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ok. so like pretty much everyone else I'm on a budget. so unless i can find an awesome deal on an MOTU Ultralite (which is what i am hoping for) ill probobly have to go with something else. I'm trying not to go for a firebox because there's just not enough gain.
does anyone have any recommendations for a good interface in the same price range as a firebox.

Comments

hueseph Tue, 06/02/2009 - 17:56

tk7261 wrote: i was just talking about the infamous cheap dynamic mic with cheap interface = low output level dilemma.

Where did you get this idea? While it's true that poor preamps and poor mics can result in poor output, not all cheap solutions are as bad as you think. The bottom line really is that the user controls the output. You can make reasonable recordings with crap gear. You just need to apply the basic concepts of mic placement, gain staging and signal flow.

anonymous Tue, 06/02/2009 - 19:07

well as for my budget i would like to keep the interface $300 or below, but i might be able to go a little higher. my software is logic pro 8 on an imac, and my main mics are a studio project b1 and sm 57. the 57 is what im worried about. i hear that they tend to not agree with the firebox (is this true?), which is what i was referring to in my second post. i would love to go firebox if it can handle a 57, as using 57s are essential. i know that the firebox's voltage rails were lowered, so it couldn't use a gain guzzler like a sm58 right?
ps. dont get my wrong some of my favorite guitar sounds i have gotten with some "cheap equipment" but the point is i dont want the equipment to sound cheap (for instance my studio project b1 ^_^)

Guitarfreak Tue, 06/02/2009 - 19:11

Dude, I use an SM57 AND an SM58 WITH a FireBox. And I don't have any problems with gain. I record at about -8dB and never need to crank the preamps to full throttle. Don't generalize about things you don't know about.

The only reason I went along with your story at first was because I half expected you to be using Behringer or Radio Shack mic. But an SM57 will give you great sound.

TheJackAttack Tue, 06/02/2009 - 19:43

If you are worried then buy it from a reputable company that takes returns. Stick with a standard like the Presonus or the Onyx or the MOTU and plan for future expansion even if you have to wait and save a little more. Don't let desire burn a hole in your money pocket. Even step up gear should have a minimum threshold if at all possible.

Guitarfreak Tue, 06/02/2009 - 19:58

Or better yet, go to a store and try them before you buy. Start with the PreSonus FireBox, Onyx XXX and MOTU XXX. I don't know comparable models. But I wish someone would tell me so I could recommend them to people.

A/B/C them, record a simple vocal track with each using the same mic and see how they sound. See what kind of frequency response and tone you get out of them. Then and only then look at the price tag and guage how each fits into your budget.