Suggestions for a USB or Firewire Audio Input?
 

Hey everyone, I need some advice. At the moment I have no audio input whatsoever for my laptop and I'd love to get some kind of converter/adaptor/hub/whatever that would allow me to send audio input into the computer via the USB or Firewire port. Ideally it would have both 1/4" and mic jacks but I could definitely work around something with just a 1/4" jack. Price is also definitely an issue so the cheaper the better as long as it works well.

Thoughts?

This is probably the cheapest you'll come across that gives you both a mic input and an instrument input on two separate channels:

Lexicon Alpha USB Desktop Recording Studio: Shop Pro Audio & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

59.95 at Musiciansfriend.com (free shipping too)

Lexicon is a great brand, but this is obviously not their high end stuff. But I'm sure the converters aren't crap, and it's going to be at least 24bit. If you plan on using a dynamic mic with it, you'll be fine, but there's no phantom power on the unit, so if you have a condenser mic you're planning to use, you might want to go with something else.

A more expensive unit would be the Alesis IO 2. Which will run you about 100 bones. But you'll also have a bit more flexibility, and I've heard better press about that than the Lexicon.

Alesis iO2 Express Audio Interface: Shop Pro Audio & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Ah, just the person I was hoping would reply! These sound like great suggestions. Thanks! :)

I got this MAudio Fast Track for 50 bucks used, works for me quite well and reduces my latency alot.

http://static.clickbd.com/global/cla...0_original.jpg

I really like my simple setup though of using my USB mic to record straight from my amp. While the digital computer recording and instrument patches sound ok for electronic based stuff, when recording live guitar/bass/drum tracks a mic'd amp or kit will always sound better.

This is close to what I was going to recommend. The Fast Track Pro normally runs around $200 (Canada) but offers twice as many ins/outs and stereo recording capabilities.

Can never have to many ins and outs.

^This is the bad boy I ended up getting, by the way. I just picked it up on my way home tonight so I haven't tried it yet, but maybe it will facilitate some song-off action sometime soon.

I took a look at the M-Audio Fast Track Pro too, but it was a little beyond my budget at the moment.

Cool deal!
I believe it doesn't need a specific driver, but ASIO4ALL works for it if you have any issues integrating it into your music software. You can pick up the driver at the Alesis site.