paulnick Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 hi, I want to buy a laptop for our theatre that I can use for sound prep/ compiling in addition to playback using Multiplay or similar. But I can't seem to find a laptop suitably equipped input socket. Do you know of one or an intermediate device that will take stereo in and convert to a useable stero signal in the laptop?Many thanks in anticipationPaulnick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete10uk Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 If you do a quick search for usb audio interface, that will bring up what your after. I've used a couple of different ones, all cheaper end units from brands I've heard of and they have all been fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinE Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I use the ART one here, great little useful box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldradiohand Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Behringer do a cheap USB stereo phono in/out interface - I've had no problems with mine for less than £25. Got a headphone socket which was a godsend when the socket on my macbook broke..... ........of course, other USB interfaces are available.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrolytic Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 what is it you want to record? compiling are you recording other mediums such as records? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 +1 (or whatever) for a USB interface. Besides recording stereo line in, it'll also give you proper balanced professional connectors on the output for live playback--much better than trusting a headphone socket. Get one with one or two mic inputs. You'll be amazed how often you're asked to record a voice of some kind, whether it's a "turn off your mobile phones" message or a spooky ghost or something. However, what are you planning to record from the stereo line in? For things like CD's, MP3 files etc. etc. there are often better ways to do it than a simple line in. In terms of hardware, there are lots of basic USB interfaces. I use an M Audio M Track for exactly the purpose you mention but there are tons of other good ones. For the laptop, after much digging, I went with Lenovo and (touch wood) it's been very good and very reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbothegreat Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I've just treated myself to one of these little beauties at rather a good price from Orbital's 2nd hand shop - although do note that the decription and image are of a mkii, whereas the unit I received was a mki. Still works fine with W8.1 (using the W7 driver). From personal experience, Tascam ones are beautifully engineered, but they don't support them for very long if a new version comes out - I had the original US122 for less than 3 years when W7 came out, and they wouldn't create a driver for it as they had produced the mkii by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrolytic Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Focusrite, Presonus or RME for a usb interface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldradiohand Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I've got an Mbox which I use for mics but the Behringer gets used most of all 'cos it's small and simple to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanSteely Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I too am looking at this kind of thing.. This one looks and hopefully sounds the business: http://www.behringer...cts/UMC202.aspx ...and It even come with a Midas logo.... This one also looks very useful but falls outside of the budget somewhat. http://www.behringer...ts/FCA1616.aspx Don't suppose anybody's got experience of using these I/Os? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanSteely Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Hi All, Just to say I did indeed purchase (always painful) a http://www.behringer...cts/UMC202.aspx and am very pleased with it. The Windows driver installation was pain free, works well and is robust across XP, 7 & 8. In real world use the noise floor in and out is superb by being pretty much silent. I chose this particular card because it was purely bus powered so useful for field recordings, did not have MIDI, together with the reasonable price: (£72.75) from BlueAran. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryNattrass Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 I recently got the Tascam US-366 USB interface as it sits on a flat surface easier with a good sized control for monitors, it also has digital I/O available and an on-board hot key to a software mixer that is also provided as well as cubase LE. Around £120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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