Audio Card, budget 300$, for electronic music?

Discussion in 'Studio' started by Highdom, Mar 6, 2018.

  1. Highdom

    Highdom Kapellmeister

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    I make electronic music, basically edm and electro pop. Sometimes I use to record voices and guitars not mono and stereo (so I need 2 input for mics). I use 2 pair of speakers and a headphone for mic my music, so I need two outputs.

    I really like audient id22 and I’m coming up with the idea of buying it but it’s too expensive. Also audient id14 is good and cheaper but I need 2 output way and it has just one (I think, isn’t it?)

    My budget is 300/350$, I can buy used audio cards, This doesn’t sound as problem for me.
    Advices?
     
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  3. derivative

    derivative Guest

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  4. boomoperator

    boomoperator Rock Star

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    If you want that Audient ID22 (which is excellent), wait another month or 2 and save 100 bucks more..
     
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  5. Olymoon

    Olymoon MODERATOR Staff Member

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  6. Plendix

    Plendix Platinum Record

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    Internal PCIe or external?
    the steinberg ur28m could switch between 3 pairs of monitors and work as monitor controller (it could also be used as 5.1 monitor controller without switching).

    https://www.steinberg.net/de/products/audio_interfaces/ur_serie/modelle/ur28m.html

    I use that one when I'm on the road and need to have a fast monitoring solution for anything from stereo to 5.1.

    It has 4 inputs, 2 of them mic preamps and you can switch to highz for guitar di.

    the latency is one of the lowest and the reoported latency is true (and not some fake number like some other companies do). Check out dawbench.com to see how companies manage to get (impossible) latencies of 1ms.
     
  7. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

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    *proud Behringer UMC404HD owner here"
     
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  8. petergrey

    petergrey Newbie

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    I recently was in a similar situation as you, you can find the thread still probably, anyway, I ended up buying Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, and so far I'm pretty happy, I had it for about 20 days now. Had some trouble with the drivers at first, but it seems some leftover files from my last card were making the problems, it's working pretty good now.
     
  9. loCurnus

    loCurnus Ultrasonic

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  10. bluerover

    bluerover Audiosexual

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    Focusrite Scarlett (gen 2) series for your purposes. I would save another $100 bucks and get a 18i20. They're being sold ""used"" (they're actually "new other") on eBay for $399. Might even find them cheaper with a "best offer".

    For dual monitor setup - Only problem I would foresee is the monitor volume adjustment knob possibly being "hard-wired" to the dedicated pair of TRS monitor outs. I'm not sure if it's mixer software would allow you to assign and control the other pairs of TRS line outs with the monitor knob. I'm just not sure.

    However, for future expand-ability for only a little bit more $$, I would go full-rack 18i20 close to your price-point
     
  11. TW

    TW Guest

    EDM? I would not touch the audient in that case. The audient shines cause of the preamp and the ad conversion. Get something with good latency and drivers if you do not record most of your stuff through the interface preamp. Id 22Great frontend but subpar drivers and latency.

    RME > Motu > ... etc > audient - For mainly electronic music.
     
  12. spyfx

    spyfx Guest

  13. Cackwizard

    Cackwizard Ultrasonic

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    Not sure which headphones you use, but I have the 600 ohm Beyers and I needed an interface with a headphone amp. Anything that powers itself by USB only will not drive your headphones and sounds like ass unless you attatch a headphone amp to it which is kinda dumb but it works. I found a used SPL Crimson for $350 and snatched it up and I'm super happy. It's not the newest model but it suits me fine. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/spl-crimson
     
  14. amadeusex

    amadeusex Ultrasonic

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    Steinberg UR-44.
     
  15. Moleman

    Moleman Platinum Record

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    if you are on pc and have pci ports, try to get a used RME HDSP 9632 for that price
     
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  16. derivative

    derivative Guest

  17. midi-man

    midi-man Audiosexual

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  18. Olymoon

    Olymoon MODERATOR Staff Member

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    I'm not saying firewire is not fast. I simply see that most new computers don't come with firewire, so ... it may be difficult if one day want to buy a new one and sell this one.
     
  19. solo83

    solo83 Platinum Record

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    You could use anything from a M-Audio M Track 2x2 to a scarlet 18i20 to a UAD twin usb solo etc.. Honestly I'd just go with the M Track 2x2 for what you're doing. You'd save about $300 from your budget and could invest in something cool like sound dampening pads, foam and traps.
     
  20. solo83

    solo83 Platinum Record

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    Firewire is nowhere near as fast as usb 3.0 which most window audio interfaces are compatible with
     
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  21. solo83

    solo83 Platinum Record

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    In fact only way thunderbolt beats out usb 3.0 is if you have a ssd drive that removes the speed bottleneck. Otherwise usb 3.0 is the fastest way to transfer data. That is unless you're using thunderbolt 2 or 3..lol
     
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