) --&gt; audio track in daw

u/wryan12 · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I recently just bought an Imac and had a similar issue. I ended up getting a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it's worked out really well for me so far. It has phantom power, two xlr/1/4 inch jacks, and plugs into your mac via usb.(it also comes with cubase and a it's own suite of reverbs)

I was in a rush so I got it at Guitar Center for around $150, but that seems around the price you were looking for.(I'll post the amazon link for you to check out)

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

I've also used garageband for years and just made the jump to Loxic Pro X. There is a bit of a learning curve to the new DAW, but not as bad as I thought and I'm really loving it so far.

Best of Luck!

u/TrianglesRhombuses · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is the best budget interface. You can find them under $100 used.

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

u/Baronzemo2 · 2 pointsr/podcasts

Have you looked at the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2 In/2 Out USB Recording Audio Interface My manager who does music as a hobby loves this thing.

u/spewtoon · 2 pointsr/Guitar

plug something like this into this and then run it via USB to your computer. any mic and interface will do, but those 2 happen to be pretty basic and easy to handle. as for software, i recommend Reaper as you can use it for free for awhile and pay once you've decided it's worth it (which it will be, so make sure at some point you throw 'em the cost).

point mic at amp speaker, select track on Reaper and press record. rock out like the glorious rock god you are, and then press stop. File menu&gt;render (i think, can't remember right now)&gt;pick format and save.

very, very rough walkthrough!

u/eVo_Xile · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

I just got a new mic yesterday, the Audio-Technica AT2035 and a new interface, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I was super hyped leading up to it and it's one of the best purchases I've made in my opinion, and I'm still fine tuning things.

u/crystalcastles · 2 pointsr/Bass

This isn't firewire, this is USB.

4.5 Stars on 129 reviews

Was virtually plug-n-play on my Windows 8 Computer, super easy to use.

I dealt with shitty drivers/support with my Mboxes and got this and have never looked back.

u/mnLIED · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

The thing about astroturfing is that you can never be sure which side is speaking truthfully and anecdotally, and which side is being misleading. I should have made that statement clearer, as it's not an attack on the Scarletts. I have never used one myself, and from what I've read, as soon as you start looking at the interfaces that are above $200-$300 all of the reviews seem to be from professionals that love them. Here are the 1-star reviews on Amazon, and here are the 5-star reviews. There are 250 5-star reviews to 25 1-star. Seems like a lot of the issues people have are superficial, poorly worded, and could be chalked up to user errors. Lots of amateur recording artists that don't know how to set up their I/O properly, rush to buy the best of the cheapest models and are upset that it doesn't make their mixes sparkle.

Astroturfing goes both ways. Sorry if that wasn't clear. I don't mean to shit on a product I have never used.

u/FlobeeWanKenobee · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I have a Scarlett 2i4 audio interface for production duties.

u/mage2k · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

For a slight bit over that £100 I'd recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4.

u/MiniMoose12 · 2 pointsr/headphones

Check on the earcup. It should say 250 pro if it's the 250ohm version.. the box could've just been a mistake, but the earcup decides all.

also because it's 250ohm, you'll need an amp to get the good stuff out of them. There are a ton of "budget" amps in that range, so here are a few that I recommend. Schiit Magni ,Objective 2 , and if you can spend the extra 50$get the Scarlet so you can get a good microphone input later down on in the line.

u/JDM_WAAAT · 2 pointsr/battlestations

They are powered!

JBL LSR308 Amazon Link

Focusrite 2i4 Interface Amazon Link

2 X TRS cable Amazon Link

u/halfbrit08 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

If you really want to spend the money and it's for a computer. Spend $800 on monitors and maybe $200 on a DAC that can give you balanced audio out. I've always been a fan of speakers over headphones though.

Edit: In fact, here you go.

2 of these and 1 of these.

u/notagayguy69 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I am currently using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB Audio Interface for my Rokit monitors. I see this 12 inch Klipsch sub-woofer is on sale from Amazon today and I'd like to add it to my setup but am unsure if I'll be able to connect it to my audio interface or if I'd have to purchase something else to get it hooked up. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

u/Ephjizilla · 1 pointr/letsplay

I'd recommend - this audio interface and these mics.

When you're buying mics in the US$100 to $200 range, they're all much of a muchness as long as you stick with a decent pro-audio brand (such as Audio-Technica). However, there can be a world of difference between a $60 mixer and a $150 audio interface. Trust me on this. I've worked in the pro-audio field for many, many years. Absolutely nothing in that price range compares to the quality of audio you get through that Focusrite audio interface. It's so far ahead of the competition, it's crazy.

Behringer make bad gear. It's pretty much an accepted fact in pro audio circles that they are the absolute rock bottom in terms of quality. What you're paying for is a range of features such as 3 bad EQ, level pots, tape inputs etc (none of which you need), and what you're sacrificing to get those features is quality phantom power and gain stages. Avoid.

EDIT: Oh, and if you get the Focusrite audio interface, make sure you download the updated driver from the website. The driver it comes with is a bit shite.

u/HoneyBucket- · 1 pointr/Bass

I own Rocksmith 2014 and a Focusrite 2i2, and have an Irig in the mail. The Rocksmith cable works just fine if you set it up correctly on your PC. The Irig is for my Ipad so I can jam out in the living room late at night. The 2i2 is a real piece of hardware that will work with multiple instruments (I use it for guitar, bass, keyboard, and mic) and is much more reliable than the Cable or the Irig, which both have quality issues. The best part about the 2i2 is that they go on sale all the time for $99(US), but you can grab one now for $125, which is still a great deal for such a versatile piece of hardware.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

u/Lzzvq · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Okay, so you would recommend getting this one, the second generation, for $150, rather than the $125 version?

Additionally, would you recommend buying equipment used or new? Granted, the Gen 2 Scarlet hasn't been out long enough to have used sellers.

u/loljksure · 1 pointr/podcasting

Would this one work? https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1469118652&amp;amp;sr=8-3&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

So my set up would be 2 mics --&gt; this audio interace --&gt; Mac. And GarageBand would recognize this? I apologize if any of these questions are "dumb", but like I said I'm so new to audio setups.

u/spikewolf · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Here's what my setup looked like when I first got going. It was perfect to learn with...
Scarlett 2i2
Shure sm58 The mic is $99, but pay a few extra for the stand and cable.
Shure sm57 This is optional, but I had both. Remember the cable and stand. Honestly, if creative, you can make your own mic stand.
Sennheiser hd 280 as far as headphones, try not to get carried away with brands or prices. You can find plenty under $99. These I got on sale from GC for $79. Best bang for your buck imo. The main thing to look for in headphones are making sure they cup your ears.
Sony Music Studio Once again, I started MANY years ago when I picked up this DAW at a best buy. Don't spend too much brain power on which DAW to get. Some are WAY expensive, and some are "free". Look into Reaper too. Why I started out with Sony Acid was because they came with a quick reference loop library.

u/peewinkle · 1 pointr/buildastudio

I would look at these. Here is a helpful article. If you have a line-level out already, I recommend the 2i2, it's a great box for the money.

Stay away from USB turntables, I have yet to find one that isn't total crap.

u/Nerdy_Furfag · 1 pointr/battlestations

Sure! The mic is a CAD GXL2200 plugged into a Scarlett 2i2. The cable running between the two is an XLR cable. It plugs into the bottom of the mic and runs into the front of the 2i2. From there, I can adjust the gain (volume) of the microphone. The 2i2 is plugged into my PC via a simple USB 2.0 cable on the back, unfortunately not pictured. It works like a regular audio device from there. This is what it looks like in Windows when it's plugged in. Any other questions, feel free to ask!

u/RobertYi · 1 pointr/Music

If you're solo-tracking, you only need a few things, along with your computer. I wouldn't get a four track.

Microphone

For your purposes, I'd go with the SM-57. It's considered the workhorse of microphones - it's durable, versatile, and can sound surprisingly good on vocals given the right preamps. It can also record drums better than a condenser mic. It won't sound as good on your vocals as a condenser would, but it has better long-term value.

Audio Interface

I don't know much about entry-level audio interfaces... but this seems good. I used to use a Fast Track Pro back in the day, and it was shit, so avoid that. Look for something without all the bells and whistles, and quality preamps.

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

The industry standard is ProTools, but because they don't have native support for VSTs (plug-ins), I prefer Cubase. Ableton is nice as well, and has a completely different workflow to it, but it just comes down to which style you like.

Good luck!

u/siftshow · 1 pointr/podcasts

I'm thinking of grabbing this - http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1371078769&amp;amp;sr=1-3 - it looks pretty sweet. You like yours? My show setup now is my cohost and I in my office, each with our own USB mic plugged into my Macbook Air, recorded in Reaper. I'm ready to take the next step. Is grabbing this and a couple good mics a smart play you think? My show doesn't use SFX/Music, so I don't need more channels in. And we do our interviews via Skype. Thanks for your help.

u/phly95 · 1 pointr/audiophile

I bought some nice Beyerdynamic headphones with a mic, and they sound great. I was wondering however, would I see an improvement if I bought a new dac or just keep using the one that came with a gaming headset I previously bought shown here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plantronics-USB-Dolby-7-1-Adapter-for-GameCom-777-780-DSP-Surround-Sound-Card-/111031464602 ? I am currently using this with a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter and an xlr to 1/8 adapter. Would I see an improvement if I got a large USB audio interface like http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=pd_sim_267_5?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;dpID=41l90Cgp%2BZL&amp;amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;amp;refRID=191EF6KQ75DPCHMTF29Q or would it be a waste of money?

u/HarrisonE · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

You may need something like the blue icicle or focusrite scarlett 2i2 if the mic uses xlr.

u/Dashing_in_the_90s · 1 pointr/ZReviews

I can't think of a single amp/dac with a mic input. If you want to plug your mic directly into a dac you're going to need an audio interface. Unfortunately you're not going to find one with a 4 pole input so you'll still need the splitter. Most interfaces also have rca outputs on the back for speakers. I don't have enough experience to recommend one to you but I have used a Focusrite scarlett and used a xlr to 3.5 adapter to plug in a standard gaming headset. You can also get interfaces with 1/4 inch or 3.5mm inputs so you wouldn't need the adapter.

u/formerteenager · 1 pointr/Guitar

I'm using this one. But this one is more affordable and just as capable (minus a few extra inputs)

u/NewAgeSpizzy · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

if you get the XLR you have to get a interface with phantom power such as the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Interface generally speaking its better to have analog recording than digital with an USB mic

u/sheboygan_sexpo · 1 pointr/synthesizers

Just to clarify, here are some points to consider:

  • MIDI is a "language" for all synths to communicate. With MIDI, you can play one synth using another synth, you can transmit tempo, so that everything is synced, if you have guitar pedals with MIDI, you can read their manuals to determine exactly what they're capable of (i.e. set the tempo of your delay pedal using the tempo of your SUB 37), so on and so forth.

  • The USB output transmits MIDI to your computer. This allows you to do the things mentioned above with a DAW (digital audio workstation), which can be invaluable for compositions.

  • MIDI does not transmit audio. The audio output on the Sub 37 is essentially the same exact thing as the output jack on your guitar. Same cables and everything can be used and going line out&gt;mixer&gt;computer can work, as long as the mixer is capable of interacting with your computer somehow. Audio interfaces are also easy and simple ways to get the audio from your synth to your computer: here's a popular and basic one
u/dreauxx · 1 pointr/MusicBattlestations

I really have no beef with AMD, but have always been the guy who wanted to invest in what shows the results; and Intel has always done that in my opinion (Not to knock AMD).

Interface wise, I have the perfect solution for you. It's what I have, as well as many others and it's very affordable and reliable. The Focusrite 2i2

Small, sexy looking, and great audio quality. I suppose you can say it doubles as a soundcard, because I just run all my audio through it, meaning when I launch Live, I select the Scarlett as my audio device, and it takes care of everything for me. No latency, and great audio. Check it out man!

u/uncola7up · 1 pointr/audio

audio interface, such as focusrite scarlet 2i2. or you can get a preamp but that's less pro and more consumer
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1405468867&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+2i2

u/KingDariusDragon · 1 pointr/ableton

Thank you! I appreciate your response. I was leaning towards that direction. :-)

I'll take a look at the Focusrite Saffire 6. That's one of the things holding me back. Not sure where to go with a solid entry level audio interface.

EDIT:

According the Amazon the Saffire 6 is discontinued and this is the replacement model:
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=dp_ob_image_ce

Is this an instance where the older model is better? Sometimes that happens. :)

u/thespicywaffle · 1 pointr/letsplay

You could probably just open up two copies of audacity, set each one to a different input device, and then either hotkey the record button or possibly sync the audio to something like a loud clapping noise. You could also do like /u/Cly_Faker suggested and mix them together in Voicemeeter.

For our channel we use a Scarlett 2i2 and two XLR mics. But that's not a cheap solution.

u/theRealAgorist · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

How do you think that Rode compares to the at-2035 and other comparable mics for my style?

And how do you think the that Steinberg compares to the scarlett 2i2?

I think I would like to go the audio interface route and shell out a little bit more for quality ~$300 or even a little more.

What do you mean by "Only on OS X Live can operate two different interfaces for in- and output" exactly? I can hook up a mic to my ableton and hear my instrumental AND voice coming out my headphones at the same time. I'm using Win7 (64) on a asus q400a laptop but am open to using whatever software so I can just record my voice over a track.

u/BoabyTheBarman · 1 pointr/edmproduction

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a really nice audio interface. This will allow you to use your headphones + plug nice speakers into your computer via a USB cable only. http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-Audio-interfaces-USB-Red/dp/B005OZE9SA

Ableton live does have operator and analog (internal synthesizers). You should learn these first if you can however sylenth1 and native instruments massive are good choices. Spire as well.

Ableton live is a solid choice. Go for the full suite version. Sadowick production does a very good tutorial series for ableton here -&gt; https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa9ASr8n5idArGa1uaBExM-lI-nO1P959

Not very clued up on speakers but you would benefit from getting monitoring speakers from the beginning. KRK's are popular. I have the KRK rokit 6s and they are pretty nice for the price.

Think about getting a midi keyboard for inputting notes into ableton. I use this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Korg-microKEY-37-USB-MIDI-Controller/dp/B007VQIGPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1413076010&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=korg+microkey

Enjoy

u/mimiflynn · 1 pointr/headphones

I believe you might want a USB interface, which has a DAC and an amp but also allows for microphones. It might be overkill for what you need though:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1412645529&amp;amp;sr=1-5

You would have to get an adapter of some sort to work with the 3.5 mm plugs, btw.

Edit: address adapter issue

u/Varzboi · 1 pointr/ThisIsOurMusic

Hey you need overall 3 things:

  1. Gear
  2. A room
  3. Software

    /

  4. Gear:

    -Audio Interface:

    You want a number of channels depending on the type of groups you wanna record and the size of the group. Example: 18 Channels (8 mics) v.s. 2 channels (2 mics)

    -Microphones:

    You want basic versatile microphones and specialized ones for the type of instruments you wanna record.

    Example of basic mics: Shure sm-57 Dynamic Mic and AKG 414 Condenser Mic

    Those two have a fairly transparent frequency response and work for most scenarios but you also want mics that work better for certain instruments because of their coloration or diaphragm or polar pattern.

    -Monitoring:

    You need some headphones like the Audio Technical M50x which are transparent enough and good for the price although you could go a little further and look for Sennheiser HD or some of the expensive AKG stuff.

    -Accessories and cables

    You want good quality XLR cables, two direct boxes like this one and probably a direct box with pre amp like the Avalon U5 (great for sending bass via line, skipping the bass amp part, which can be great for live sessions). Both depend on the type of music you are gonna record of course (first example works for connecting stuff like a keyboard and the Avalon well for bass is great).

    You may want a monitor amplifier like Behringer Powerplay for distributing audio to the players or producers or audience via headphones monitors.

    Also check out EquipBoard to see what gear are other producers or studios using. They have a good database and is good reference.


  5. If you wanna do it like TinyDesk then you wanna have a nice room with good isolation and space for your musicians. Well, mostly for the sound. There are 2 ways of recording live sessions: Either you isolate most of the musicians or you use proper recording techniques and use your mics intelligently to get a good mix before your Mixing stage. You may wanna look for highly directional mics.

    You also wanna look on isolation techniques and architecture if you wanna have good natural reverberation or just have control over what the sound is doing, including annoying neighbors if that’s the case. Look for how to soundproof a room in the internet and try read a little about acoustics if you haven’t.

    You may wanna to set up 2 rooms: a live room and a control room. The live room would be where you record the musicians and have way more soundproofing and the control would just need to isolate enough and allow visual contact with the ppl in the live room. If you go for 2 rooms you may need to set up the ins and outs and pass cables through the wall in a snake cable like this Hosa or this bigger one . The purpose of having 2 rooms is partly because you wanna monitor with speakers not only headphones (as well as having more recording gear there but it only applies to bigger studios). Example Yamaha HS8 x2 or the KRK . Those are fairly priced options and you will get more value out of them if you are the one mixing the music as they can be better references than just headphones.

  6. For software you should consider Pro Tools as is the industry standard. I personally enjoy Logic Pro and there are a lot more options out there some of which are free. If you are not gonna go a lot into mixing and do the post production maybe Pro Tools Ultimate is a bit of an overkill but if you are looking to do the mix you may also wanna get some audio plugins. Look for Waves or Arturia plugins online (most of which is simulations of real hardware) which will give a “better” sound to your mixes if used well. It also depends a little on the genre or type of music you are producing.



    That’s it. I was very broad but I did mentioned some basic equipment you can start budgeting. If you need more details about the basics PM me and can help you a bit more, I’m no specialist on some stuff like exquisite mics but know about a bunch that are generally used. Are you in Vancouver by chance? I can help you in the actual physical setup if you are.

    Cheers.

    Edit: You probably want a powerful laptop or a desktop computer btw but I figure out you already have one.
u/tannerpet · 1 pointr/Flume

This was posted into the comments of a post asking the same thing from u/Mr_Liney97 (Everyone say "Thank you Mr. Liney!")

The two ROLI bags belong to the ROLI Seaboard Rise. Awesome, but pricey.
https://www.amazon.com/ROLI-Seaboard-RISE-25-Controller/dp/B0159ZO4U2?tag=equipboard-proof-20&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&amp;amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;amp;camp=2025&amp;amp;creative=165953&amp;amp;creativeASIN=B0159ZO4U2

The small item to the left of it is a Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer.
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Engineering-002-AS-001-OP-1-Synthesizer/dp/B00CXSJUZS?tag=equipboard-20&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&amp;amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;amp;camp=2025&amp;amp;creative=165953&amp;amp;creativeASIN=B00CXSJUZS

To the left of it is a audio interface, Scarlett. To me it looks like a 2i2.
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA

Below that is the Arturia BeatStep Pro.
https://www.amazon.com/Arturia-BeatStep-Pro-Controller-Sequencer/dp/B00V5BIKNW?tag=equipboard-20&amp;amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&amp;amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;amp;camp=2025&amp;amp;creative=165953&amp;amp;creativeASIN=B00V5BIKNW

Below the ROLI bags is the Apogee Quartet Audio Interface
https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Quartet-Audio-Interface-iPad/dp/B009HPDNKS?tag=equipboard-20&amp;amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAJNPAI32UDCKLKDGA&amp;amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;amp;camp=2025&amp;amp;creative=165953&amp;amp;creativeASIN=B009HPDNKS

And to the left of that is the Yamaha Reface DX
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-REFACE-DX-Portable-Synthesizer/dp/B010UXJZWA

I don't know what the other things are, but I hope that I helped

u/LukeTheGeek · 1 pointr/MLPLounge

The interface has the option to switch between Line and Instrument. I use Line for my mic atm.

Here's the interface.

The player has a female Coax.

Not sure what you mean in the second paragraph. My mic always seems to work when I select it as an input in Windows. I have a "Direct Monitor" switch on my interface as well which routes my mic to my output. I'm assuming that would work if nothing else did.

u/lame_corprus · 1 pointr/Guitar

I have no idea, I have never heard of any product like that, I was thinking along these lines: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA

u/Vajazzlercise · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey guys, I hope it's okay to ask really basic questions here. Please direct me somewhere else if it's not.

I record a little music on my own (not even close to professional) and am learning about editing and producing it. I've heard people say that you want a good pair of monitors, to properly be hearing what you're making. I have a bit of money now so I'd like to upgrade to something that's budget but better than what I have now.

I'm sure you'll get a laugh from what I'm using now (and it should give you an idea of how little I know). I'm using these speakers that I just have left over from when I was in highschool ages ago. My headphones are these things. I record through, and have my speakers/headphones go through a Scarlett 2i2 audio interface.

I'm mostly looking at getting a new pair of speakers. Would that be the one thing to get to most improve the sound I hear? I'm sure the headphones are crap as well, but I'll get to those at some point. Is the Scarlett 2i2 okay for now?

One more really stupid question... My 2i2 has jacks at the back and a dial at the front for the monitor. What's the difference between the monitor and normal speakers? This says that monitors are supposed to have a really flat response and be high quality. Would they also be good for listening to music (not stuff I'm making)?

thank you, any advice is appreciated!

edit: shit, one more thing. I assumed the 2i2 had an internal amplifier for the monitor, but looking at the manual it talks about using an external one for the monitor, so I'm guessing I'd have to get an amp too?

u/wombocombo86 · 1 pointr/Guitar

so after doing a little more digging, i think i will go with this

AT2020 condenser mic (XLR, not usb cable version):

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B007V3PVNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1458573519&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=AT2020+xlr

and

Focusrite 2i2-USB recording interface:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1458572655&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+scarlett+2i2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy doesn't have very many views but he gets the point across

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d50-zxV3UOA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's an example of one of his recordings, the sound audio sounds amazing and this is what i want

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44K_ittAmNc

let me know what you think when you get a chance

thanks

u/MCB_1 · 1 pointr/edmproduction

So this is all under the assumption that your pc is up to par, I know you're gonna get a ton of recommendations for this: Scarlett 2i2, there are also cheaper models available that are said to be of decent quality such as the scarlett solo

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1500842996&amp;amp;sr=1-4&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+2i2

u/tiger7758 · 1 pointr/battlestations

They look like the KRK Rokit 5's connected to the PC with the Scarlette 2i2 Preamp. Its the exact Audio set up Ive been meaning to get for a while haha How do you like them?

u/Fox_Smith · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

If you really want to go Audiophile, i would suggest you this sweet little interface:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1417115084&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

In order to use it with your headphone, and this is the tricky and important part, you would also need these cables/adapters:

http://www.amazon.com/Estone-3-5mm-Female-Splitter-Extension/dp/B00IWNIZFE/ref=pd_sim_e_4?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;refRID=1CA9BXT0GC3DRACNXPE7

http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-GPM-103-3-5mm-TRS-Adaptor/dp/B000068O3T/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1417116358&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=trs+3.5+to

With this setup you would gain the best possible sound quality (In AND Out) possible with your headset and it should also boost the level of your mic, so no longer software mic boosts which sound terrible. You could also upgrade later to better microphones, or plug in an instrument. Also you can attach Speakers and switch between them and the Headphone outlet, and the 2 even got different Volume settings! It has a really really really low latency (around 2-4ms) and can output at studio quality (96khZ, 24 bit) And before plugin in your mic be sure to turn off phantom voltage, otherwise you will grill your mic!

u/claytonbigsby66 · 1 pointr/buildapc

for a build JUST for audio production, you could honestly probably get away with a pretty barebones motherboard. This is because the main question will be what outboard audio interface you will use with it. The audio interface will completely bypass the motherboards audio chipset, and if functioning properly, will provide far higher quality audio and much more routing options/customization than any motherboard chipset can claim. Fortunately you don't need to spend much to get something like that. This focusrite scarlett series is a particularly popular choice: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_12?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1491458677&amp;amp;sr=1-12&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface I don't really recommend something like this though since it has no external power supply - if your friend intends to power and record a microphone that requires phantom power this interface will both transmit the data and 48 volt over usb 2.0. It works, but seems like people have mixed results with it. This Behringer Umc404hd is outrageous value for the $99 dollars its currently priced at. https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC404HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1491459101&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=umc404hd. Pretty sweet with those 4 inputs and all those output options on the back.

I would say as long as the mobo has enough usb and sata connections you'll be fine. Just depends on whether your friend is interested in overclocking or gaming which will definitely increase the cost. For an overclockable motherboard Id get something like this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130993&amp;amp;nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&amp;amp;cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&amp;amp;cm_sp=&amp;amp;AID=10446076&amp;amp;PID=3938566&amp;amp;SID= If not overclocking, you could go as cheap as this $46.99 ASRock H110M-HDS LGA 1151 Intel H110 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard and not run into problems as long as it has enough I/O for your friends needs. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157685&amp;amp;nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&amp;amp;cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&amp;amp;cm_sp=&amp;amp;AID=10446076&amp;amp;PID=3938566&amp;amp;SID=

u/TheReverendWillyG · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

buy a cheap 2 channel interface i recommend the focusrite scarlett 2i2 as well as two XLRM to TRS cables.

u/HungryGhosty · 1 pointr/headphones

It will be fine for most headphones that aren't difficult to drive, though there are vastly better interfaces around that price point, like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. If you're considering it just as a headphone amp/external soundcard, your money is probably better spent elsewhere, like a Magni/Modi stack or something like that, especially since there isn't a dedicated volume knob on the interface you referenced.

u/SmokierSword · 1 pointr/buildapc

What's a good (mildly cheap) PC peripheral upgrade? I'm looking to upgrade something in my setup, either the mouse pad, audio setup, or monitor.

I'm thinking of selling my current monitor, as it's a decent 1080p monitor, but has absolutely no adjustment to anything, and is too small of a screen for me (21.5"). I'd probably go with this

I'm also considering upgrading my audio setup, with some better speakers and a DAC.

Maybe I'm just overthinking this. any thoughts?

u/overaid · 1 pointr/buildapc

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.

u/cthulhusandwich · 1 pointr/Metalcore

First, head over to /r/guitar and we'll gladly help you out. Second, what's your budget? There are multiple ways to skin this cat. Generally, your cheapest, most efficient option is gonna be to go digital. That means you'll need three things:

• An audio interface like a Scarlet Interface that will allow you to hook your guitar up to your computer. ~$120

• A computer ~$0 if you have a computer, or else expensive

• Amp modeling software like BiasFX or Amplitube ~$60 to $80

All in all, if you have a computer, a decent digital setup will cost around $200 and will essentially act like an AxeFx, digitally simulating an amp head, cabinet, and effects. It's cheap, sounds good, allow you to endlessly tweak your sound, and makes it easy to record. The downside is that it's gonna be difficult, if not impossible, to transport that setup to a live gig.

On the other hand, you could invest a bunch more money into a tube amp head/cab or a combo. This will allow you to gig much easier but you're stuck with the sound of that one amp; not a bad thing if you love that tone! If you wanna go this route, there are a bunch of great intro options for a decent metal sound: Anything in the 'Metal' line by Blackstar, a used Peavy 5150/6150, anything by Orange in the 'Terror' line, a used Mesa Rectifier.

To get that 'chonk' and 'sproingy-ness' that you hear in modern metalcore, you're probably gonna need to tighten the low end of your high gain amp with an overdrive like a Tubescreamer. Now you got a stew goin'. My recco's? Get on Reverb and grab a used Orange Dark Terror ($400), a 1x12 cabinet with a V30 in it ($200) and a used Tubescreamer ($50). Go with a bigger amp or cab if you have the money for it. 5150 is a classic.

u/AymericL · 1 pointr/edmproduction

It's a good audio interface because of all the entries. But the problem with that is that the recording resolution is only 16-bit, which could limit you at some point, which will be pretty fast, believe me!
You should get one of those to start:
http://www.amazon.com/Avid-9900-65162-12-M-Audio-Fast-Track/dp/B005KPDRKA
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1374211093&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+2I2

u/TheLanolin · 1 pointr/Twitch

I'm not positive yet, but any upgrade will be to a powerful studio microphone that needs to be connected via XLR cables and thus needs to be run though some sort of XLR to USB interface. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t#customerReviews

Paired with something like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&amp;amp;sku=849700&amp;amp;gclid=CNPQw5aWn8MCFUwS7AodV0QAcA&amp;amp;Q=&amp;amp;is=REG&amp;amp;A=details

u/TheAlmightyFur · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I mean, the sky is kinda the limit. For a basic introduction into this whole recording thing, you can get something like the Blue Yeti USB condenser mic. Being a usb mic, it's a little limiting because you can't plug other instruments or mics into it, but it does pretty well.

I know Julia Nunes has been using a Yeti lately for her youtube stuff, and it sounds pretty good to me.

If you guys want to get more in depth, you can get something like a Focusrite scarlett 2i2 which seems to be the big thing that's going around and is well liked, and they even have a two tiers of starter kit, the better of which comes with a mic, pop filter, mic stand, cords, a copy of cubase, and headphones.

u/etherdesign · 1 pointr/audio

You can get something like a Focusrite 2i2 which has balanced line outputs, and also a very nice headphone amp built in so kills two birds with one stone. Will outperform the Soundblaster at any level.

u/the_bearclaw · 1 pointr/audioengineering

You need some sort of interface between the mic and the computer. Most commonly, you would get an audio interface like this. Though I suppose this would work as well. Don't forget to grab an XLR cable.

u/phenolic72 · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

You can get one of these new for that price. I'm not familiar with the fast track, but I think this is pretty comparable. I have a Focusrite product and really like it. I use it with both Pro Tools and Studio One 3.

u/AMW1011 · 1 pointr/headphones

I've had this phono preamp recommended. After that I need a cartridge and some from of audio interface I think. Is a receiver a cost effective option or would I be better off with just an audio interface? Also what cartridge would you recommend?

u/Res_G · 1 pointr/headphones

Criteria | Request
---------------|-----------------
Budget | Around £200 ($300)
Source | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Willing to buy separate amp if needed. Or through PC
Requirements for isolation | Prefer isolated but don't really mind
Preferred type of headphone | Over ear/ Closed back and comfy
Previous Headphones | Steelseries Siberia 200, Steelseries Siberia 650
Preferred Music | EDM, Trance, Electro, Rap, Hip Hop
Use | Gaming and Music
What do I want to improve on | Better sound quality. I mainly use them for gaming like CSGO were footsteps are a major part so being able to hear them clearly is a big thing. I also use them for music a lot of the time.
&amp;nbsp;
I'm also willing to buy a soundcard and extra amp if that will improve the headphones.

u/chaseforest · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Hi guys, I'm a little new to recording music professionally, and am looking to just get a little setup to record acoustic guitar and vocals at home. I'm going to be buying a Shure SM57 and an SM58 for guitars and vocals, respectively, and am going to need an audio interface to connect the XLR cables into. For the interface, I want to stay in a reasonable budget, and so have come to look at the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 1st Gen. Has anyone used this for recording, and would you recommend this product? Should I get the 1st gen model or the 2nd? Furthermore, Im just a little confused because the input ports on this look slightly different to the other Focusrite Scarlett I looked at - the thing is I want an interface with at least 2 XLR inputs to record guitar and vocals at the same time. I appreciate the help- thanks so much!

(FYI the amazon link to the interface is here: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_10?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1483084173&amp;amp;sr=1-10&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+scarlett)

u/wilb0b · 1 pointr/letsplay

Ah, then you're referring to plugging the mics directly into the interface that gets the mics to the computer. We use a Mixing Board that gives us EQ, panning, and additional mics for more than 2 people which then only goes out as one track stereo to our Interface.

u/toughenough6 · 1 pointr/audiophile

Thanks for your help. I find your comment about m-audio interesting. I was thinking about spending a little more money to get the m-audio m-track plus over the m-track II.

Looking at focusrite ones, the lowest end one seems to start at $200, which is $60 more than the m-audio one and it doesn't seem as nice.

Would you still recommend focusrite with that significant of a price difference?

Sorry for formatting, typing this on mobile

u/kolkurtz · 1 pointr/Guitar

Sure thing. Musicians have a lot to learn from each other. You can get a guitar USB interface for pretty cheap these days eg: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Compact-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1453972513&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=guitar+interface
I have a more expensive one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OZE9SA/ref=s9_hps_bw_g267_i1

Great to have because it opens the door to using your computer as effects pedals and amplifier too. A lot of the software for that is free! :)

u/ELOFTW · 1 pointr/audiophile

Damn, really? I was poking around the sub and found someone else who had a similar request and someone else recommended this amp, the reviews seem very positive, but I'm still hesitant.

u/bhsgk012 · 1 pointr/drums
u/SirMaster · 1 pointr/audiophile

If you do run into interference or just want to go balanced then something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=pd_cp_MI_0

Or the E-MU 0404 USB or PCie

u/turbosubaru · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Why didn't you post this earlier man? You missed so many great Black Friday cyber/Monday deals.

I would say the Jbl lsr305s are your best bet since they are still on sale(black only). The hosa cables would be fine-however if you want to elimate hiss/want the cleanest sound possible-you will need an interface like this that will accept balanced connections: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

It was $99 Black Friday-cyber Monday, now at $150 I'm not sure how good of a value it is-hopefully others will chime in about an interface for the jbls.

u/Robchado · 1 pointr/battlestations

The mic is phantom powered so you'll need an audio interface. I use this one which is also pictured above!

u/fearthealex · 1 pointr/edmproduction

something like this. Check out reverb.com they have a lot of good resale equipment

u/IalwaysforgetthePASS · 1 pointr/audio

first thing that comes to mind is a focusrite 2i2, which is like $99. But do some research for a digital-audio-converter. Most will have an output for headphones and an input for a mic jack (and a 1/4 inch in and out for guitars or headphones or whatever)

edit:

focusrite 2i2 (was on sale for $99, might drop down to that price again soon)

focusrite solo

phantom power supply

u/four_7 · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

I highly recommend Apple Logic out of the box. It has a decent set of sounds, powerful synths (ES2, Alchemy..), and a great sampler (ESX24). Stock mixing plugins are great to learn and grow with before you start investing in the big dollar ones. Youtube tutorials exist for every aspect of the DAW with some really helpful tips on everything from beatmaking to sound design to mixing/mastering using stock Logic sounds and plugs.

Next grab a midi keyboard for starters that you can grow with. I recommend the Akai MPK Mini MKII as it's cheap, light, and portable. The drum pads are MPC-style sensitive and what you would expect from an Akai product.

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Ultra-Portable-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2

Lastly - grab a decent audio interface and some monitor headphones so you can hear your mix accurately.

You don't need to break the bank for this either especially since your just starting out. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a great interface and should last you awhile before you grow out of it as your studio expands. Audio Technica makes amazing studio monitor headphones. I use the ATH-50X and couldnt be happier. But don't take my word for it - check the reviews and comparisons on SoundonSound and you'll see what I mean

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-GENERATION-USB-Recording/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1503990027&amp;amp;sr=1-5&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+audio+interface

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1503990263&amp;amp;sr=1-3&amp;amp;keywords=audio+technica+ath-m50x

u/TrueDiligence · 1 pointr/battlestations

I would recommend staying away from audioengine, there are better options for the price.

$120 - Micca PB42x: These will sounds better than the Audioengine A2+R, but the build quality is not the greatest. These are 'the baseline' for cheap speakers that sound decent.

$200 - PreSonus Eris 4.5: These will provide more bass and sound better overall than the Audioengine A2+R. Build quality is very good on these as well.

$283 - JBL LSR305 + $120 - Scarlett 2i2 + $16 - 2x(XLR to TRS cable): This setup is amazing for the cost. I have been using the JBL LSR305 for quite a while now and they never disappoint. I've heard better, but those speakers are way more expensive. These can be connected directly to your computer through a 2xTRS to 1/8" cable, but I don't recommend it. When I tried that the speakers produced a terrible hissing noise. I recommend the Scarlett 2i2 over other audio interfaces due to its reliability, balanced speaker outs, and great mic pre-amps if you ever decide to get a XLR mic down the road. The cables are needed to connect the speakers to the interface.

u/Stoovy · 1 pointr/Logic_Studio

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

It's pretty decently priced. I use it mostly to record vocal samples from my mic or to record baselines. I make glitch hop and dubstep so there isn't necessarily a need for a 16 out 16 in. It has 2 input for either a 1/4 or an XLR, then it has 2 output, left and right. It's an interface you would want to use if you have a small studio, like myself who just need a couple inputs and outputs, to go to my monitors. Just to give you the perspective of how my studio is, I have HS50s for my monitors, a MPD26, Trigger Finger, LPK25, Macbook Pro, Logic Pro 9, Scarlett 2i2 and Tracktor 2 (I used this as a sound card when starting out instead of having to run everything through the headphone jack. Overall it does a great job for what I use it for, never had any problems expect the usb cord falling out of the back (most likely because I have it sitting on top one of my monitors.
Heres an Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1375755641&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+2i2

u/jayfehr · 1 pointr/ipad

Yes, I've done exactly as your describing and it works well. You have to have a powered ethernet hub though.

Here's what I've had connected, including the required cables:

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (required)

AUKEY 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with 10 / 100 / 1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

FCB1010

midi usb cable

powered usb hub (you can't just use the hub w/ ethernet above because it's not powered, if you find a powered one that should work, but that was not how I had mine setup)

I believe I've had some other things plugged in here or there, but this setup listed definitely works. It's not simple and clean, but it works.

u/LBriar · 1 pointr/edmproduction

A desktop is going to be more robust and upgradable - more powerful cpu for the money, more max ram, more inputs, more storage, etc.

A laptop is portable. That's really the only advantage, but it's a huge one. From gigging to sitting on the couch to field recording, never underestimate how big portability is.

Realistically you'd want both, which one you pick would be how you value your tradeoffs. If you already own a laptop (most people have something these days), that might be plenty for the few times you'd need to move around. Or if you already have a pretty great desktop, maybe you'd rather do a cheap ram upgrade and then put the rest of the cash in a nice laptop.

For specifics: ram, cpu, drive, connections. Those are going to be your main concerns with a computer. RAM is going to allow you a larger buffer for things like samples and simultaneous tracks. CPU will determine the amount of real time processing for VSTs and plugins. Drive space is where you keep it all. The faster the better - an SSD for actual working storage and a large HDD for long term project storage is ideal. Connections are just things like USB, Firewire, whatever. Not hugely important unless you're using outboard equipment that requires it. Most everything is USB these days.

For a real basic outline: any computer made in the last couple years is probably ok. i3 or i5 cpu, 4-8GB ram, 250GB SSD/1TB HDD would be a really cheap, basic setup, and will work just fine for Ableton/FL/whatever. Ideally, you're going to want the fastest/most crap you can jam in there - i7 cpu, 16 or 32GB RAM, 500GB-1TB SSD/2-4TB HDD (or combo thereof). It's super easy to add drives and ram after the fact, so there's that. Don't feel like you have to do it all at once.

You're also probably going to want some kind of audio interface. A Focusrite 2i2 is a basic USB audio interface that will get decent quality sound in and out of your computer for a low price. If you want MIDI, you'll need a different/beefier unit. There's lots of USB interfaces out there. Check out M-Audio, Behringer, Presonus and a bunch of others.

u/Vulg4r · 1 pointr/Twitch

The last rocksmith had a 3rd party patch that let you use other usb interfaces. I'm sure it will come out for the new one soon. I used to use one of these with rocksmith 1

u/brianf408 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

I have never seen anyone use an XLR to USB cable like that. I can't imagine that it would supply the 48V phantom power needed for a condenser mic.

With an XLR mic, you need some sort of interface, usually a mixer. Something like this. That's why I've been leaning towards the USB microphones. I don't do any other kind of music or vocal recording, so getting into the world of mixers and all that seems like overkill to me.


u/DevRW · 1 pointr/piano

I use a Scarlett 2i4 and it is pretty amazing for the cost. The 2i2 also has pretty stellar reviews. I have absolutely no complaints about my sound quality, and I'm a 'light' audiophile.

2i2 runs $150, which is pretty modest for the quality. It's really similar to my 2i4, and all the Focusrite products have awesome build quality. Plus it looks pretty sleek, in my opinion.

Regarding the 2i2:

It has 2 universal line-in ports (takes XLR or 1/4"), 2 line-outs, a 1/4" headphone jack, and a USB slot. The 2i4 has a bit more, but it's also unnecessary for you, I'd think.

Just be sure you get a dual 1/4" to dual 1/4" (assuming the ES100 outputs in stereo). You might also want to grab a 10ft. or longer Type A to Type B USB cable, because I found the one packaged with the Scarlett far too short (think it was 3', so consider the length between your gear). If you want to go directly out to studio monitors, the line-outs are also 1/4", so cable up appropriately.

I'd say avoid Behringer products -- I've only ever had one, which was a small headphone DAC (which was promptly replaced with a FiiO) that stopped working several months in. Their stuff is much cheaper for 'more', but the build quality and, based on personal experience, the product life, suffers for it. It felt very cheap, and I tend to take my gear around a lot, so I like something sturdy. It's anecdotal, but it's a pretty common sentiment. Your mileage may vary!

I'm not familiar with any other brands with hands-on experience, but the other big names (Akai?) tend to cost a fair bit more, and most of the third-party stuff is probably akin to Behringer -- very hit or miss.

u/fuzeebear · 1 pointr/audioengineering

You'll need an audio interface with a Hi-Z jack (the Hi-Z jack is a DI that is built into the interface, sometimes labeled as "inst")

The Focusrite 2i2 is a popular interface because it is cheap, capable, and easy to use.

u/a_baby_coyote · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

People seem to get a lot out of this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1374601523&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=focusrite+scarlett+2i2

And I've heard good things about this:
http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Onyx-Blackjack-Recording-Production/dp/B003VZG550/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1374601565&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=mackie+onyx+blackjack

I personally use this, and have gotten a lot out of the pod farm amp modelling program:
http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1374601587&amp;amp;sr=1-1&amp;amp;keywords=pod+ux1

Not shilling for amazon, just easiest place for me to grab links.

You can get Guitar Rig or some freeware for amp modelling if you don't go with the pod ux1. The pod has worked well for me and has no noticeable latency and records to Ableton just fine (although all should). Serves my purposes great.

u/JimmyHopkins47 · 1 pointr/buildapc

INCOMING LINKS!

I hear this AT2020 USB mic is good, but this one with AT2035 with the XLR input is probably better, but it also means you need an interface, such as a Line 6 UX2, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, or any of their "lesser versions" (Line 6 Ux1, Focusrite Scarlett Solo). I personally have a UX2 and a Samson C01, which works fine for me. Search YouTube videos for demos and comparisons with the USB and XLR counterparts.

Keep in mind, these microphones probably need a mic stand.

u/anthonygarand · 1 pointr/macsetups

It's actually red, bad lighting. It's a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface for the microphone.

u/garden_peeman · 1 pointr/buildapc

I run a project studio that I built the PC for myself. From my research, for music production, intels are recommended. As usual, people will/can argue about this, but i7s have worked great for me. I ran an i7 2600 for a 3 years without even hitting the limit of its capabilities. Ditch the video card, use onboard i5/i7 graphics. Cheaper, quieter.

Like others have recommended, an external sound-card with ASIO support will be a big help in reducing latency (delay of sound being played on your speaker/headphone). You can always get one later though. It's more important if you're doing real-time recording, rather than electronic production.

I threw together a quick build, but I'm by no means an expert, so maybe there are better motherboards/RAM sticks at the price, but this should be a good starting point. Sound card is not included, so add from below:

A basic sound interface would cost $80, and a decent one $150.

If you can afford to, throw in another 8 GB of RAM and you should be golden.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor | $224.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | $114.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $59.98 @ Newegg
Storage | Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $64.95 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $44.99 @ Best Buy
Case | Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $49.99 @ Amazon
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) | $91.71 @ NCIX US
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $711.59
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-19 12:52 EDT-0400 |

Edit: Had used PC1333 RAM by mistake, replaced with 1600.

u/KnotManKnots · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

Wow ok, thanks for the info

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OZE9SA/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Would that be a good option? It says it has "High quality mic preamps" but since this goes for 150 while many others go for higher, would I be skimping out if I purchased this?

u/coralv · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

Having just recently purchased a pair of those JBL LSR305s for myself, I can confirm that they are an outstanding choice. I picked mine up as a pair for just $225, so even the full $300 may not be necessary if you can catch a deal (got mine on Amazon). As /r/audiophile recommended to me, you'll probably also want something like this with some balanced cables to get the most out of the sound. I love listening to music, and I only wish I'd purchased this setup sooner.

u/KenGoesBRAP · 1 pointr/edmproduction

I have 2 sets of those Klipsch! They're great for gaming and I have a set plugged in to my TV as well. :)

Piggybacking on what others have said - yes, you need a pair, and yes, you'd need a soundcard. The best bang for your buck right now would be a reasonable USB soundcard (I recommend and own the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, $150) and a set of low impedance reference headphones - you can get the Beyerdynamic DT-770 in 32 Ohm impedance for $175.

Links to make life easier:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008POFOHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1396855842&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=SY200_QL40

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005OZE9SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1396855882&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=SX200_QL40

u/StargatePioneer · 1 pointr/podcasts

The best microphone I know of for this type of use would be the Sennheiser MD-46. It is one of the best if not the best interview microphone around. It has low handling noise and is a dynamic microphone with a super Cardioid pattern. It was specifically design by Sennheiser at the request of NBC Sport for their Olympic coverage a few decade ago and is the favored microphone for many NFL sideline reporters.

However, the Sennheiser MD-46 is an XLR microphone and not a USB microphone. So you'd either have to pick up a portable recorder such as the Zoom H5 or a USB Audio Interface such as the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to make it work.

If you are thinking of just a USB microphone one of these microphones I tested would be my recommendation. The Knox Podcast Microphone is currently running for $40. But you can also pick up a Audio Technica AT2005, a Audio Technica ATR-2100 or a Samson Q2U. These microphones have a higher handling noise but do record great sound in a stable environment. They are also dynamic cardioid microphones but will pick up a bit more background noise than the Sennheiser MD-46. The bonus with these microphones is that they have both USB and XLR capability and output with both simultaneously so are extremely useful for any podcaster.

Let me know if you have any questions and good luck!

u/SlendaiDook · 1 pointr/Advice

So does an audio interface such as http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005OZE9SA/ref=s9_simh_gw_p267_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;amp;pf_rd_s=desktop-1&amp;amp;pf_rd_r=1PS285281FTRCAZE08Y1&amp;amp;pf_rd_t=36701&amp;amp;pf_rd_p=2055621862&amp;amp;pf_rd_i=desktop be able to provide phantom power or not?



Edit: Spelling


Edit: Would it provide a Pre mic and everything else you said above?

u/Kevman5 · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

If you plan on using it as a midi controller as well you'll need an audio interface that has a midi in/out, something like this.

u/0and18 · 1 pointr/podcasting

Whew the wrong thing banged that out last night in a rush and few drinks in me.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and Focusrite Scarlett 18i8

u/motozero · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

2i4 just went on sale for $186 Amazon. I need an upgrade from my M-audio podcast factory :) Timely post! haha
Edit:
Here is one by Amazon, sorry, the other is third party.
I just bought it for $187, the price keeps going up and down,,,, I don't Amazon much, but is that normal?

u/halfmast · 1 pointr/podcasts

Thanks! I see that the 2i4 is on sale for almost the same price. Should I get that instead?

u/rjdiego120 · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I'd like to purchase my first interface, nothing particularly expensive. I have a Rock Band 3 Keyboard that has MIDI out. I'd also like to record guitar and bass as well.

I saw the Scarlett 2i4, and have heard good things, but is there any cheaper alternative that can get me the same results?

Thanks in advance!

u/11235813213455away · 1 pointr/buildapcsales

Depends on what you're going to use it for. It completely will work for making that mic clearer and louder, and provides phantom power. If you intend to record audio and care about the quality, you might want a more expensive one as they'll support higher bitrates. For streaming and discord though it'll be fantastic, especially at that price. I have this one as well and it sounds identical to the cheaper version, just with one less port.

Keep in mind that it requires you to plug it in with an XLR cable, so add one of those too if you don't have one.

u/ishkabibble001 · 1 pointr/Guitar

You need a digital interface, which will turn your guitar sound into data that your computer will understand.
I use the scarlett solo and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1521813146&amp;amp;sr=8-13&amp;amp;keywords=scarlett+studio

I run my pedal board straight into the instrument input. If it sounds a bit odd to you, add some reverb, since a guitar going straight into a computer can sound kinda dead.

u/TheDude300 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

.com :( then for me

u/eaglesfan2445 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

The one I bought was only $100!

u/WonDahMan · 1 pointr/buildapc

If you're spending less than $40-50 on a mic for recording (im guessing for youtube?) then you might want to invest in a better mic setup. You can get something like an Audio Technica AT2020 XLR Microphone and a USB Audio DAC to plug it into, with a Mic Stand to hold it, it's very expensive but it will 100% fix your problem. This is what most professional youtubers use.

You could try the Asus xonar Card i mentioned, i've heard good reviews on it but i'm not certain it will fix your problem.

u/Charizard9000 · 1 pointr/audiophile

I just got a scarlett solo and a set of klischp r-14m's and i was wondering what kind of speaker wire i need to hook it all up. the scarlett solo has a left and right line out, but the speakers have 2 cable connections each, so i'm unsure how to make this work

u/GinkoWeed · 1 pointr/microphones

Comment on the wrong thread the first time? I was about to reply, but then the comment was deleted.

To answer your question though, a Focusrite Solo should work.

u/KINGCLVN · 1 pointr/maschine

I do not have an audio interface yet, but the Scarlett FocusRite looks promising for a beginner. The solo is $100 and the studio is like $150:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Z0WyybSDD32PH

You can also get the bundle (which I might purchase for myself as a late Christmas present), which comes with a mic and headphones. The solo version is $180, and the studio one is $220:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface and Recording Bundle with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_81WyybVE24PKK

Not sure how great the mic and/or headphones are, but it's a pretty good deal if you need all 3.

u/xGhost_ · 1 pointr/headphones

Oh alright gotcha, thanks! Also, I am going to get this interface for my microphone and i noticed it had a headphone jack. So basically, if i plug my 598s/k701s would it sound the same/better/worse as my intergrated sound card?

u/Horsemeat_Deity · 1 pointr/NativeInstruments

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qdELzb9B1EKMV

Would this one do just fine?

u/kydheartless · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

So are you just using a mic that has a usb cable at the end? That's probably the first problem. Ideally you'd want some kind of audio interface you could plug a better mic into. This one is a good starter - https://smile.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM?sa-no-redirect=1 or this one if you think you'd want to record two things at once (like a mic and guitar) https://smile.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA?sa-no-redirect=1

Then you'd want to get a mic with the standard XLR cord type. This one is good if you're just rapping - https://smile.amazon.com/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B00015H0X4?sa-no-redirect=1&amp;amp;th=1. Or if you want to spend more money you can get one of these - https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/best-vocal-mics/. If you get one of those make sure you use a pop filter.

It's also worth getting a mic stand - you don't want to be holding these as you record.

u/AlexJohnsonWrites · 1 pointr/AudioPost

That's what your mic interfaces with. It "amplifies" the sound by delivering more power to the microphone. I had this problem, so I invested in a Scarlett Solo. That's an interface with a built-in preamp.

I don't know too much about this stuff myself, so I might be corrected in the near future. That's my understanding of this stuff though. Anything you use to connect to your mic will affect its sound. That's why a lot of people get USB mics that are plug-and-play instead of XLR mics who's sound is dependent on the quality of both the Mic itself, the Pre-amp, and often the recording environment.

What microphone are you using?

u/verse_chorus_curse · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

I'd suggest a nice audio interface with headphone output. Maybe this? About the same price... https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_267_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;amp;psc=1&amp;amp;refRID=G1JDKN1B9D2D9ZS30ZH6
If you want to live stream you're a microphone away from a complete setup...

u/AutoModerator · 1 pointr/HardwareSwapUK

Warning:

Never pay someone using PayPal friends/family.

Do not trade with NNNerdy or jasonjXgl.

Always have a seller comment on your thread prior to making the transaction. This shows that the user hasn't been banned. You can check the ban list for a full list of banned users.

Title: [SG] ASUS 1070 8GB, Focusrite Solo
Username: /u/MadTaff
Original Post:
Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/2nwCuPa

&amp;#x200B;

Asus 1070 8GB - £195

Focusrite Solo (2nd Gen) - £70 (edited price from my comment in Weekly thread). For £10 extra I can include a Neewer 800 Microphone with an XLR to XLR cable.

&amp;#x200B;

All the parts are in great condition, come in the original packaging and have no visible flaws.

&amp;#x200B;

Prices include postage!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

u/exonerated1 · 1 pointr/recording

A good rule of thumb if you are dealing with a microphone that has an xlr output on it you will want to use an audio interface to connect it to the computer. An audio interface will have a proper microphone preamp and phantom power for your microphone. As well as ASIO drivers that are more stable for recording audio than standard Windows drivers. It sucks existing money I get that


Look into this one

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM

u/Jackal1810 · 1 pointr/Twitch

Opt for an audio interface instead, always keep the mixer and audio interface seperate.
If drivers stop for the mixer then you lose the audio interface and the mixer (a mixer is a 2 in 1 and usually suffers in quality compared to an AI at the same price), it's better to keep them seperate.

You can get a pretty decent audio interface like a basic scarlett, such as this.

u/deplorable-d00d · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

If the interference goes away when you unplug the USB from the DAC, yet the DAC is still hooked into the powered speakers, then you're hearing a ground loop. This is because you're grounding your equipment together through the analog 3.5mm cable to the DAC then USB to your PC.

I used to get this from plugging the 3.5mm headphone output from a phone into my line in on my Saffire DAC, then once I plugged in the USB to keep the battery charging on the phone, it would make a loop.



A couple thing may help you.

One is going with a dual balanced XLR with a 3.5mm adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/AxcessAbles-TRS18-DXLR402M-Stereo-Breakout-Audio/dp/B01AS5RXJ2/

or dual 1/4" TRS -
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP-153-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B000068O3C/

(there are many variations of these out there).


The other option is to put a ground loop isolator in line with your analog unbalanced RCA signal:

https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-Ground-Isolator-Noise-Filter/dp/B077Y5DLBB/


You could also try a USB filter (some have inputs for an external power supply) - https://www.amazon.com/SMAKN-Isolator-Digital-Isolation-Industrial/dp/B00XXPO4UG/

(Or even just getting a better USB cable with ferrite chokes)


Or of course, last resort - just get a cleaner, pro DAC, like a Focusrite Scarlett Solo
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/

u/Chipotl69 · 1 pointr/edmproduction

I forgot to mention, I actually do own a speaker. It's not meant for a studio or anything, just a cheap auvio, but a speaker nonetheless so I think I can manage with high quality headphones. But I will look into a USB interface... I kinda like the ones you mentioned, they look nice and cheap. And the part about being a musician, I used to play piano, don't own any instrument currently, but I can probably get back into piano quickly enough.

u/Is_Always_Honest · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey there, I am completely new to hooking up speakers to my computer that don't have the 3.5mm stereo cable. My understanding is that I will need a DAC, I've landed on (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;amp;psc=1) and I would like to hook up these (https://www.amazon.ca/Emotiva-Audio-Surround-Bookshelf-B1/dp/B01MPY871U) what do I need in between the DAC and the speakers?

u/IPoAC · 1 pointr/makingvaporwave

At the very least you're gonna need an 1/8 to RCA cable to plug into your turntable or tape deck and then plug into your mic jack. This isn't ideal because the sound quality isn't going to be the greatest doing it this way but if your sound is lofi anyway it's not really going to matter, just remember you can always bump your sample quality down after the fact but not up when sampling.

Like everyone else has said though, an audio interface is the way to go. You could get a soundcard if you were so inclined but I think just getting a USB interface is easier plus they're way more portable and you can use em on your desktop or laptop. I've got a few friends that use the Focusrite Scarlett and they say good things about it, I myself use an old Line 6 POD for my sampling and output to my deck and it does the trick.

u/MadRaps · 1 pointr/listentothis

This mic is pretty good for the price and plugs into pretty much any mic port. Whenever you get a chance please buy yourself a Mic Pre-amp. It boosts your mic signal and give depth to your recording. The one everyone recommends is this one, even the pros but if you're just starting out you'll do fine with this one good luck!

u/pandarubbish · 1 pointr/teenagers

Yo! I personally use ableton, but FL studios should work just fine. I recommend getting an audio interface of some sort,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01E6T56CM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1473200568&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=SX200_QL40&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=312239D3jLL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch

this one's pretty good for a beginner. Depending on what instruments you use and whether you sing or not would be helpful to know, if you want more advice.

u/abottomful · 1 pointr/hiphop101

Let's figure some ways to handle your problems currently. What DAW are you using? I'm assuming Reaper or Fruity Loops, considering how well everything is synced on your beat. You said elsewhere you're an Aussie? Why don't you exagerrate that for your sake, because your accent makes you sound like East Coast suburban white kid, and you don't want that in hiphop.

Do you have a job? If you do, try and save up for this interface and this mic for your raps. These are cheap, but for the mic there are some cheaper mics. Try not to use a USB though.

That's all I have to offer for your vocal confidence and equipment. Good luck.

u/beardedmanstudios · 1 pointr/Twitch

As far as a mic. You have a lot of options. You can go with a USB connection. Which is a reasonable option with good quality in products like Blue Yeti or going with a much better studio quality mic like MXL or even Audio-Technica however going with the studio mica I have listed you will need an audio interface. Like the scarlet or Yamaha

u/PalomSage · 1 pointr/Mercadoreddit
u/blasphemoustoast · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

In response to edit 3: you would just need one XLR cable. However, you also need an i/o device to connect an XLR mic to a computer such as this one if you can spare $50 more I would get the 2i2. If this is out of your budget I would go with the blue yeti. It will give you vastly inferior sound than an XLR mic but it's a pretty good cheap mic.

u/BlazeFox1011 · 1 pointr/buildapc

this is the amp i'm using, I'm sorry but i'm not seeing how to connect this, in your situation. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;th=1

u/sadsmoofie · 1 pointr/audiophile

okay I'm pretty set on buying the pair of JBL lsr305's off of amazon and I'm just wondering if I need an interface to use them and what fords I need

I have a PC that I want to hook them up to

Should I be okay with purchasing:
interface,
speakers and cords
Or do I need these cords too?

u/cobawsky · 1 pointr/brasil

Meu kit para podcasting

Mic

Interface de Audio

Uso Adobe Audition para Gravar, editar e masterizar.

u/Jickled · 1 pointr/buildapcsales

according to this review they can run 250 ohm dt 990s and you're not gonna find much harder to run headphones in your price range. Sorry for the wait.

u/darklyte_ · 1 pointr/Twitch

Audio Technica AT2020 or AT2035 are both solid options. I believe both of these are used by quite a few people when they are first starting out and can carry you well into your streaming career.

  • Audio Technica AT2020 I believe is USB and can plug right into the PC.
  • Audio Technica AT2035 requires an interface or mixer to connect to the PC.

    I use the Focusrite Scarlett-Solo Gen2 USB Audio Interface personally with my AT2035.

    I used a Blue Yeti Blackout for years and could never get it to sound right. I don't personally recommend the mic and I don't think its a great starting mic. Some people can get it sounding right after a lot of tinkering.

    There are lots of reviews out there, you can also check some from https://www.youtube.com/user/EposVox/videos

    A lot about choosing your mic comes down to your environment. Condenser and Dynamic mics are used in different settings depending on how much background noise you have, whats around you ect. I live alone with 0 background noise myself so the AT2035 works for me.

    I would start with looking into the Pros and Cons of Condenser vs Dynamic mics so you can make the most informed decision for your environment. This way you won't get stuck with a mic that doesn't work with you.
u/braindeadmatt · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

cigarettes after sex (based on the songs ive heard), drown their instruments in a heavy reverb, probably some other effects too that i cant be sure of (maybe a filter, to make their sounds sound kinda lofi/old. and maybe a little delay to go w/ the reverb, etc).

idk really but i'd probably just try to recreate one of their songs urself in a DAW and see what u learn from it.

and in regards to the mic, you dont really need a mic, you can use a usb audio interface (like this one or this one, which is more popular &amp; expensive) to plug the guitar directly into the computer (for alot cheaper than you would probably get 4 a mic).

also idk if you need all the pedals &amp; shit, maybe you want to but in a DAW (FL studio, logic, ableton, etc) you can add pedal effects (reverb, delay, distortion, etc etc) that come with the DAW to the guitar audio signal coming into the computer.

u/tehpest22 · 1 pointr/HeadphoneAdvice

So I've been trying to find the JDS Labs Atom amp for a bit and I was wondering if you had a link or a link to one you'd use? Edit: is this the focusrite one you were talking about? Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EIInDbF52VAXR

u/ANaiveUterus · 1 pointr/battlestations

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CFyIDb5J813TA

u/ELISHAO12 · 1 pointr/audioengineering
u/able312 · 1 pointr/videography

No, it works like the interface down there. It's so you can connect an XLR compatible mic or instrument to your PC for recording in audio and video software, so unless your going to be recording to your PC with an XLR it's not that worth it. And with the DR-40 you can still just record then copy it over with the SD card!

https://www.amazon.ca/Focusrite-SCARLETT-SOLO-3RD-GEN-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=asc_df_B07QR6Z1JB/?tag=googlemobshop-20&amp;amp;linkCode=df0&amp;amp;hvadid=341830543675&amp;amp;hvpos=1o1&amp;amp;hvnetw=g&amp;amp;hvrand=16691777206743157811&amp;amp;hvpone=&amp;amp;hvptwo=&amp;amp;hvqmt=&amp;amp;hvdev=m&amp;amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;amp;hvlocint=&amp;amp;hvlocphy=9001050&amp;amp;hvtargid=pla-781084951088&amp;amp;psc=1

u/Craycraft · 1 pointr/audioengineering

No problem, just recommendations and pointers.

I'm really liking the ART tube preamp/comp to interface option. Especially for toying around with. Idk if that interface is a solid choice. I'm not really using it for anything other than the analog to digital conversion I believe. Now that I'm looking at it seems the Scarlett solo would be a high quality option. 192 kHz vs 48khz sample rate.

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Scarlett+solo&amp;qid=1567711187&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3


edit: I added some additional details to the original post.

u/royalewithcheese14 · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Honestly, as far as sound quality goes, most modern interfaces (excluding the REALLY cheap ones) will have more than adequate preamps in them. Here is a good article that may help you choose the interface that's best for you.

Personally, I really like Focusrite's Scarlett series, so the Scarlett Solo may be a good choice for you if you don't plan on using more than one microphone at a time. It's small, and entirely powered by USB, so it's easily portable. However, I'm probably biased towards gear I already own, so I would encourage you to do your own research as well.

u/ToxicityInF · 1 pointr/battlestations

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=focusrite+scarlett+solo&amp;amp;qid=1574492982&amp;amp;sprefix=focus&amp;amp;sr=8-3

It’s for my shure mic, this mic is amazing (it’s what shroud and a lot of other streamers use) but it is a bit of a pain to setup for streaming if you’re brand new. Overall to make the mic work it costs about 1k due to cords, mic, mic stand, etc. Was it worth it? If you have the money yes. Overall for my setup which isn’t even very good it’s about 6k ish

u/ChemicalPsychosis · 1 pointr/HeadphoneAdvice

I can't say since I never listened to it. Most headphone amps have a certain sound so I can't comment on that. The manufacturer states though that the Scarlett can power up to 250 Ohms so it could work depending on the impedance level of your headphones.

Source: Seen in the "Customer questions &amp; answers" section of [ https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ ]

u/PopandLocke · 1 pointr/audiophile

I've got a pair of studio monitors with balanced TRS and XLR ins that are hand-me-downs from a friend. I'm hunting for the best solution to get them up and running for under or close to $100. These two (Behringer UMC22 &amp; Focusrite Scarlett Solo) have been interesting, but I'd much prefer something that will cut the studio monitors when I plug in headphones (ideally with a 1/4 in jack, but that's not vital), or at least allow me to turn down the monitors separately from the headphones. The Scarlett 2i2 will allow me to control both levels separately, but it's a bit over my budget, and I won't be doing any recording, so I'm wondering if there's something out there that's more focused towards my use case.

u/Coppenhageen · 1 pointr/headphones

I’m looking to get a Focusrite Scarlet Solo or 2i2

u/apennypacker · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Thanks so much for the info! I noticed that I can get a used Focusrite 2i4 for about half the price on amazon, but it is listed as the "old version". Is there any significant difference in the old and new version?

This is the one:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1482653729&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=Focusrite+2i4

Also, what is your thought on something like the Yeti mics that have a built in dac? I use one mostly for voice and it sounds great to me. But it a focusrite with rode mic going to just be world away better?

This is what I was considering: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Silver/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1482653965&amp;amp;sr=8-2&amp;amp;keywords=yeti+mic

u/TrevdorBelmont · 1 pointr/buildapc

I will definitely be going external knowing all of this now. Thanks for the advice!

Edit: /u/nighserenity suggested the Scarlett, do you happen to have any insight as to whether or not this would be a good buy?

u/jpellizzi · 1 pointr/audioengineering

Since you're not going to be recording much, you can get something pretty minimal. You're mostly just going to be using it for monitoring.

Focusrite makes solid gear, and it's pretty cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1405217219&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interfaces

and M-Audio has one even cheaper:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1405217219&amp;amp;sr=8-4&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interfaces

Edit - just saw the other responses. Looks like the Focusrite is the way to go. Also I concur with and highly recommend Sennheiser HD 280's for headphones.

u/costamatheist · 1 pointr/podcasts

Software - Audacity
Equipment - Shure SM58 mics and a M-Audio M-Track 2-Channel USB Interface

Here's our show (for an example of audio quality) - I Doubt It with Dollemore or iTunes

u/BubblegumTitanium · 1 pointr/ableton

I'm using an m audio fast m-track https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-Two-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6

I have a lenovo laptop and I gotta say I am not too happy with the quality.

I bought it last year and I paid 100 for it and it leaves something to be desired.

For instance I wanna sample a drum machine app from my phone and I have ableton link enabled but its still out of phase.

Not sure if its the sound card or my settings but also sometimes the channel 1 input doesn't work so I have to use the channel 2

u/LogoLunchbox · 1 pointr/paris

Pearl Electronics at Châtelet Les Halles 75001 has this stuff. They carry all types of neat little electronic pieces.

I can sell a M audiobook M Track for 30 euros. It’s brand new, in box. Was a gift to my GF but she never used it.

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-Two-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6

u/theycallmearze · 1 pointr/edmproduction

As for audio interfaces, you have two choices that are south of 100 pounds; The M-Audio M-Track (74 pounds), and the Presonus Audiobox (69 pounds). The only difference between the two is that the audiobox lacks two XLR outputs, while the M-Track has both XLR AND TRS. It's worth the extra 5 pounds, if you ask me. The M-Track is also considerably smaller.

As for stands, they're all the same; just there's a bit of a price difference between them all. A good pair will cost you about 50 pounds, so that would be driving you out of your budget range by about 40 pounds, so my recommendation would be to just buy the speakers and interface first and then wait a week or two to buy the stands, and until you get enough money to buy an actual pair, use some kind of makeshift stand.

LINKS -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-M-Track-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1414775766&amp;amp;sr=8-8&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-Recording-System/dp/B00154KSA2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1414775766&amp;amp;sr=8-5&amp;amp;keywords=audio+interface

u/TheMooseontheLoose · 1 pointr/buildapc

You're going to want to get an external MIDI controller that hooks up via USB.

Example

u/Toxiccell7 · 1 pointr/metalguitar

Looks like the SM57 is $100, plus after some looking on amazon I found this mbox for about $90. However, I'm wondering if I'd just be able to plug my guitar straight into the 1/4" jacks on the mbox and use amp models/effects on whatever software I end up getting. Or will this result in lower quality recordings? I do have a tube amp so I'm guessing I should take advantage of that.

I'm trying to spend as little money as possible for recording equipment, while still getting reasonable quality sound for being able to put tracks together that I could call my own and be able to show others. They don't have to be fancy studio quality, but just something to get the job done nicely. $200 for just the hardware seems pretty steep, but if that's how it is I guess I just need to save up some more money for this.

I have a really good computer with a 24" monitor, so I should be good as far as that goes. Thanks for the information!

u/Spritzo · 1 pointr/Twitch

I don't necessarily think your on-board audio card would be causing noise. It's most likely your microphone. If it's a headset you're most likely going to get noise from it.

If you're planning on switching over to an audio interface to attempt to reduce the noise, go with an XLR microphone as well. The audio interface might let you set a noise gate and also control the gain, but it won't be able to eliminate everything the headset is picking up.

I currently use this microphone:
Studio Projects B1

and I use this audio interface:
M-Audio M-Track

I used the Blue Snowball a while ago, but it still picked up too much noise for my liking. So I went with something I knew would not pick up nearly as much noise. I also use a Korg D3200 mixer, which isn't necessary, but it allows for voice effects and further fine tuning.

TL;DR: If you're going to switch to an audio interface, get an XLR microphone to use with it. It'll eliminate noise and provide a much cleaner and stronger sound in your voice.

u/Skullpuck · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I hope someone here can help me. I do professional voice over work but I'm getting tired of renting out studio time. I wanted to set up a mini studio in my house using my computer to record.

I was wondering if the following mic/interface equipment would provide me with studio quality sound:

  • Microphone
  • Interface

    I understand I will need to purchase an XLR cable, pop screen, and stand. I just want to get the essentials out of the way.