recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

midnite_man

midnite_man

New member
I bought a new computer about a month ago that came with 250 GB's of hardrive, and then bought an additional 500 GB extenal drive to use with it. So now, with drive-space not being an issue, I want to get into recording music using this pc and have been checking out various USB interface units looking for what suits my needs best in transferring my signal from my mixer to my computer. The TASCAM US-144 Interface has jumped to the forefront of my research, but I'm looking for any and all input in this area from my fellow forum members before making a purchase.
I'm totally new to digital recording, let alone any kind of serious recording, and am not looking to set up a high-end pro studio by any means but just would like to lay down some vocal and instrumental tracks to see what I can come up with.
Any thoughts on monitor speakers would be appreciated, too (are they necessary or do most use headphones?).

Thanks!!

....Bob
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

By the way, I'm not sure if it makes a big difference or not but I'm using Windows Vista as my operating software.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

Hi,

Win XP would be a better choice from what I have heard. Tascam is also not a name I think of for audio interfaces. M-Audio, Toneports, Focusrite, Motu, Echo, TC Electronics (I think they have a cool one out now) are a few that come to mind in the budget range. Not sure how many of those are USB - yes monitor speakers are a must.
 
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Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

innerdreamrecords.co said:
Hi,

Win XP would be a better choice from what I have heard. Tascam is also not a name I think of for audio interfaces. M-Audio, Toneports, Focusrite, Motu, Echo, TC Electronics (I think they have a cool one out now) are a few that come to mind in the budget range.
Click to expand...

I've been wondering, since Vista is relatively new, if it might conflict with some hardware and software, but noted that the Tascam I mentioned has support for Vista already. I have no plans of changing my OS, so I'll need to find an interface that is compatible with my pc.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

Tascam makes some very good stuff actually. The US-144 is a very good small unit.

Good headphones are necessary no matter what you're doing. A pair of Sennheiser HD-280's will make you very happy for a reasonable amount of money. Monitors are essential if you want a good-sounding mix that translates well to other speaker systems. If you mix with headphones, your recording will sound good on headphones ...

More importantly, you haven't mentioned what you'll be using for mics. A microphone can make or break a recording setup; if your mic sucks, your recordings will suck no matter what else you do.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

The Tascam does have midi which is cool - go for it. The budget units sound in the same league from my experience.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

If your new PC has firewire the Mackie Onyx Satellite is being sold off for silly-cheap at the moment (in the UK at least) - around £120 instead of £350. Even if you'd never use the travel pod bit of it it still sounds great and works well (and comes with Tracktion 2).
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

ratherdashing said:
Tascam makes some very good stuff actually. The US-144 is a very good small unit.

Good headphones are necessary no matter what you're doing. A pair of Sennheiser HD-280's will make you very happy for a reasonable amount of money. Monitors are essential if you want a good-sounding mix that translates well to other speaker systems. If you mix with headphones, your recording will sound good on headphones ...

More importantly, you haven't mentioned what you'll be using for mics. A microphone can make or break a recording setup; if your mic sucks, your recordings will suck no matter what else you do.
Click to expand...


As far as mic's go, the Tascam US144 is being offered right now at various online retailers in a package deal where a vocal and an acoustic mic, including cables, are included. But I also have a Shure SM57 for mic'ing my amp, and a few mid-quality Behringer mic's for vocals/amp. I'm sure that once I was to get the hang of recording and the peripheals that factor into the process of recording I'll probably end up buying better mic's for specific reasons, but I think I'm good to go with mic's at least for the present.

Thanks for the great replies, people! Please keep 'em coming!!

....Bob
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

innerdreamrecords.co said:
Hi,

Win XP would be a better choice from what I have heard. Tascam is also not a name I think of for audio interfaces. M-Audio, Toneports, Focusrite, Motu, Echo, TC Electronics (I think they have a cool one out now) are a few that come to mind in the budget range. Not sure how many of those are USB - yes monitor speakers are a must.
Click to expand...

Was curious why Tascam didn't make your list? I've read good reviews about their lines of recording devices whether anolog or digital, which led me to believe their line of accessories like the US144 would be of good quality.
What don't you like about the Tascam product?

....Bob
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

midnite_man said:
Was curious why Tascam didn't make your list? I've read good reviews about their lines of recording devices whether anolog or digital, which led me to believe their line of accessories like the US144 would be of good quality.
What don't you like about the Tascam product?

....Bob
Click to expand...

I don't have anything bad to say about them personally it's just when talking interfaces with other people I respect in the industry Tascam is not mentioned. The others I mentioned have more users and get more attention. I have found that with some of the less common ones stability issues creep up because the drivers aren't as good - that's my personal experience when I have tried a few.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

innerdreamrecords.co said:
I don't have anything bad to say about them personally it's just when talking interfaces with other people I respect in the industry Tascam is not mentioned. The others I mentioned have more users and get more attention. I have found that with some of the less common ones stability issues creep up because the drivers aren't as good - that's my personal experience when I have tried a few.
Click to expand...

fair enough.....thanks for the info!
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

Be very careful. Not all pro-audio interfaces work with Vista. At least, not yet.
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

RW James said:
Be very careful. Not all pro-audio interfaces work with Vista. At least, not yet.
Click to expand...

excellent advice from Rick and innerdreamrecords.co in regards to software support for Vista. I'll search for a support group and try to find any info on this.

thanks, guys!!
 
Re: recording question: USB interface and monitor speakers

I just did a quick but informative search of sites and forums that dealt with the Vista compatibility issue, and it appears that any problems were pretty much ironed out last September....but I'm still reading up on this trying to find out just what kinds of conflicts people were having before the software upgrade was produced. From what I've read so far the issues some were having were mainly with the driver that runs the unit and how it affected the Cubase software's ability to record two tracks at a time.

Good stuff to know!
 
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