Help/Advice buying audio interface

drumdrum

Hi guys,

Im no engineer (though I know a compressor from a limiter! ) and basically Im looking for an audio interface device for use with my laptop. I dont mind if its USB or FireWire, my laptop has both.

I basically want something that can power and handle multiple microphone inputs simultaneously, with the more at the same time (for the less cost) the better! So basically I could have X amount of inputs being recorded into the laptop in separate tracs.
I was looking at:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/maudio_fast_track_ultra.htm

and it seems like it is suitable for the job, but Im wondering (for example) why this is only E250, which something like this thing:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/edirol_fa66.htm
is a few quid more, but with less inputs? (I can see that it has a greater frequency operating range (up to 192K or something)....but seriously.....Ive been told that you rarely need to work at that resolution at all...)

I know that there are more to audio interfaces than input numbers, but Im no engineer and Im wondering if people could recommend something else or point me in the general direction of what I need?

Im hoping to keep the cost below E300, though I could stretch to E400 if I needed to.
Im looking to record vocals and guitars mainly (electric and acoustic) though I would like the opportunity to eventually add this to another device to record drums... I would be using a combination of condenser and dynamic mics....you know, mics that are phantom powered over XLRs.

Oh and finally, Im not asking for someone to go shopping for me or anything (apologies if it comes across that way), its just that I dont want to spent a fortune getting some gear only to have it not good enough for my needs!

Thanks guys. I appreciate any advice!

PMI

Only probs with the fasttrack range is....

1: buffer size stops at 128 and cannot be put any lower, although it does have hardware monitoring via a dial....

2: no support for any of the giga stuff if you are/should be wanting to use it.

3: mic gain pots dont start to work until about 2 o clock on the dial and then they go from nothing to infinity very quickly so need to be very precise.

4: converters in them are a bit crappy for anything serious, you will find loss of low end etc...

5: thats all really

I use one live almost everynight of the week and its never let me down, it is robust enough to be toured about in a laptop bag just keep the other things in mind....

Maybe go firewire?!? I use Motu stuff myself but others arnt that into them

drumdrum

@PMI, thanks very much for your input there. Nice to hear some honest feedback from someone who owns one of the fast track things.


I dont think I will go for the fasttrack as your points about it not being ideal for anything serious and loss of low end are serious issues for me.

I was looking at:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/motu_8pre.htm

and I have tried ONE OF THESE before and it worked out swell for me.

Would there be a huge difference in quality in the input signal between these two?
I want to be able to record some vocal and drum demos to a high standard (EP / high quality demo) standard and Im at a loss as to what to get. Does anyone have any preferred selections that I missed?

Thanks!

PMI

They are def better than the fasttrack....

but then again you uping the price? what about an RME if your willing to spend a touch more?!?

I use the 2408 but with audient pre's in front end and I find it great but again its still not big leagues and alot of guys dont really dig the motu stuff