[LAU] Neophyte questions re: selecting an audio interface

[Chris Metzler]

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On Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:44:21 +0000
Fons Adriaensen <fons at linuxaudio.org> wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 06, 2012 at 10:50:12AM -0500, Chris Metzler wrote:
>>
>> 2.  Some interfaces seem to have a combination jack that allows XLR
>> and 1/4" inputs.  Are these good?  Or is there a tradeoff between
>> convenience and sound quality?
>
> Sound quality is not determined by the connector. But the use of
> such connectors can indicate 'budget quality'. Very often they are
> used as a combined mic/line input (mic = XLR, line = TRS). Then
> it depends: if the line input is just an attenuator feeding the
> mic input that's not really very good. A real line input does not
> pass via the mic preamp. 

How do you find out?  This doesn't seem like something they'd go out of
their way to tell you in the product documentation!


>> d)  Since guitars aren't at line level, do they need
>> preamplification like microphones do? 
> 
> Yes. Normally the DI box is connected to a microphone input. 

Sorry, does that mean that the levels of the guitar signal upon output
from the DI box are comparable to that of a mic, and thus a mic preamp
associated with a microphone input will do the job?  I had it in my
head that you used either (an active DI) or (a passive DI + specialized
guitar preamp) to bring the guitar up to line level, and then plugged
into a line input.  If I'm understanding you correctly, another option
is to use a passive DI and plug into a microphone input (assuming the
interface has one).  Is that correct?


> Some other things to consider:
> 
> Usually you get what you pay for. Quality is not only sound
> quality, but also construction and reliability, and it has
> a price.

Are there particular ways you recommend to find out about that, other
than trolling the list archives for positive/negative comments?  I've
had mixed results with trusting customer reviews on vendor sites,
because even if honest, those reviews tend to be posted very soon after
purchase, when what I want is to see how people feel after more
extended use.


> If you are a musician, consider the combination of a simple
> but good quality soundcard having only balanced line inputs
> and outputs (even fixed level) with one the many small
> musician's mixers. These usually have mic and guitar inputs,
> a headphone output etc. Such a combination is much more
> flexible than any soundcard. 

Can you elaborate on this a bit more?  The mixers I'm familiar with
have a limited number of outputs (since the point of the mixer is to
mix down the signals it's receiving); so if I intended to record
multiple channels simultaneously, I'd lose some post-recording
flexibility (like the ability to manipulate tracks independently in a
DAW) by mixing down before passing the signal to the audio interface.
Or maybe you're not suggesting using the mixer *as a mixer*, but rather
as a mic preamp or guitar preamp for just one of my analog signals
before passing that one signal to the interface?  Or do I still not
follow you?


> Ciao,

Thanks very much!

- -c


- -- 
Chris Metzler			cmetzler at speakeasy.snip-me.net
		(remove "snip-me." to email)

"As a child I understood how to give; I have forgotten this grace since
I have become civilized." - Chief Luther Standing Bear
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