Newbie here. I'd like to record some vocals and guitar using either 2013 Biab or Realband. Do I need an Audio interface like a Presonus 96 through USB, or can I just use a small mixer and use the line-in input. Would there be differences in recording quality, or ease of use?

Welcome...

Using an interface is generally a good idea as it makes this easier and also lets you use hardware dedicated to the job as well as using ASIO drivers vs MME.

Lots of folks use MME with satisfactory results. However, latency tends to crop up quite a bit with MIDI & AUDIO when using MME. MME just doesn't handle MIDI as well as ASIO will. I've tried to run projects on MME and the results were disastrous.

Generally if you work in the audio realm only (no midi and soft synths) and keep the projects small, MME can handle the job satisfactorily to varying degrees.

On the other hand, I've never heard anyone state that they regretted buying a dedicated interface and running ASIO drivers. Most of the folks here and on other music sites are all running dedicated sound cards/interfaces in their studio DAW.

Hi Eddie,

I'd say a dedicated audio interface is a very good idea. You get dedicated ASIo drivers, and hassle-free monitoring in your headphones as you record. You can get ASIO working with your onboard soundcard too, but there are more hoops to jump through.

Also, the pre-amps and analog-to-digital converters in a quality interface are much better than the ones in your computer's onboard soundcard. Even switching from an older Tascam interface to a MOTU was a night-and-day difference.

Thanks
Kent
PG Music

To answer your question regarding using the line input, yes you can but you will likely get better and more reliable results using a usb/ firewire or other data interface.

The sound card and the physical connections on the computer or laptop are inferior to even the least expensive interface you'll encounter.

The unit you mention has gotten excellent reviews and any similar model of the better known brands should also provide suitable audio. Behringer is offering an interface at a very affordable price and I've read good reviews about it.

Many mixers now come with a USB interface built in. Some people don't care for that but the mixer and interface will be of equal to greater quality as any base line audio interface. According to your needs, size of your studio area and how many instruments you want to record simultaneously, a mixer can be the right choice. One limiting factor, if its a limiting factor at all, is that some of the mixer interfaces max out their recording resolution at 48khz/24 bit. There are some very affordable good quality mixers by Mackie, Zoom, Yamaha, Soundcraft, Peavy, Presonus and more. A 2x2 USB mixer will allow you to send two tracks at once to your DAW as return two back to the mixer to be mixed with live sound.

Also, don't overlook hybrid digital stand alone recorders from Tascam, zoom, Korg, Yamaha and other mfg's. You can easily transfer Biab/RB generated tracks back and forth between the computer and recorder, and they are rock solid gear. They make excellent field recorders and according the model can record up to 8 tracks or more. I have a Tascam DP-24 that I purchased when they were first introduced and not had a second of issues with it. I've had the zoom r-16, zoom H1, zoom H5, Tascam DP-004. I've also had the Presonus 16-4-2, Behringer X32 and currently the Soundcraft MTK- 22 and they are fantastic, high quality, studio recording devices with excellent pro grade built in effects and preamps. The have routing capability to handle any live or studio recording situation you may encounter. I've found the mixer/interface to be the most flexible option and actually the most enjoyable. It's much more intuitive that a mouse/keyboard.

I also own and use a Blue Snowball USB mic that provides excellent quality recording.

I keep the zoom H5 on my desk all the time and use it to record up to 4 tracks simultaneously.

Charlie, with all of those digital mixers and equipment switchovers, how do you get anything done? It takes me years to learn the capabilities of my gear. I don’t know if I would ever record and complete anything with so many different I/o devices to learn

+1 for a USB interface with an ASIO driver and its own software mixer program.

Learning your equipment is a challenge, but perhaps a bigger one is resisting the challenge to upgrade.

Ha ha, it's not too bad. The end use of the unit routing is usually the same. So, there's little difference in the setup regardless if I'm using a two channel Mackie mixer or a 40 channel Behringer X-32 if I'm only dealing with a solo singer/songwriter. Using the Behringer just makes me look smarter. I always try to plan to have more than I need in case I need more than I have.