I'm looking for a satisfactory way to input a guitar signal into my PC, into a DAW. I'm trying to do straightforward stuff like laying down a bass track then lead/rythm tracks.
What I've got is a Alesis IO|2 which sort-of does the job but with some odd problems. For one, no matter how I configure the thing, the hardware knobs controlling gain and latency seem to do nothing at all. Also, it's recently started picking up an intermittant hiss which I'm having a hell of a time isolating (might be PC related or something as obvious as the headphones.)
Alternatives I've looked at are:
All of these come with (severely) cut down versions of ProTools, Ableton or Cubase, all of which are powerful tools that are a right pain to get to grips with - yes, I know, that's just me!
So, what do you guys recommend, based on your own experiences?
(Pro tip: don't go wandering down Denmark Street on an impulse - you'll buy something that's more expensive than anywhere else and likely not what you actually need.)
What I've got is a Alesis IO|2 which sort-of does the job but with some odd problems. For one, no matter how I configure the thing, the hardware knobs controlling gain and latency seem to do nothing at all. Also, it's recently started picking up an intermittant hiss which I'm having a hell of a time isolating (might be PC related or something as obvious as the headphones.)
Alternatives I've looked at are:
- Pro Tools Essentials Recording Studio
- M-Audio Fast Track
- Avid Recording Studio
- Lexicon Alpha Studio
- The various Line 6 Pod Studios
All of these come with (severely) cut down versions of ProTools, Ableton or Cubase, all of which are powerful tools that are a right pain to get to grips with - yes, I know, that's just me!
So, what do you guys recommend, based on your own experiences?
(Pro tip: don't go wandering down Denmark Street on an impulse - you'll buy something that's more expensive than anywhere else and likely not what you actually need.)
