Xero Talent
Silver Member
I'm in the process of getting my recording rig parts together, and I'm running into a dilemma.
I've narrowed it down to either this mixer board (which only has a stereo output via USB):
http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_x2222_usb.htm ($300)
(Yes, I know it's a Behringer. No need to post and tell me the brand sucks, k?)
Or the Tascam US-1641 (also discontinued, but I may have found one used): http://tascam.com/product/us-1641/ ($200)
The big difference here is the Behringer will mix on the hardware before recording, and it will output the pre-mixed audio in 2 channels to my laptop (currently running Audacity), whereas the Tascam would output 16 channels.
Here's the problem. First, Audacity won't support 16 simultaneous channels because it doesn't support ASIO. So I will need some other software to record. Secondly, my laptop is rather old (7 years), and frankly not sure if it will meet the requirements needed to record all the tracks simultaneously.
So my dilemma is this: do I get the Behringer and just record 2 channels into Audacity with my current laptop (ie: keep it simple), or do I get the Tascam to record 16 channels (and reduce the likelyhood of having to upgrade in the future), but ALSO have to invest in a new computer AND find some other free recording software.
I dunno, what's your take on it? Is there another interface I should be looking at? My budget is around $300 for the interface.
I've narrowed it down to either this mixer board (which only has a stereo output via USB):
http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_x2222_usb.htm ($300)
(Yes, I know it's a Behringer. No need to post and tell me the brand sucks, k?)
Or the Tascam US-1641 (also discontinued, but I may have found one used): http://tascam.com/product/us-1641/ ($200)
The big difference here is the Behringer will mix on the hardware before recording, and it will output the pre-mixed audio in 2 channels to my laptop (currently running Audacity), whereas the Tascam would output 16 channels.
Here's the problem. First, Audacity won't support 16 simultaneous channels because it doesn't support ASIO. So I will need some other software to record. Secondly, my laptop is rather old (7 years), and frankly not sure if it will meet the requirements needed to record all the tracks simultaneously.
So my dilemma is this: do I get the Behringer and just record 2 channels into Audacity with my current laptop (ie: keep it simple), or do I get the Tascam to record 16 channels (and reduce the likelyhood of having to upgrade in the future), but ALSO have to invest in a new computer AND find some other free recording software.
I dunno, what's your take on it? Is there another interface I should be looking at? My budget is around $300 for the interface.