few basic questions about audio interfaces !!!!!! PLEASE HELP !!!

[robscorsese]

Im fairly new to production. I've been exploring and researching different aspects of production for a little over a year. Im currently running logic pro 9 with a midi controller and an mpc 1000 (for sampling purposes only) on a macbook (09'). It took me a few months to realize that i won't be able to sync my mpc directly into logic as a slave without an audio interface of some sort. I pretty much taught myself everything lol. I was just wonder if anyone could tell me from experience which audio interface is appropriate so i will be able to sample. Im looking between the price range of 100-200. Also was curious of how many ports i will need considering i have studio monitors and a vinyl player. Help would be extremely appreciated!!!! thanks

[B Side Producer]

Is you vinyl player usb?
If it ain't , you need a phono amplifier in between of your Audio intefarface and your turntable.
Some brands you can look at for audio interfaces:
- Presonus
- Echo
- Tascam
- M-Audio
- Focusrite
- Lexicon
- Avid
- Alesis
- ESI

I personally use one of the Echo ones. They only have one that works with a PCIe card in a desktop computer or they have firewire. If you don't have firewire in your laptop, you can buy a pcmcia card that has it on it.
Otherwise, one of my mates has good experiences with a presonus one. Both the ones I mention above costed about 300.
Remember, quality doesn't come cheap. Check out the brands or open up a webshop specialized in dj/producer hardware, check out the audio interfaces on there and google for reviews on them.
Also, try to figure out what you want to hook up. Do you want to use microphones? Than your A/I needs a proper mic pre amp in it, or you could buy that separately. The preamps in the cheaper A/Is aren't really good. The echo one get's a lot of good reviews though. GL!

[bandcoach]

It took me a few months to realize that i won't be able to sync my mpc directly into logic as a slave without an audio interface of some sort.

Leaving aside all other issues, I find that hard to believe. The MPC has MIDI INs and MIDI OUTs, so you do not need an audio interface to sync or slave, just a MIDI interface, which is significantly cheaper than an audio interface.

If you are actually saying that you want to take the audio from both the MPC and logic and mix them using an external mixer, then you may need an audio interface.

If you are saying that you want to record your mpc audio outs into logic then you will need an interface.

Whatever you decide to get make sure that it provides for both audio and MIDI data streams.

I also recommend the Echo interfaces, but suggest that you get the best you can afford for now rather than going over the top...

[CPhoenix]

Echo AudioFire 4.

Slightly above $200 is you buy used... but well well worth the stability and clarity.

[robscorsese]

WOW. i appreciate the speedy feedback. I have a sony vinyl player with a insignia reciever. i basically want to chop up my samples on my mpc 1000 and transfer the information to logic. I would then lace the beat with my loaded stock sounds from logic to start. I actually have a midi interface. Haven't had much luck with it but ill keep trying now that you've said i really don't need it unless i want to mix the info from the mpc and logic together

---------- Post added at 08:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 PM ----------

"If you are saying that you want to record your mpc audio outs into logic then you will need an interface."

midi interface will do it right?

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 PM ----------

i have a m-audio usb midisport midi interface that doesn't seem to work when i connect it to my mpc to slave it to logic

[bandcoach]

You need to set logic as the master clock in the setup and you need to tell the mpc that it is to slave to that clock - I do not own an mpc so can go no further in advising you how to do it.

Again I stress the following:

if you wish only to slave the MPC to Logic, then a MIDI interface is all that is needed.

If you want to take the audio from both the MPC and logic and mix them using an external mixer, then you (may) need an audio interface.

If you want to record your mpc audio outs into logic then you will need an audio interface.