Presonus AudioBox iTwo Audio Interface - anyone have this?

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The Portrait Piano

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« on: January 23, 2019, 08:06:43 AM »
Hi All,

I'm a complete newbie in the process of getting kit. My main instrument is keyboard / piano & I'm leaning towards audio route over midi in order to get the true sound of a live performance. Hope I've got that part the right way round.

So the next step seems to require an audio interface to get my computer to accept the audio. Been researching online & getting bamboozled with all the choice out there. The Presonus AudioBox iTwo Audio Interface has good reviews for keyboard...but I wanted to check with peeps on this forum before spending my hard earned cash.

Thank you for your help!
Law


Yodasdad

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« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2019, 05:45:22 PM »
I don't have experience of it but from your other post, it looks exactly what you're looking for.

According to the presonus website it also comes with a free version of studio1 too. Probably a lite version but that's your DAW sorted right there. Should keep you going for a while until you're ready to upgrade, without costing you anything.

I can also vouch for the focusrite interfaces though that @pompeyjazz mentioned, they're. Good.

The one you've picked out accepts both audio and midi, which is what you want.

To clarify recording audio, you record the actual sound that is made by say a voice or acoustic guitar..

With midi, a signal is sent from the instrument which is recognised by the daw and then you can choose any instrument you want the signal to play. You just need to make sure your keyboard/piano has a midi out socket but if it was made anytime since the 80's, it will have.

You can record the audio from the piano to but you are then limited to the actual sounds the piano can generate itself. With midi your piano could be turned into a violin, drum kit, saxophone or whatever you want and you can swap the sound whenever you want, without having to rerecord anything.

The other advantage of midi is that you can change the notes, rhythm etc of what you played after it's been recorded. With audio your limited to what you played at the time, without some specialist software, and even then you're limited.

Yodasdad.

The Portrait Piano

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« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2019, 07:43:48 AM »
@pompeyjazz & @yodasdad thanks for replying & it's interesting you both have used and recommended focusrite. Think I'll go for this tried & tested audio interface.

It also comes with a software bundle, this time Ableton Live Lite & Pro Tools. Do you have any opinion on Ableton vs Studio One? I have a windows laptop.

For an extra £60 there's a bigger bundle which includes the CM25 MkII Condenser Microphone & HP60 MkII Studio Headphones. Are these any good?

Thanks Yodasdad once again for your detailed tech-splanation this time about audio vs midi. Yeah that's what I've read too, I'm just not sure if I'm capable of doing piano & vocals separately and then putting them together afterwards in a way that feels connected. It's a strange concept to me right now, I'll give it a try since midi is way more versatile.

About the midi route though my keyboard only accepts the midi usb cable (square / rectangular shape) so don't think it can be directly plugged into the audio interface via midi, only audio. Does this mean I should just plug the keyboard directly into the computer via midi usb & only use the mic for vocals with the audio interface?

Boydie

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« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2019, 08:15:11 AM »
@The Portrait Piano

Great explanation by @Yodasdad and I agree with the recommendations by @pompeyjazz

The focusrite/Scarlett interfaces are great and although I have never used them myself if I were in the market for a new interface they would definitely be on my shortlist to check out

In your situation though I would be tempted to consider the Presonus due to the Studio One bundle, which I think will suit your DAW needs better than Ableton and Pro Tools for lots of different reasons - the main one being there are many STUDIO ONE users on the forum (including me) who will help you get up and running and give you lots of advice as you grow in to your DAW

PRO TOOLS used to be considered the "industry standard" many years ago but it can become very expensive to maintain the upgrades and almost all of the PRO TOOLS users I know have switched to STUDIO ONE (which is also cross platform so has MAC and PC users)

Going for a bundle with a mic and headphones is a good choice if you plan to record vocals -  but don't forget you will need a mic stand, and then possibly a pop shield - both a relatively cheap but things do start adding up £££

My personal suggestion would be calling ANDERTONS or DV247 to discuss what you are looking for to see if they will do you a bundle deal (they will) to get everything you need

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I'm just not sure if I'm capable of doing piano & vocals separately and then putting them together afterwards in a way that feels connected. It's a strange concept to me right now, I'll give it a try since midi is way more versatile.

This is very common for people new to recording but once you get used to it you will usually end up with a MUCH better recording when you concentrate 100% on the piano and then 100% on the vocals

You also have the option of doing a recording of both together and then going back and "fixing" just the bits you weren't happy with - we can help you with different approaches when you get there so don't worry about this bit

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Does this mean I should just plug the keyboard directly into the computer via midi usb & only use the mic for vocals with the audio interface?

Yes, if you keyboard only has a USB output for MIDI then you would not need to go through the audio interface but just plug directly in to the PC via USB

When you set your DAW up you just need to make sure your MIDI device is assigned to your MIDI / INSTRUMENT tracks in your DAW (which is something we can help you with when you get to this part)


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Yodasdad

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« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2019, 01:27:15 PM »
Well I see that @Boydie has said what I was gonna say and more, which is good coz I’m on my lunch break😔

Just to add, presonus is also an established brand so you won’t go too far wrong if choosing it.

Also, because you’ll be recording the keyboard by midi, there’s nothing to stop you singing at the same time but not recording it. No audio (sound) will be recorded remember so you’re not going to affect the keyboard.

BIT, if you’re gonna sing, you might as well record it at the same time any. You might just capture ‘the one’. If not ditch it and go again. Or, keep bits and re-record bits and then glue them together in your DAW (comping).

Now we’re getting somewhere, can’t do that on your standard phone can ya!?😂

Yodasdad.

The Portrait Piano

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« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2019, 09:57:32 AM »
@Yodasdad
@Boydie

Thank you so much for your explanations, I understand it a little better now. I'll just give it a go and see what happens.

Law