Which interface should I get?

[StephenT91]

I'll be using Cubase on a Mac and this keyboard.

So, I need to get an interface (and pre-amps?) that would work with this (unless I really should get a different keyboard/synth). Can I get some recommendations? I'd like some recommendations for different budgets, too... I'm not sure how much I could spend on these, but knowing differences between different models in different price ranges would affect my willingness to spend more.

[EdisonRex]

Hi,

Do you not have any interface at all right now? Do you have any other equipment? Are you using the Mac's audio in any way currently?

The budget for audio/MIDI interfaces ranges from $100 to thousands, depending on how much you're trying to do. Most of the reasonable ones seem to cost around $300 or so. Are you looking for just MIDI, or audio and MIDI? How many channels? Then, what quality? 24/96 is pretty standard, and audio quality is debatable (infinitely).

I guess I'm saying if not $300-500, what is your limit?

[StephenT91]

Thanks for the reply. To answer your questions:

No, I don't have any interface right now. I don't have any equipment, other than instruments (I'm just starting to get into electronic music production, so if you've got any other recommendations, those would be greatly appreciated as well!). I'm not sure what you mean by "using the Mac's audio"... I think I might have answered that from your last question. If not, please explain.

I'm not really sure if I'd rather just MIDI or audio/MIDI... if you could clarify some of the pros/cons of the two, please do. I wouldn't really need many MIDI links. 24/96 would be fine.

If I could get a perfectly reasonable interface for $300-500, that'd be great. I don't really need a huge, powerful interface that could support a full band... I'll just be messing around a bit.

[BobTheDog]

So the next questions.

1. How many ins and outs do you need?

2. Do you need digital connections such as ADAT?

Cheers

Andy

[StephenT91]

2 in/out, and adat isn't necessary, but would be nice

[EdisonRex]

Ah, so you don't have the mac yet? Do you know which Mac you'll be getting? Some Macs have digital audio options in them, good for a couple of channels of digital. They also tend to interface nicely.

The next point is the interface... FireWire or USB. Macs generally come with firewire (the newest are FW800) and work well with audio interfaces (I have a laptop with such a configuration). USB, however, is fine and for your needs would probably work very well.

Then the audio and MIDI.

For audio only, at the low end are devices like the Tascam US-122 MKII, which is a two input / two output 24/96 USB audio interface. What's nice is that it has decent mic preamps. What's not is it doesn't have more channels.

For a bit more money but still low end, Lexicon has the Omega Desktop, which gives you 4 line ins, 2 mic ins, and some efx inserts as well as some digital outs. I think those can be had for under $200.

Focusrite also has some good products in this range. The Saffire is a 6 input device, 4 line ins and 2 mic ins. I think it's a bit cheesier in construction but I've also heard that it works fine.

Adding MIDI will add cost, of course, but you should have MIDI. Tascam makes a decent box (US-1641) which gives a respectable 16 channels with 8 of them being mic ins, plus MIDI. Also 4 outs. I think you can only use 14 channels at a time. it might come bundled with Cubase LE, although I wouldn't use it, but that's just me.

M-Audio make some low end interfaces with audio and MIDI, I've not heard wonderful things about them though. I'd be interested in hearing if anybody had.

Anyway there's a start.

[abstraktor]

Hi
M Audio interfaces are the best of the budget end - stable drivers, and the octane mic pre-amps (on some models, not all) are clear and revealing. Plus point is that you can use Pro Tools (M Powered) if you decide to move on from Cubase. MIDI ports as standard. The best all rounders under the $1000 bracket imho. I'd go for the firewire models if poss.