Gear Guide
Audio Applications | Interfaces | Microphones

A description of audio hardware and software currently available on the market. For recommendations, check out Jay Allison's "What Do I Buy?" article.

Audio Applications:

Multitrack Mac/Win:

ProTools (ProTools FREE: $0, ProTools LE w/ USB M-Box: street US$450) From Digidesign

The most popular small-studio audio application. For this reason alone many people use this program, so they can share multitrack sessions with other ProTools producers. PT is a quick versatile tool. ProTools 5.0 and earlier, including ProToolsFree, must convert stereo sound-files (joint-stereo) into 2 individual files (split-stereo, one for each channel). So stereo uses two tracks (one each for right and left channels). ProTools 5.1 and higher will record and edit joint-stereo files. So stereo must take up two tracks (one each for right and left channels). But tracks can be grouped for simultaneous multitrack editing and mixing. What makes ProTools even more popular is that Digidesign often offers a free version, which is limited to 8 tracks, but is otherwise fully functional. It can capture (record) audio from analog, USB and PCI sound sources.

www.digidesign.com

Deck (list US$300), from Bias Inc. (Berkeley Integrated Audio Software)

Another good multi-track tool. Deck cannot use single stereo sound-file (joint stereo), but must convert it into 2 files (split stereo), and put it on two separate tracks. However, it does not allow grouping of tracks for editing and mixing, making it inconvenient for stereo production. It can capture (record) audio from analog, USB and PCI sound sources. The latest version of Deck, as well as the two-track editor Peak, is now OSX native.

www.bias-inc.com

Multitrack Win-only

Cool Edit Pro (list US$350) A tried and true audio app for home studios. It can work with joint stereo files, and can put both left and right channels on one track. Syntrillium, the manufacturer, continues to add new features,like MP3 export, and one of the finest noise-reduction filters available.

www.syntrillium.com

Stereo (2-track) Win-only

Cool Edit 2000 (list US$70)

Syntrillium's stripped-down version of their multitrack program. It is limited to only two audio tracks (for one stereo file), but has most of the other features and filters of Cool Edit Pro.

www.syntrillium.com

Sound Forge (Full version 5: $350 download; XP version $60 download)

A Versatile stereo editor with many available plug-in effects, can input and output many different file types. Full version will export WAV, MP3, .RA and other file formats, and includes integral CD burning from the program.

www.sonicfoundry.com

Stereo (2-track) Mac-only

Sound Studio (list US$50), by FeltTip

A basic but reliable stereo sound capture and editing tool. It launches quickly, is great for simple editing chores, and can work with joint stereo files. But it has a limited selection of processing possibilities. Sound Studio is one of the first sound apps with an OS X version.

www.felttip.com/products/soundstudio/

Sound Player /Converter Mac-only

SoundApp ($0) can play almost any format sound-file, including MP3s and CD Audio. It can also convert the sound-file from any format into any other format: wavs to aiff, MP3s to CD Audio, you name it. (It plays and converts MP3s, but does not encode MP3s or any other MPEG format). For playing and converting sound-files, you cannot buy a better tool than SoundApp at any price. You can't even buy SoundApp at any price, because it's FREEEEEE.

www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~franke/SoundApp/

Sound Processors Win/Mac:

Waves (bundles list US$300 and up)

A suite of EQ, compression, limiting and other sound-enhancing filters. They work as plug-ins in ProTools, Deck, and many other sound programs. Many of the filters have an RTAS (Real Time Audio Suite) plug-in that allows non-destructive processing during monitoring and mixing.

www.waves.com

Audio Interfaces

USB Audio Interfaces

On the frugal but functional end, there's the Griffin Technology line of USB audio adapters (US$35-99), the iMic and PowerWave. These accept only analog-in (1/8" stereo; RCA on the PowerWave), and convert it to digital audio out via a USB port.

www.griffintechnology.com/audio/

Roland's UA-3 AudioCanvas (US$179) which is also sold under the Edirol name, accepts analog (line-level RCA) and digtal (optical) and has a better set of faders for controlling analog volume levels.

www.edirol.com/products/prosheets/ua3.html

There's also a UA-5 (US $299) which has XLR/TRS combo mic/line inputs, and will do higher-resolution audio capture.

www.edirol.com/products/prosheets/ua5.html

Edirol also has two tiny, no-frills USB interfaces, the UA-1D (Digital Only) (US$95) and the UA-1A (Analog Only) (US$79) which are simple cables with input and output jacks on one end and a USB connector on the other. The 1-A connections are line-level RCA, and the 1-D connections are S/PDIF, both coax and optical.

Tascam's US-428 USB Interface Controller (List- US$625; Street - $450) has S/PDIF digital in and out (coax), two XLR mic inputs, four line inputs, and is also a compact 8-channel (24-bit) digital mixer. One amazing feature: you can control many computer audio-software functions like transport control, EQ, sends, faders, etc. right from the mixer, bypassing mouse & keyboard.

www.tascam.com/products/us428/index.php

There's also a smaller, more limited, and cheaper US-224 (List: US$375) an analog-only version.

www.tascam.com/products/computer_recording/us224/index.php

Both Tascam devices advertise that they are compatible with ProTools Free.

Digidesign makes the M-Box (street price US$400) a stereo in/out interface with Focusrite mic pre amps on XLR connectors, as well as line-ins, insert points, and coax S/PDIF digital I/O. The M-Box only works with ProTools LE, which comes with the unit. The M-Box is powered by the USB buss, and must remain plugged-in in order to run ProTools LE.

www.digidesign.com

M-Audio makes the USB Audio Quattro (list US$350) and USB Audio Duo (list US$380). The Quattro features four channels of line-level audio along with MIDI (mic pre amps can be added via the optional Omni I/O.) The Duo features two XLR/TRS Mic/Line inputs and S/PDIF digital in and out. When unplugged from the USB connection, the Duo can even operate as a standalone mic pre amp/digital converter.

www.m-audio.com/products/USB.php

Sounddevices offers the USBPre, (list $699) a small box with two XLR mic pre amps (with phantom power) 1/4" and RCA line-in, S/PDIF (coax) Digital in and out, both 1/4" and 1/8" headphone jacks with volume control, and RCA line-out for monitoring. One nice touch: the channel inputs can be selected independently, allowing recording from one mic and one line-level signal simultaneously.

www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpremaster.htm

Apogee makes the Mini Me (list $1495) which features two XLR mic/line inputs, AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital outputs (but apparently no digital inputs,) with Apogee's famed A/D conversion, "Softlimit" limiting and "Push-it" compression.

www.apogeedigital.com/products/prod_minime.html

The HHB PORTADISC MDP500 (list price US$1,500) Portable Minidisc recorder has a USB connector that can transfer audio directly to a computer. It has XLR mic inputs and both optical and coax S/PDIF inputs / outputs, and so, in addition to being a sturdy field recorder, in record-pause, it can act as a USB interface as well.

www.hhbusa.com/000/usa.htm

Firewire Audio Interfaces

Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU): makes two firewire devices, the 828 (list US$795) and the 896 (list US$1295). The 828 features two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power, six additional 1/4" line inputs, coax and optical S/PDIF digital and ADAT lightpipe digital inputs and outputs. The 896 has similar array of inputs and outputs, but all are balanced XLR, with phantom power and mic pre amps on all 8 inputs. Digital I/O is AES/EBU. The 896 is also capable of 96Khz recording. Both devices ship with MOTU's Audiodesk recording and editing software.

www.motu.com

Metric Halo Labs makes the Mobile I/O (list US$1495) an 8-channel interface with four XLR four 1/4" TRS mic/line inputs, along with AES/EBU, S/PDIF coax and optical, and ADAT lightpipe connectivity. An more expensive model with additional DSP processing for realtime effects and mixing is also available. The unit can be powered by the firewire bus, making this a very portable solution when used with a laptop.

www.mhlabs.com

Crest Audio advertised the FB-88 (list US$1599) with 8 XLR/TRS combo inputs as well as ADAT or optical S/PDIF digital I/O. But this unit doesn't seem to have made it to production.

www.crestaudio.com

PCI Card-based Interfaces

There are almost too many options to list. Make sure that your computer can accept a PCI card (many newer compact computers cannot) and that you haven't used up all your card slots with other add-ons.

The project-studio oriented digi001, from Digidesign has been a popular choice, offering a rack-mounted breakout box with 8 analog ins and outs, as well as stereo digital I/O on coax or optical. 8 channels of ADAT lightpipe digital audio is also supported. Two of the analog inputs are XLR with microphone pre amps and phantom power. The MOTU 1224 is similar, although the Audiodesk editing software is less commonly-used.

There are many variations from many manufacturers, from simple cards with stereo I/O on the card itself, to units with elaborate remote break-out boxes,

M-Audio, Echo, Aardvark, Digigram, Digital Audio Labs, Hammerfall are among the most popular. Steinberg's Wavelab and Nuendo, are more elaborate systems, that give even more editing power.

Microphones

There are many microphones to choose from, and for more details on the differences between them, check out Transom's What Microphone Do I Get article. Some of the companies that make the microphones that are most commonly-used by radio producers are:

AKG,  Audio Technica,  Beyerdynamic,   Electrovoice,  Neumann,   Rode,  Sennheiser,   Shure 

Also on Transom... What Microphone Do I Get? If you're in the mood for some details to get you started, here's some info to help narrow the search. What to Buy? Do you want to produce radio? You'll probably need to buy some stuff. Let our man, Jay Allison, help get you started. Minidisc Guide Tips and reccomendations for buying a minidisc recorder for radio production.