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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi,
I was advised to get a dedicated USB port sound card for about $100.00. One that was mentioned was Tascam. I see all kinds. Does anybody have a recommendation? Tascam US144 MKII USB 2l.0 Audio Interfact about $120.00 or Tascam US122 MKII USB 2.0 Audio Interface about $110.00? Or other kinds? I see more expensive ones out there.
How about recommending a good audio microphone to use recording voice into BIAB?
Thanks!
NatchezToo
Jerry Krouse
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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It would be helpful to know what your intentions are with the interface. From your second question, it sounds like you need the interface for realtime recording? As for a mic, I highly recommend the Shure Beta 58.
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Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
I agree, John knows this stuff and I love my PCI Card, but if I was looking for a USB device, these have got quite a buzx going on..
http://www.focusrite.com/comparison_chart/
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 128
Apprentice
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OP
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Quote:
It would be helpful to know what your intentions are with the interface. From your second question, it sounds like you need the interface for realtime recording? As for a mic, I highly recommend the Shure Beta 58.
I was told by the Tech on BIAB that I needed to get away from ASIO and get a dedicated interface. He recomended the Tascam (among other for around $100.00). I want to have someone sing my lyrics into/onto my songs in BIAB. I can't sing (sigh).
Natcheztoo
Jerry Krouse
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Quote:
Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
I agree, John knows this stuff and I love my PCI Card, but if I was looking for a USB device, these have got quite a buzx going on..
http://www.focusrite.com/comparison_chart/
I'll have to find out if I have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available. What and where are they?!!! I told you I was as dumb as a bag of hammers about this computer stuff! I'll get back to you on that.
NatchezToo
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I can't sing (sigh).
Me either, but it doesn't stop me!!!
You should take your computer to a shop to have them check your motherboard. It doesn't really sound like a good idea for you to be poking around in there. There is no shame in not being a strong computer user. Just remember, you aren't a strong computer user YET. You will learn and grow into it and the learning never stops.
Okay, IF you can get the side cover off the computer, look inside along the big circuit board. That is the motherboard, so named because just like a family, everything is supported by the mother. A STANDARD PCI slot will be white and about 3 inches long running perpendicular to the back of the computer. Looking down on the slot, you'll see a "slot" or a "key". That will come in WAY down the road.
A PCI Express slot will be about 1 1/4 inch long.
An AGP (video) slot will be brown.
A lot of this is going to depend on how old your computer is. If it is "pre PCI-E" and "PCI-X" you will have standard PCI slots. That's why I suggest you take it to a shop and let them look.
You can find this stuff Wikipedia but step 1 is being able to see your motherboard, which means taking the door off, and again, not knowing your experience, I don't know how that will go. Just visit Wikipedia and type in PCI SLOT and you will get explanations and pictures of what the cards look like that fit the slots. The "notch" in the card has to line up with the slot, and that determines if it is 3.3v or 5v data bus. And just for another wrench in the works, some cards will work with either 3.3v or 5v.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Tons of folks use USB audio interfaces (I do). I can't see USB being an issue for you. I use a Tascam US-224 (obsolete), but I have heard the tascams you mentioned are pretty decent. Plus you can probably find slightly better prices if you search around on-line.
I've used my ancient tascam us-224 on windows 98, windows 2000, windows XP, vista and windows 7 64 (both desktops and laptops) and never really had any issues. USB is a nice flexible first choice. Internal cards are more for someone that has a dedicated music machine and they want the best all around performance.
Kevin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I have been using a USB audio interface for a year now with no issues.
There appears to be a Firewire vs USB war going on, much like the Mac vs PC wars. One says the other’s junk while boasting that they are the best. My guess is that either will do the job for you if you select a good brand like Roland, Tascam, Focusrite etc and make sure there are drivers for your OS.
I choose a USB because it appears that a lot of peripherals are going the USB route. Thus far I have recorded live 3 guitars and one vocal track while playing a number of midi tracks on my DAW with no problems what so ever.
I hope this helps.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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To all: Thanks! I am not trying to "have a dedicated music machine." Just trying to get voice/vocals on to my songs in BIAB. So, unless somebody posts a strong admonition not to, I think I'll try a Tascam of some sort.
Thanks again. You guys are helpful.
NatchezToo
Jerry Krouse
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
Just curious...what's wrong with USB sound cards?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
Just curious...what's wrong with USB sound cards?
Bandwidth.
I have a USB device on order that has 8 outs & no ins. I'm real curious if it works good. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
Just curious...what's wrong with USB sound cards?
Bandwidth.
I have a USB device on order that has 8 outs & no ins. I'm real curious if it works good.
John, I’ll bet the 8 outs and no ins is a typo!
My Roland Octa-Capture has 10 ins and outs counting the SPDIF ins/outs. I’ve had no problems thus far, see my previous message. This is an USB 2 system BTW.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Hi Jerry,
I have spoken to a good number of customers using the entry level Tascam devices and they tend to play well with our software. USB audio devices are quite widely available at the moment, I wouldn't discourage their use (if any device is going to be using more bandwidth than is available with USB, it won't be using that standard anyway). The majority of people I speak to on the tech lines who use audio interfaces are using USB audio interfaces and there aren't any show-stopping problems with using this standard as far as I am aware.
To be clear you were likely recommended an external audio interface because they have better signal quality / preamps, and for the most part have their own specifically programmed ASIO drivers (you don't want to get away from ASIO, it's necessary to use it for recording for its low latency); these ASIO drivers tend to be more reliable than using generic ASIO drivers such as ASIO4ALL.
-Will
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Just curious...what's wrong with USB sound cards?
Bandwidth.
I have a USB device on order that has 8 outs & no ins. I'm real curious if it works good.
John, I’ll bet the 8 outs and no ins is a typo!
My Roland Octa-Capture has 10 ins and outs counting the SPDIF ins/outs. I’ve had no problems thus far, see my previous message. This is an USB 2 system BTW.
Yes, I have used the same audio interface without any problems (USB v.2 too), using several in & outs, of course. I think bandwith shouldn't be a problem anymore.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
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Veteran
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Avoid USB if you can.Unless you have a laptop then that's about your only choice. I think you have a desktop. Do you have any spare PCI or PCIe slots available?
Just curious...what's wrong with USB sound cards?
Bandwidth.
I have a USB device on order that has 8 outs & no ins. I'm real curious if it works good.
John, I’ll bet the 8 outs and no ins is a typo!
My Roland Octa-Capture has 10 ins and outs counting the SPDIF ins/outs. I’ve had no problems thus far, see my previous message. This is an USB 2 system BTW.
Nope not a typo. ESI GIGAPORT. I use 8 separate outs to my mixer fro RB.Presently using the Audigy2ZS notebook card.Just looking into the future for when my computers with PCMCIA & Express slots crap out. That'll be the end of that card.
ESI GIGAPORT
If you're curious:
The hardware mixer gets these outs from RB:
Channel 1=drums
2=kick
3=bass
4=solos
5=acoustic guitars/strings
6=electric guitars
7=piano
8=organ & horns
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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John, not trying to start a war just trying to understand. Wouldn’t your inputs be through your USB port? My card has 10 inputs but all 10 of my outputs are through one USB port.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I use the Stealth Plug for input.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I use the Stealth Plug for input.
Thanx John. Now I get it.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Jerry
Advice here from someone who does EXACTLY what you want to do (or so it seems):
Tascam US-122 (audio/MIDI interface)
Rhode NT1-A (mic)
They work fine and are excellent value for money. I sourced and chose the Tascam myself and the mic was recommended to me by a pro sound engineer. I have been delighted with both ever since.
I record vocals and sometimes guitar / percussion / whatever. Two input channels are quite enough for that. With a laptop you can even record a live gig in stereo through it - either by using two mics (left and right) or taking output directly from the mixing desk. I also use it for running a two mic karaoke roadshow.
As to laptop or desktop - no difference other than the usual. With a laptop you are free to travel.
HTH
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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