Measurement Mic USB Preamp

skywave-rider

skywave-rider

Slumming in Akihabara
Looking for something portable w/ phantom, USB connectivity, going with a MAC laptop running Parallels and SoundEasy.
(No I don't have Windows successfully installed yet.):no:

Looked at various:
M-Audio
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BD31ZW/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Tascam
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000JWX4P2/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Edirol
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BD1AF0/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
MXL
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000VZ8WC2/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Blue
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001EW5YQS/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A3CLJYQ8X1E8Z4&v=glance

I have mixers and other mic preamps with phantom, but here, I'm looking exclusively for a portable solution. For measurements I have the Behringer ECM mc. The pre should be capable of flat preamplification.

What do you use?
 
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Davesnothere said:
Check motu.com. I've been using the "Traveler" product w/Firewire, but
it comes in a USB flavor as well.
Click to expand...

Looks good, but more money than I want to spend (about $850.00), also not too small.

Couldn't find their USB stuff, but saw this:
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite-mk3
Comes in at $550.00.

Still too much, unless I really go for it and want to use the crossover emulation features in SoundEasy requiring multiple outputs.

Last MOTU piece I owned drove me crazy, though, the Digital Slave Driver:thumbsdn:
 
Has done an admirable job thus far. One complaint... sometimes, to get the
output to produce a signal, I have to reset the unit; after that, no problems
or unexpected transients or glitches. Yes, a bit pricey... thought I might do
some recording with it, as I run live sound at smallish events now and then.

http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/gs/index.html

Chris (FuzzMeasure author) makes a few hardware recommendations ranging
from ~$100-200.
 
Having tried several of the units on your list, I'd recommend going with the Tascam. It has flat response, proper 48V phantom power, low distortion, good headroom, accurate input impedance, etc. Their one weakness, IMO, is that their controls are rather easy to turn accidentally, and difficult reset precisely. (Blue Tak helps...)

I have three of them in daily use in the lab, and all are pretty stable on both XP and Vista systems. No experience with other OS's, though.

-k
 
Zilch steered me toward Guitar Center. Here's a search of that site for the word "preamp". Lots o' choices!

LINKY

I haven't picked one yet, btw.
 
ken kantor said:
Having tried several of the units on your list, I'd recommend going with the Tascam. It has flat response, proper 48V phantom power, low distortion, good headroom, accurate input impedance, etc. Their one weakness, IMO, is that their controls are rather easy to turn accidentally, and difficult reset precisely. (Blue Tak helps...)

I have three of them in daily use in the lab, and all are pretty stable on both XP and Vista systems. No experience with other OS's, though.

-k
Click to expand...

I have the Tascam US-144 and I agree it works well for this sort of thing.

But, I also agree, the controls do turn easy. It's not been a problem for my home use, but if mobile or lots of jostling I suppose it could be a factor.

On a loop back test of my US-144, the response was 20Hz-20kHz, +0dB, -0.2dB; with -3dB points of ~6Hz and ~23kHz.
 
We had a similar discussion over on LHF, if you haven't looked there, Skywave.

I remember there being some interesting devices available.... :yes:
 
After reading 1,001 specs and user reviews, I think I've narrowed it down (for me) to either:
(1) the Tascam 122L for max capabilities or
(2) the Blue Icicle for cheap.

The Tascam 122 is quite like the 144, but without S/PDIF, which I don't think I need. ~$20 price difference. For some reason, PE carries only the 122.

My prerequisites were USB 2.0 interface, XLR with phantom power, works good. I see a lot of problems cropping up with others, but these both got fairly consistent good reviews. Right now, I'm leaning toward the Tascam for extended capabilities. It just does a LOT of stuff! OTOH, the B.I. sure is cheap! :headscrat
 
in-line USBpowered mic pre w/phantom

I hope the Blue Icicle is better than the equivalent Marshall Mic-Mate ...

The unit clipped on me (with no more attenuation available) when using
a Behringer ECM-8000 mic within it's SPL limits. Unit had no clipping
indication... had to use a o-scope type display to discern onset.
Different (costlier) preamp had no such problems.

Marshall unit made for an easy to setup, lightweight learning toy.
Used within it's limitations, it's probably fine.
 
Davesnothere, that's sort of what I was afraid of with that unit. Cheap, compact, amazingly easy to use - when it works. "When it works" not necessarily within your control. I really want to be able to control clipping. Thanks for the input! :thmbsp:

Think I'm gonna spring for the TASCAM - 122L or 144. How 'bout you, Mr. Alacrity? :tongue: Thanks for the thread, btw - just what I needed.
 
Thanks to everybody. Honestly, I don't know yet. I've moved away from the USB "adaptors" like the MXL or Blue. Although I have not been able to run my SoundEasy software yet, I believe it is necessary to have line level capability in the interface to allow the software to automatically calculate delay compensation. That's what I think, but I don't know yet. If that is true, a USB mic pre, alone, will not function fully, a line loop through is required. Maybe a SoundEasy user could chime in and settle that.

I like the Tascam because it has MIDI as well, in case I need that on the fly. But the loose pots will drive me nuts.

Soon as I get some time I will look at the LHF thread(s).

On the other hand I feel Davesnothere's choice could cut straight to the point.

As for myself, low alacrity levels today....
 
whoaru99 said:
I wouldn't call them loose like a crosseyed look or merely moving the unit around will change the settings. But, they're certainly not like turning a real tight, highly dampened control either.
Click to expand...
This is why we techies have duct tape, RTV, and elastomeric diffraction devices in the arsenal.... ;)
 
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