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Good audio interface for cakewalk under 100$ (Main goal is to reduce or possibly eliminate recording latency)


Krishna Ramsundar

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  • Krishna Ramsundar changed the title to Good audio interface for cakewalk under 100$ (Main goal is to reduce or possibly eliminate recording latency)

OMG... I just looked at Amazon and there is a "sponsored" brand there that looks identical to Focusrite but has the name "Dacimora"... make sure the product is Focusrite!!!

What actually ticks me off more with this is I specifically searched for "focusrite scarlett 3rd gen usb audio interface" and those fakes come up first. Either the Focusrite 3rd Gen Scarlett Solo or Scarlett 2i2 (a little more, but with a few more features) will do what you are asking.

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PreSonus is another manufacturer to consider. Beyond just the tech specs for the interfaces, several also offer software, FX, and other goodies as Pragi mentioned. Definitely take a little time comparing specs and reading reviews (especially the negative ones) on items that you are considering.

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  • 4 weeks later...

The best interfaces that I could find that meet the criteria of costing under $100 and allowing simultaneous recording of 2 tracks, 1 guitar and 1 vocal, are the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96K at $99 and the M-Audio M-Track Duo at $69.

Personally, I'd go for the PreSonus. I have a similar model, the PreSonus Studio 2|4 and the sound quality is excellent.

My larger interface is a Focusrite. They're both great, really. Can't go wrong with either brand, but CAVEAT: Focusrite has saved costs on the lower end models like the Scarlett 2i2 by omitting a MIDI interface. PreSonus still make theirs with the standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors.

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Funny how everyone recommends Focusrite all the time. They actually don't make the short list if you compare all the interfaces of any given category. They are simply a "best Seller" There are possibly better interfaces in same price range.  I just did a big research project on 2x2 interfaces. Here's most everything you need to know about 2x2 interfaces. Next I'm going to cover Audio interface Mixers. 

https://sites.google.com/view/cactus-studios/audio-interfaces

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 1/31/2024 at 6:03 AM, John Vere said:

Funny how everyone recommends Focusrite all the time. They actually don't make the short list if you compare all the interfaces of any given category. They are simply a "best Seller" There are possibly better interfaces in same price range.  I just did a big research project on 2x2 interfaces. Here's most everything you need to know about 2x2 interfaces. Next I'm going to cover Audio interface Mixers. 

https://sites.google.com/view/cactus-studios/audio-interfaces

I've never used it, but the Presonus Studio 24C does have loopback. At least, there are options: Virtual and Mix 1/2.

Edited by MarkP
Added options.
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2 hours ago, MarkP said:

I've never used it, but the Presonus Studio 24C does have loopback. At least, there are options: Virtual and Mix 1/2.

PreSonus has shifted a lot of their hardware to use their Universal Control software (installing Universal Control has options to install the drivers for about half a dozen audio interface types included). The virtual loopback is embedded into that application via the virtual mixer (similar to OBS, MixControl, and the like).

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  • 10 months later...
On 12/30/2023 at 11:49 AM, Pragi said:

The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2

is a good usb interface ,low rtl and

and includes some goodies during the holiday season like komplete select aso.

https://www.thomann.de/de/native_instruments_komplete_audio_2.htm

 

 

Heya Pragi, responding to this a year later. I got the Komplete Audio 1 myself (having mistakenly first bough a U-Phoria UMC22), but I still don't understand how to get it working with Cakewalk - nothing is showing up in the devices, and I don't know what to set the 'Driver Mode' to. Any ideas/guides??

 

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6 hours ago, E K said:

Heya Pragi, responding to this a year later. I got the Komplete Audio 1 myself (having mistakenly first bough a U-Phoria UMC22), but I still don't understand how to get it working with Cakewalk - nothing is showing up in the devices, and I don't know what to set the 'Driver Mode' to. Any ideas/guides??

 

Hey EK,

Without  more Infos about your System it is hard to answer , but I ve found the following Youtube Video with basic Infos , 

have a happy new year.

If you have already installed the driver for the ni komplete Audio interface use the Driver Mode: ASIO

and you have to activate the channels of the device in the preferences.

 

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3 hours ago, Pragi said:

Hey EK,

Without  more Infos about your System it is hard to answer , but I ve found the following Youtube Video with basic Infos , 

have a happy new year.

If you have already installed the driver for the ni komplete Audio interface use the Driver Mode: ASIO

and you have to activate the channels of the device in the preferences.

 

Hey Pragi - thanks for the advice and the video! Turns out the installation package with NI didn't actually include the Komplete Audio 1 drivers. So I've managed to get the drivers installed. It let me record on the inputs once, but now I keep getting the error "Unable to Open Audio Record Device." No other apps are open, and I don't know what changed between it letting me record and then stopping. Driver Mode is set to ASIO, it was letting me select the interface as the playback timing meter, and the sample rate is set to 48000 (which is what the ASIO panel says the interface is set to as well). 

For machine context - I am running Cakewalk on an Acer Aspire 5 laptop. My Komplete Audio 1 is plugged in via USB. I have an XLR cable going from a G4M MC1 mic into Input 1 on the KA1, and an electric acoustic guitar/Casio CTK-240 keyboard going 1/4 jack to Input 2 on the KA1. The switch is currently set to 'Line,' but the error appears on both options. 

Any ideas on what the problem is/how to fix it? I'm very new to all this, and my mic was my Christmas present so I'm hoping I can get it to work! 

image.png

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Windows also needs to match the sample rate that Cakewalk is trying to use (Cakewalk cannot override what Windows tells it). Open Sound Settings->Sound Control Panel (upper right), and in that next pop up select your device and then the "Properties" button. The next pop up has an "Advanced" tab at the top... click that and be sure the bit depth/bit rate match what you were trying in your Cakewalk project (24/44.1K, and 24/48K are most common).

Also, while in there, uncheck both options in the "Exclusive Mode" box right below where you selected the bit depth/sample rate. *IF* you have that device set for default playback, Windows will not only lock bit depth/sample rate on you, but also give the first app that uses it exclusive use... be sure those are unchecked.

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Hello EK, if you haven t  already done, scroll down on the following hp to get the correct Audio drivers

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/support/downloads/drivers-other-files/?srsltid=AfmBOoqJw8Dv4XOk99TtH_viPwkvLS9ptIVt5VGB9fXf_HaJQyzNcufD

 

Some hints/questions from my side:

bit depht of the interface and Cakewalk 24 bit ?

Which processor do you run on your machine? ghz ?

Do you use a USB hub? (Don't)

Try another USB port.

disabled onboard audio device?

 

Sorry for my cryptic writing; I'm on family vacation.

 

 

Edited by Pragi
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