I am updating my PC based home studio. I was using an M-audio Omni Studio PCI interface and Sonar 3. The PC is outdated and the Omni studio interface has pot noise and is pretty much worn out. I am going to spec out a new PC to run Sonar 8.0 and am thinking of buying am M-Audio Fast Track ultra or Ultra 8R USB 2.0 interface. (I have no interest in going back to a Mac as someone will inevitably suggest). My PC and interface budget are about $2000. I would be interested if someone had some alternative suggestings or could give some feedback on the Ultra series of interfaces.
Updated PC Based Home Studio - Interface Considerations
4 Answers
-
Without knowing what you are going to be recording with this setup I would offer the following. Either one of those interfaces will give you an upgrade in preamps which will definitly help your sound.
If you are going to be recording drums -- go with the Ultra8R, I've always found it difficult to really capture them with much less than 8 mics.
If you mainly do solo instruments, you may look into constructing a rig built around 1 very nice preamp channel strip. (this covers, vocals, guitar, bass, trumpet, sax, etc...) This way most of your recordings are running though the best possible signal path. (I have an original Focusrite ISA 430 with digital card running into a cheap original Saffire interface at home and most everything goes through it.)
Is there a particular reason you are going with USB 2.0? If you are willing to look at firewire devices you may consider looking at the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. It has dedicated monitor outputs, includes both SPDIF and optical I/O, and does not require a breakout cable for MIDI. This allows you much more flixibility and upgrade potential in the future. It certainly seems to be superior to the Ultra 8R.
-
I built a computer for about $800 that is mindblowingly fast, 2.4gHz Intel Quad-Core, 4gigs of ram off a mini-itx motherboard. If you went a similar path this would leave $1200 in your budget for a ridiculous sound card, a little less if you need to buy a new monitor or something.
-
The Presonus Firestudio 26 I/O is a nice interface
- is a very scalable system
- nice pres
- 9 independent 0 latency monitor mixes
- adat , spdif, wordclock,
- ...
watch for your self...
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=5
any modern computer will fit with this baby... ;) i have one...
-
I agree here. I would put a lot of trust in the FireStudio line. I have Presonus's FireStudio Tube and it has been a wonderful upgrade from the FastTrack Pro I was using before. I might expact even more and invest in another FireStudio product to daisy chain to add more I/O. The 26x26 is the one I would recommend getting.
tnjsax | Nov 29 at 07:11
-
I switched to the FireStudio line and have been beyond happy with it. I bought the FireStudio Tube and I actually plan on expanding someday and daisy chain those suckers together. Aside from the Presonus brand name, I'd recommend using a FireWire interface over the USB. This is personal preference, of course, but there are some benefits.
tnjsax | Jan 19 at 06:01
-
Although you stated that you wouldn't go back to mac, I built myself a PC/Macintosh computer by adhering to Mac compatible parts and a few custom drivers.
I've built a strong dual core machine that still has room for upgrades for $600. The ability to run both Mac and Windows DAWs within one system has been incredibly convenient and practical for me.
more info:
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
current hardware compatibility list:
Gear Guy 
AutoAxon 
Pablo Santiago 
Griffin_Ritze 
Not the answers you're looking for? Try asking your own question.
Newest Members
-
brian
(0)
- Dann Chase (0)
- Haz (0)
- Josh (10)
- Robert Horvick (0)
- nyx.asgard (10)
-
peaveyplayer
(0)
- MIQ VERSE (0)
- DJ BAKA (0)