portable USB or Firewire microphone pre-amp comparison

[MS]

I'm thinking of getting one of these, for portable use with a laptop. I
already have a couple USB audio interfaces, including the Edirol UA-20. (A
microphone can input into it, via a 1/4" adapter, but it doesn't really have
pre-amps.) I also have the Echo Indigo I/O PC card. (Very good portable
interface, but its 1/8" input doesn't accept microphone input directly, one
needs an external pre-amp for it in any case, might as well get a
combination interface-pre-amp.) I don't need this device to also be a MIDI
interface, as I have enough of those.

Main use for the mic input with pre-amp would be for recording vocals.

A few I have looked at:

M-Audio MobilePre

Tascam US-122

Presonus Inspire

Edirol UA-25 (unlike UA20, I believe it has pre-amps)

Could anyone compare these? Any comments on any of them? Any others you
would recommend?

[Pavel Semyonov]

Hello,

Post by MS
Tascam US-122

@Have this one and have been using it along with the Nuendo and other s/w
for almost half a year. Very nice, very stable, never had even a suspect for
a s/w trouble. Features 2x internal MIC preamp and allows to plug in the
guitar directly (two guitars to be more accurate). Stereo line input as
well. And inserts on both inputs. Features internal h/w monitoring (can be
switched on/off). Separate regulators for each input, common reg for output
and monitor. MIDI runs perfectly. Sound and digitizing is great. Tascam
specifies SNR >100dB, whcih is great for most applications. I never felt
that it is not enough.

Sources power fm the USB (my notebook), very useful.

Very recommend in case you are ready to fit into its pricing (about $200).
--
Regards,
Pavel

Post by MS
I'm thinking of getting one of these, for portable use with a laptop. I
already have a couple USB audio interfaces, including the Edirol UA-20. (A
microphone can input into it, via a 1/4" adapter, but it doesn't really have
pre-amps.) I also have the Echo Indigo I/O PC card. (Very good portable
interface, but its 1/8" input doesn't accept microphone input directly, one
needs an external pre-amp for it in any case, might as well get a
combination interface-pre-amp.) I don't need this device to also be a MIDI
interface, as I have enough of those.
Main use for the mic input with pre-amp would be for recording vocals.
M-Audio MobilePre
Tascam US-122
Presonus Inspire
Edirol UA-25 (unlike UA20, I believe it has pre-amps)
Could anyone compare these? Any comments on any of them? Any others you
would recommend?

[MS]

Thank you very much for your input regarding the Tascam-US-122.

I would still be interested in hearing reader's comments on any of the
interfaces I mentioned, which include, besides the Tascam US-122, the
M-Audio MobilePre, the Presonus Inspire, and Edirol UA-25.

In addition--I have since seen a couple of others I would be interested in
hearing about:

M-Audio Fast Track Pro.

Line6 TonePort UX2

Alesis Multimix 8 USB


Anyone else have experience with one or more of the above units?

Post by Pavel Semyonov
Hello,

Post by MS
Tascam US-122

@Have this one and have been using it along with the Nuendo and other s/w
for almost half a year. Very nice, very stable, never had even a suspect for
a s/w trouble. Features 2x internal MIC preamp and allows to plug in the
guitar directly (two guitars to be more accurate). Stereo line input as
well. And inserts on both inputs. Features internal h/w monitoring (can be
switched on/off). Separate regulators for each input, common reg for output
and monitor. MIDI runs perfectly. Sound and digitizing is great. Tascam
specifies SNR >100dB, whcih is great for most applications. I never felt
that it is not enough.
Sources power fm the USB (my notebook), very useful.
Very recommend in case you are ready to fit into its pricing (about $200).
--
Regards,
Pavel

Post by MS
I'm thinking of getting one of these, for portable use with a laptop. I
already have a couple USB audio interfaces, including the Edirol UA-20. (A
microphone can input into it, via a 1/4" adapter, but it doesn't really have
pre-amps.) I also have the Echo Indigo I/O PC card. (Very good portable
interface, but its 1/8" input doesn't accept microphone input directly, one
needs an external pre-amp for it in any case, might as well get a
combination interface-pre-amp.) I don't need this device to also be a MIDI
interface, as I have enough of those.
Main use for the mic input with pre-amp would be for recording vocals.
M-Audio MobilePre
Tascam US-122
Presonus Inspire
Edirol UA-25 (unlike UA20, I believe it has pre-amps)
Could anyone compare these? Any comments on any of them? Any others you
would recommend?