In this week’s post on building a home recording studio we’ll be covering audio interfaces. We’ve already covered the computer needed in Part I, so now we’ll look at what kind of audio interface you can buy.
Remember that we’ve only got a budget of $1,000. I cheated and didn’t include the computer in our budget, assuming that you either had a good enough computer to start with, or that you could increase your budget to cover your computer costs.
Question 2: What kind of music will you be recording?
Depending on the music you will be producing, the type of audio interface may vary.
If you only do electronic music inside the computer then you only need an interface that has decent analog to digital converters that you can hook your monitors up to.
Examples: Apogee ONE USB interface
Beware that this interface is great if you’re not intending to record anything with it, but just use it for electronic based music. The Apogee ONE has great A/D converters but it’s very limited in features.
If you need to record vocals and the occasional acoustic instrument then getting something with two microphone inputs is ideal.
Examples: Focusrite Scarlett
The Scarlett is a brand new interface from Focusrite. It has two high quality microphone inputs, perfect for those that only need to record a couple of instruments.
If you want to record more complex instruments, such as drums or an ensemble of instruments then you might want an interface with more microphone inputs.
Examples: TASCAM US-1800
This Tascam interface has eight microphone inputs, which is the perfect amount for recording demo drums or a live rehearsal.
Additionally, you can also buy a simple interface that you can connect other interfaces to in the future.
For more interface ideas, check out The Essential Audio Interfaces Under $500.
Interface connections
Many interfaces have extra inputs that allow you to slave other interfaces with them, making that small and affordable interface even more powerful. Let’s look at the various connections you will find in a digital audio interface.
Microphone input – This is the typical input that you connect the microphone to. You use an XLR cable to connect your microphone of choice to this particular input.
Line input – If you want to connect an instrument, such as a keyboard or a guitar, then you will use a jack cable to connect it to the line input. Sometimes the mic and line connectors are built in the same connection, enabling you to either connect the mic with the three-pronged connection or by plugging a jack plug into the middle.
Insert – Some, not nearly all, interfaces have an insert by each input. These inserts are used to connect outboard processors, such as compressors or EQs to your incoming signal.
For example: If you were to insert a compressor via an insert when you are recording vocals then your vocal will go from the microphone into the interface, but before it gets recorded it is sent to the compressor. There it is compressed before it gets recorded onto your audio software.
ADAT – Like I was saying before, if you have a small interface with only a few inputs but it happens to have an ADAT connection then you can expand your inputs. By using the optical ADAT connection you can connect another interface in order to use its inputs. Now you’ve got the inputs of both devices at your disposal.
SPDIF – This connection is similar to ADAT but is limited to only two extra channels. It’s very handy if you only need a few extra inputs. It’s also extremely convenient to use if you’ve bought a second interface, or a really nice pre-amp. If your high-end pre-amp has SPDIF out you can connect it to your old interface, adding an extra layer to your palette of sounds.
Computer Connections
Like we discussed last time, everything is ultimately going to connect to your computer. Therefore, when you are buying an interface you need to make sure that your interface can play ball with your computer.
If you have plenty of USB connectors to spare then try to find a nice USB audio interface. If you’re like me and are working from a laptop then you need those USB ports for something else. That’s why I choose firewire interfaces. I don’t have anything that connects via firewire except my interface so it’s a perfect way to plug in my audio device.
Mac users be aware: The newer MacBooks have a different firewire connection than the old ones. I found this out the hard way when I bought a new MacBook. It’s not a big deal, you can pickup a so-called bilingual firewire cable that solves the problem.
Bottom line?
Make sure you brainstorm the potential applications for your interface. Do you only need one microphone input for a vocal track, or do you need to record a loud band all at once. Depending on your needs, your interface purchases will vary.
Action step: Make a list of all the types of music you will be recording. What kinds of instruments will you be plugging into the interface? Do you want a tube sound? Do you want to spend more money on this part, or do you want to leave extra money for the microphone?
Join us next week as we go find some good monitors for our home recording studio.
Image by: Yan Basque
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