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I'm pretty much at the end of my patience with Apogee One. I have no idea what I;m doing wrong but it's apparently something that trashes everything in varying degrees. I'm ready to go back to something much simpler. All I need is a single channel mic adapter/Usb interface that's Mac compatible, ideally one with phantom power but even that's not absolutely essential. Any recommendations?
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02-26-2014 09:29 PM
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Check out some of Tascam's offerings. I have a US-600 that works pretty well.
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I've had nothing but a bad run with interfaces. If you're recording solo guitar, perhaps look into getting a standalone recorder, then move the files to the laptop for editing? Unless you're a pro engineer with a dedicated computer for recording, it seems like too much mucking about - especially when there are so many variables in play. Finding the cause of a problem is like finding a needle in a haystack. Not a good place to be in, when you just want to play and express your creativity. My2c - rant over!
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A very good simple piece is the Blue Yeti.
The Apogee One looks simple on paper. Are you using the line input or the built-in mic? Wait. There's more. You may have the older model with only 1 input.Last edited by kenbennett; 02-26-2014 at 10:38 PM.
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Sort of off topic, but why don't you use the pod HD's interface? It's got everything you need already... I mean, why try the apogee in the first place? Just curious...
Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
K
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I use an Alesis io14 with a Mac. I record with Garageband. It works well, with the caveat that you have to keep the drivers up to date with your OS updates. This is an old (obsolete?) firewire based interface, but Alesis still supports it. I haven't tried their current products. I'm on Snow Leopard (it's an older Macbook), and right now everything works well. I also occasionally one of these: Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
http://www.amazon.com/First-Act-Guit.../dp/B0058OE9QY
It also works OK (a tiny bit of latency if I have multiple applications running).
A friend of mine has one of the pro-level MOTU with a Mac running Logic. Works great.
John
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Because a whole bunch of people have been trying to talk me into mic'ing an amp. I probably could run it through the Pod but I hadn't really thought about it and I don't think it has phantom power. I'll check it out in the morning and see what it does. Originally Posted by nosoyninja
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Why don't you go with one of the less expensive 2 channel interfaces, such as Presonus or Steinberg have to offer. They all seem to have phantom power, at least 2 mic inputs and they come with decent recording software, pretty much everything you need to multitrack record within a $100-200 range, you can't go wrong.
Here's one from the local L&M store:
http://www.long-mcquade.com/products..._Interface.htm
Dan
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Read about the Boss BR 800.
http://www.bossus.com/gear/productde...ProductId=1068
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It so happens that i have a Tascam US-144mkII that I used for about three days when I first got it a couple years ago. I didn't like the way it sounded with my SM57 so I out it back in the box and forgot about it. I just tried it with the lithe Audio Technica AT2021 condenser mic I bought a few months ago and it worked pretty well, complete with the needed phantom power. It may well be at a good short term solution. I don't know if I'd want to record an album with it but it will certainly allow me to do a few gear demos and videos and that all I really need to get done right now. Originally Posted by Engine Swap
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Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
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I just checked out some reviews and that looks really promising. It's even the right price range. What are the noise levels like? Originally Posted by kenbennett
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Focusrite Forte.
- They write great drivers and stay on top of the latest OS on Mac (presumably PC too)
- Great preamps with tons of gain in a small package
- Knob acts as a shuttle controller for most major DAWs—I use this constantly. Press to play/pause, turn to fwd/rwd
- Very easy interface that you can adjust from the front panel, I've never needed to tweak the Forte software
- Fantastic conversion quality
I had a Apogee Duet and wanted to chuck it out of the window. It would constantly refuse to start up and I would have to reboot my machine. Apogee were never able to sort it out. The Forte is the best IO I've owned.
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The Focusrite preamps and the A/D converters are very good, even in the lower priced units. I encountered noise problems once, but it turned out to be the mic, not the preamp.
It takes any kind of input. If you plug a mic into the xlr connector, the signal is routed into the appropriate impedance for a microphone. If you plug into the 1/4" jack, you have to select "line" if it's an active gadget or "inst" if it's a guitar or bass.
I run mine on Windows 7. My son, who is a better audio engineer than me (at least he's a better mixer), bought one after hearing mine (his old interface died). He runs a Mac with good results too.
It comes with a plugin suite that has four effects: compressor, gate, eq, and reverb. I use them all the time. The compressor is especially easy to use and it doesn't effect the tone color at all.
The Forte looks like a nice unit too. But when I bought mine I was going for best quality at the lowest price, and the Scarlett was on sale at B&H Photo for $119. Even at $149 it's a good deal.
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I haven't tried them, but IK Multimedia has a couple of things that look like they might work. iRig Pro has an XLR and 1/4" interface and evidently works with both iOS and OS X devices. Then, at NAMM, they introduced the iRig Mic HD, which plugs directly into a USB port (although it looks like they aren't actually selling it yet).
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I have what Van Dan has. Presonus Audiobox V22. I have this and it seems to work great. Comes with Studio 1 Artist all for $209 cdn. If I can work it, anybody can.
http://www.long-mcquade.com/products..._Interface.htm
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Originally Posted by DRS
I actually use ProTools with a Digi002 rack unit as an interface, but I helped a singer friend get set-up to record herself, and the Presonus is the one we chose for her. She found the Studio One software very easy to work with and the sound quality of the interface preamps was very good. I do recommend these units.
Dan
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High Jim.
What exactly is the trouble your having with the 'One'?
I bought one recently for its quality and ease of use. I found it annoying at the start, that I had to download the driver (as I have an iMac) but it was simple enough. I installed the package and literally plugged the thing in. Opened the software 'Apogee maestro 2' (that I downloaded) selected the settings I needed (Ie mic input or DI), opened Garage band and have never looked back.
I also own a Ediroll Fa66, but to be honest, the Apogee is just so simple and good. If you have one already, surely a waist to buy something else that (judging by some suggestions here) would be an inferior product anyway?
Regards
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What I got was the first version that interfaces with both the Mac and the iOS devices. I have just had a horrible time trying to get it configured in Garage band either the new version or the old version 6.0.5 (which I prefer). Most of the time I end up with huge amounts of noise. I wonder if it has to do with the phantom power? I'm using a small condenser mic and it won;t work without power. Originally Posted by GoergeBenson
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I had similar issues with an Apogee Duet that I owned when they first came out. The noise floor was far higher than I could tolerate, no matter what I tried. I ended up selling it quite easily, as they were in high demand at the time. I now run a pair of Metric Halo interfaces - a 2882 and a ULN2, with some Rupert Neve stuff hooked up to them as well. Not a cheap or simple solution, but I have no issues with them.
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Oh, because I use a condenser mic too and it sounds wonderful. However I'm no recording expert so if there is noise, i'm not attuned yet to hearing it. Unless it's to the point were it would be obvious to anyone.
I think you know just about as much and probably more to do with recording than I, so I will unfortunately not be able to help you any further.
Sorry to hear about your experience. It's annoying I guess because that interface and a mac, should be hand in glove.
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It's loud enough to be obvious to anyone. I spoke with the audio rep at Long & McQuade this morning and he thought it was a defective unit so it goes in next week. I may look at the Scarlett while I'm there since it look like the sort of interface that I'm much more comfortable with but in any case it should allow me to figure out what causing the problem with the Apogee. Originally Posted by GoergeBenson
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That's too technical a question for this newb Jim. But the 212 is the first and only interface I've ever owned. $175 on feebay. Works ez with Garage Band. You're welcome to come by to try it...it's just been sitting atop the sub Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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i think someone already said the magic words: noise floor. i've always had this issue with cheaper interfaces. in a mix it isn't a huge detriment (all things considered) but for solo tracks, it can be a nuisance. ironically, the solution is pretty simple, but there's the rub, right? if you could turn up your volume, you probably wouldn't be recording at home.
i would have suggested a field recorder of some type, but then i realized the roland r26 i'm borrowing has the same issue. sounds lovely if you feed it a loud enough signal, sounds all roomy and crappy at safe, friendly volumes.
so those are your options. spend an obscene amount on recording gear or plug into a stack. i would never suggest that recording direct sounds better, but mostly eliminated all but the tedious horrors of tracking, as opposed to those of engineering, too. luckily, things are getting better and cheaper these days. the focusrite stuff is intriguing, but i'm done chasing magic boxes for now. i'm actually going to focus on treating the room so i can get better results from what i have, rather than chasing more gear that'll always sound kinda lame in these conditions.
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It seems that there is another option that I had never thought about. Here in Canada, Long & McQuade [b]rent[b] all sorts of gear. It never occurred to me that I could rent a high end interface for a month but it's only $55 and for that price I could have it long enough to record enough tracks for an entire album. I donut know if that's what I'm going to do but between that, the offer of a warranty fix on my Apogee and some of the info I;ve gotten here, I think there is some light at the end of this tunnel. Thanks all. Originally Posted by feet
so those are your options. spend an obscene amount on recording gear or plug into a stack. i would never suggest that recording direct sounds better, but mostly eliminated all but the tedious horrors of tracking, as opposed to those of engineering, too. luckily, things are getting better and cheaper these days. the focusrite stuff is intriguing, but i'm done chasing magic boxes for now. i'm actually going to focus on treating the room so i can get better results from what i have, rather than chasing more gear that'll always sound kinda lame in these conditions.
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