Audeo Interface - Focusrite Scarlett Solo

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for some advice in regards to an audio interface to use with my PC when recording voice overs and audio directly to the computer. I'm running on a fairly tight budget for this one and noticed the Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio package on the internet for around £100. I've watched a few reviews but thought I would see what everyone over here at Hexus though. Is this a good buy at my price point? Should I consider something else? Would you pay the extra for the iTrack Solo instead?

Arrrrrggghhhh so many questions haha!!

Cheers,
Rookie

For a better answer, there are yet more questions!

- What sort of audio are you recording? e.g. stereo output from an XBOX? Hooked up to a guitar, or amp?
- How would you be recording voice? What microphone will you be using?
- How important is live mixing or monitoring?
- How will you be recording your voice overs and audio? EDIT: Vague question, sorry. In other words, is there a particular software you're using? e.g. recording in to a DAW?

Hey,

If I was to go with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio package it ships with a condenser mic (Scarlett Studio CM25) - If I was to buy a stand alone AI then I would be in the market for a mic and I'm planning on using Audacity as my recording software on my PC.

Cheers,

So what sort of audio as mentioned in your OP, other than voice, will you be recording? And would live mixing and monitoring be important?

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Originally Posted by DDY

So what sort of audio as mentioned in your OP, other than voice, will you be recording? And would live mixing and monitoring be important?

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Sorry, I would also require stereo output from an AV amplifier but don't require live mixing :)

I take it then that you'll be recording the stereo output separately to the voice over?

Keeping in mind that the two audio interfaces mentioned in the opening post each have two inputs channels. Stereo sound, comprising left and right channels, will take up both of the two channels leaving no room for your mic.

Another thing to beware, is that with Audacity there's no easy way to record from two audio devices simultaneously, it can however record from multiple channels provided it's from a single audio device.

All things considered, especially in keeping to a budget, I would suggest hooking up the AV amp to your existing audio device's line input and buying a USB microphone.

I'm not too familiar with the USB mics available, but I used to peddle Blue USB desktop microphones and I was quite impressed with the performance especially for the price, they're dead easy to set up for a good sound but I have to admit I'm not a fan of the aesthetics.

I've had a Samson USB Go Mic for some time to record lectures and lab notes, with the right positioning it can be made to sound like a much more expensive mic, goes to show that an expensive setup isn't always necessary.

EDIT:

Another option to consider is ditching direct to computer recording for a stand-alone portable voice recorder. I used to do band recording and stuff, which I rarely do nowadays but when ever I need to record something, be it a jam session, lecture or lab notes I resort to my Tascam DR-05 or Zoom H4n portable recorders, partly because I was fed up with the faff of setting up mics and the computer for recording. Still sounds as good though.

Hmmm, I'm not really understanding what you're trying to do with this. Are you trying to record voice overs across music that's playing from your AV amp? Over movie soundtracks? Are you recording a podcast with background music? Each one requires a slightly different audio workflow and setup.

If you just want to record multiple separate tracks one after the other, you don't need any special interface; as DDY suggested just record the audio from your AV amp using the line in from your normal sound card, then overdub your voice over afterwards (this is dead easy in Audacity). You can use any kind of PC mic to do this. Unless you've got a specific reason for wanting to record the voice and stereo audio simultaneously I really wouldn't bother with a specialist audio interface for this...

hey,

Thanks for the reply, I've added my responses in red to make things easier :)

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Originally Posted by DDY

I take it then that you'll be recording the stereo output separately to the voice over? If that's possible, ideally I want to be able to record an external sound source and then lay a commentary over the top of this.

Keeping in mind that the two audio interfaces mentioned in the opening post each have two inputs channels. Stereo sound, comprising left and right channels, will take up both of the two channels leaving no room for your mic. Would that be an issue if I'm looking to record the mic input separately from the stereo sound?

Another thing to beware, is that with Audacity there's no easy way to record from two audio devices simultaneously, it can however record from multiple channels provided it's from a single audio device. Hopefully that shouldn't be a problem if I'm recording the two inputs separately :)

All things considered, especially in keeping to a budget, I would suggest hooking up the AV amp to your existing audio device's line input and buying a USB microphone.

I'm not too familiar with the USB mics available, but I used to peddle Blue USB desktop microphones and I was quite impressed with the performance especially for the price, they're dead easy to set up for a good sound but I have to admit I'm not a fan of the aesthetics.

I've had a Samson USB Go Mic for some time to record lectures and lab notes, with the right positioning it can be made to sound like a much more expensive mic, goes to show that an expensive setup isn't always necessary. I'll have a look at this as it sounds like a much cheaper/simpler option.

EDIT:

Another option to consider is ditching direct to computer recording for a stand-alone portable voice recorder. I used to do band recording and stuff, which I rarely do nowadays but when ever I need to record something, be it a jam session, lecture or lab notes I resort to my Tascam DR-05 or Zoom H4n portable recorders, partly because I was fed up with the faff of setting up mics and the computer for recording. Still sounds as good though. I'll have a google about the stand-alone recorders, I have access to a Zoom H1 and Rode Smartlav+ through the marketing team at work so might trial that to see what it performs like

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Thanks for all the help :)

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Originally Posted by Rookie1986

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DDY

I take it then that you'll be recording the stereo output separately to the voice over?

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If that's possible, ideally I want to be able to record an external sound source and then lay a commentary over the top of this.

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If you plan to use audacity you can do this no problem without a custom audio interface - you take the stereo line from the AV amp into the ordinary line in on your computer (using an appropriate cable, presumably RCA to 3.5mm) and tell audacity to record from the ordinary line in source, then once you've recorded the audio you can switch the input audacity is using to your microphone (which can be *any* computer microphone from the one on a cheap headset to a hugely expensive professional USB jobby), set the playback device to use your headphones, and record your voice over whilst listening to already-recorded audio. This adds a separate track in Audacity that you can manipulate separately from the audio - you'll probably need to time-shift the voice over slightly to compensate for the latency of the recording - again, this is dead easy in Audacity - and you might want to filter the voice over with some EQ and maybe a little reverb - again, this is dead easy in Audacity.

I see nothing in your workflow that suggests you'd get any tangible benefit from dropping £100 on a USB audio interface.

As above, recording the AV amp separately to the voice over is very easy to do.

The main reason I suggested the USB mics in my last post, is that for their price there isn't much that would match them in performance. Sure any mic would work, but the ones I've suggested are in my view representative of the 'minimum' standard we're familiar with in well produced amateur podcasts and videos nowadays.

I think the Zoom H1 is a good option for a voice mic even without an external lav mic, but a pop filter will be essential.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DDY

... The main reason I suggested the USB mics in my last post, is that for their price there isn't much that would match them in performance. ...

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For plugging direct into a PC I don't think I'd disagree. As I'm more of a live audio tech my recording setup actually includes a couple of Shure SM58s, so I may have a skewed view in microphone quality ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DDY

... I think the Zoom H1 is a good option for a voice mic even without an external lav mic, but a pop filter will be essential.

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Hmmm, that looks like a very nice piece of kit (and I've been a bit of a Zoom fanboy since I bought myself a ZOom 505 while at Uni ;) ). If I had any gigs at the minute I'd consider grabbing one for recording foley while I'm out and about (although tbh most mobile phones are "good enough" for that kind of work nowadays).