Music Recording setup

[Bruu Betyr]

Im currently using a bose soundlink mini, connected to the onboard soundcard on my pc's motherboard to make and listen to music.. Its not very ideal so im buying a pair of m-audio bx5 studio monitors and am looking for a sound card under 200 dollars, preferably around 150. I have looked into a few like Scarlett 2i2, Roland Quadcapture ua-55 and Steinberg ur22 mkII, but am not sure wich one to buy. If you guys have any suggestions that would help. For gear: Im using an m-audio keystation mini 32 and a Roli lightpad block, and soon an ableton push 2. Thanks in advance

[AMDFerTehWin]

4 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Im currently using a bose soundlink mini, connected to the onboard soundcard on my pc's motherboard to make and listen to music.. Its not very ideal so im buying a pair of m-audio bx5 studio monitors and am looking for a sound card under 200 dollars, preferably around 150. I have looked into a few like Scarlett 2i2, Roland Quadcapture ua-55 and Steinberg ur22 mkII, but am not sure wich one to buy. If you guys have any suggestions that would help. For gear: Im using an m-audio keystation mini 32 and a Roli lightpad block, and soon an ableton push 2. Thanks in advance

no one on earth needs a SoundCard that costs that much P.S. are you a business or Youtuber? 

[Bruu Betyr]

2 minutes ago, AMDFerTehWin said:

no one on earth needs a SoundCard that costs that much P.S. are you a business or Youtuber? 

Its an external sound card (usb audio interface), im planning on using XLR in the future aswell, and nope just recording at home

[AMDFerTehWin]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Its an external sound card, im planning on using XLR in the future aswell, and nope just recording at home

well i have a youtube channel and i use onboard all the time. that aside i was going to say that an expensive sound card is nothing without a good pair of headphones so ithink you should put that into consideration

[Bruu Betyr]

1 minute ago, AMDFerTehWin said:

well i have a youtube channel and i use onboard all the time. that aside i was going to say that an expensive sound card is nothing without a good pair of headphones so ithink you should put that into consideration

Am using m50x, and am going to hook up a pair of studio monitors to it. Would prefer external so i can then adjust the volume from the box and not the pc

[AMDFerTehWin]

3 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Am using m50x, and am going to hook up a pair of studio monitors to it. Would prefer external so i can then adjust the volume from the box and not the pc

oh ok

[anothertom]

From what i read, your reason for getting a ~$150 audio interface is just to have an external volume knob, as currently you won't get any benefits from the IO due to using midi/USB/non-analog instruments.

 

If you're absolutely certain you're going to be using the xlr inputs 'soon', then the Roland looks good and gives a digital input and outputs, but the Scarlett 2i2 has two line/instrument inputs to the roland's 1, and the switches are on the front rather than the back.. Both have phantom power capabilities, but on both this is common over both inputs. The Roland has a ground lift option, which may be useful if it's used 'in the field'. The Roland also has midi input and output connectors.

 

You're unlikely to need the digital IN/OUT, and the presumably you've already got a midi interface. The two are pretty evenly matched, and my personal preference leans towards the 2i2, but either one would serve you well.

 

 

If you are not certain if you'll actually use the analog I/O an interface will provide, have a look at the schiit sys. This is an analog volume control for pre-amp level signals like you'd get from a computer. If you also want to use a higher quality DAC (and not a DAC/amp as you're using powered speakers), then have a look at the recommended amp/DAC thread, of which the schiit modi would fit nicely (aesthetically) with the sys. You could then get an audio interface when you actually need one.

 

[Ahoy Hoy]

58 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Im currently using a bose soundlink mini, connected to the onboard soundcard on my pc's motherboard to make and listen to music.. Its not very ideal so im buying a pair of m-audio bx5 studio monitors and am looking for a sound card under 200 dollars, preferably around 150. I have looked into a few like Scarlett 2i2, Roland Quadcapture ua-55 and Steinberg ur22 mkII, but am not sure wich one to buy. If you guys have any suggestions that would help. For gear: Im using an m-audio keystation mini 32 and a Roli lightpad block, and soon an ableton push 2. Thanks in advance

Unless your planning on purchasing a microphone which requires XLR or have instruments you want to use such as electric guitars or keyboards. Dont get a interface. A simple mini jack to stereo XLR cable will do just fine (well with a couple XLR cables).

[Bruu Betyr]

17 minutes ago, anothertom said:

From what i read, your reason for getting a ~$150 audio interface is just to have an external volume knob, as currently you won't get any benefits from the IO due to using midi/USB/non-analog instruments.

 

If you're absolutely certain you're going to be using the xlr inputs 'soon', then the Roland looks good and gives a digital input and outputs, but the Scarlett 2i2 has two line/instrument inputs to the roland's 1, and the switches are on the front rather than the back.. Both have phantom power capabilities, but on both this is common over both inputs. The Roland has a ground lift option, which may be useful if it's used 'in the field'. The Roland also has midi input and output connectors.

 

You're unlikely to need the digital IN/OUT, and the presumably you've already got a midi interface. The two are pretty evenly matched, and my personal preference leans towards the 2i2, but either one would serve you well.

 

 

If you are not certain if you'll actually use the analog I/O an interface will provide, have a look at the schiit sys. This is an analog volume control for pre-amp level signals like you'd get from a computer. If you also want to use a higher quality DAC (and not a DAC/amp as you're using powered speakers), then have a look at the recommended amp/DAC thread, of which the schiit modi would fit nicely (aesthetically) with the sys. You could then get an audio interface when you actually need one.

 

I dont need an amp, as the studio monitors im getting have an inbuilt amp. I need a USB audio interface to plug my speakers into and XLR microphone compatibilty. I just want something i can plug my studio monitors and headphones into and Get a stronger Crisper sound than plugging it into my PC. Isnt that What the scarlett and roland do? My friend had onboard audio before and he bought a roland quadcapture ua55 and the quality went from good to amazing. He has the same studio monitors as im Getting.

[Ahoy Hoy]

4 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

I dont need an amp, as the studio monitors im getting have an inbuilt amp. I need a USB audio interface to plug my speakers into and XLR microphone compatibilty. I just want something i can plug my studio monitors and headphones into and Get a stronger Crisper sound than plugging it into my PC. Isnt that What the scarlett and roland do? My friend had onboard audio before and he bought a roland quadcapture ua55 and the quality went from good to amazing.

Do you need midi inputs for your instruments?

[Bruu Betyr]

13 minutes ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

Unless your planning on purchasing a microphone which requires XLR or have instruments you want to use such as electric guitars or keyboards. Dont get a interface. A simple mini jack to stereo XLR cable will do just fine (well with a couple XLR cables).

Then im Pretty Much Wasting the idea of having good studio monitors. My computer only has One audio out, so im turning the sound from stereo to mono

[Bruu Betyr]

1 minute ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

Do you need midi inputs for your instruments?

Im not really using instruments. An ableton push 2 and a keystation mini.

[Ahoy Hoy]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Then im Pretty Much Wasting the idea of having good studio monitors. 

If you can explain to me why using science why using a cable is bad I will retract my statement.

[Ahoy Hoy]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Im not really using instruments. An ableton push 2 and a keystation mini.

But there all midi so do you need midi plugs or not?

[Bruu Betyr]

1 minute ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

But there all midi so do you need midi plugs or not?

No but im planning on using XLR

[Ahoy Hoy]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

No but im planning on using XLR

How many inputs you going to be needing?

[anothertom]

8 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

I dont need an amp, as the studio monitors im getting have an inbuilt amp. I need a USB audio interface to plug my speakers into and XLR microphone compatibilty.

That is exactly what i said.

 

8 minutes ago, Bruu Betyr said:

 I just want something i can plug my studio monitors and headphones into and Get a stronger Crisper sound than plugging it into my PC. Isnt that What the scarlett and roland do? My friend had onboard audio before and he bought a roland quadcapture ua55 and the quality went from good to amazing.

I didn't think the headphone output through properly. If you want a DAC with built in headphone amp, and a seperate line out for speakers then look at the Fulla 2, rather than a modi/SYS stack, 

[Bruu Betyr]

6 minutes ago, anothertom said:

That is exactly what i said.

 

I didn't think the headphone output through properly. If you want a DAC with built in headphone amp, and a seperate line out for speakers then look at the Fulla 2, rather than a modi/SYS stack, 

So is a DAC a soundcard without the midi and xlr ports. Im not fully sure about all This.

[anothertom]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

So is a DAC a soundcard without the midi and xlr ports.

Pretty much. It will take a digital input from your computer/mac/phone/tv etc... and output the analog signal. FOr example the Fulla 2 provides outputs through a headphone amp, a line out and a variable pre-amp output, with the headphone and variable pre-amp outputs controlled by the handy volume knob.

 

A midi interface is different to an audio interface as it is neither audio or an analog signal, although it is often found on audio interfaces (like the higher end scarlett devices). They convert the midi interface to a USB device, which is much more common on computers. They are much less complex and are often in-line devices, this would work just as well as a Scarlett 18i8 if it's only used for midi.

 

I'd also point out that a sound card is different to an audio interface, as (amongst other reasons) sound cards will usually be PCIe and use 3.5mm jack or phono/coaxial connectors and have limited input, and audio interfaces are external and will have more input than output, If it didn't make me look like a pretentious twat.

[Bruu Betyr]

8 minutes ago, anothertom said:

Pretty much. It will take a digital input from your computer/mac/phone/tv etc... and output the analog signal. FOr example the Fulla 2 provides outputs through a headphone amp, a line out and a variable pre-amp output, with the headphone and variable pre-amp outputs controlled by the handy volume knob.

 

A midi interface is different to an audio interface as it is neither audio or an analog signal, although it is often found on audio interfaces (like the higher end scarlett devices). They convert the midi interface to a USB device, which is much more common on computers. They are much less complex and are often in-line devices, this would work just as well as a Scarlett 18i8 if it's only used for midi.

 

I'd also point out that a sound card is different to an audio interface, as (amongst other reasons) sound cards will usually be PCIe and use 3.5mm jack or phono/coaxial connectors and have limited input, and audio interfaces are external and will have more input than output, If it didn't make me look like a pretentious twat.

Ok so instead of buying a scarlett 2i2 or roland, Because im not using midi. I could Get Schiit stack or something. What you recommend Getting, so i can plug in both my monitors and headphones. And adjust volume.

[Ahoy Hoy]

1 hour ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Im currently using a bose soundlink mini, connected to the onboard soundcard on my pc's motherboard to make and listen to music.. Its not very ideal so im buying a pair of m-audio bx5 studio monitors and am looking for a sound card under 200 dollars, preferably around 150. I have looked into a few like Scarlett 2i2, Roland Quadcapture ua-55 and Steinberg ur22 mkII, but am not sure wich one to buy. If you guys have any suggestions that would help. For gear: Im using an m-audio keystation mini 32 and a Roli lightpad block, and soon an ableton push 2. Thanks in advance

Well since your so desperate for those XLR outputs (ssshhhh anothertom ) and none of the interfaces you linked have XLR outputs how about this one. Has XLR inputs for a couple microphones and a couple XLR outputs for the speakers
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_babyface_pro.htm
or this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_ufx_2.htm
how about this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ssl_nucleus_2.htm
Or how about this, personally one of my favorite. It has loads of XLR inputs and outputs. Even can add a few effects like reverb.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_cl5.htm

[anothertom]

1 minute ago, Bruu Betyr said:

Ok so instead of buying a scarlett 2i2 or roland, Because im not using midi. I could Get Schiit stack or something. What you recommend Getting, so i can plug in both my monitors and headphones. And adjust volume.

I would suggest you don't buy the scarlett or roland because you're only using midi at the moment.

 

I wouldn't recommend the schiit stack (magni + modi) as the magni would be overly powerful for your headphones, and you would have to step up to the magni uber to get the line out for the speakers, which would total cost ~$250. As i said before, the Schiit Fulla 2 would suit your needs as you connect to your computer over USB, it has a headphone amp and output, and a separate pre-amp output for powered speakers. The Fulla 2 costs $99.

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

 

A CL5 is possibly slightly overkill in this instance, not been hands on with one sadly but is meant to be a nice desk. A QL5 however...

[Bruu Betyr]

7 minutes ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

Well since your so desperate for those XLR outputs (ssshhhh anothertom ) and none of the interfaces you linked have XLR outputs how about this one. Has XLR inputs for a couple microphones and a couple XLR outputs for the speakers
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_babyface_pro.htm
or this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_ufx_2.htm
how about this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ssl_nucleus_2.htm
Or how about this, personally one of my favorite. It has loads of XLR inputs and outputs. Even can add a few effects like reverb.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_cl5.htm

Nah i dont need those XLR, but all those fot perfectly into my price range so i will have to give them a try.

[Ahoy Hoy]

1 minute ago, anothertom said:

A CL5 is possibly slightly overkill in this instance, not been hands on with one sadly but is meant to be a nice desk. A QL5 however...

Ive never used any of the CL line but ive uesed all the QLs and I love those. Used a old m7cl and thats pretty good.

[Bruu Betyr]

9 minutes ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

Well since your so desperate for those XLR outputs (ssshhhh anothertom ) and none of the interfaces you linked have XLR outputs how about this one. Has XLR inputs for a couple microphones and a couple XLR outputs for the speakers
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_babyface_pro.htm
or this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_ufx_2.htm
how about this one
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ssl_nucleus_2.htm
Or how about this, personally one of my favorite. It has loads of XLR inputs and outputs. Even can add a few effects like reverb.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_cl5.htm

Nah i dont need those XLR, but all those fot perfectly into my price range so i will have to give them a try. 

 

3 minutes ago, anothertom said:

I would suggest you don't buy the scarlett or roland because you're only using midi at the moment.

 

I wouldn't recommend the schiit stack (magni + modi) as the magni would be overly powerful for your headphones, and you would have to step up to the magni uber to get the line out for the speakers, which would total cost ~$250. As i said before, the Schiit Fulla 2 would suit your needs as you connect to your computer over USB, it has a headphone amp and output, and a separate pre-amp output for powered speakers. The Fulla 2 costs $99.

 

 

 

A CL5 is possibly slightly overkill in this instance, not been hands on with one sadly but is meant to be a nice desk. A QL5 however...

Sorry This Is all so complicated. I just want a box or to Where i can connect my speakers and headphones to Get better stronger sound, and adjust volume. What boxes