PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production PreSonus 24C or Focusrite 214 which is best

My poor olde Roland Tricapture is getting past it. (Should take it back it’s only about 15 years old) I have had several drops in volume or the guitar cutting out. Give the USB a wiggle it usually works again but I don’t trust it.

I use the interface to plug my guitar into the laptop then use Guitar Rig or TH3 and blend it with the various tracks I have made using BIAB for live shows. The output of the audio interface plugs into my little PA (also other PAs when doing some shows)

I have also purchased a MIDI foot controller so I would like to add MIDI ports (albeit I have a UNO MIDI to USB device.)

Looking about both the PreSonus 24C and the Focusrite 214 have the ports I would like. The PreSonus is quite a bit cheaper and in my opinion has better giveaways but I know very little about PreSonus. Focusrite have a really good reputation.

What do you recommend.

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Tony

I have no knowledge of the PreSonus, so can't help you with that.

However I have been using the 2i4 here for a few years now and I can tell you it is a very good interface, I love it. Perfect for recording both vocals and guitars (line and instrument level inputs).

EDIT: Maybe this will help: https://www.careersinmusic.com/best-audio-interface/

<<< I use the interface to plug my guitar into the laptop then use Guitar Rig or TH3 and blend it with the various tracks I have made using BIAB for live shows. The output of the audio interface plugs into my little PA (also other PAs when doing some shows)

I have also purchased a MIDI foot controller so I would like to add MIDI ports (albeit I have a UNO MIDI to USB device.) >>>


Well, first, I'm fairly knowledgeable with Presonus hardware and software. I've also owned a Focusrite 18i20 unit. Presonus hardware: Interfaces: 22vsl, 22, 44vsl, and currently have the Presonus 192 but also still have my original 22vsl in service. I've had an AR22 mixer, 16.4.2 Studiolive mixer. Other hardware: V-Tube Preamp, 2 Eureka Channel Strips and an original single channel Faderport as well as the Faderport 8 Control Surface. There may be more but that's the list off the top of my head. Software, I have Studio One 4 Professional and the 192 uses Universal Control for access and control of the internal 192 DSP chip.


Some thoughts about Presonus.


If you use Presonus software, their hardware may have some neat perks between that software and hardware combo. Integration between Studio One and the Presonus hardware devices is very intuitive as well as adds a lot of useful control and convenience.

I have experienced rock solid performance from Presonus hardware. I've had one issue with one unit that was a B-stock purchase 10 years or so ago.

If you buy any Presonus hardware unit, choose one with X-max preamps. They are above average, quality preamps. The 24-c unit you are considering has X-Max preamps. The X-max preamp on today's $149 unit is much better than the single preamp that their $900 Eureka channel strip had when it was originally manufactured.


However, at the top of my post, I pulled a quote from your post. Some other thoughts I had about your situation.

You may want to consider on improving not only your studio setup, but simplifying and improving your live gig setup as well. You can do that by upgrading to a digital mixer/interface rather than just an audio interface. That upgrade will provide potential benefits you may not have ever considered for your live performances like adding a click track to add additional 'live' recording sections to play in sync with your live playing. It will provide more channels and routing to add additional devices for playback, MC, midi control of devices, audio and video and also lights. You can record a stereo mix of your show or with some models record a multitrack of a show. But the real payoff and improvement can come from the built in operating system (OS) and effects included. Here's an example why. Behringer's lowest priced, lowest featured Stage Box Digital Mixer has the exact same OS and effects/features as their top of the line, $2,300 Behringer X32 40-Channel, 25-Bus Digital Mixing Console. It's limited only to account for the reduction in input/outputs between the two units. Performance wise, there would be no difference between you using a full sized X32 for your current gig setup and the Behringer XR12 four pound stage box. There are several different models offered to accommodate the specific needs of a band or studio regarding routing, otherwise they are all the same except for scale. Behringer (and other manufacturers) also sells a traditional mixer, Behringer Xenyx UFX1204 Mixer and USB Audio Interface with Effects, with similar routing but everything is hardware control rather than total software control.

Thanks Dave, I looked about on other sites there are opinions either way. My use is very simple and even if it does not work out I can always take the QuadCapture off my desktop and swap things about. So I decided to go with the PreSonus which is way cheaper and comes with Studio One Artist not that I need yet another DAW but I thought I’d have a play and see if I learn more. The Studio One Artist is over half the price of the PreSonus 24C interface if purchased alone. This is a hobby and if I spend 100 hours on it, it works out cheaper than milk.

Tony

Thanks Charlie, my needs are very simple. I could have probably just purchased a delay pedal and plugged into the PA and just come out of the audio out but over time I’ve found what I had works great with very little thought.

These days I live in a retirement village in a unit on a major road. It is so noisy I don’t bother even trying to record anything. I just do the odd gigs at various nursing homes and within the retirement village. I came here to retire and either gave away or sold my gear (ended up having to buy some more). Unfortunately the poor old Tricapture is becoming very sloppy in its USB port so I don’t trust it. I like everything to be fairly reliable hence buying a new interface.

The PreSonus 24C comes with Studio One Artist. That is what swung the deal for me. A new toy to play with. However, I can’t see Studio One being a replacement for Reaper or Cakewalk for me at this stage. I understand both Reaper and Cakewalk pretty well for my uses.

Thanks for your advice. I always regard your comments as well founded not only by thought but also your experience.

Tony

You made me smile with that one Same deal here, I do it just for the pure fun of it.

As do I!