Best/Cheapest audio interface?

Question

Okay, I have a condenser mic and im looking for an audio interface with phantom power. I need an audio interface that will record my microphone in stereo NOT mono.

and im on a tight budget, please help thanks.

Answer 1

Here is the cheapest interface that I could find that has phantom power:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASUS122L

All audio interfaces can record in "stereo" from one source or mic.  The interface will send the one mic signal to both right and left channels.

The problem is that your mic is not a "stereo" mic.  Regular condenser mics only put out one signal.  True stereo mics are very expensive because they have two mic elements built into the one mic body.  A much cheaper alternative is to get another condenser of the same type that you have and a audio interface with two mic inputs.  There are many ways to get true stereo with two mics.

Here is a good free book from the Shure website on recording and it includes stereo mic techniques:

http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/pub...

See this too:

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Resources/...

I personally feel people get too hung up on stereo anyway.  You might just try recording with the one mic and you might be surprised at how good it sounds