Frequently Asked Questions...
What chord do i need to hook up a condenser mic to an audio interface.?
I just recently bought a Creative E-mu usb 404 audio interface and a perception 120 condenser mic. What cable do i need to buy to hook both of them up to it. The audio interface has 2 Mic/hi-z/line inputs. 2 S/pdif, a midi in and out and a speaker output. any help?
Answer:
You need a 3 pin XLR Balanced Microphone cable (cord). And you'll need to turn the Phantom Power on on the interface. Any decent pro-audio shop should be able to sell you one. Go for a good quality one - don't buy cheap.
 Steinberg CI2 Plus USB Audio Interface B STOCK "MINT IN THE BOX" US $179.99 
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 Hercules DeeJay Trim + Scratch 4&6 DJ Audio Interface and Time Code Software US $249.00
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 M-AUDIO FAST TRACK PRO 4x4 USB Audio /Midi Interface with Preamps Sound Card US $229.99
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 ECHO LAYLA 20bit DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE PCI MOTU DIGIDESIGN FOCUSRITE M-AUDIO US $189.68
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 DigiDesign Digi 003 Rack Factory Firewire Computer Audio Interface US $699.00
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 Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP FireWire Audio Interface US $195.50
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 M Audio MobilePre Mobile Pre USB Interface and Preamp US $50.00
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 Pro Tools Recording Studio Fast Track USB Audio Interface US $28.00
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 M-AUDIO MOBILEPRE + PRO TOOLS MP-9 USB MOBILE PRE AUDIO INTERFACE II 2 MKII AVID US $139.00
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 Digidesign Audio Interface 888 I/O US $64.99
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 New Alesis iO4 24 Bit 4 Channel Audio Interface Authorized Dealer=Full Warranty US $127.97
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 FOCUSRITE Scarlett 8i6 Recording USB Audio Interface US $225.00
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 M-Audio ProFire 610 Digital Recording Interface US $172.50
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 Pyle PUSB102 U-CONTROL USB-Audio Interface US $41.99
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 AVID MBOX MINI 3 HIGH END USB AUDIO INTERFACE FREE UPGRADE TO PRO TOOLS10 US $539.00
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 M-Audio MobilePre Recording Interface USB 2 Channel Preamp + Live Lite 6 US $99.95
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 TASCAM US-1800 USB 2.0 COMPUTER AUDIO INTERFACE MIDI US $299.99
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 TASCAM IF-AE8 DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE UNIT US $250.00
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 MBOX by Digidesign, Audio Recording Interface, Good Condition US $29.99
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 Samson G-Track - USB Condenser Mic with Audio Interface US $65.00
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 Cakewalk FA-66 FireWire Audio Interface FA66 FA 66 US $399.00
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 Digidesign - Quad Audio Interface US $225.00
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 Behringer U-CONTROL UCA222 2-Channel Audio Interface FREE Shipping Buy it Now! US $44.88
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 M-AUDIO MobilePre recording interface for a mic and/or a guitar/other instrument US $56.00
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 Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 1816 18 i6 USB Audio Interface PROAUDIOSTAR US $234.99
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 Tascam US1800 USB 2.0 Audio MIDI Interface US-1800 Headphones Extended Warranty US $249.95
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 New Focusrite Pro 24 Firewire FW Audio Interface Pre PC Mac Audio - B-Stock US $219.00
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 Roland UA-55 Quad Capture USB 2.0 Audio Interface US $269.00
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 Avid HD I/O 16x16 Analog I/O Audio Interface US $4,995.00
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 M-Audio Avid Fast Track C600 6x8 Audio Interface + Pro Tools MP Studio Bundle US $449.99
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 BEHRINGER XENYX 1204USB NEW MIXER 12-INPUT 2/2-BUS W/ USB AUDIO / INTERFACE & EQ US $163.99
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 RME Babyface 22-Channel USB Computer Audio Interface US $749.00
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 LEXICON OMEGA USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $199.00
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 MOTU 828 Mk3 Firewire Audio Interface MKIII III MK 3 FREE SHIPPING! US $499.00
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 IK Multimedia StealthPlug Guitar/Bass USB Audio Interface Cable + AmpliTube US $72.79
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 M-AUDIO PROFIRE 2626 DIGITAL RECORDING INTERFACE - AMAZING INTERPHASE US $409.00
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 M-Audio FAST TRACK C400 digital audio interface 9900-65162-12 US $319.95
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 Tascam 8 Input USB MIDI Computer Audio Interface US-800 US $60.00
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 8 Channel Audio Interface Cable Bundle Extended Warranty US $79.95
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 TASCAM US-800 8x4 Mobile USB 2.0 Audio Interface US $304.95
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 Tascam IU2 Audio / Midi Interface For IOS Devices US $149.00
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 !!UNUSED Steinberg CI2 Recording Audio Interface Advanced Integration USB Studio US $115.00
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 Pro Tools SE with M-Audio Interface for sale! (Still in the box). US $75.99
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 Alto Professional ZMX124FXU 12-Channel Mixer w/ Effects & USB Audio Interface US $349.00
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 Lynx AES16 16 Channel AES/EBU PCI Audio Interface with US $625.00
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 Lynx AES16-SRC 16 Channel AES/EBU PCI Audio Interface US $899.00
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 ESI MAYA44 USB Audio Interface 4 In 4 Out Computer DJ Analog Recording Interface US $51.00
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 M-Audio Fast Track USB Guitar / Mic Recording Interface - USB Cable Included US $30.00
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 Apogee One Audio USB Interface w/ Internal Mic US $180.00
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 Behringer UFO202 USB Computer Audio Recording Interface US $33.99
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 M-Audio UNO USB MIDI Interface 1x1 9900-53075-00 US $74.95
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 NADY CONDENSER MICROPHONE w/ USB AUDIO INTERFACE & HEADPHONE MONITORING (USB-5H) US $118.98
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 HP Computer w/ Steinberg VSL2020 Audio Interface and Cubase SL, Recording Studio US $52.00
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 NADY STEREO CONDENSER MICROPHONE w/ USB AUDIO INTERFACE (USB-2S) US $118.98
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 M-Audio FastTrack Pro (4x4 USB Interface/Software) US $199.99
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 MXL/Marshall XLR to USB Preamp Digital Audio Interface 4 Condenser Mic MICMATEC US $89.95
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 Roland Edirol UA-25 USB & MIDI Audio Capture Interface fast shipping anywhere~! US $101.00
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 MOTU 1296 AUDIO INTERFACE - 96KHZ - 24 BIT - 12 INPUTS - 12 OUTPUTS - ENHANCED US $110.66
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 Presonus Studio Live 16.0.2 16 Chan Digital Mixer Audio Interface XMAX Preamp US $1,299.99
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 MOTU 828 MK3 Digital Firewire Audio Interface MKIII III MK 3 US $499.00
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 Rapco MIDI MF-3 K 1ft 5 Pin Pro Audio Video Interface Cable Instrument US $7.00
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 M-Audio Fast Track MKII USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools MP8 US $51.01
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 Tascam US-600 USB 2.0 Portable Audio Midi Interface with 6in & 4out US $199.99
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 Behringer XENYX X2222USB MIXER | USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $339.99
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 Behringer XENYX X1832USB MIXER | USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $319.99
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 Behringer XENYX X1222USB MIXER | USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $249.99
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 Digidesign 002R Audio Interface for Pro Tools Rack Mount Great Condition US $380.00
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 Behringer XENYX X1204USB MIXER | USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $219.99
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 Behringer XENYX 1204USB MIXER | USB AUDIO INTERFACE US $179.99
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 STEINBERG MR816CSX MR 816CSX FIREWIRE AUDIO INTERFACE US $999.99
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 MXL/Marshall Mic Mate XLR to USB Preamp Digital Audio Interface 4 Mic MICMATEUSB US $179.95
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Audio Interface
Why Is The Audio Interface Important?
Increasing Demand for Audio Transfer Services
As time marches on old audio collections begin to deteriorate and become obsolete. Many people and institutions have music and speech recordings on analog formats such as 8-track tapes, reels, microcassettes, standard cassettes, and also on digital tape formats like DCC (digital compact cassette) and DAT (digital audio tape).
Tape Damage
There are a number of problems that might occur with tape recordings. Tapes that experienced heavy usage, were stored improperly, or mishandled over the years are more likely to breakdown. After time, some types of magnetic tape experience what is known as sticky shed syndrome. Other kinds of tape can develop a type of degradation called vinegar syndrome. Regardless of the specific problems, tapes will not improve with age - nor will their condition remain unchanged.
Obsolete Tape Formats
Even if tapes are still in good condition - many people don't have the proper equipment to play them. New mini, micro and standard cassette players are becoming harder to come by. Eventually only used ones will be available and as they age, they too will break down. Otari, Inc. is the only manufacturer left still producing analog reel to reel tape decks. Elcaset, DCC, and 8-track tape machines are no longer manufactured. To repair these tape decks, one has to borrow parts from other machines and as time goes on it will become more and more difficult to find the needed parts.
Music and Speech Recordings
There are literally millions of music and speech tape recordings in the hands of individuals, families, and institutions such as libraries, museums, and universities. Much of the music can still be purchased today; however, there are many music recordings that have never been released as a digital file format. There were also local bands that were never signed to a label but have recorded their music to tape. If people would like to listen to those recordings again, they will need to be digitized. In addition, there is also an abundance of speech recordings made by historians, family members, professors, students, reporters, politicians, priests, businesses, and so-on. These recordings include oral histories, audio letters, audio diaries, lectures, seminars, interviews, speeches, sermons, and meetings.
Professional Audio Transfer & Restoration Services
If a recording is important for any reason, it should be digitized as soon as possible before the tape is no longer playable because of degradation or a lack of equipment. If it is an elcaset, 8-track tape, or some other uncommon format that needs to be transferred, a little research into the different audio transfer companies will need to be done. Some audio transfer services only work with a few common formats while others have the needed equipment to handle a variety of obsolete formats.
There are a couple of advantages to converting recordings oneself, but for a better quality transfer, one should look for a professional audio transfer service. They will have professional grade equipment and computers that are built for audio work. The computers most people have come with cheap sound cards and will add a certain amount of noise to the recording during the transfer process. Professionals will use external audio interfaces and other hardware to avoid this problem.
If the tape is dirty or suffering from sticky shed syndrome or some other physical problem it is even more important to have a professional audio engineer handle the tape and transfer it. Also, once it is digitized, if there are any issues with sound quality, an audio engineer can use restoration software to get the recording sounding like it did originally. Audio transfer companies are also likely to have audio experts who can fix damaged tapes - whether the cassette shell is broken or the tape itself is cut or stuck.
Digital Tapes Too
It's not only analog recordings that need to be transferred to a file format. There are many digital formats such as minidisc, DAT, and DCC which are already obsolete or will be. Minidisc players won't be around forever and DCC players are quite rare - they haven't been manufactured since October 1996. Even DAT will fade away. So before it becomes too difficult to find audio transfer companies that can handle these formats, digital tapes and minidiscs should be transferred also.
Audible Forensics provides
audio transfer
services in addition to audio enhancement and restoration services. We can also repair broken cassette tapes and are capable of transferring many audio formats including cassettes, 8-tracks, and
reel to reel to CD
or a digital file format.
About the Author
Audible Forensics provides
audio transfer
services in addition to audio enhancement and restoration services. We can also repair broken cassette tapes and are capable of transferring many audio formats including cassettes, 8-tracks, and
reel to reel to CD
or a digital file format.
Here are a list of other products on Vintage Musical Instruments, come check these out:
