Audio Interfaces

Hi all, I have always been more of a live sound gear head than someone who records. I'm not necessarily looking to start my own home studio as that takes a lot of time and money, but I am looking to purchase a decent AI for my guitar (and PERHAPS a microphone). I want to be able to make high quality demos and such. Any advice on what to use? I have a Samson G Track which is decent for acoustic guitar, podcasts, and that's about it (SO much extra noise, unless I'm just not getting it). I want to be able to record my electric guitars without an amp in the middle. If possible I'd like to keep it in the $50-$300 range. Ok go.

*edit: I forgot that I own an iMac and and iPhone for what it's worth.

I'd love to weigh in, I've had a fair amount of experience with both audio interfaces and recording electric guitar.

A little clarification please -- you mentioned "PERHAPS a microphone", but yet you say that you don't want an amp in the middle. In my mind, the way you would generally record electric guitar is one of two ways:

1. Directly input the guitar into the audio interface, and use a guitar amp simulator plugin/VST on the signal, or
2. Mic your guitar amp live, meaning the sound would be coming out of your amp, going into the mic, and the mic is what would be plugged into the interface.

Which scenario is yours? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding altogether 😛

It's not exactly an AI, but the ZED mixers from Allen & Heath have a DI for guitars and USB. I wonder if that might work for your needs? The ZED-10FX is in your price range and they make one without effects that's even more affordable. I have the 12FX and it's great, though I've never hooked a guitar up to it.

As much as I would love to record my Mesa, I don't live in a location where that's really possible haha. I would like to go from guitar to AI. Sorry if I was unclear.

Thanks for the suggestion, simfonik. I'm not against a mixer as long as it can function in that capacity and sound good plugged into a mac.

I had the opportunity to borrow an M-Audio Fast Track Pro last night. I really liked it from what I can tell and I'm thinking of getting my own. Anybody have any thoughts? It seems like it captured the sound of my guitar pretty well. My telecaster was a bit noisier but I think that's more a product of my pickups than the Fast Track. My Comins semi-hollow sounded great through it (with custom Florance pickups, it better). I just ran it through garageband so I was limited in the distortion sounds department. All of that stuff is secondary to capturing the best sound and bringing it into the DAW, correct?

Perhaps nobody is going to read this but I'll post anyway. After doing more research (and finding out that M-Audio no longer makes the Fast Track Pro) I'm not sold completely. Also, I'm intrigued by the Apogee Duet (1 or 2). It's out of the original price range I said but I'm a firm believer in saving up if it will make a big difference to you. Any thoughts, please?

I have an Apogee Duet, and it's pretty great. I can answer specific questions about it for you if you want. I've recorded electric guitar, acoustic, vox, and synths through it. It is however out of your original price range, as you said.

Have you looked into Focusrite audio interfaces? I see nothing but excellent reviews for them all around, and they are a fantastic value for the money.

Have a look at the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 and the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface to start with.

Both of you, thank you! This is exactly what I'm looking for. I offer expertise on guitar on a daily basis and I feel very uninformed regarding this interface business. Case in point: do you know if any/all of these will record bass in addition to guitar?

I think it's very standard practice to record bass DI through an interface. Once you get the sound recorded, it's gonna be up to how you process it if you get good results or not. You're gonna want an amp simulator plugin of some kind, and likely EQ and compressor plugins to start.

There are a lot of options as far as that goes and I've been reading up on them for a while. To be clear, you are saying that all of these are acceptable hardware interfaces to use for guitar, bass and vocals?

Awesome diagrams. I'm very visual so that helps a lot haha. I don't think that I would need more than one stereo device at a time. I would probably record one or two guitars at once or one electric piano. My intention is to make high quality recordings mainly for demos/students so I'm not too worried about the number of inputs at this moment in time.

I'm really liking both the 2i2 and the 6. I think it's going to come down to one of those 2 and I'm leaning toward the 2i2.

I just purchased the 2i2. I hope it's awesome.

Hey! Did you get the 2i2? How is it? You inspired us to write an audio interface buyer's guide, check it out: http://equipboard.com/posts/the-6-best-audio-interfaces

Guess what interface got the #1 spot? ;)

Haha, that's awesome! I did pull the trigger on the 2i2 and so far I like it a lot. I still have a few things I want to try with it but there will be a review forthcoming. Thanks again for the suggestions!