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mooseherman « Great interface to get started with Pro Tools. »
Published on 09/19/10 at 13:50This was the first audio interface that I bought for my Pro Tools setup. It's relatively small and only has two analog inputs, but this is enough for some people to do small recording projects at home, so this isn't really a bad thing, especially considering the price.
This interface has 4 ins and outs (2 analog, 2 digital). The analog inputs have XLR and quarter inch inputs, and 1/4 inch outputs. They both have phantom power so that you can use a condenser microphone. They are capable of recording at a rate of 24-bits and 48 kHz, which is better than CD quality. The interface has a MIDI in/out as well. The interface connects to your computer via USB.
If that doesn't sound convincing, keep in mind that buying the bundle (which the above price reflects) will include the Pro Tools software (LE version), as well as several plugins that are quite useful. These include the standard Pro Tools plug-ins, as well as a few nice ones including the Bomb Factory Joe Meek emulators (which are really nice).
While all these features are nice, there's no denying the limitations of this setup. Forget live recording of an ensemble, the most you can do at once is acoustic guitar and voice, or something comparable. Also, the pre-amp in this interface is nowhere near top of the line. You aren't going to a get a studio quality sound, even if you have a good mic. The mic pre is almost as important, so I wouldn't want to use this for anything more than demos, especially nowadays. However, it is a good place to start for people who are just learning Pro Tools. Learning on bad equipment can actually be a good thing, as it will force you to learn how to mix and edit well. Overall, this is for beginners, and if you feel the need to just save up more money and get a better one, go for it. Otherwise, this isn't a bad place to start.
This interface has 4 ins and outs (2 analog, 2 digital). The analog inputs have XLR and quarter inch inputs, and 1/4 inch outputs. They both have phantom power so that you can use a condenser microphone. They are capable of recording at a rate of 24-bits and 48 kHz, which is better than CD quality. The interface has a MIDI in/out as well. The interface connects to your computer via USB.
If that doesn't sound convincing, keep in mind that buying the bundle (which the above price reflects) will include the Pro Tools software (LE version), as well as several plugins that are quite useful. These include the standard Pro Tools plug-ins, as well as a few nice ones including the Bomb Factory Joe Meek emulators (which are really nice).
While all these features are nice, there's no denying the limitations of this setup. Forget live recording of an ensemble, the most you can do at once is acoustic guitar and voice, or something comparable. Also, the pre-amp in this interface is nowhere near top of the line. You aren't going to a get a studio quality sound, even if you have a good mic. The mic pre is almost as important, so I wouldn't want to use this for anything more than demos, especially nowadays. However, it is a good place to start for people who are just learning Pro Tools. Learning on bad equipment can actually be a good thing, as it will force you to learn how to mix and edit well. Overall, this is for beginners, and if you feel the need to just save up more money and get a better one, go for it. Otherwise, this isn't a bad place to start.