Can anyone help me with suggestions/advice for the best audio interface(s) for recording analog synthesizers? (for example Moog, Dave Smith, etc.)
I’ve heard that to optimize the sound of analog synthesizers you need pre-amps.
I’m not looking to buy racks and racks of equipment. Just a basic audio interface for a Macbook based home/room studio set-up.
Up til this point I have just been using an Mbox 2 but I am over it and want to buy a new and the right interface so I don’t have to worry about another one for a while.
I know for example the Motu 8pre has 8 inputs and a pre-amp for each one but I believe those are condenser-microphone pre-amps (which the Mbox 2 already has anyway) or are they pre-amps for both condenser-microphones and instruments/synthesizers?
What is a good/perfect audio interface for recording and optimizing the sound of analog synthesizers both stereo and mono?
Any info/insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Analog synths have line level outputs. No need for preamps, since their audio output levels can be readily recorded (digititally or otherwise). I record my analog synths directly into my Mac Mini audio input with great success. I do use a small analog mixer (AMX) to avoid constantly plugging and unplugging them to record each one during a multi-track session.
As for effects, I either use an outside box before going into the computer (audio pre-processing), or use digital effects from the recording software (Audacity or Garage Band or others). So you see, nothing too fancy here and the results are very professional, since the sampling rate and digital resolution of the Mac are high enough.
Back when I was using a PC, , I had an Audigy IIZ soundcard and was using Adobe Audition. But I got tired of loosing my work on stupid computer crashes…
Of course, you can always use fancier equipment but I’ve been recording music (as a hobby) for many years, and know when something sounds good or not, regardless of what is being used.
Hope this helps in any way. And I’m aware that everyone might not agree with me. But I’ve gotten rave reviews on my sound quality on all my self-recorded music videos on YouTube over the last 4 years…
I think alot of people easily get carried away with their studio setup. Hell, garage band, audacity, sonor, cubase…
…all blow away what was available just a few years ago.
I say its fine to spend whatever you want on your hobbies, but is a home studio setup there to produce “Platinum Records” or a sketchpad. If anybody gets a record deal, you would likely re-record in a “studio” anyway.
That said, I repeat: Sounds good is good.
Most of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” was recorded in an apartment to ADAT no more than 32 tracks per song. An aside, the producer of that album (Glen Ballard) was asked:
“One of the hardest things for the home recordist is dealing with the low end- getting it tight and full without it being flabby and woofy. Ayn advice?” To which he responded “Absolutely: Get a Minimoog! Ninety percent of the bass I do is Minimoog”
Any interface should work fine. I would try to buy a really nice preamp so you could drive it if you need.
Good Luck and enjoy the ride!
-e
I have a Saffire Pro 24 (don’t bother with the DSP version).
It’s got 4 ins and 6 outs, the software is SOLID and full featured and integrates perfectly, at least on my Mac Pro.
And I use the UAD II platform with a few plug-ins such as the 1176 compressor/limiter, Roland Space Echo, EMT 250 reverb and some others. I use analog effects on my Bass pedal board and a bunch of Foggers when I can but ultimately, I move up to equipment that is too expensive to own/keep running well, or takes too much space. Others poo poo the UAD stuff but it’s good enough for me and I prefer it over the dozens of VST AU plug-ins that every company makes.
I’ve heard good things about the Logic/Garage band plug-ins but I have an older version of Logic and prefer to have it processed on a PCI card via Shark rather than eat up host cycles.
Ultimately, I’ll pick up a 8 channel mic/pre from Focusrite and attach to the Saffire Pro via ADAT fiber to mic cymbals and my Hammond Leslie but the Pro 24 is affordable and does a good job for me (Mic Pres are said to be good but I have no experience with them as of yet).
From my experience I recommend the MOTU 828 mkIII, Steinberg 816 csx, and RME Fireface 800. All of those are great…
They are each very reliable in my setup. While the 816 and RME have the best converters I’ve heard, the MOTU is also pretty good. Their Pres are also great, and the motu has good sound as well.
For presales at MOTU, Call them and ask to speak with Dave Roberts. He is their tech support/pre sales ace and a really nice guy. He helped me out a few times and always callead back or emailed promptly. Steinbergs tech support is average… with their run of the mill automated system and email communications. RME is another with top notch tech support. By phone and email they are always there… and your interface wont become obsolete since they constantly update their drivers.
That’s all I can recommend. Tech support is very important … call up or at least acquaint yourself with a brand’s tech support procedures and see which is right for you. Nowadays audio quality can be pretty sharp on many devices, but when they fail, who will back you up… and how… and when?
I will never use m audio again for that reason. Back in the day when I dealt with their TS, it was terrible and their drivers were very buggy. Novation TS is also deplorable.
Anyway, that’s that. Those are my recommendations … I hope this helps.
Btw, all my other drumming videos were recorded using only an analog 16 XLR inputs (for the numerous drum mics) straight to soundcard in my PC (back then). The Audigy IIZ soundcard had a -86 db noise floor, well below acceptable levels.
Thanks a lot everyone. Really interesting comments. I’m going to start a new post that’s more specific to Motu interface users. Thanks again for all your comments and information.
The Best would be an Ampeg or Otari tape machine on new tape. When I can’t do that, I’m very happy with my RME Multiface to the computer or my VS2480 straight up.
I agree wholeheartedly, except Ampex machines rather than Ampegs (they make bass amps). There are several instruments like horns, piano, and some strings that digital imparts a very squeaky clean sound on, which can be very desirable. But for raw analog stuff like electric bass/guitar and especially synths and instruments that tend to clip like drums, analog tape is amazing. Well, not so much amazing as just way better than digital, and you get a nice saturation/compression effect. The old tape machines like the 3m’s and the Ampex 350 actually add quite a bit of their own character, which is very cool if you’re into that. Sorry, I never miss am opportunity to sing the praises of analog tape, perhaps ad nauseum but I think necessary since it’s a dying, but still kicking and a superior format.
This would seem like a good idea for either mixdown or to add some tape warmth/saturation to a specific instrument, but you would only be able to get 2 tracks of recording. Unless, of course, you bought a stack of VCR’s and sync’d 'em all together, which would be damned near impossible. I do like the idea though. Might be neat for an effect.
The VCR thing is a myth. In the 90’s studios would use hi fi VCR’s as a cheap convenient audio mastering format. The recording process that the VCRs used was fairly high quality, but did not allow for overdriving. It was some weird analog encoding format that did not have saturation/compression of analog tape. It was better than cassette tape and on par with DAT, but not close to high quality analog tape or even modern digital formats. The non Hi-fi analog VCR format can be used for tape effect, but is no better than using cassette tape or a consumer (1/4" 4 track) analog tape deck. High quality 1/4" 2 track decks are the best option for tape saturation/compression. The 1/2" 2 track decks are awesome for mastering (probably the best), but don’t really have the “sound of tape”.
True I can’t get overdrive unless I use the Line Out on my amp, but it’s A) cheaper than getting the old Revere restored, and B) much better quality than cassette tape. Also, it’s less cumbersome than plugging the Snowball into the Mac, and praying that the dog doesn’t walk around or my wife slams the door coming in from work.
So you actually use a VCR? Is it the HI-FI kind? I have never actually used a VCR but read a lot about it after hearing people used them. I actually bought a fidelipac machine on ebay, which is the 8-track looking cassettes that radio stations used to cue up commercials and things. Supposedly it is one of the best machines of the kind ever made, but I can’t find a calibration tape for it anywhere so I haven’t used it really. But it is a 15 IPS machine on 1/4" 2 track tape, so I bet it sounds pretty good when lined up right. I love analog tape.
If the goal is to capture all the analog sounds of a Moog and if you want absolute 100% fidelity in a recording, and the convenience of non-linear editing, then go for high quality uncompressed digital (24 bits, 96khz sampling rate, over 118 db dynamic range) DAT or solid state media.
But if you’re looking for dynamic compression artifacts (especially early Dolby C), high noise floor (without Dolby), low dynamic range, wow & flutter, low frequency response at low speeds, drop outs, and easily obtainable signal distortion, than go for old fashion analog linear tapes. The Hi-Fi VCR AFM audio encoding is considered Hi-Fi (frequency response 20-20,000Hz, 70 db dynamic range) and better than linear tracks audio but with Dolby compression, and not immune to drop outs that show up as static noise instead of just signal level drops. I’ve suffered long enough not to use them anymore, unless I want that “analog tape” effect specifically.
Yes. I use a HI-FI 1993 Sony SLV-620HV for recording. I bought it last year for 20 bucks, and it was money well-spent. I used to use a 1983 RCA Selectavision VHS recorder, but I couldn’t keep up on the repairs anymore. It lasted about 12 years longer than it should have though. Sound-wise, the Sony blows the Selectavision out of the water.
I used my Panasonic S-VHS as a master audio recording for many years, until digital was accessible, affordable, and finally better. I still have lots of stuff on VHS tapes that I didn’t have the chance to transfer to digital yet. And every time I play one, I’m always impressed at how good it actually sounds ! And for only $20 for a VCR that you can use as a high quality audio recording device, you can’t beat that !
, I had an Audigy IIZ soundcard and was using Adobe Audition. But I got tired of loosing my work on stupid computer crashes… 
