Hello everyone,I am new with this recording stuff and would like to purchase a audio interface to run in BIAB.My main use is to produce backing tracks to play by bass to.I have a Fender p-bass with passive pickups and a 5 banger with active pickups.Do I need to be concerned on what interface model purchase with these different type of pickups? I have been looking at the Focusrite models. I dont know,what I dont know!!I would like to keep the price between 2 and 3 hundred bucks,not sure I need to spend that.

Thank you.

focusrite scarlet is a good option. I've used focusrite for many years with total satisfaction in the job it does. Very low latency.

Be sure it has phantom power, built in audio preamps, and uses ASIO drivers. (no codecs, and other proprietary software drivers.)

Presonus, M-Audio, Roland, are also good options. The interface is the heart of your studio so be willing to get a good one.

Also... consider a decent condenser mic... not a USB model. Then, a decent pair of studio monitors will get you where you need to be. Total budget can be under $800 for all the parts.

Hi Props2,

Another vote here for Focusrite interfaces. In the past years I have used many audio interfaces including the Edirol(Roland) and M-Audio. Currently using the Focusrite 18i20 (18 inputs - 20 outputs) The Focusrite Scarlett range starts with just 2 inputs and 2 outputs(stereo) upwards so depending on your recording requirements (how many tracks you wish to record at one time you may be able to work with less channels)
My Focusrite has been very reliable so far and latency is low. Excellent advice above from Guitarhacker.
Having used budget USB mics I would certainly agree that you should spend as much as possible on a good quality conventional all rounder studio condenser mic.
Quality makes look after you when it comes to reliability.

Good luck with your search

Kev.

Thank you both,for your answers.My original question was,well...not well thought out. So maybe I should reword this.

Is the passive pickups on my bass a hi-Z input?
Is the active pickups(9v battery powered)also hi-Z?

Do I need to be careful what I buy or do all the new interfaces cover the gamet of inputs.
BTW,I will not be using a mic for anything...I would scare myself!

Can I assume the interface also drives the signal for a pair of self powered monitoring speakers? I was thinking something like JBL 6"or 8" for the desk.

Thank you Jim for the reply. I need to get my head around this and maybe I am making this more complicated then it needs to be.Here is my scenario,
I like to play my bass to BIAB backing tracks that I have made and have the ability to record the bass on a track to critique my playing.Sometimes I play just to bassless online backing tracks.
When I am in playback mode I usually just output the laptop to my amp and use headphones, sometimes no headphones, but it seems the bass frequency and the music compete against one another even though it is a 500W 4-10 cabinet.It just don't sound that great.

At that point do I output the laptop to a pair of self powered studio monitors?
Will I get that sterile sound from studio monitors?
Is a laptop sound card good enough for this setup? I am thinking there has to be a better way.I dont mind spending the cash for the proper stuff.
Or...Do I rip out my big Yamaha sound system in the tv room and put in my music room. (The kids would get me in the middle of the night):)

Jim answered the questions well.

My Focusrite has a button on the input of each channel that lets me choose line level or instrument level.

One bit of advice regardless of anything else..... ALWAYS turn the level control DOWN to zero on the channel when you plug something else in. Then, you turn it up as needed. You probably know that but it's amazing how easy it is to forget that and end up damaging something because the new source was overloading the input.

+1 to Herb's last advice. This is especially true if you have phantom power turned on.

Hi
I use the Akai EIE PRO
As it is 24 bit, the basic model the Red one is 16bit








The vu meters are excellent and light up bright red on clipping you wont miss it..
It has many features you will not find on many other audio interfaces like 4 send and return skts and control room monitoring.
Probably best to have a look at this dealer review below give you an idea.if you don’t know it,
Lots of other info on Google,

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/akai-eie-and-akai-eie-pro-audio-interfaces

best regards
Mike

Personally, I wouldn't think any (no brand specified) 500W bass amplifier pushing a four speaker cabinet would sound good in any household setting. You'd have to keep the volume turned down so low it would sound like blah. But that's another discussion altogether. Conversely if you connected your laptop and bass to your Yamaha sound system in the tv room the bass likely wouldn't sound right.

So your ideal audio interface has: 1) at least one high impedance, or high-z, instrument input 2) receives digital or analog audio from a pc 3) direct monitoring that eliminates latency so pc and bass audio can be played together 4) a blend control to listen to either the bass or pc audio or blend them together 5) headphone output and 6) external speaker output. Note: You really want to be able to blend everything together so your (one channel) bass is sent evenly to both outputs.

Your ideal speakers are likely a 2 + 1 self powered configuration where you have two desktop speakers providing mid and high frequency directional audio and a separate sub woofer for the bass frequencies. It will be helpful if the speaker system has frequency adjustments built-in so you can adjust the sound to match what you hear with headphones. Pricey at $699 but +++ this Blue Sky eXo2 Stereo System +++ is an example of what's available.

Thank you all for your time and answers. Jim,your explanation hit the nail on the head.The hunt on these items moves forward.

A decent monitor system is not 'pricey' at $699, in my opinion.
We paid more for our Blue Sky 2.1 system many years ago, no complaints.
We use them with a couple other JBL and MX-Audio monitor systems to compare.

I can't vouch for this particular model, but the Blue Sky's we have were worth every penny. We abuse them sometimes to be honest, but they have lasted many years and worked great.
When you hear things right it saves money, time, aggravation and that stuff pays for itself.

Good pre-amps and good monitors are good investments.
They improve the end result more than the software used or other aspects. At least in my experience/opinion.

Thank you rharv for that opinion. Looks like a nice setup. I have my eyes on the Focal Alpha 50 which get great reviews also and would not kill the bank at 600 a pair.For my small 12x12 music room,that would be sufficient.Now I just need to find a decent interface which I am thinking rack mount.Not that I need all the I/O,But the desk is setup for rack mounts so that may help with clutter.So, any input on a $600 or so rack mount interface that will do the job of making all this work would be great(and sound good with room to grow). Again,its just me...the bass and the band(BIAB).Oh and a Budweiser to smooth things over.:)

For an audio interface in that price range; Scarlet 18i20.

These days that would be where I'd start

+1 on that!

The 18i20 would certainly more than cover your current requirements and leave you plenty of scope for
expansion.

You will see from the focusrite blurb at: https://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-18i20
it is rack mountable. The front and rear panels cover pretty much all types of impedance inputs you will need (high z, low z using combination XLR and 1/4" Jack sockets with further pad switches to moderate high signals.

If you look at the rear panel in detail you will see that outputs 1 & 2 (highlighted white) are dedicated to line outputs to your powered monitors.

Also shown are other models with less ins and outs if you feel that 18i20 is overkill but these are free standing units.

I agree

One of my units is an 18i20

It definitely does deliver the goods.

I think the 18i20 might be a little overkill! 18 inputs and 20 outputs when all he wants it for is to plug his bass guitar into.

I'm running the 2i4 here, great little unit that is perfect for plugging my guitars, bass, and keyboards into. Plus a mic the odd times I do that.

Even that is probably more than he needs, the 2i2 or even the solo with one input would be fine.

I agree with Dave. Props 2 can purchase a shelf for his rack and place the 2i4 on it. That will work and save him some money.

His request (asking me):


Sound good with room to grow.
Under $600
Rack Mount

He has $600 to spend, and wants something with good quality that will work reliably and have 'room to grow'. He'll still have money left over and a nice interface that meets the requested options with the 18i20. . if he went with a 2i4 he may be unplugging/plugging things in constantly, or worse yet run out of inputs some day when a few buddies show up to record.
The 18i20 (in his budget) does not have as many limitations and suits his specs nicely.
My humble opinion.

You are absolutely correct. Room to grow,I hate buying things twice. I have taken all your advice and ordered the 18i20 with a pair of Focal Alpha 50.I have a spare 15 Rythmik sub and a 10"super cube laying around if I feel like it needs a sub.This will get me started....who knows what this disease brings next. Thank you all.

Great
And one of the things I like about the 18i20 is that is is dead quiet.
Very important for me.

bob, you're right. I missed the room to grow. My bad.

Yeah, I missed that part too. Should have read the entire thread before sticking my oar in I guess :P

The 2nd hand market for the 18i20 is good to search too! I bought mine for £200 (around $260) just before the series 2 came out, so well within props2's budget. It was still in it's box, unregistered with all instructions and warranty and included special offers of FREE Red series VST modules such as compressor + EQ and Reverb which I was able to download from Focusrite.

Although occasionally tempted to go for the series 2....the series 1 does everything I ask of it. So on the basis of "if it ain't broke......"

This is a case where buying used is not advantageous. The Series 2 Focusrite drivers have lower latency than the Series 1.


Regards,


Bob

Granted Bob.....but I find the series 1 latency quite acceptable for my usage and as said , the S2 wasn't yet available when I got mine.

Cool.


Regards,


Bob