Audio interfaces (sound card) for home budget studio:
I’m happy with my Focusrite Saffire 6 audio interface and my KRK Rokit 5’s…under $500 (£300) for everything http://www.bhphotovideo.com
I tried the original Apogee duet but returned it–the output was very good, but the inputs were noisy, unbalanced spaghetti cables.
I have the saffire pro 24 DSP and Rockit KRK 8s. Pretty sweet! the pro24 is awesome.
It looks like they may have fixed the main problems in the Duet 2 coming out this fall–most importantly the inputs and outputs are all balanced now (which should eliminate noise).
[url]http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php[/url]
The new version has a breakout box accessory that gets rid of the spaghetti cable (for an extra $80 though).
Unfortunately, the total cost for the Duet and accessory is 3 times higher than other audio interfaces: Duet2+breakout ($675/£400) compared to the Saffire 6 ($172/£103), Saffire 14 ($219/£132), or Saffire 24 ($249/£149).
[quote]lattetown (03/05/2011)[hr]It looks like they may have fixed the main problems in the Duet 2 coming out this fall–most importantly the inputs and outputs are all balanced now (which should eliminate noise).
[url]http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php[/url]
The new version has a breakout box accessory that gets rid of the spaghetti cable (for an extra $80 though).
Unfortunately, the total cost for the Duet and accessory is 3 times higher than other audio interfaces: Duet2+breakout ($675/£400) compared to the Saffire 6 ($172/£103), Saffire 14 ($219/£132), or Saffire 24 ($249/£149).
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Agree with you - the apple brand is overpriced.Apple does the marketing well.:ermm:
[quote]lattetown (02/05/2011)[hr]I’m happy with my Focusrite Saffire 6 audio interface and my KRK Rokit 5’s…under $500 (£300) for everything http://www.bhphotovideo.com
[/quote]
What do you think to the Saffire 6? Is the sound quality good? Easy to use? I’m after some reviews from people as I reckon I’m going to get one this weekend just want to be sure I’ve choose the right one. 
[quote]seegeemusic (03/05/2011)[hr]What do you think to the Saffire 6? Is the sound quality good? Easy to use? I’m after some reviews from people as I reckon I’m going to get one this weekend just want to be sure I’ve choose the right one. [/quote]
I’m very happy with mine–I use it with my 13" MacBook Pro and Live. I’ve tried four entry level audio interfaces: mAudio, Presonus, Focusrite, and Apogee (not really entry level)…and I liked the saffire 6 the best.
I don’t record multiple external audio channels at once, so I only needed the stereo for a vintage keyboard or shure 58 mic–but now that I have a the Blue Yeti USB mic I leave the keyboard plugged in. Since I only output 2 audio, 2 midi, and 2 audio input channels at once the usb doesn’t get overwhelmed if I put it through a loaded 4x usb hub–something that doesn’t work as well with the 14 and 24.
Practically it means I can have my usb midi controller, my usb apc40 controller, my usb mic, and my usb Saffire 6 all plugged into one hub at the same time w/o noticeable latency.
It’s sound is very good (perhaps a touch less crisp than the Duet audio out, but infinitely better than the Duet’s unbalanced audio in). I like that each input has it’s own level knob, as well as a headphone gain knob and speaker channel gain knob. They even have a funky mix level knob which I set once and have never touched since.
The only thing I notice it that sometimes when I leave my laptop on over night with a heavy VST running (like Omnisphere) that I have to reset the interface but unplugging it from the usb port for 10 seconds and then plugging it back in. Other than that I’ve had no problems. The presonus had no drivers for Snow Leopard and their customer service never got back to me. mAudio sounded like everything was recorded in the next room–very muffled.
For me the 48000 i/o sample rate is fine (it’s twice CD quality, and I’m not doing BluRay video scoring).
Hope that helps–I’m also a fan of the KRK Rokit 5’s over the 6’s.
Brilliant little review that pal, thank you very much. Will defo be parting with some cash for one.
[quote]seegeemusic (04/05/2011)[hr]Brilliant little review that pal, thank you very much. Will defo be parting with some cash for one. [/quote]
Your welcome…let me know what you think
[quote]lattetown (05/05/2011)[hr][quote]seegeemusic (04/05/2011)[hr]Brilliant little review that pal, thank you very much. Will defo be parting with some cash for one. [/quote]
Your welcome…let me know what you think [/quote]
Ended up getting the Saffire Pro 14 but only because I got the giving the wrong model. Paid the price for a Saffire 6 tho so I’m not complaining.
Sounds absolutely fantastic
Cool…glad you like it!
I think so you have a few options. the MIDI keyboard may not require any interface if it plugs in with usb.the microphone will however need an interface. Your interface IS your soundcard.