usb audio interface for mac

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

martino wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
> I have an apple ibook (1.2 MHZ with 768MB ram) and want to record
> music in it. Up to now I have been using a multitrack casette
> recorder. My budget is pretty limited (about 70 UKpound, ie about
> 140$). I already have purchased a multitrack program (mackie's
> tracktion, which works fine). I also have already a mic preamp and
> plenty of effects for the el. guitar, so that the usb interface would
> not need a built-in preamp, and I would not use software effects. All
> I want is to be able to record two tracks at a time whilst monitoring
> (with a headphone) what is being recorded with existing tracks (for
> example a click track and or already recorded tracks). I have been
> looking at:
> - Edirol UA-3FX (50 UKpounds)
> - Edirol UA-1X (59 UKpounds)
> - M-audio transit USB (54 UKpounds)

I don't know those, but I do know that the Edirol UA25 works very well
for what it is, though it costs slightly more. I thinmk they have their
drivers in good order.

> Does any of you have any experience with any of these?
> In particular, I am concerned with the monitoring issue with the UA-1x
> and the M-audio transit. Is it possible to listen to what you play and
> to what has already been recorded at the same time or would one need
> an extra piece of gear, e.g. a little mixing table (which I do not
> have). Latency should not be an issue: I have already been mucking
> around with the on board mic of the ibook and tracktion handles
> latency pretty well by -I think- delaying the pre-recorded tracks
> during recording.

> I am not interested in Midi at the moment, but could be in the future,
> so would my current choise affect that in any way?

The UA25 includes a MIDI interface. Buying one liek that might be
cheaper than deciding later you had to buy another interface to do MIDI.

--
ha

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Thanks for the advice, The Ua-25 looks very appealing indeed. Just one
last question: I have had a read through the user's manual and the
left input (L/1) seems to be fixed to low impedance. Is it still
possible to record line level signals through that input by setting
the sensitivity on the Ua-25 to very low on that input and/or by
inputing quiet signals?
Thing is,1) I have got this very nice mic compressor that I still
might want to use possibly with an el. guitar signal on the R/2 input
2) More simply put, how does one go about recording a stereo
line-level signal through the UA-25.

Hope this makes some sense...

Thanks

M.


walkinay@thegrid.net (hank alrich) wrote in message news:<1gsonq5.7cmswl6xrnvbN%walkinay@thegrid.net>...
> martino wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> >
> > I have an apple ibook (1.2 MHZ with 768MB ram) and want to record
> > music in it. Up to now I have been using a multitrack casette
> > recorder. My budget is pretty limited (about 70 UKpound, ie about
> > 140$). I already have purchased a multitrack program (mackie's
> > tracktion, which works fine). I also have already a mic preamp and
> > plenty of effects for the el. guitar, so that the usb interface would
> > not need a built-in preamp, and I would not use software effects. All
> > I want is to be able to record two tracks at a time whilst monitoring
> > (with a headphone) what is being recorded with existing tracks (for
> > example a click track and or already recorded tracks). I have been
> > looking at:
> > - Edirol UA-3FX (50 UKpounds)
> > - Edirol UA-1X (59 UKpounds)
> > - M-audio transit USB (54 UKpounds)
>
> I don't know those, but I do know that the Edirol UA25 works very well
> for what it is, though it costs slightly more. I thinmk they have their
> drivers in good order.
>
> > Does any of you have any experience with any of these?
> > In particular, I am concerned with the monitoring issue with the UA-1x
> > and the M-audio transit. Is it possible to listen to what you play and
> > to what has already been recorded at the same time or would one need
> > an extra piece of gear, e.g. a little mixing table (which I do not
> > have). Latency should not be an issue: I have already been mucking
> > around with the on board mic of the ibook and tracktion handles
> > latency pretty well by -I think- delaying the pre-recorded tracks
> > during recording.
>
> > I am not interested in Midi at the moment, but could be in the future,
> > so would my current choise affect that in any way?
>
> The UA25 includes a MIDI interface. Buying one liek that might be
> cheaper than deciding later you had to buy another interface to do MIDI.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

martino> wrote:

> Thanks for the advice, The Ua-25 looks very appealing indeed. Just one
> last question: I have had a read through the user's manual and the
> left input (L/1) seems to be fixed to low impedance. Is it still
> possible to record line level signals through that input by setting
> the sensitivity on the Ua-25 to very low on that input and/or by
> inputing quiet signals?
> Thing is,1) I have got this very nice mic compressor that I still
> might want to use possibly with an el. guitar signal on the R/2 input
> 2) More simply put, how does one go about recording a stereo
> line-level signal through the UA-25.
>
> Hope this makes some sense...

Both inputs are combo jacks offering line in, or mic in with/without
phantom power. You'd be good to go using an external preamp + compressor
setup.

--
ha