Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Most of what I have are considered hot pickups - PATB2, JB, Custom, Blackouts - and while I don't bash the strings (Jazz III and 9s), it's easy to do with that pick/string combo, especially when I'm trying to get a nice chimey clean chord, so even moderate clipping/spikes will bug the pee out of me. I do try to get the track volume at least to -12dB (meter set for max = 0dB), as it's easier to add/reduce in post. Since I'll be using Amplitube, it'll actually record a clean track, so the cleaner the better.

Hmmm.

Any experience with/opinions on the Lexicon I linked above?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

The 2i2 will probably not suit your current needs. Sorry, I have zero experience with Lexicon interfaces!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Thanks again. Might take a chance on the Lexicon since it's cheap enough.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Does the Lexicon come with any bundled plugins? Because the Lexicon MPX reverb plugins are ace!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Does the Lexicon come with any bundled plugins? Because the Lexicon MPX reverb plugins are ace!

Says it comes with:
Cubase LE 48-track recording software
Lexicon Pantheon VST reverb plug-in

Dunno much about Lexicon stuff first-hand, though, so I can't speak for the quality. I've read glowing reviews for years, though. I've also read billions of forum posts where people can't get Cubase LE to work with just about anything. The typical cliché response is "oh, well maybe if you $$ upgrade $$ to Cubase Pro/Full/Awesome/whatever the problem will magically go away".

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Patheon is GREAT VST reverb engine. I was a Cubase user for years and only recently switched to Logic because the work flow is more closely aligned with the way I make records now, but I have never had a bad experience with Cubase ... but I also used only the full versions.

Lexicon 'verbs are my favorite, even though they are not 'teh b3st' by today's standards of convolution/Britcasti ... I have a rack of old Lexicon reverb units that I use every day ... love their crunchiness.

 

[Liko]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Throwing one more name into consideration, the Steinberg UR22 is a fairly small 2-channel interface with some of the best preamps in the industry. For the money I think it's definitely worth a look.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Throwing one more name into consideration, the Steinberg UR22 is a fairly small 2-channel interface with some of the best preamps in the industry. For the money I think it's definitely worth a look.

"Best" is a term that is very subjective when it comes to preamps! Virtually ALL interface preamps are excellent these days, with rare exception for particularly inexpensive/compromised preamp designs ... what really gets costly is accurate ADC and clocking ... very expensive to do 'right'. Otherwise these days it's more about a look, form factor, headphone amp that sounds good to you, and feature set.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Throwing one more name into consideration, the Steinberg UR22 is a fairly small 2-channel interface with some of the best preamps in the industry. For the money I think it's definitely worth a look.

I'll chime in that the UR22 (or the UR44) is actually a great entry interface. I agree the preamps are good, and some of the best I've heard IN THAT PRICE RANGE, but calling them some of the best in the industry is quite the stretch.

Definitely worth a look in that price range though.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Thanks all. :beerchug:

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Went ahead and ordered the Lexicon Alpha, since it's the cheapest. It's a few years old, but hopefully still supported just in case it does need a Win 8.1 driver or whatnot.
Hopefully I won't have to spend my way through a laundry list of units to find "the right one".

Thanks everyone for the input :beerchug:

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Cool. Let us know how it works out!

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Went ahead and ordered the Lexicon Alpha

I wish I coud say something useful but I have zero experience with that unit. All I know that I loved their reverb processors from their entry MX range to the 960L monster that costs a quite decent car. I guess with their fame / hype they can't afford to release a bad audio interface so I'd assume it's rather on the good side of the force. I wish good luck with it mate.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

That's part of what drove my decision: "It's Lexicon! Fuggeddaboutit!" Then again, like everyone else, I'm sure it's made in The People's Audio Interface Factory #3 alongside the Focusrite, Behringer, and other brands' products, so it could simply be a repackaged and licensed version of theirs, with the big sell being CubaseLE and the Lexicon Reverb plugin more than the hardware itself. I'm sure everyone who returned/exchanged the unit kept the software and the plugin.

No idea what those cost, though. Surely more than $50.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Ok, so it got here yesterday, and so far........I think the Windows 8.1 "update" included a little something from Adobe that makes non Creative Suite versions stop working entirely. I've uninstalled and reinstalled, fighting through the errors and installation halts, looking for answers on Adobe's forums, chasing rabbits down holes, uninstalling the drivers and reinstalling them, and Audition still gives the "no device" error on startup, then shuts down.

CubaseLE reads it. BFD2 reads it. Magix MusicMaker reads it.

Gonna hook the MOTU up to my laptop and see if it reads that. If not, it's an Adobe failure.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Ah gotta love when that happens...

 

[DankStar]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Uhhgg, bummer

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

Adobe failure.

I see the same word twice. Weird.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

is Adobe what became of Cool Edit? I used to love certain features and effects in cool edit.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Suggestions for USB-powered interface?

is Adobe what became of Cool Edit? I used to love certain features and effects in cool edit.

yes