can you guys reccomend and interface for me?

[nosignal]

okay i record with my g4 powerbook and with garageband, and usually i just take the tape outs on my behringer pmh2000 into the line in on my computer, and im sure if i get some kind of usb or firewire interface it would sound better than what it does now, so could you all help me and reccomend a relativeley cheap, nice, single or double channel interface that would enhance my recordings a bit? that would be really nice, thanks a bunch. and this is relative to the topic, but could someone eplain exactly what an interface like the presonus firepod does, for example does it actually record all the inputs to different channels or is it like my mixer and puts everything on one track? thanks again

[thepimpdaddy]

There are a lot of threads on this topic, try the Search feature in the toolbar, and search "interface".

The interface can be a fully functional replacement for your soundcard, or it can simply be an input patch bay that connects with your soundcard. I have a M-Audio Omnistudio USB (1.1) that acts as a full replacement for my sound card (which I disable in my standard recording hardware profile), and actually has two XLR/Neutrik inputs with pretty good, quiet and detailed mic pres, as well as two line inputs. The interface contains A/D converters as well as onboard latency-free monitoring.

The problem with what you're doing is that you're taking an analog mic signal, and transferring it via an analog signal path into your soundcard, where the soundcard does the A/D conversion (A-->A-->D).

My solution with the M-Audio takes an analog mic input, and converts it to digital before passing it through to the computer to be recorded digitally via the USB cable (or, alternatively, via the firewire route) = (A-->D-->D).

Even if we started out with equal quality signals going in, you're going to lose more signal integrity (or add more noise) than me because you've added an additional analog element to your signal before it is recorded digitally.

I don't use garageband, but with my Sonar 3/4/5, and my interface, I can assign the four separate inputs (2 mic, 2 line) to four separate tracks. I can add an almost infinite number of tracks (by simply recording more and stacking tracks) for a really complex piece of multinstrumental music.

Hope this helps. Check the archives on TGP too, there may be some help there.

PD

[retro]

IIRC Garageband 2 and 3 are 8 track and GB1 was 2 track.

So if you have a firepod you could multi-track all 8 mic pres in GB2&3 at the same time.

As far as recommendations there are many to chose from. Budget, I/O and sound quality are usually a factor when looking. Presonus, Motu, M-Audio, Tascam, and more, are reasonable Mac choices.

Although new, TC Electronics has two new interfaces. The Konnekt 24D and Konnekt 8. I can attest that the pres and converters and sonic's are very very good in their price range. Since I have the 24D.

I can't think of a better sounding budget suggestion...unless you want to spend quite a bit more.

[nosignal]

thanks for the info, my plan was to record the drums with the mixer so i could close mic the set, then use just the interface to record guitar and everything else, so i think i would like something like you both suggested with two xlr inputs and maybe a couple line in's so i could have more tracks, im just looking to get the best one for the least money, haha, and ill try the search, thanks to both of you, and if anyone else has suggestions id love to hear them.

[nosignal]

okay, im a complete newbie when it comes to interfaces so i found a couple that i think will do the job.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-410-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=701385
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-FIREBOX-24bit96kHz-FireWire-Recording-System?sku=184133

any feedback on these, from how i see it they will both give me four tracks.

[slipperyfingers]

I have question. Looking at the mic ins on the firewire type of interface...do you need a special adapter for an XLR mic able?

-SF

[nosignal]

i think those kind inputs are made to fit a 1/4' and an xlr

[Croakus]

I really love my Mackie Onyx interface. Although I am using a Dell PC. These pre-amps are so clean and warm that they make even bad mics sound good.