Recommendations for an Audio Interface and a heaphone question.

[iamtwrex]

Hello guys,

 

I need some help and possible recommendations for my next purchase(s). I'm looking for a good audio interface to go with my Rode Procaster Mic I recently bought. Just finish ordering my cloud-lifter for the mic, since I did some research on the web and YT and saw most people said it was like "must buy". Now what audio interface should I get? I knew about focusrite scarlets for years now but I feel there's some other choices or gems out there. Also like to be different then the usual or norm I guess.

 

For right now and probably long time I'm an one man army so I don't need those quad XLR ports. I only have one mic lol. As of now I'm changing my whole setup to be at a nice quality streamer couple steps above beginner level I guess lol. Also would like to start a little podcast with couple of friends.

 

PC specs you could find below... had it for a couple of months now. (I'm a video editor and love to create different sorts of content in the entertainment/music business)

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/twrexgaming/saved/NjzL23

 

Then my other question is I fell in love with these headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010IJ9W1U/?coliid=I2RSBC3EJMAXX8&colid=20BL67KWNC0DH&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1 (I used to worked in a recording studio as an intern and was able to use these headphones while I was their with the main engineer, I forgot the other paired he will use for other projects but these was his second go-to). The amp/setup he had at the recording studio was way over my budget and he only knows about high end recording studio equip based off his experience. So I'm asking do I need to purchase an amp for these headphones? Because I don't think so since the audio interface should do the job right? If not whats a good amp. My spending budget for the audio inter face is between USD $100 - $250. If I need an amp too, I'm happy to spend $100-200. Apologize for this being so long, just trying paint the picture and make sure I give you guys as much info as possible.

 

Thanks

[harls]

I am using the focusrite 2i4 to run my SM58 (for now) and as an amp for my headphones and to hook up my studio monitors.  You could go cheaper with a Behringer um2 (I believe is the model) but I have had horrible experience with Behringer products.  

[iamtwrex]

5 hours ago, harls said:

I am using the focusrite 2i4 to run my SM58 (for now) and as an amp for my headphones and to hook up my studio monitors.  You could go cheaper with a Behringer um2 (I believe is the model) but I have had horrible experience with Behringer products.  

thanks I will look into Behringer products

[Derkoli]

22 minutes ago, iamtwrex said:

thanks I will look into Behringer products

I'm quite happy with my Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22. I don't use it for very much as I have other, much more expensive audio interfaces (RME ADI-2 Pro FS USB, roughly 1700USD) but for what I use it for it's great. Pretty low noise, decent headphone output, balanced outputs for monitors on the rear, and provides 48V phantom power. And it's powered off USB, not a DC input from a mains adapter.

[iamtwrex]

1 hour ago, Derkoli said:

I'm quite happy with my Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22. I don't use it for very much as I have other, much more expensive audio interfaces (RME ADI-2 Pro FS USB, roughly 1700USD) but for what I use it for it's great. Pretty low noise, decent headphone output, balanced outputs for monitors on the rear, and provides 48V phantom power. And it's powered off USB, not a DC input from a mains adapter.

Thanks!

[The Flying Sloth]

I'm currently using a Behringer UMC1820 in my studio and while it does exactly what I need it to the drivers can be a little bit finnicky out of the box if you want to run above the Windows default sample rate. I don't know how powerful the headphone amps are on the UM2 or really budget interfaces but the UMC404 seems to have the same amp as my interface and it can definitely handle cans like the 990 pro. It also has inserts (for adding external effects) and extra mic inputs if you wanted to expand a little in future ( like your little podcast ) but is cheap enough to not break the bank now. To be honest you probably didn't *need* the cloudlifter but an inline amplifier like that (or the Triton audio fethead) can certainly boost gain a fair amount and make it more workable for streaming and other live applications.

Sloth

[iamtwrex]

34 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

I'm currently using a Behringer UMC1820 in my studio and while it does exactly what I need it to the drivers can be a little bit finnicky out of the box if you want to run above the Windows default sample rate. I don't know how powerful the headphone amps are on the UM2 or really budget interfaces but the UMC404 seems to have the same amp as my interface and it can definitely handle cans like the 990 pro. It also has inserts (for adding external effects) and extra mic inputs if you wanted to expand a little in future ( like your little podcast ) but is cheap enough to not break the bank now. To be honest you probably didn't *need* the cloudlifter but an inline amplifier like that (or the Triton audio fethead) can certainly boost gain a fair amount and make it more workable for streaming and other live applications.

Sloth

Do you have any exp or know anyone who used the Steinberg UR12/UR22 (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR12--steinberg-ur12-portable-usb-interface)? Same go for you @Derkoli 

[The Flying Sloth]

3 minutes ago, iamtwrex said:

Do you have any exp or know anyone who used the Steinberg UR12/UR22 (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR12--steinberg-ur12-portable-usb-interface)? Same go for you @Derkoli 

Personally, no.
From looking at specs it has slightly worse dynamic range than similarly priced Behringer though I have no doubt the drivers are probably more friendly.
I wouldn't trust the UR12 to power the 990 pros though as it doesn't have a dedicated headphone amp from what I can tell.
To be honest, there are tonnes of cheap audio interfaces at this sort of price range and they're all mostly 'good enough' so long as you find one with a dedicated headphone amp in your case.
Youtube reviews are your friend so long as they're not from 1, brand fanboys, 2, brand haters or 3, people who really have no clue what they're talking about.

If you're looking online consider searching in Thomann too, their US shipping is reasonably priced and product range is unmatched (literally, they're the biggest online music store).

Sloth

 

[iamtwrex]

13 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Personally, no.
From looking at specs it has slightly worse dynamic range than similarly priced Behringer though I have no doubt the drivers are probably more friendly.
I wouldn't trust the UR12 to power the 990 pros though as it doesn't have a dedicated headphone amp from what I can tell.
To be honest, there are tonnes of cheap audio interfaces at this sort of price range and they're all mostly 'good enough' so long as you find one with a dedicated headphone amp in your case.
Youtube reviews are your friend so long as they're not from 1, brand fanboys, 2, brand haters or 3, people who really have no clue what they're talking about.

If you're looking online consider searching in Thomann too, their US shipping is reasonably priced and product range is unmatched (literally, they're the biggest online music store).

Sloth

 

Do you have any recommendations for YouTubers I should watch? podcaststage should i trust his reviews?

[The Flying Sloth]

1 minute ago, iamtwrex said:

Do you have any recommendations for YouTubers I should watch? podcaststage should i trust his reviews?

Podcastage is usually quite balanced with his reviews, if nothing else he will show snippets of audio of the gear he's reviewing so you can draw conclusions for yourself.
Other than him I really just search directly for reviews of the product to get a consensus for what people think of it. For searching like this I must warn you that there are a few brands that are hated purely because of the brand name and sometimes these are reviewed more harshly than others (Behringer being one and Blue being another).

In the end, it's down to the interface you want to buy, at this price range there will be very little difference between most of them and with the cloudlifter the slight difference in gain really isn't an issue for you now. So long as it has a dedicated headphone amp and reviews don't say that it's a paperweight you should be fine in all honesty.

Sloth

[iamtwrex]

4 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Podcastage is usually quite balanced with his reviews, if nothing else he will show snippets of audio of the gear he's reviewing so you can draw conclusions for yourself.
Other than him I really just search directly for reviews of the product to get a consensus for what people think of it. For searching like this I must warn you that there are a few brands that are hated purely because of the brand name and sometimes these are reviewed more harshly than others (Behringer being one and Blue being another).

In the end, it's down to the interface you want to buy, at this price range there will be very little difference between most of them and with the cloudlifter the slight difference in gain really isn't an issue for you now. So long as it has a dedicated headphone amp and reviews don't say that it's a paperweight you should be fine in all honesty.

Sloth

Okay thanks!

[harls]

14 hours ago, iamtwrex said:

thanks I will look into Behringer products

I have heard good things about the Behringer device,  I haven't used a Berhringer product in many years so they may have improved in QC since, judging by others responsed below leads me to believe they likely have. 

 

[Derkoli]

10 hours ago, iamtwrex said:

Do you have any exp or know anyone who used the Steinberg UR12/UR22 (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR12--steinberg-ur12-portable-usb-interface)? Same go for you @Derkoli 

I've used similar Steinberg gear in the past, I'm not sure on that particular model but it should be 100% fine if you don't need balanced outputs. It does supply 48V Phantom power so will work with any microphone. But if you're looking at that price range and do need balanced outputs, you can get the Focusrite Scarlett Solo.

[Derkoli]

2 minutes ago, harls said:

I have heard good things about the Behringer device,  I haven't used a Berhringer product in many years so they may have improved in QC since, judging by others responsed below leads me to believe they likely have. 

 

Yeah Behringer has improved alot, I'm still not sure on their speakers, but the other stuff is totally fine. They just get bad reviews from reviewers because "Oh no it's Behringer"

[harls]

1 minute ago, Derkoli said:

Yeah Behringer has improved alot, I'm still not sure on their speakers, but the other stuff is totally fine. They just get bad reviews from reviewers because "Oh no it's Behringer"

Yeah I don't get reviewing it and saying its bad.  I am in the position that I wasn't going to give them my money after being burned before.   

[The Flying Sloth]

10 hours ago, Derkoli said:

Yeah Behringer has improved alot, I'm still not sure on their speakers, but the other stuff is totally fine. They just get bad reviews from reviewers because "Oh no it's Behringer"

I can't comment on HIFI/PA speakers but their Truth lineup of studio monitors are quite good in that price bracket, the same parent company bought out Tannoy a few years back too. I'm still using an old set of Tannoy Reveal 5As as my main computer speakers and have heard great reviews of the newer Tannoy 3 digit line of studio monitors (reveal 802 and the like). Sure they're not Genelecs or PSI Audio but at the price you really can't expect them to be.

I completely agree on the review point, though some hate is probably deserved for their circuit copying, their copies are near-perfect and their guitar pedals which cost a tenth (or less) of what the originals do are a testament to this.

Beyond that they also produce some brilliant products in their own right like the ADA8000 and 8200 ADAT preamps (sub 200 USD) which were put against a Lynx Aurora 16 system ($3500+) in a blind test on GS and the Behringer came out on top. The X32 digital mixer has become somewhat of an industry standard for small-medium venues and it's damn good, to the point where people are using it as a standalone audio interface and mixing desk in (high end home and low end commercial) studios.

Sloth

[Derkoli]

15 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

I can't comment on HIFI/PA speakers but their Truth lineup of studio monitors are quite good in that price bracket, the same parent company bought out Tannoy a few years back too. I'm still using an old set of Tannoy Reveal 5As as my main computer speakers and have heard great reviews of the newer Tannoy 3 digit line of studio monitors (reveal 802 and the like). Sure they're not Genelecs or PSI Audio but at the price you really can't expect them to be.

I completely agree on the review point, though some hate is probably deserved for their circuit copying, their copies are near-perfect and their guitar pedals which cost a tenth (or less) of what the originals do are a testament to this.

Beyond that they also produce some brilliant products in their own right like the ADA8000 and 8200 ADAT preamps (sub 200 USD) which were put against a Lynx Aurora 16 system ($3500+) in a blind test on GS and the Behringer came out on top. The X32 digital mixer has become somewhat of an industry standard for small-medium venues and it's damn good, to the point where people are using it as a standalone audio interface and mixing desk in (high end home and low end commercial) studios.

Sloth

Apparently Behringer Power amplifiers are quite good. I haven't personally used them though. I think ZReviews used to use two A800's for his setup, I'm not sure though.

 

I also like Tannoy gear, But haven't used it in a while. Their "HiFi" speakers are also amazing.

 

I think Behringer is a brand that kind of fills in what alot of other brands won't by making great stuff for cheap by copying other people's stuff and using slightly cheaper components that don't make much of a difference. I personally won't really use much of their gear as I'm going for the highest fidelity I really can but I think it's important that people can get into decent gear without spending a massive amount.

[The Flying Sloth]

7 hours ago, Derkoli said:

Apparently Behringer Power amplifiers are quite good. I haven't personally used them though. I think ZReviews used to use two A800's for his setup, I'm not sure though.

 

I also like Tannoy gear, But haven't used it in a while. Their "HiFi" speakers are also amazing.

 

I think Behringer is a brand that kind of fills in what alot of other brands won't by making great stuff for cheap by copying other people's stuff and using slightly cheaper components that don't make much of a difference. I personally won't really use much of their gear as I'm going for the highest fidelity I really can but I think it's important that people can get into decent gear without spending a massive amount.

For me, much more involved with recording than the mastering and ultra-high-end audiophile world, getting 16 simultaneous Phantom XLR inputs for $300 was an absolute godsend. Now that I've got a few grand invested in microphones I'm in the process of moving to an RMI interface for more inputs but will continue to use the ADA 8200s for IO because they're honestly just damn good pieces of gear. I've only ever had one thing from them break and a replacement was sent to me at no cost within 12 hours. Honestly I'm probably biased towards Behringer and no amount of hate based on brand alone or manufacturing country is going to change my mind.

Sloth