Time for some upgrades. (very low grade setup questions)

[aeonrevolution]

Okay so my music making rig has finally gotten to the point where my recording setup is bottlenecking my final product.

I play Guitar, Bass, and Keyboards.

I'm running my guitar into a Catalinbread SCOD --> Big Muff --> Vox Wah87 --> DD-20 --> 1970's Ampeg VT-22.

The bass I just DI into the mixer.

Keyboard stuff is all using a midi controller into Fruity Loops (no complaints here).

Now, on to my recording setup. SM57 using Live wires into a small beringer eurorack (MX 802A) out the RCA outputs into the Line in stereo mini input on the back of my computer.

See, if I am able to blast my amp loud enough so that the mixer doesn't need to use any pre-amp gain then things sound sort of decent. The problem is, thats pretty damn loud. Oh yeah. I have integrated audio (yes it just got better). Its a SoundMax something or another.



So heres my predicament. I'm willing to shell out about $200 as of now. What would be my best thing to aim for first?

[RefD]

a goodish (firewire?) audio interface and one or two decent preamps.

okay, i know that's more than one thing.

[aeonrevolution]

a goodish (firewire?) audio interface and one or two decent preamps.

okay, i know that's more than one thing.

Would something like this be worth grabbing?

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ART131

[RefD]

a goodish (firewire?) audio interface and one or two decent preamps.

okay, i know that's more than one thing.

Would something like this be worth grabbing?

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ART131

i wouldn't kick it out of bed.

however, i would definitely go for a better interface first.

cos that integrated audio is probly your biggest weak link right now.

does your machine have a firewire port?

[aeonrevolution]

Hmm........nope. I've got 7 usb inputs though



Keep in mind ballpark of $200

[RefD]

Hmm........nope. I've got 7 usb inputs though



Keep in mind ballpark of $200

platform (Mac or PC), operating system, processor speed and amount of RAM?

cos the two paths open to you are something on a PCI card (possibly with a breakout box) or a USB thingy that ends in a box.

[aeonrevolution]

2.66ghz P4, 1.5gb PC2700, Windows XP.



Yeah I was snooping around at the USB DI's. That seems like a better route because, afterall, I will probably never be using more than one channel at a time.


I was poking around in Soundforge/ACID though and I may have to switch software if I go with a USB interface. I'm not sure how they would be able to recognize the incoming signal.

[RefD]

2.66ghz P4, 1.5gb PC2700, Windows XP.



Yeah I was snooping around at the USB DI's. That seems like a better route because, afterall, I will probably never be using more than one channel at a time.


I was poking around in Soundforge/ACID though and I may have to switch software if I go with a USB interface. I'm not sure how they would be able to recognize the incoming signal.

there will be drivers, no worries.

the Emu 0404 USB looks goodish and has pres.



and American Musical Supply has it for abt $200.

[kojdogg]

there's a midi-less and s/pdif-less version of that for $130-- the 0202
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS

[RefD]

there's a midi-less and s/pdif-less version of that for $130-- the 0202

yes, but the remaining audio portion has been cheapjacked to the point where it's not worthwhile anymore.

[aeonrevolution]

there's a midi-less and s/pdif-less version of that for $130-- the 0202

yes, but the remaining audio portion has been cheapjacked to the point where it's not worthwhile anymore.

So the cheaper one doesn't sound the same as the $199 one?

[kojdogg]

He's right-- the specs aren't as good in terms of SNR and others (check their website ( www.emu.com ). It doesn't necessarily mean it's total crap though. I've never heard or even seen one other than web-based images of them though.
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FETISH XXX

[RefD]

Emu generally makes good stuff, so i think it'd probly be a good investment.

and the pres are built-in, so that's two stones with one bird.

it meets your $200 maximum, but maybe you can find a sale?

[aeonrevolution]

Yeah I'm going to snoop around on ebay and see if one pops up.

Thanks guys