Interface Question for Noob number 5,485,651

[kbakerde]

This forum is not as active as other forums such as the Basses, Amps or even effects. However, from looking at this it seems that the variability in need, function, performance and price is much more varied in the recording space than it is in most of the others. So after searching and getting some ideas and directions. I am posting this as a sanity check, and/or to be told the folly of my thinking.


I am totally new to the recording thing. But what me and my band are looking to do is some demo recording ourselves, leading up to a more formal recording session at a buddies studio. So to do the recording, we will all be using the Reaper DAW, and will be using Dropbox to pass the files along as they progress. I have a good PC, power speed and RAM should not be an issue. And I have a Mackie Mix8 mixer that has a good preamp and EQ section. So I really need a Interface device to go from the Mackie to the PC via USB. So I have considered the following:

Behringer UCA222 - Really cheap, and seems to literally be an interface to go from the Mixer to the PC with no frills.

Mackie Onyx Blackjack - Cheap, 2 inputs (which I will only be recording bass so I don't think I need that) no EQ, but none needed

Presonus Audiobox - See above for the Onyx, same deal from what I've seen

Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 - The most popular from what I gather. Does it do more than I need?

Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 - Right now it's only $25 more than the 2i2, would I need it?


Obviously I don't want my sound turned to crap. But a the same time, this is for demo's only and I don't want to spend more than I have to. Any input into these would be helpful.

 

[whatizitman]

What do you mean by "leading up to a more formal recording session"? Do you hope to integrate your recordings with the studio sessions? Or do you just want reference recordings? In any case, if you are planning on a pro session, don't waste any effort, time, money, or thought on integrating your own recordings. But do make reference demos to your hearts' content, though. That can be helpful. Just let the producer/pro do his/her work. Your own recordings should only be for song/arrangement ideas.

If you are determined to use the Mix8, you could use the UCA222 to get the audio into the PC. But don't expect stellar results. It will work, though. That's the cheapest way to go. You will get better results by using an interface with mic/line preamps, though, like the focusrites. If you don't have any previous experience recording, don't have proper mics, etc..., it won't make much difference either way.

Who do you plan to share the working files with? Bandmates? Is recording going to be done in different places by different folks? Don't bother sharing your own project files with the pro. Just give him/her a stereo mixdown.

If you plan to use dropbox, make sure to save the project folder along with all of the tracks/wavs, etc... The Reaper project file only points to directories where files are saved - it doesn't save or copy the files into the same directory. I learned that the hard way.

Obviously I don't want my sound turned to crap. But a the same time, this is for demo's only and I don't want to spend more than I have to. Any input into these would be helpful.

If you have no experience recording your tracks will be crap, regardless of equipment used. You will likely not want it for the final product, anyway. So don't fret too much about it, and don't go overboard. Save your time/dough for a studio session.

 

[silky smoove]

I'll ask the same question that I asked in a thread yesterday: Why do you need the mixer? You specified that two inputs would be more than necessary because you're just recording bass. Is that not the case? Are you recording something that requires considerably more inputs, like drums, and then sub-mixing them down to stereo on the mixer?

If you're really just recording bass as you describe:

2 inputs (which I will only be recording bass so I don't think I need that)

...then I would just get a simple interface and call it good. Any of the ones you listed will do just fine.

 

[kbakerde]

What do you mean by "leading up to a more formal recording session"? Do you hope to integrate your recordings with the studio sessions? Or do you just want reference recordings? In any case, if you are planning on a pro session, don't waste any effort, time, money, or thought on integrating your own recordings. But do make reference demos to your hearts' content, though. That can be helpful. Just let the producer/pro do his/her work. Your own recordings should only be for song/arrangement ideas.

If you are determined to use the Mix8, you could use the UCA222 to get the audio into the PC. But don't expect stellar results. It will work, though. That's the cheapest way to go. You will get better results by using an interface with mic/line preamps, though, like the focusrites. If you don't have any previous experience recording, don't have proper mics, etc..., it won't make much difference either way.

Who do you plan to share the working files with? Bandmates? Is recording going to be done in different places by different folks? Don't bother sharing your own project files with the pro. Just give him/her a stereo mixdown.

If you plan to use dropbox, make sure to save the project folder along with all of the tracks/wavs, etc... The Reaper project file only points to directories where files are saved - it doesn't save or copy the files into the same directory. I learned that the hard way.



If you have no experience recording your tracks will be crap, regardless of equipment used. You will likely not want it for the final product, anyway. So don't fret too much about it, and don't go overboard. Save your time/dough for a studio session.

Thanks for the tip. So we are planning on doing reference demos only. Get some practice on the recording process, get our arrangement and part ideas down. But not planning to use any in the final recording.

 

[kbakerde]

I'll ask the same question that I asked in a thread yesterday: Why do you need the mixer? You specified that two inputs would be more than necessary because you're just recording bass. Is that not the case? Are you recording something that requires considerably more inputs, like drums, and then sub-mixing them down to stereo on the mixer?

If you're really just recording bass as you describe:


...then I would just get a simple interface and call it good. Any of the ones you listed will do just fine.

I thought about using the Mackie, in part cause I like the preamp and the eq. I ended up ordering a Scarlett Solo

 

[silky smoove]

The Scarlett will work great for your purposes. Bass, interface, computer, GO! Very simple but effective.

 

[kbakerde]

The Scarlett will work great for your purposes. Bass, interface, computer, GO! Very simple but effective.

Judging from your reply I am guessing you think the mixer is superfluous and should be tossed from the equation. I know the Scarlett has it's own preamp, and I guess it has a software EQ? Or just handle the EQ through the recording program?

Thanks a lot.

 

[silky smoove]

For your purposes I would just EQ inside the DAW.

 

[whatizitman]

Judging from your reply I am guessing you think the mixer is superfluous and should be tossed from the equation. I know the Scarlett has it's own preamp, and I guess it has a software EQ? Or just handle the EQ through the recording program?

Thanks a lot.

Right. Your mixer is for mixing. An interface is for interfacing, with a computer. If you go the UCA222 route you are really only using the pre-amps on the mixer. And you would have to make sure all EQ knobs are zeroed out, unless you want to EQ the sound as it's recorded. You would also likely have to make sure you are only recording one track at a time, or two separate tracks, since the mixer is stereo output. Since a DAW handles all the mixing on your PC via software, ideally you want the sound you are recording to be as uncolored as possible. You want to be able to EQ after it's recorded, non-destructively. It's easier and better to just use an interface like a Scarlet for your purposes.

BTW, I have a Solo, and freaking luv it.

EDIT: To answer the last question, the Scarlet is only an interface. You use it for recording and monitoring. It doesn't have its own software. But Focusrite does give you some plugins for free that you can use in your DAW software, like reverb, EQ, and compression, among others. I use them and they are fantastic. They have some presets that are superb.

 

[johnnyfever]

I would take that mixer out of the equation. Those pres and eq section might be ok live, but you want as unaffected a signal as you can get on the way in, or some spendy pre's for specific color. If you have firewire the maudio profire 2626 is phenomenal bang for buck used. good pres and converters. Internal dsp for monitoring. Scaleable for up to 24 simultaneous track recording. Down side is it is now legacy, so no drive/software updates. Do the research to make sure what you have will work with it. It was when maudio was owned by avid/digidesign, so works well with mpowered protools.