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basically I'm looking for something i can plugin my guitar and link it to my pc to record, I'm obviously not looking for professional grade, just rough records for myspace and demo's to send to bands and to record riffs

i have also heard of the e-mu 0202

my budget is low, to the point around £100, I'm not looking for multiple instrument recordings etc

any suggestions are welcome

thanks

Comments

djmukilteo Mon, 08/31/2009 - 17:02

Re: Complete noob at recording, is a line6 pocket pod any go

charlie:
What about the Presonus Firebox?
It runs about $200 (isn't that about the same as 100GBP)
Have you looked at that?
It's a firewire interface not USB like the Line6
Either one is in your budget and should have great sound!
Don't waste time thinking about it.....just do it and don't look back!
You want to record your music not waste time worrying about which budget interface is better than the other....they're all about the same at this level....get the best deal ya can and make some music!

jg49 Mon, 08/31/2009 - 17:49

Jeremy "Plug in your guitar through an effects pedal with an adapter to your 1/8" on your soundcard and knock your teeth out.
I'm pretty sick of the I want to record, but I want a shitty sound kind of kids."

This will work to some degree, but give the guy a break he is not posting in pro gear. Instead it is in the budget gear thread, and budget gear is different for a lot of people.

You can get an interface like the Emu or this Lexicon
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha/
and get decent results if you already have a decent mic and amp and still be in your budget.
The so called advantage to the Line 6 is the amp/effects modelling which allows you record direct into the computer without an amplifier. If you are a master at dialing in sounds from these types of boxes you can get a fairly decent sound, there certainly are a lot of bells and whistles to play with. This will never replace a great amp/mic/interface sound but it is an option. So to answer your question is this any good? Sorta.

hueseph Mon, 08/31/2009 - 18:47

Jeremy wrote: Plug in your guitar through an effects pedal with an adapter to your 1/8" on your soundcard and knock your teeth out.
I'm pretty sick of the I want to record, but I want a shitty sound kind of kids.

No need to be high and mighty about it all. Yeah. It's irritating but we were all newbs once. If someone never answered your questions early on, you wouldn't be where you are now or you would've spent a lot of time and money through trial and error.

Incidentally, the pocket pod has a USB output so there would be no need to plug into the line input on your pc soundcard. And, yes the pocket Pod would be more than sufficient for Charlie's needs.

Jeremy Mon, 08/31/2009 - 20:23

It has nothing to do with being a nOOb. It's the question itself. If you wanted the sound quality from a video camera, then why not use a video camera? This is an amazing time for people to start home recording, as budget gear has gotten drastically better. If anything is worth doing, its worth doing right......the attitude of wanting to make turd mountain from a hill of crap pisses me off.

x666charlie666x Tue, 09/01/2009 - 04:45

Jeremy wrote: why not use a video camera?

if you read my post properly it stated i didnt want the quality from a video camera

the problem is that some you actually put into your pc, the soundcard sort, and i would prefer a usb interface as i dont have any mics but i do have a decent amp,

so my options are

line6 pocket pod
emu 0202
presonus firebox
or the lexicon alpha

ok thanks guy i'll see what i can get cheapest and read up a lil more, as i just bought a new seven string and need to wait a week to get enough for this

BobRogers Tue, 09/01/2009 - 06:06

Does the Pocket Pod do digital audio out with the USB connection? Or does the USB just allow you to update the settings through the tone library? I'm not familiar with the Line6 products in this category - just askin'.

In my experience video cameras suffer from bad internal mics, bad control of levels, and bad mic placement. Any system that allows you to record your guitar directly will be an improvement over that.

I have some sympathy with Jeremy. There are a lot of much more versatile interface options out there that are not all that much more money. But this "quick and dirty" option might be the best way for some people to start. It's your money, your choice.

Codemonkey Tue, 09/01/2009 - 07:30

I'll pitch in. With some other gear, you can totally avoid having an interface.

I reckon I can make a good recording using sub-par gear and a budget mixer, into a 1/8" soundcard jack.
They're not awful!

But they're not good either. My stuff sounds OK, until you compare it to anything. Most of the posts in the Song & Mix critique outdo my attempts in terms of depth, quality, tone, and I'm 80% sure it's the gear.

hueseph Tue, 09/01/2009 - 07:47

BobRogers wrote: Does the Pocket Pod do digital audio out with the USB connection? Or does the USB just allow you to update the settings through the tone library?

You are so right. It only allows you to change settings.

If you need modeling you can go with the Guitar Port with a single instrument input or the Tone Port UX1 which has one mic input, no phantom power for condensers. Both use software based modeling via Gearbox(chuckle) right now they have a free "upgrade" to pod farm.

You will still need some sort of DAW though but you can get free ones like Kristal Audio Engine. Acid Express whch is very limited in functionality but good for assembling beats.

The Toneport comes with Abelton's Live! Lite which supports 4 channels of audio.

If none of those turn your crank just look into one of the other cheap interfaces. The Presonus Firebox comes with Cubase AI and probably a lite version of Amplitube.

jg49 Tue, 09/01/2009 - 07:55

Bob is correct the USB connection in the Pocket Pod is only to access the tone library and settings, this is not an interface and will not allow you to record via USB.
This is Line6's interface
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PodStuUX1/
This is just an interface and does not effect model but comes with virtual software that allows amp modeling in the computer, which you can hear on playback.
With any of the three interfaces you can simply record your amp by purchasing a mic (SM57) $99.00. The Emu and Lexicon do not come with any modelling software. Whether or not you actually want modelling software is a personal decision, I do not really care for it, give me a mic and an amp anyday, all day, all night.

I don't really know the conversion from pounds to dollars, someone mentioned that $200.00 is approx. 100 pounds if so the Lexicon (or any other similar priced 2 channel interface in this price range they are all about the same) with the purchase of a SM57 and a mic cable should put you on budget and allow you to record vocals, acoustic guitar, etc. That would be my choice, but this is your decision. BTW these intefaces all come bundled with great recording software. One other thing to check is the computer requirements and stay on the high side of specs for the least number of problems during recording or mix down. Dive in have fun and experiment.

dave_p Tue, 09/08/2009 - 07:23

i have an alpha.
its a decent interface for 79$ US and will take instrument, line or mic levels. it will probably be great for what you want to do. for 79 bucks you really cant go wrong actually, it will turn out useful for something.

the amp models that come with cubase LE are not so hot in my opinion (there are 2 i think i don't use them).