pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Hey - I'm interested in buying an interface for under 750$. I need to be able to run an output to a PA or a keyboard amp. Conversion quality is probably the most important thing to me, but I would also like to have a few inputs and outputs if I'm not sacrificing sound quality. Is the Motu Ultralite-mk3 hybrid my best bet? It seems to have a lot of versatility and inputs and outputs, which I like. I want to use it for recording and so that I can run logic sounds and effects out to an amp or PA when using my keyboard. Also, is it worth waiting for companies to develop thunderbolt interfaces before buying an interface? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplets Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Thunderbolt will take some months to show up anywhere. The Motu Ultralite is probably your best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Cool. Thanks for the response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
organsymphony Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Check out the presonus firestudio mobile too. Plenty of inputs. Its slightly lacking in the output department but the headphones output is a separate output bus so you have 2 pairs of stereo outs. Plus s/pdif and midi I/O on a breakout cable. http://futuremusic.com/news/images/presonus_firestudio_mobile.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Ok. Thanks. I'll look into this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Depending on the number/type of I/O you need, you may want to consider the RME Babyface (or the Ladyface if you're a lady?): http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php http://www.miroc.co.jp/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Ladyface.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriksimon Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2009/9/7/1252320979143/David-Walliams--001.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Ok thanks. Yeah I've thought of the Duet 2 and RME Baby face as well. I'm kind of new to this stuff, so I'm still kind of sorting things out. Which one is best?? PS - I am in fact a guy, in case anyone was wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruari Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Ok thanks. Yeah I've thought of the Duet 2 and RME Baby face as well. I'm kind of new to this stuff, so I'm still kind of sorting things out. Which one is best?? Duet 2 and Babyface are one step ahead of the comptetition (MOTU and Presonus) as far as sound quality is concerned. Depending on the other links in your signal chain, you may or may not be taking advantage of that step ahead. This also explains why at the same price points, MOTU and Presonus offer more features. PS - I am in fact a guy, in case anyone was wondering. If you prefer pink and go for the ladyface anyway, I promise we won't tell anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Ok. That makes sense. I'd rather have a better sound quality than more features, as I may want to utilize the extra bit in the future if not the present, so I suppose it's between the duet 2 and the babyface (or ladyface...). I was tempted to go with the apogee 'One' for now and get something else when i need to do multiple channels at once, but it seems that the One isn't really designed to run sound out to an amp or PA type of thing, which I want to be able to do. I guess I'll have to do a bit more research to figure out if it's worth it to me to go with the baby face over the duet 2, as the baby face seems to have a bit more going on for a bit more money. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 it seems that the One isn't really designed to run sound out to an amp or PA type of thing, which I want to be able to do. Why not? It has an unbalanced stereo out, which should be all you need. If you're worried about interferences, a DI box onstage is a good idea, to turn all your unbalanced outputs (like a keyboard for example) into balanced ones. If you'd like a balanced stereo out (so you don't have to connect a DI box), consider the Apogee Duet 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Hmmm. Yeah I was under the impression that the apogee one wasn't designed to be used as an output to an amp or a PA, but more for studio monitiors or headphones. I'm not sure why - I think someone told me that...I guess it was related to the fact that the output is unbalanced. Maybe a cheap DI box and the Apogee one is the way to go for now, and then I can upgrade later if/when I need to do multiple channels at once. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 A LOT of gear that you typically find on stage uses unbalanced outputs. Guitar amps, Bass amps, keyboards, etc... so that wouldn't be a problem if you have a DI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 ok thanks - should i be concerned about the quality of the DI? Will the quality impact the sound at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Yes, it may. Do you know which venues you'll perform at? Do you know if they have a PA, a sound guy, etc... ? Maybe you could contact them and ask them if you need to bring your own DIs. A lot of clubs have DIs for the stage - although I personally always found it easier to bring my own DI and give the sound guy balanced signals for everything, they loved me for it. I used the Whirlwind multi-director, which is an excellent DI box (here's the stereo version: http://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-Director-Passive-Direct-Box/dp/B0002DUQ7C) You may want to read this: http://whirlwindusa.com/support/tech-articles/direct-box-can-be-di-spensible/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianokeys135 Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 Thanks for the help - I may just go with the One and a possibly DI box, need to think it over. I could always use it as a portable option and then get a different interface for bigger projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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