Hi guys,

I'm looking for a decent audio interface for my laptop. Haven't been around
for a while, all the "portable" interfaces I'm aware of are digidesign's
m-box and the old one from Lexicon.

It should function primarily as an interface for recording amateur bands
(who train in garages etc), who probably want to record their drums and bass
guitar at the same time, so about 6 inputs would be nice. The number of
outputs isn't an issue, but build quality is, since its secondary function
will be to record the dialogue tracks to the laptop in independent movie
projects shot sometimes outdoors.

I'm not searching for something over-rugged, but the build quality's a minor
issue I just have to take into account. Of course, the actual audio quality
is the most important factor, so any knowledge about those new portable
interfaces is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, as always.

I'm new to all this recording stuff (just completed my first home CD
probably sux to most) but as for portability and the ability to hook to a
laptop I think my Fostex MR-8 would be a fair choice to consider. It allows
for two inputs and can bounce tracks for a total of eight. Has a USB or
SPDIF to computer. Comes with a 128meg Compact Flash memory card that holds
quite a bit (I have seen others for sale on Ebay with 512 and gig cards) .
These folks might disagree with me, and they will probably be right for the
reasons they report, but the ability to take this thing and my
acoustic/electric out to the park and record is a really nice feature.
It was pricey to aqquire and the learning curve wasn't as bad as I thought
it would be. I bought mine brand new from some online store for around
$350.00 and see them go for around a hundred less on Ebay. Yet I knew I was
getting a never used piece of equipment.

--
Pray for success please. :-)
http://web.nccray.net/jshodges/mommasaid/sss.htm
"Tommi" wrote in message
...
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a decent audio interface for my laptop. Haven't been
around for a while, all the "portable" interfaces I'm aware of are
digidesign's m-box and the old one from Lexicon.

It should function primarily as an interface for recording amateur bands
(who train in garages etc), who probably want to record their drums and
bass guitar at the same time, so about 6 inputs would be nice. The number
of outputs isn't an issue, but build quality is, since its secondary
function will be to record the dialogue tracks to the laptop in
independent movie projects shot sometimes outdoors.

I'm not searching for something over-rugged, but the build quality's a
minor issue I just have to take into account. Of course, the actual audio
quality is the most important factor, so any knowledge about those new
portable interfaces is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, as always.

Many many many options. Start with M-Audio and Edirol and work your way up.

It should function primarily as an interface for recording amateur bands
(who train in garages etc), who probably want to record their drums and
bass
guitar at the same time, so about 6 inputs would be nice. The number of
outputs isn't an issue, but build quality is, since its secondary function
will be to record the dialogue tracks to the laptop in independent movie
projects shot sometimes outdoors.


You should be able to find a used MotU 896 for around $450 on eBay. They're
excellent. I use one with a Sony laptop with firewire and 8 large diaphragm
condenser mics to produce some amazing recordings. And the MotU 896 can run
off a modified squarewave inverter without getting buzz into the audio. I've
used it out of the back of my truck to record fireworks in 5.1 surround
sound.


--
Best Regards,

Mark A. Weiss, P.E.
www.mwcomms.com
-

I'm looking for a decent audio interface for my laptop. Haven't been
around
for a while, all the "portable" interfaces I'm aware of are
digidesign's
m-box and the old one from Lexicon. I'm not searching for something
over-rugged, but the build quality's a minor issue I just have to take
into account. Of course, the actual audio quality
is the most important factor,

MOTU Traveler. Good converters, 4 good micpres, 4 line ins, plus ADAT
ins, can be powered from the FireWire bus, wall wart or external
battery pack. Same footprint as a 15" PowerBook. Well built, light.
About $800.

Scott Fraser

Tommi wrote:
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a decent audio interface for my laptop.

It should function primarily as an interface for recording amateur bands
(who train in garages etc), who probably want to record their drums and bass
guitar at the same time, so about 6 inputs would be nice. The number of
outputs isn't an issue, but build quality is, since its secondary function
will be to record the dialogue tracks to the laptop in independent movie
projects shot sometimes outdoors.

What about this makes "build quality" significant? Are you planning to
use it in the rain, or in a dust storm? I'd be far more worried about
other parts of your system than the audio interface. Can you recommend
a laptop computer with great build quality? g

Of course, the actual audio quality
is the most important factor, so any knowledge about those new portable
interfaces is greatly appreciated.

They're all about the same as far as audio quality goes. The biggeest
difference betwen them is how much of a pain in the butt it's going to
be to make it work with your computer. The only manufacturer's product
that seems to have a near perfect record in this respect (and their
audio and construction quality is good, too) is RME, but I suspect that
the reason why there are few negative data points with that line is
because it costs enough more than all the rest of the lot that there
are fewer of them in use. And those who have committed top dollar
expect (and get) good support from the company and they don't give up
easily.

So, my advice is to pick one that has the features you need, buy it,
hook it up, and give it a few hours. If you have problems with clicks
or crashes, take it back and bring home your second choice. Repeat
until satisfied. Or not.

I like my MOTU 896, though it isn't hooked to a laptop. If you had a
portable rack case though with a little Mac laptop and the MOTU, and
got one of those rack mounting sliding shelves, you could have a
little recording studio all in one rack case. I've thought about doing
it several times.
The 896 uses firewire, and has 8 inputs with individual preamp and and
phantom power controls. You can set each channel input to 'mic',
'line', or '+4'. Each channel has an output too. Lots of other
features as well. The whole thing is software controlled from your
computer, you can do live monitoring with it and patch different
inputs to the outputs, etc. Pretty versatile unit. The main limitation
I've found is that it will only do live monitoring for 2 channels at
once, you can't monitor all 8 at the same time.




On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:28:23 GMT, spud wrote:

Now Tommi, would that be a PC type of laptop or a Mac type of laptop?
You could start your research from there.

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 06:11:15 +0200, "Tommi"
wrote:

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a decent audio interface for my laptop. Haven't been around
for a while, all the "portable" interfaces I'm aware of are digidesign's
m-box and the old one from Lexicon.

It should function primarily as an interface for recording amateur bands
(who train in garages etc), who probably want to record their drums and bass
guitar at the same time, so about 6 inputs would be nice. The number of
outputs isn't an issue, but build quality is, since its secondary function
will be to record the dialogue tracks to the laptop in independent movie
projects shot sometimes outdoors.

I'm not searching for something over-rugged, but the build quality's a minor
issue I just have to take into account. Of course, the actual audio quality
is the most important factor, so any knowledge about those new portable
interfaces is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, as always.

RME MULTIFACE II

Rado Stefano wrote:
RME MULTIFACE II

If only the real answer was so simple. Thanks for letting us know what
you have, though.

The 896 uses firewire, and has 8 inputs with individual preamp and
and
phantom power controls. You can set each channel input to 'mic',
'line', or '+4'. Each channel has an output too. Lots of other
features as well. The whole thing is software controlled from your
computer, you can do live monitoring with it and patch different
inputs to the outputs, etc. Pretty versatile unit. The main limitation
I've found is that it will only do live monitoring for 2 channels at
once, you can't monitor all 8 at the same time.

Actually, the main limitation is that there is not a lot of gain on the
mic pres, & they sound OK, but certainly nothing exciting. The MOTU
Traveler mic pre has a ton of available gain & sounds considerably
better than the 896.
Also, what do you mean you can only monitor 2 channels at a time? You
can monitor whatever your software mixer is playing for you, which can
be all 8 input channels & any existing tracks simultaneously. There is
obviously not a hardware mixer across the 8 outputs of the 896, but the
whole idea of using a DAW is that you mix in software.

Scott Fraser

I have the firefaces not the musltiface.I wish I could afford to by 3
multifaces with 3 PCI/PCMCIA cards.

I went the Mac 15" G4 PB & Motu Traveller route and did well but you
mentioned recording in garages... :-)

Depending on the place, next time we go out, I may mount the Motu,
possibly the external HD, some batteries, etc. into a small easy-to-lug
rack not just for protecting equipment or to simplify the rat's nest of
cables but it would also be a nice place to set the lappie. Wouldn't
matter be it the Traveller or any one of the many other interfaces
available...