Low cost USB interfaces to use with Audacity/Audition?

I

IronFilm

Veteran
Wondering about what low cost audio interface to get?
The top uses for it would be for ADR / voice overs / podcasts.
If I can get a hackintosh to work, I'd probably play around with Boom Recorder Lite as well with it (with perhaps looking to in the future, upgrade to a full on cart system based on this): http://www.vosgames.nl/products/BoomRecorder/

Important points for me, in order of priority (but I could potentially be flexible on these):
1) At least 2x XLR inputs
2) 96kHz & 24bits
3) good pre amps
4) good limiters (which doesn't seem to be that common? Though a few like the Roland Rubix24 has them)

These are the few that I've started out considering (all prices in USD, pricing sourced from B&H Photo, seems $150 is a very common price point here):

Zoom U-24 ($150)
Steinberg UR22mkII ($150)
PreSonus AudioBox 96 ($100)
Tascam US-2x2 ($150)
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD (has **four** inputs, and only $100!)
Roland Rubix24 ($200, a new release! Not shipping just yet, so can't find out much info about it. Roland Rubix44 at $300 is becoming just too pricey for my tastes however!)
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Gen ($150. What is the difference between 1st and 2nd generation? Seems like lower latency and ability to handle hotter inputs is two of the key points, but would buying a sharply priced 1st Gen one be a good idea?)

And one more, just because it is just so crazy cheap:

Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 2x2 (only one XLR input, and the other is 1/4", plus is just 48KHz, but is an insanely low price of $29.99!! And is there a big difference between this and the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22 2x2 for ten bucks more?? Seems like "MIDAS designed" pre amps is the biggest extra selling feature here)

From my research, it appears Focusrite is in general the popular "default" recommendation.

But I often like to go against the grain ;-)

Steinberg UR22MKII seemed to then be my preferred choice, because I get the feeling from reading reviews it might have a small edge in having better pre amps, but also it has the nifty feature of being able to run from a USB power pack which gives it some extreme portability! (you can hook it up then with a iPad)

Tempted to wait for the reviews of the new Roland Rubix24 to come out, plus tempted still by the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD (because it has four inputs, and is only $100).

Or maybe I should just save over a hundred bucks, and get myself the Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 2x2 or Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22 2x2, to get it immediately and not bother putting so much time/research/thought into all this? :-P ha!
 
IronFilm said:
From my research, it appears Focusrite is in general the popular "default" recommendation.
But I often like to go against the grain ;-)
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If you as a beginner go with the popular default recommendation there will be a lot of support for that choice aimed at beginners and novices. That will speed up your productivity and learning curve. You make progress (and money?) sooner.

When you have leant the basics and discovered the limitations for your work of the kit you have then is the time to move on to the less popular or higher level choices.


IF you want top be different just for the sake of it you will have a harder and less productive path.


Re 2i2 Gen 1 and gen 2 they have overhauled the 2i2 and improved it. AFAICS you will only find the 1st gen 2i2 until stocks and exhausted. I have a 2i2 1st gen and will not be changing it. It works. It is good for podcasts and ADR (more important id the microphone)


BTW why would you use a Hackintosh? Very silly idea.
 
OzGizmo said:
Why 96khz if its mainly for voice work, especially for podcasts?
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I believe it can at times be very handy for ADR.

jagraphics said:
BTW why would you use a Hackintosh? Very silly idea.
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Because I'm frugal, can't you tell from this thread yet? ;-)

Is rather unlikely it will happen, but am thinking I'll give it a go to get it running on my new laptop when it arrives. Or maybe not, might just borrow a friend's old Macbook Air a few times for a few experimental recordings, to see how it goes, and only then if I decide to go ahead with purchasing the full version of Boom Recorder would I get a laptop of my own with OSX.
 
IronFilm said:
Because I'm frugal, can't you tell from this thread yet? ;-)
Click to expand...

It is still not a sensible idea.

IronFilm said:
Is rather unlikely it will happen, but am thinking I'll give it a go to get it running on my new laptop when it arrives. Or maybe not, might just borrow a friend's old Macbook Air a few times for a few experimental recordings, to see how it goes, and only then if I decide to go ahead with purchasing the full version of Boom Recorder would I get a laptop of my own with OSX.
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Why not just run an MS Windows laptop and tools that run on Windows?
IF you really need the OSX environment then get a MAC. there is a bit more to it than dropping the OS on the a PC. Not least the fact that is not legal(?)

You seem to like to be different and go for style and buzzwords over solid functionality.
Have a rethink.
 
I've had Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, first generation, for several years now. It's dandy, draws power from the USB cable, sounds good, reliable, doesn't require a software driver on Mac, has a MIDI connector (that I don't use). When shopping back then, the Scarlett line seemed a solid step or two ahead of the others (iirc, mainly in running of USB power, supporting 96/24...IIRC, and I may not). But looks like the gap has narrowed. However, like jagraphics, I don't feel any need to update the device.

So if you can find a first-generation Focusrite Scarlett, that could be a good choice.
 
jagraphics said:
Why not just run an MS Windows laptop and tools that run on Windows?
IF you really need the OSX environment then get a MAC. there is a bit more to it than dropping the OS on the a PC. Not least the fact that is not legal(?)

You seem to like to be different and go for style and buzzwords over solid functionality.
Have a rethink.
Click to expand...


I dearly wish I could stick with Windows or Linux.

But Boom Recorder ***ONLY*** runs on OSX. So you're forced into that corner of using a MacBook Air (or maaaaaaaaaaybe a Hackintosh?! But that would need a fair amount of investigation first).
 
IronFilm said:
I dearly wish I could stick with Windows or Linux.

But Boom Recorder ***ONLY*** runs on OSX. So you're forced into that corner of using a MacBook Air (or maaaaaaaaaaybe a Hackintosh?! But that would need a fair amount of investigation first).
Click to expand...

Linux is a basket case.
Windows is OK but....
in this market (audio/media) MAC is king.

The problem is that a Hackintosh is NOT a Mac. The reason why MAC's work so well is that Apple have an iron grip on both the Software and the hardware. The Boom Recorder will not just depend on OSX but the underlying APPLE Hardware as well. Just because both a PC and a MAC run an Intel CPU does not make them the same. Trust me they are not.

If you REALLY MUST have Boom Recorder (and many other MAC only programs) GET S REAL MAC NOT a Hackintosh. Unless you can afford to have flakey software in the middle of a session. You might be luck and you might not. Then of course you might find either the applications or the OSX lock up because the realise it is not a legal copy of OSX.....

The Choice is yours Boom Recorder and a real MAC or a PC/Windows and other apps.


If you lash something together it WILL fail in the middle of a vital session. That will also then be your last session,
 
What advantage does Boom Recorder give you over say, a Zoom F8 with their F-Control mixer?
https://www.zoom-na.com/products/fi...ld-recording/frc-8-f-series-remote-controller

I mean, Boom Recorder is nice...but if you're looking at just recording a couple channels with a USB interface, it seems like overkill. And those simple USB interfaces don't really provide a reasonable means for live mixing, imo. So you'd need/want a good mixer front end anyway.... So even with an unstable hackintosh, you're still going to be spending a fair amount of money...probably more than you would for an F8 with their controller/mixer...

Or so it seems to me. I haven't run the total prices. But factor in the hassle, the Zoom (or one of its competitors) looks like a better choice for low-cost cart mixing.
 
For ADR, VO, and Podcasts the Focusrite and Presonus interfaces are very nice. I have the single channel focusrite USB interface and like it very much, although lately because I have a MixPre-6 I've been using that just for giggles. It's really flexible for when I do video chats and want to record the audio double system.

Boom Recorder is very nice, but seems like it might be overkill for this stuff, as it is designed for production sound, not post. Something like Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, or Nuendo would work. I can make Audacity do things since I know what I'm doing, but it is very limited (it is free, after all). This way you aren't locked into using a Mac OS since you seem to not want to have to get a Mac (I don't recommend the Hackintosh route).

For me personally, I really recommend a mac, and for what you want to do, a Macbook Pro, even one that is a generation or two old, would work really well, be stable, reliable, and do everything you need. Yes, it'll cost a little bit of dough, but I have three Macs in my house right now, and I've had them all for a combined total of 7 years. You know how many times I've had to deal with "computer issues"? NONE. Meanwhile two of my sons wanted Windows machines. I've spent countless hours tweaking them and doing things to get them to work for them. I look at that as "my time is money", so I look at all the hours I spent trying to get them to run properly, and I think "if I billed my hourly rate for that these things have cost more than just getting a Mac".

To each their own, though.
 
Another vote for Focusrite 2i4, great little interface, even works with iPad, just need camera connection kit.
 
spgreen65 said:
Another vote for Focusrite 2i4, great little interface, even works with iPad, just need camera connection kit.
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Add my vote to that. We bought a 2i4 2nd gen for a new laptop interface for audio analysis software to replace my old firewire MOTU Ultralite. I like the MOTU better, but it is three times the price.
I also have a Shure MOTIV single channel pre that serves as audio interface for my iPad as well as the new laptop. Very nice preamp in that one. I velcro it to the back of the Iographer rig for field recording audio for video to the Ipad. The desktop MOTIV pre is shaped and weighted like a heavy paper weight, so it won't slide around on your desktop so easily when operating it. I've bent the Shure rep's ear about them making a lightweight hot shoe version for use with Iographer style viogger rigs.
 
davefisk said:
Boom Recorder is very nice, but seems like it might be overkill for this stuff, as it is designed for production sound, not post.
Click to expand...

99% of what I do is production sound. Just 1% is post, this thread is just mostly about things I'd play around with, or lend out to friends.
 
Just to clarify my rather minor point about Boom Recorder / Hackintosh, which now a disproportionate (?? Not that I mind! Is an interesting topic to discuss too) amount of the thread is about:

At the moment I'm not doing cart based shoots, usually the sound department is just me doing everything. I can count on the fingers of my hand the number of shoots I've had where there was an extra person in my department under myself. Plus a handful of times where I'm a boom op or utility working under another mixer, but again... those are cart based shoot, but not relevant here as I'm not the mixer! So not needing a cart myself for those times either.

Thus Boom Recorder (with a Hackintosh or not) would merely be something I'd be playing around with in my own time, to get a feel for it and learn more about it from a first person hands on experience. Plus maaaaaaaaybe (if I'm liking it) I might use it on one or two very low stakes shoots such as a no budget student short film. The kind of shoot which I could do with a Rode VMP on a painter's pole, going into a Zoom H1, and I'd still probably get better audio for them than they would have otherwise got.

However it would be fun to do, and I'd get valuable experience with Boom Recorder. So that when a suitable shoot does come my way (perhaps less than a year away? Or it could be two or more years away), then I'll be better informed as to if I want to go with a Zoom F8 (or two of them at once!), or Boom Recorder (& of course a MacBook Air, and probably a different audio interface), or even something totally different!

And *if* I was to pick Boom Recorder for this hypothetical future shoot, out of the various options other recording options, then this experience now means I'd be able to get up to speed with it faster and be able to put together the rig quicker / more effectively.
 
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