Request for advice on Microphones and Sound Cards

[jdessi]

Hello,
I have a Realtek card AC1200 and unfortunately I can not use headphones (the volume is too low and they do not disable the speakers). In addition, the microphone has a sound that's obscene ....

Bearing in mind that I do home recording for fun, you could recommend a good and cheap USB sound card ? (I know that you can not have your cake and eat it too, but I do the try ...).
it is better to install an internal sound card? (although I have no idea how to do ...)?
Or again, it is better to use a small mixer with USB inputs 2-4?
To improve the sound of the mic, I could deal with a microphone like the Samson Meteor? It works on Ubuntu 11.04?

Thank you for the advices ...

[Capoeira]

just yesterday I was googling for my card, to see if one could still buy it anywhere. It's old, but very nice. Good preamps, nice converters and totaly flat. If you're from the US: http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-Audio-Duo-Mid ... 4aade7a78f


EDIT: Now I saw, you from Italy....lol


look for m-audio fasttrack if you want the cheapest wich give you most required features for recording. but buy the versions with phantom-power

[jdessi]

Thanks Capoeira ...

really works on Ubuntu 11.04?
It's truly Plug'n Play?

[Capoeira]

Thanks Capoeira ...

really works on Ubuntu 11.04?
It's truly Plug'n Play?

wich one?

I can only speak for the M-Audio Duo, wich is plug an play in any linux distro.
Fast-track should work, too.....google for more infos.

[Capoeira]

another old one (buy one of those "old but good-ones" if you want to spent little):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLAND-EDIROL-U ... 4cf9a3dad1
reported as working in Linux: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index. ... and_Edirol

[jdessi]

thank you very much indeed! I will try to find these cards here in Italy.

[jdessi]

Unfortunately I have not found the sound cards you have recommended.
I found these:
M-Audio Midisport 2x2, or
M-Audio Midisport 2x2 Anniversary Edition.
What do you think?

[raboof]

Unfortunately I have not found the sound cards you have recommended.
I found these:
M-Audio Midisport 2x2, or
M-Audio Midisport 2x2 Anniversary Edition.
What do you think?

These are only USB MIDI devices, they don't have audio connections.

I believe the 2x2 needs some special fiddling with firmware, the 2x2 Anniversary Edition should work out-of-the-box. I have the 4x4 Anniversary Edition and it is pretty good - but I imagine you're looking for something else.

[jdessi]

you're right! They are MIDI interfaces and not sound cards ....

[guidotrueb]

Hi! I'm from Brazil and that's my first post here.

Well, as I've been helped so much by reading this forum, I'll try to give back a little...

I would definitely recommend one cheap but very good audio interface: Alesis io2 Express (I believe it works flawlessly on any ubuntu lucid+ or any distribution with similar kernel/alsa versions... I'm using it on lucid/maverick). It costs less than 100 bucks (you can find cheaper on eBay) and has phantom power (+48v), support up to 24bits, is very quiet (low noise) and has MIDI IN/OUT.

For microphones, as per several blogs and websites I've been reading, there are some good condenser microphones for about US$100.00 or less, like:
- Behringer B-1
- Samson C-1 (used one borrowed from a friend last weekend and does its job fine)
- AKG Perception 120
- Audio Technica AT2020

I believe most of them have USB versions for about 30 or 50 dollars more, if you just want an audio interface to record acoustically.

For a starter kit I believe this is one of the best set: Alesis io2 Express + Behringer B-1 (for less than 200 bucks you get a nice audio interface + a good versatile microphone, with high pass filter and -10dB cut built in).

Besides that, nothing prevents you from starting to use an even cheaper microphone (even a less than 30 bucks dynamic) and your built in interface. Usually performance is what really matters, and gear is something you should acquire when you are confident that it is the weakest link you your set (if you are starting now and are not very confident on your skills, better not spend any money on gear until you learn/practice and feel that your gear is limiting your creativity/performance).

For the software part, I'm using ubuntu lucid + jack (and jackqctl) + wine (and wineasio) + Reaper + Audacity! It does work out great, although you have simpler alternatives for basic recording, as only Audacity itself (or other open-source and very powerful ones like Ardour).

That's my 0.02. I hope I've helped a bit.

Regards,
Guido Trueb

[jdessi]

Thanks a lot. For me, you have given back more than a little ...
The Alesis looks like a good sound card.
I hope it works well on Natty too.

As for the microphone, the Samson C01 can fit: I found a new one for 40 euros

Has anyone tried the Alesis io2 Express with Ubuntu 11.04 64-bit ?

[guidotrueb]

I have!

Forgot to mention, but it works on natty too. Actually I've upgraded from maverick to natty, but don't use it anymore (unity is just not for me ), I'm using just stable lucid + kxstudio and other ppas.

Samson C-1 is a great mic!

Good luck with your recordings and I hope you to soon share with us your songs.

[jdessi]

then it is decided!
I hope to post soon my music!

[jdessi]

I have a doubt: it's better Alesis IO2 or Lexicon Alpha?
Has anyone tried the Lexicon Alpha with Ubuntu 11.04 64-bit ?

[Capoeira]

at first look clearly the Alesis (though I couldn't find out how much gain it provides) because it has phantom power and guitar inputs, wich the other doesn't have. So if one day you need, you wont need to buy neither external phantom nor a DI.