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Post subject: Inexpensive USB Interface
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:36 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I am looking for an inexpensive, (i.e. under $100), USB Recording Interface to use with my guitar/mic'ed amp. Have any of you had any experience with any of the myriad of choices out there? Which one would you pick and why?

Here are some models I'm looking at:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lexicon-Alpha-USB-Audio-Interface?sku=245507
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA202-USBAudio-Interface?sku=702540
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Fast-Track-USB-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=703606
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Guitar-Link-UCG102?sku=241228

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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:52 pm
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Line 6 Guitar Port Riff Tracker . Basic is $100 the recording software is another $70. It is well worth it's money especially if you buy both in the same pack.

But most any multieffects pedal comes with a usb port. I'm just not sure which ones work for recording. Most are to download presets like Digitech in Guitar World Mag.


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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:02 pm
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Warpfield ...

Just a suggestion, but if you have a IEEE 1394 port on your computer, you'll be much better served to consider a firewire-based interface ... I've found the firewires to be far less trouble when it comes to latency issues ... Personally, I use a Behringer FCA202 interface and I believe it sells for under $100 on many on-line sites ... Perhaps others have had different or better experiences with other units, but the FCA202 works very well for me ...


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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:27 pm
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I have the Behringer Guitarlink UCG-102. It works just fine.

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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:45 pm
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I've tried several different audio interfaces through the years. Depending upon your computer, you may experience latency with some of them.

You might want to "optimize" your computer for recording before trying and deciding on any of the available interfaces.

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-opti ... ing-music/

Good luck! :wink:

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:01 pm
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Currently, I'm using a Lexicon Lambda which is similar to the Alpha except it has more inputs. It's worked very, very well for me. Comes with Cubase LE software which doesn't have the most intuitive front end (I use ACID Pro), but if you don't have any software I guess it's not bad. Also, comes with the Pantheon Reverb plug-in, but you can only use it with Cubase (or other Steinberg software). Decent performance for the price.

The Lexicon unit replaced my m-audio Fast Track USB interface. I was puzzled by the user reviews -- people loved it or hated it -- there was very little middle ground. I took a chance on it and my experience was all bad and it took me most of a year to discover why. My PC came with a RealTek sound card, one of the most popular on the market. The Fast Track creates a conflict with the card. You have to a) disable the card or b) modify the chip set. I opted for c) replace the interface. There is also another popular card that creates a conflict, but I don't remember the brand. You may have great luck with the Fast Track, but I would check user forums (and my sound card) before taking a chance on it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:16 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
I've tried several different audio interfaces through the years. Depending upon your computer, you may experience latency with some of them.

You might want to "optimize" your computer for recording before trying and deciding on any of the available interfaces.

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-opti ... ing-music/

Good luck! :wink:


The computer I'll be recording on is one I built a couple years ago as a gaming machine:

ABIT Fatal1ty AN8-SLI MB
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 2.0GHz Dual-Core Processor
2 GB RAM
500 GB Seagate 7500 RPM (originally I had two drives running in a RAID 0 configuration, one failed so...)
BMG NVidia 8600 Graphics board
Coolermaster 450W power supply and Tower Case
Windows XP SP 2

Right now I am recording through the standard mic input using Audacity as the recording software. This seems to work okay but, I'm pretty sure that a USB interface would work even better. I tried running Vista for a while but that operating system sent my frame rates into the dirt, even running two video cards in SLI configuration didn't help. I couldn't wait to get that off my system.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:23 am
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Quote:
I tried running Vista for a while but that operating system sent my frame rates into the dirt, even running two video cards in SLI configuration didn't help. I couldn't wait to get that off my system.


Vista 64-bit won't allow you to use software programs with unsigned drivers. Not sure about the 32-bit version. I'm using XP and will continue to until they stop support in 2014.

Also, Windoze 7 Beta is now available for download.

Sometimes I track with a BR recorder, but then mix with Audacity. It's a great (and free) program and they also have just released a newer beta version :

"The Audacity Team is pleased to announce the release of Audacity 1.3.7 (beta) for Windows, Mac and Linux/Unix. This is primarily a bug-fix release to significantly improve stability and usability, especially on Mac OS X, but includes some new features too.

Cross-Platform Bug Fixes include:

* Muting/soloing caused incorrect channel results in exported stereo files
* Fixes for Nyquist effects, Compressor and Noise Removal
* Fixed Export as WAV could be corrupted if overwriting to same file, and Export Multiple to uncompressed formats only produced 16-bit WAV
* MP3 and WMA now export correctly with all supported metadata

Platform-specific Bug Fixes include:
* Windows Vista: crash opening Preferences
* Mac OS X and Linux: fixes for spurious clipping, label typing, no shortcuts after running effects, and project rate when importing files
* Mac OS X only: fixes for inactive or corrupted menus and hidden dialogues, portable settings, and Command and Control shortcuts. Also FFmpeg installer now available.

New features/other improvements:
* F11 Full Screen mode, high-quality "Sliding Time Scale/Pitch Shift" effect, Audio Contrast Analyzer
* Windows: sound devices can now be opened using the more efficient DirectSound API
* Improved latency correction using fixed correction value"

Good luck! :wink:

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:25 am
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I have vista 64 bit, and after the service pack it really performs like a beast.

I built my machine for gaming a year or so ago, and since the patched vista I would never go back to XP. I have found however that (even with XP,) a lot of games that aren't optimized for SLI take a hit in frame rates.

Anyway, I got tired of gaming, and am also thinking of turning my rig into a recording machine.

Oh and for Miami Mike :

Start/Programs/Accessories
- Right-click "command prompt" and select "run as administrator"
- At the command prompt, type bcdedit /set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
then reboot.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:29 am
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stratmansteve wrote:
Currently, I'm using a Lexicon Lambda which is similar to the Alpha except it has more inputs. It's worked very, very well for me. Comes with Cubase LE software which doesn't have the most intuitive front end (I use ACID Pro), but if you don't have any software I guess it's not bad. Also, comes with the Pantheon Reverb plug-in, but you can only use it with Cubase (or other Steinberg software). Decent performance for the price.

The Lexicon unit replaced my m-audio Fast Track USB interface. I was puzzled by the user reviews -- people loved it or hated it -- there was very little middle ground. I took a chance on it and my experience was all bad and it took me most of a year to discover why. My PC came with a RealTek sound card, one of the most popular on the market. The Fast Track creates a conflict with the card. You have to a) disable the card or b) modify the chip set. I opted for c) replace the interface. There is also another popular card that creates a conflict, but I don't remember the brand. You may have great luck with the Fast Track, but I would check user forums (and my sound card) before taking a chance on it.


I'm curious about the conflict. Was this an IRQ conflict? I've noticed that certain computer brands, like Compaq for example, like to force sharing of some IRQ channels, in particulat number 11. However, some boards need to operate on their own IRQ channel. I work at a company that manufactures image scanning boards for some high end scanners that scan a typical 100-400 images per minute. As you can imagine, the board(s) receiving and processing this data need to have a unique path to the hard drive and don't work and play well with other things sharing the same IRQ. The only method for ensuring a unique IRQ is in the BIOS setup.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:31 am
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CAFeathers wrote:
I have the Behringer Guitarlink UCG-102. It works just fine.


What recording software do you use?

From what I have read concerning this interface device, it does not work with Audacity at all.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:05 pm
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Warpfield wrote:
Miami Mike wrote:
I've tried several different audio interfaces through the years. Depending upon your computer, you may experience latency with some of them.

You might want to "optimize" your computer for recording before trying and deciding on any of the available interfaces.

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-opti ... ing-music/

Good luck! :wink:


The computer I'll be recording on is one I built a couple years ago as a gaming machine:

Windows XP SP 2



I'm using XP Pro with SP 3 (probably doesn't mean much regarding recording though?)

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:47 am
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FWIW, I just plugged my new strat :lol: straight into my iMac with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and ran it through GarageBand. Sounded pretty cool, especially with the built-in effects.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:28 pm
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Warpfield wrote:
stratmansteve wrote:
Currently, I'm using a Lexicon Lambda which is similar to the Alpha except it has more inputs. It's worked very, very well for me. Comes with Cubase LE software which doesn't have the most intuitive front end (I use ACID Pro), but if you don't have any software I guess it's not bad. Also, comes with the Pantheon Reverb plug-in, but you can only use it with Cubase (or other Steinberg software). Decent performance for the price.

The Lexicon unit replaced my m-audio Fast Track USB interface. I was puzzled by the user reviews -- people loved it or hated it -- there was very little middle ground. I took a chance on it and my experience was all bad and it took me most of a year to discover why. My PC came with a RealTek sound card, one of the most popular on the market. The Fast Track creates a conflict with the card. You have to a) disable the card or b) modify the chip set. I opted for c) replace the interface. There is also another popular card that creates a conflict, but I don't remember the brand. You may have great luck with the Fast Track, but I would check user forums (and my sound card) before taking a chance on it.


I'm curious about the conflict. Was this an IRQ conflict? I've noticed that certain computer brands, like Compaq for example, like to force sharing of some IRQ channels, in particulat number 11. However, some boards need to operate on their own IRQ channel. I work at a company that manufactures image scanning boards for some high end scanners that scan a typical 100-400 images per minute. As you can imagine, the board(s) receiving and processing this data need to have a unique path to the hard drive and don't work and play well with other things sharing the same IRQ. The only method for ensuring a unique IRQ is in the BIOS setup.


Yes, I believe that was at least part of the problem. I tried to find the knowledge base and forum posts again but was unsuccessful. There was someone who posted the actual IRQs. As I read the posts in the forums it seems there are a lot of people having problems with the sound cards. One guy did what I almost did -- he bought a "better" m-audio interface and now has two inoperable units! I'm glad I moved on. BTW, I'm running a three year-old HP Pavilion a814x.

I see the Lexicon Alpha is down to $79 !!


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:40 pm
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I use a Shure SM57 straight into the mic port on my Macbook Pro and record in GarageBand. I just do it for kicks since I am still learning to play, so its hard to explain to my wife why I spent the money for the mic in the first place. I'm sure the pros here would tell me why that set up is a bad idea

Martin


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