Need USB audio interface recommendation

FiddlerMD

FiddlerMD

Well-known member
I am in the market for an audio interface for use with XP / premiere pro

what I need primarily:
* clean headphone out that isnt succeptible to interference/noise - this is my #1 use for the interface and i can't stand hiss while there is no signal.

* at least 1 xlr input with phantom power (2 preferable)

* trs outs for monitoring

* bus powered

other features that woudl be nice is spdif in/out

i am not looking to spend a LOT since this doesnt get a lot of a workout aside from monitoring work... so here are my choices:

m-audio fast track pro

edirol ua-25

e-mu tracker pre

presonus audiobox

finding reviews for these is awful - most talk about using them on macs, and as with any other audio, they're very subjective (which i get.. no biggie).. my biggest issues are noise and drivers (Especially true with windows).

before you tell me to go with firewire, rather than start a debate, let's just confine this to USB2.

so if you have used these with windows, with other usb peripherals/hubs and such in place and monitored with headphones - please let me know. any other device i may have missed will be nice to hear about as well.

thanks!
 
I daresay most current USB interfaces will meet your needs... if you're having problems with hiss and noise, it's likely to come from other factors in your system. Are you feeding a good level signal? Is your power/ground setup clean?

A computer will generate a lot of electrical noise that makes using it's built-in hardware for monitoring problematic... but any halfway decent dedicated interface should be OK if the rest of your system is reasonable.
 
You might want to consider one of Digidesign's MBox2 models. They have what you're looking for and also include Pro Tools software, which will only run on Digidesign hardware. The standard MBox2 (as opposed to the Pro, Mini or Micro versions) is also about $100 less than the Sound Devices USBPre, at least at Sweetwater.
 
the USBPre is $550 .. i'm looking more like <$200

i dont need the throughput of firewire, cause i typically record 1 channel .. i MIGHT record 2 but it's not like i'm doing a full band ..

can anyone comment on the choices i listed above?
 
Okay, I am going to chime in here. I come from the audio world, so, take my advice however you want. You are looking for:
* clean headphone out that isnt succeptible to interference/noise - this is my #1 use for the interface and i can't stand hiss while there is no signal.

* at least 1 xlr input with phantom power (2 preferable)

* trs outs for monitoring

* bus powered

other features that woudl be nice is spdif in/out
Click to expand...
But under $200?

Friend, you are going to have a hard time finding this with a high quality. I agree with Ullanta, though, your noise is most likely going to be coming from outside your interface.

Of the choices you gave, Presonus or M-Audio, as I have equipment from both and I have no issues with either.
 
ok if the noise is coming from outside (even though headphones seem to be inducing it) - what can i do to minimize/eliminate it - the interface is plugged into a pc - i havent tried plugging it into a different box but i will just to see. either way, why would the USB bus induce noise? shouldnt the digital path be isolated away from the preamps/ dac's etc?
also, those features i listed arent requirements (not all of them) .. my primary purpose is monitoring via headphones, 1/4" trs's to monitors and occasional recording via xlr w/ phantom power. the rest are "nice to have"
 
Hi Mike,
Although I haven't personally heard the headphone amp quality on this box, it fits pretty well all other requirements you mentioned for under $200:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro-main.html

Here's what their site says on the Headphone section:

Headphone Output (D/A)
spacer.gif
Maximum Output-2.5dBV at THD < 0.05% into 32 ohms
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Working Range32 to 600 ohms
 
from what i understand, this unit has 1 volume control for headphones and monitors which kinda sucks - occasionally i need both
 
FiddlerMD said:
ok if the noise is coming from outside (even though headphones seem to be inducing it) - what can i do to minimize/eliminate it - the interface is plugged into a pc - i havent tried plugging it into a different box but i will just to see. either way, why would the USB bus induce noise? shouldnt the digital path be isolated away from the preamps/ dac's etc?
Click to expand...

Any gear that's connected electrically can cross-contaminate with noise. The AC power lines (and especially surge protectors) can add noise to the system. A bad/loose connector, improper grounding, etc... all potential sources of noise. Well-designed equipment will in some cases reduce this noise, but not always.

1. Try to isolate the noise source. Are you sure your signal is clean? Do you have a laptop? If so, try your interface connected to the laptop, running on battery power, connected to nothing else. How much gain are you using from the headphone amp - most of it? half of it? What kind of headphones (what impedence) are you using?
 
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