Recording external gear mobile. What to buy? Tascam DR, Zoom, audio interface or?

chandroji

@nondes said:
How does one use an external sound card for line inputs but output audio via iPad speakers? Every time I connect an interface via CCK, I can't use the iPad speakers?

I think this is normal!
If an audio interface is connected with the iPad the interface will routing all audio inputs and outputs to their own I/O.

klownshed

When I was looking for a portable small interface for my iPad/iPhone I wanted something that could power itself with batteries or be bus powered, have phantom power for condenser Mics and I also wanted proper 5 pin midi in and out too.

The interface that I ended up with is the Zoom u-24 and I’m very happy with it. It’s also pretty affordable (i got mine for £60 new).

It sounds like it could fit the brief here too.

RUST( i )K

@chandroji said:
I like to record some live performances with external gear in the wilderness, so I need a mobile solution!

I want to record direct from the OP-Z or Synthstrom Deluge Headphones out or Line out.

Should I buy a mobile recorder like a Tascam DR-22 WL or DR-44WL or a Zoom H?
What about the Line In in these recorders and the Nominal level +4 dBu to get clean recordings? Which models are recommended for especially line in recordings?

Another option can be a little mobile audio interface for IOS to record directly in the iPhone/ iPad. Sadly iOS offers only a mono line in without an audio interface but iPhone/iPad is always with me. Of course I would also love the ability to use also my iPad in these projects . 😊
Any recommendations?

On YouTube there is a guy who record his Deluge sessions with a Korg Kaosspad Mini S2 what is mainly a mobile effect processor but also a sampler/recorder. Can this be an useful alternative?

Most important for me is the mobility (battery powered), small size and weight and of course the audio quality!

What do you use for mobile recording external gear?

Thanks a lot for recommendations! 😊

I can throw this odd thing out there.

I am using the Model Samples as my interface for my MacBook going into a mixer then interface and then into iPad for recording.

I then said, let me get another audio signal to beef up the Circuit and run it thru the Digitakt.

Boom works.

My suggestion is this, consider the audio in boxes you have and contemplate consolidating signals and use the
interface" potential of groove boxes, samplers, and synths.

But what do I know....

mistercharlie

Octatrack + car battery.

RUST( i )K

@mistercharlie said:
Octatrack + car battery.

Hmmm

mistercharlie

@RUST( i )K said:

@mistercharlie said:
Octatrack + car battery.

Hmmm

DO IT

chandroji

@RUST( i )K said:
I am using the Model Samples as my interface for my MacBook going into a mixer then interface and then into iPad for recording.
...

I don’t own even a mixer!
😎

Greetings!

eustressor

I can second @BiancaNeve re: the versatility of the Line 6 SonicPort VX. Great portable interface that can also double as either a condenser mic or stereo field mic in a pinch.

Cheers ✌️

auxmux

@chandroji said:

@nondes said:
How does one use an external sound card for line inputs but output audio via iPad speakers? Every time I connect an interface via CCK, I can't use the iPad speakers?

I think this is normal!
If an audio interface is connected with the iPad the interface will routing all audio inputs and outputs to their own I/O.

Right, but on a Mac, you can choose the outputs to be onboard audio vs using the outputs on interface. Basically, then you need headphones from the interface or portable speaker.

chandroji

@klownshed said:
When I was looking for a portable small interface for my iPad/iPhone I wanted something that could power itself with batteries or be bus powered, have phantom power for condenser Mics and I also wanted proper 5 pin midi in and out too.

The interface that I ended up with is the Zoom u-24 and I’m very happy with it. It’s also pretty affordable (i got mine for £60 new).

It sounds like it could fit the brief here too.

With a full midi interface it looks like a nice solution!
Very interesting and cheap for the functionality! 😊

But it seems there are difficult to find, most shops in Germany don’t have them on stock anymore.

david_2017

Right now I am tending to the H5 fishing it out of the bay for reasonable money

RUST( i )K

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi3u82l4fHiAhWLn58KHetVAfEYABAJGgJxYg&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2RIgq0PI7gKfWaK-xvo6S-YqUBFxdVWmijvAleWM6be9IscBHmYnVtFQWuPSQm_H7dWwMcXz99cEZvnoNjX4&sig=AOD64_0eT7Qg7GxcH7Pegs4Jlz0WvdwqVQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwj85cSl4fHiAhVDn-AKHRqzCKoQ9aACCFc&adurl=

Anyone used this?

audiblevideo

@RUST( i )K I am NOT clicking on that link. Where in the hell does it go?

RUST( i )K

@audiblevideo said:
@RUST( i )K I am NOT clicking on that link. Where in the hell does it go?

mistercharlie

One other nice thing about the Sonic Port is that it has a stereo line input. Many (most?) other interfaces don’t.

And don’t buy the regular sonic port. It doesn’t come with a regular USB cable, so you can’t use it with the USB-C iPad

klownshed

@chandroji

But it seems there are difficult to find, most shops in Germany don’t have them on stock anymore

Amazon UK have them in stock for £70 including Prime delivery. I would have thought that if they're available in the UK they're available anywhere in Europe as much of their stuff is shipped from warehouses in Europe.

( Please don't mention Brexit! :-( )

rs2000

@mistercharlie said:
One other nice thing about the Sonic Port is that it has a stereo line input. Many (most?) other interfaces don’t.

And don’t buy the regular sonic port. It doesn’t come with a regular USB cable, so you can’t use it with the USB-C iPad

H1n does, and it's much cheaper than the VX.

mistercharlie

@rs2000 Nice!

BiancaNeve

@rs2000 said:

@mistercharlie said:
One other nice thing about the Sonic Port is that it has a stereo line input. Many (most?) other interfaces don’t.

And don’t buy the regular sonic port. It doesn’t come with a regular USB cable, so you can’t use it with the USB-C iPad

H1n does, and it's much cheaper than the VX.

Does the h1n have line inputs? I can’t see any.

chandroji

First, thanks a lot for all your recommendations up to now, they are all very helpful!

It’s not so easy to find the right solution because I had to choose from a wide palette of devices. First Idea was to go with an Roland Go:Mixer (Just 79€) but something in me told me not to buy it.

Then the Tascams DR Recorder came in my mind but there are a couple of models, which one would be the best? The Pro’s in the shop gave me the advice to go with one with a proper Line-In , others told me any Line-In can do the job also, i just need to keep the levels down. So what to buy? DR22/44WL, DR-05/07/40/x...

Then, the Zoom H1n came on the table. Cheap and it can function as a audio interface for the iPad! Wow, good idea, a mobile audio interface would be useful especially with mobile gear and iPad. I get very interested! But the H1n feels so cheap and plastic...

The Zoom U-24/44 was mentioned! Nice! This device can do a lot when mobile recording is the goal. Everything I would eventually need is available in this device even midi! Cool! But the dealbreaker in the moment for me: it’s a quite bulky device...

The Sonic Port VX looks nice and Portable too, but sadly not available in my local shop, just online.

The last days I have read a lot of reviews and saw a lot of YT-Videos about all these devices. Very interesting but all these infos doesn’t enlightened me.

Today I went to my Shop to talk again about the mobile recording from a line out and the friends offered me a very good deal. They showed me everything I was interested and we talked about pro and cons.
At the end they showed me a little thing I didn’t had on my radar up to now...

My first impression: This is exactly what I’m looked for. Small, good Soundquality (H6 technology) and a mobile audio interface for my iPad. And i can extend this little thing if I want...

It’s a Zoom F1 😊

A first test recording got nice results, so the sound quality seems good for me. The small size and little weight (140g) fits my mobile needs.

Next I will test the audio interface functionality with my iPad.

In the moment I have the Zoom F1 and a Tascam DR-44WL here for testing. Both are nice devices with pro’s and con’s, one of them I will keep!

To be continued... 😊

rs2000

@BiancaNeve said:

@rs2000 said:

@mistercharlie said:
One other nice thing about the Sonic Port is that it has a stereo line input. Many (most?) other interfaces don’t.

And don’t buy the regular sonic port. It doesn’t come with a regular USB cable, so you can’t use it with the USB-C iPad

H1n does, and it's much cheaper than the VX.

Does the h1n have line inputs? I can’t see any.