Hi guys, I'm a lifelong musician but pretty new to home recording. Thus far, it's just been a USB mic into Audacity. I'm ready to get serious and will get BIAB with RB soon. I'm going to upgrade from a USB to an XLR mic and I could get away with something as simple as the Blue Icicle rather than an audio interface such as the Focusrite Scarlett. Before I order the hardware however, what's throwing me is monitor headphones. At present, when I record in Audacity, I'm using earbuds with a 3.5 mm pin plug coming off my speakers' volume hub. Could I continue to make this work with Real Band- IOW, hear the tracks AND monitor the instrument I'm recording in real-time? And to take it one step further, if I wanted to use a higher-quality headphone to hear myself in the mix, I'm unclear as to where that would be plugged into, especially if it's a 1.25" plug, as opposed to USB. So, before I order that Icicle, do I really want the audio interface? I see that it has a 1.25" headphone jack, and I do own a good quality pair. Would the headphone jack from that interface give me what I need- existing tracks, AND the ability to monitor the recording instrument? I'm sure there are USB headphone options of reasonable quality, but again I'm unclear if I should go that way, still accomplish what I need, and just stick with the Icicle. FWIW, I'd like to keep it simple- I'm a woodwind player and would only be recording either sax or flute at any one time. Thanks so much everyone!

Best, Warren

Warren A. Keller- Woodwindist/Producer
Spontaneous Groovin' Combustion
Tune 9 Music- SESAC