Preamp vs Audio Interface?

[J_O_P]

Yes it is. I thought that the inconsistant latency was something that was unique the Audiofire series in general since my other audio interfaces didn't show this behaviour. I would need to test other audio interfaces to confirm. I know someone who is going to have both a FW and USB 2.0 interface soon so I wiill ask if I can check it out sometime with my laptop.

[Nahuel]

Originally Posted by J_O_P

Yes it is. I thought that the inconsistant latency was something that was unique the Audiofire series in general since my other audio interfaces didn't show this behaviour. I would need to test other audio interfaces to confirm. I know someone who is going to have both a FW and USB 2.0 interface soon so I wiill ask if I can check it out sometime with my laptop.

Def not a unique behaviour, I can confirm M Audio 2626+TI chip have inconsistant latency, as I said other NAT users were reporting that issue with Presonus and RME firewire products (I dont remember what interfaces exactly, unfortunately "nebula-programs.com" is down, the thread was called "DAAD loop test")... I also seen ppl complaining about the same thing with Mac computers (not sure what interface)... There's some talk about it in this thread: Firewire interface in high end studio? (as you can see theblotted is talking about the same type of behaviours with a DIGI interface)

BTW in order to confirm the FF400 is rock solid could you test the DAAD loop latency, write you consistent (if any) result in ms , then restart your computer and do it again to see if you get the same latency (this is related to some talk I just re read in that thread)?

[Apollo Ace]

Originally Posted by Ace_TX

i'm revisiting this thread and don't see why my recomendation is getting facepalmed

the original poster asked a question that would lead me to believe that they are a novice

i threw out a low cost recomendation and said "learn with that"

shit i still have a delta 1010 rack that i use (no mic pres but still...)

what... should i have told the OP to go out and buy high end shit and spend thousands of $$$, when they don't know what the difference between a preamp and and audio interface is???

look, I'm 16 years old. and your advice was alright, but I honestly don't have a reliable source of income. One day the money's here, the next it's gone cause I spent it on a pair of Jordans and an ounce or something. So I'm really trying to find a for now permanent set up. I'm willing to spend like 500 bucks on an interface w/ good built in pre's, I know, not a lot. But I want it to atleast last me 2 years.

[tdot]

Originally Posted by Apollo Ace

look, I'm 16 years old. and your advice was alright, but I honestly don't have a reliable source of income. One day the money's here, the next it's gone cause I spent it on a pair of Jordans and an ounce or something. So I'm really trying to find a for now permanent set up. I'm willing to spend like 500 bucks on an interface w/ good built in pre's, I know, not a lot. But I want it to atleast last me 2 years.

Like I said:
TC Electronic Impact Twin | Sweetwater.com
Probably the best PC interface you can get for under $500.
The babyface you won't get for under 700.

[damien907]

i just ordered the tc impact twin aswell!

i heard one guy also compare the ad conversion to that of the apogee duet, so i have high hopes.

waiting for it to arrive

@tdot, do you have one of these, and if so, could you give a brief review of its converters, preamps please?

im thinking its gonna blow my m-audio fw410 preamps out of the water, and the converters are gonna be a step up aswell, what do you think?

at the OP if this thing is anything what im thinking its gonna be like, it is money well spent. ill post about it when it gets here.

[tdot]

Originally Posted by damien907

i just ordered the tc impact twin aswell!

i heard one guy also compare the ad conversion to that of the apogee duet, so i have high hopes.

waiting for it to arrive

@tdot, do you have one of these, and if so, could you give a brief review of its converters, preamps please?

im thinking its gonna blow my m-audio fw410 preamps out of the water, and the converters are gonna be a step up aswell, what do you think?

at the OP if this thing is anything what im thinking its gonna be like, it is money well spent. ill post about it when it gets here.

As I have never heard the Duet in person (I hate apple) I have never had a chance to hear its 'quality'. I have however, heard a pro tools HD system and an RME interface, though just briefly (never owned either, the RME I was actually considering buying) so it's probably better to leave those opinions to people more qualified to answer - people who owned both units and A/Bed them

Fireface 400 vs Konnekt 48 converter loop test w/example
Konnekt vs Fireface 400

In the 2nd poll, the majority of people actually preferred the TC over the RME - but as it seems the opinion is still pretty split, so I am assuming it all comes down to preference, and that they're both on the same level. In the first thread, there is clearly a sound difference between between the two units.

However, I do not own an Impact Twin. I own an older model, the Konnekt 8, and I can say that the converters are pristine - they're really quite clear. As for the pre-amps, they're just average, but from what I'v heard, the RME has pretty poor pre-amps as well. The TC preamps are obviously very clean pre-amps with little to no character. I am assuming since the Impact Twin has upgraded preamps with the DSP section, they may sound quite a bit better. Still, using a ~$500 preamp will end up sounding many times better than most built in preamps (which is why converters on an interface are much more important to me).

I actually use to own a FireWire 1814 - and I can tell you the difference is like day and night. I did an A/B with the FW1814 and the Konnekt 8, it sounded like the top end of the 1814 was completely chopped off, and it was filled with mud compared to the Konnekt 8 (and this is just output of commercial tracks!). I was amazed at the difference I heard (and how bad m-audio junk really is). The converters are such an upgrade I can't even compare the preamps, they cut half the high end detail from anything going into the 1814.

And, I just ordered a Studio Konnekt 48 thumbsup
While the Impact Twin/Konnekt 8/Konnekt 24 all use the same A/D converters as the FF400 (combined A/D-D/A), the SK48 uses the same A/D and D/A converters as the FF800 (separate A/D D/A) so I'm hoping I'll get a little more character out of them - even if I don't the quality is already astounding thumbsup

EDIT:
I should also include the downside. The drivers for the TC interfaces aren't the greatest (which you probably know if you have done research on both units). From what I have read, the RME drivers are rock solid (that seems to be what they are known for). The TC drivers do have some issues - but if you're a technical person like me they shouldn't be a problem for you I have read that the RME drivers can run at very low latencies - the lowest I can get the TC down to is about 128 samples. For me, this doesn't really bother me, because I don't have much OTB gear to sync with the track - if you had a lot of external gear this might be an issue. My TC drivers like to stop working every time my computer goes to sleep forcing me to restart the windows audio service, which can be annoying, but they have never failed during a track or anything serious to that extent. If I had a lot of external equipment, it might have been worth it for me to get a FF400 over a Studio Konnekt 48, but since I don't, I felt I would get more value for dollar getting the SK48

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by tdot

As I have never heard the Duet in person (I hate apple) I have never had a chance to hear its 'quality'. I have however, heard a pro tools HD system and an RME interface, though just briefly (never owned either, the RME I was actually considering buying) so it's probably better to leave those opinions to people more qualified to answer - people who owned both units and A/Bed them

Fireface 400 vs Konnekt 48 converter loop test w/example
Konnekt vs Fireface 400

In the 2nd poll, the majority of people actually preferred the TC over the RME - but as it seems the opinion is still pretty split, so I am assuming it all comes down to preference, and that they're both on the same level. In the first thread, there is clearly a sound difference between between the two units.

However, I do not own an Impact Twin. I own an older model, the Konnekt 8, and I can say that the converters are pristine - they're really quite clear. As for the pre-amps, they're just average, but from what I'v heard, the RME has pretty poor pre-amps as well. The TC preamps are obviously very clean pre-amps with little to no character. I am assuming since the Impact Twin has upgraded preamps with the DSP section, they may sound quite a bit better. Still, using a ~$500 preamp will end up sounding many times better than most built in preamps (which is why converters on an interface are much more important to me).

I actually use to own a FireWire 1814 - and I can tell you the difference is like day and night. I did an A/B with the FW1814 and the Konnekt 8, it sounded like the top end of the 1814 was completely chopped off, and it was filled with mud compared to the Konnekt 8 (and this is just output of commercial tracks!). I was amazed at the difference I heard (and how bad m-audio junk really is). The converters are such an upgrade I can't even compare the preamps, they cut half the high end detail from anything going into the 1814.

And, I just ordered a Studio Konnekt 48 thumbsup
While the Impact Twin/Konnekt 8/Konnekt 24 all use the same A/D converters as the FF400 (combined A/D-D/A), the SK48 uses the same A/D and D/A converters as the FF800 (separate A/D D/A) so I'm hoping I'll get a little more character out of them - even if I don't the quality is already astounding thumbsup

EDIT:
I should also include the downside. The drivers for the TC interfaces aren't the greatest (which you probably know if you have done research on both units). From what I have read, the RME drivers are rock solid (that seems to be what they are known for). The TC drivers do have some issues - but if you're a technical person like me they shouldn't be a problem for you I have read that the RME drivers can run at very low latencies - the lowest I can get the TC down to is about 128 samples. For me, this doesn't really bother me, because I don't have much OTB gear to sync with the track - if you had a lot of external gear this might be an issue. My TC drivers like to stop working every time my computer goes to sleep forcing me to restart the windows audio service, which can be annoying, but they have never failed during a track or anything serious to that extent. If I had a lot of external equipment, it might have been worth it for me to get a FF400 over a Studio Konnekt 48, but since I don't, I felt I would get more value for dollar getting the SK48

I need to say that you are misinformed... Konnekt8, pristine? Maybe if you'd use high quality converters you'd know what pristine meant. Converters, unless you use them for mastering (and even then) aren't meant to have any "character" to them. the Konnect8 is not that great when you start using more expensive converters.

Just want to clarify for people who read this, I don't want them to think that the konnekt8 are the holy grail of converters, they really aren't.

[tdot]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

I need to say that you are misinformed... Konnekt8, pristine? Maybe if you'd use high quality converters you'd know what pristine meant. Converters, unless you use them for mastering (and even then) aren't meant to have any "character" to them. the Konnect8 is not that great when you start using more expensive converters.

Just want to clarify for people who read this, I don't want them to think that the konnekt8 are the holy grail of converters, they really aren't.

Go read the above threads.

If converters didn't have any "character" people wouldn't be able to say things like 'B sounds a tiny bit brighter/thinner to me.' - brighter/thinner is a 'character' as in, a characteristic. All things have characteristics unless they don't physically exists.

Also, many people would describe the Duets converters as 'pristine', and some people prefer the RME converters to the Duets. Some people also prefer the Konnekts converters to the RME's, which means that some people believe that the Konnekts converters are pristine. I posted two complete threads of peoples opinions on them, so that *I* didn't have say what's what. If you want to go on those threads and tell all those people their opinions are wrong, go ahead.

Obviously, I am not saying they compare to a lavry black. If you are paying $2000 per channel, the converters are OBVIOUSLY going to be better. I'm saying, many other people on the forum believe that the Konnekts converters are as good as the RME's and the Apogees (which are considered the best converters on a FIREWIRE INTERFACE) - and their equipment is at a much lower price.

Of course, you don't have to listen to me. Use the search button.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by tdot

Go read the above threads.

If converters didn't have any "character" people wouldn't be able to say things like 'B sounds a tiny bit brighter/thinner to me.' - brighter/thinner is a 'character' as in, a characteristic. All things have characteristics unless they don't physically exists.

Also, many people would describe the Duets converters as 'pristine', and some people prefer the RME converters to the Duets. Some people also prefer the Konnekts converters to the RME's, which means that some people believe that the Konnekts converters are pristine. I posted two complete threads of peoples opinions on them, so that *I* didn't have say what's what. If you want to go on those threads and tell all those people their opinions are wrong, go ahead.

Obviously, I am not saying they compare to a lavry black. If you are paying $2000 per channel, the converters are OBVIOUSLY going to be better. I'm saying, many other people on the forum believe that the Konnekts converters are as good as the RME's and the Apogees (which are considered the best converters on a FIREWIRE INTERFACE) - and their equipment is at a much lower price.

Of course, you don't have to listen to me. Use the search button.

I think you're talking about a lot of stuff without having used any of this gear. Instead of saying a bunch of random, vague things, you will need to go out there and use the gear, before suggesting, giving your opinion on something. This hip-hop section isn't a section for amateurs. I have used a bunch of different converters myself, and I wouldn't start taking about this is that and that is this, because it's almost impossible to describe unless you go out there and try them out.

To the OP. Buy a Used Apogee Mini-Me if you're still using XP, or better yet, buy a regular interface, add something like a GAP pre and you should be good to go. Honestly The voice, mic, pre will make much more difference than a converter will. Last place to look for color is in the converters. I personally use Mytek and the Neve converters in the DPD and they are both fine, yes they sound a tad different, but once you start mixing it's not important at all, hell my strongest selling song is using converters from an Art Digital MPA lol, I mean come on, who the hell cares?!? It's my best vocal sounding song, doesn't mean the quality going in is the best. Regular listeners listen to your music based on what they like, not on the gear you use. Go with safe options, stop worrying about gear, go out there and make the best music you can make! Gear is not as important as you think! Your creative mind is.

[tdot]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Instead of saying a bunch of random, vague things, you will need to go out there and use the gear, before suggesting, giving your opinion on something.

Because I have learnt that gear *IS* 'random, vague' things.

Which mic sounds best on a singer? Obviously, it depends on the singer.
Which converters sound best to you? That obviously depends too.

Unless something is universally bad, you can find threads of people praising it, as well as threads of people knocking it. Your opinion is no more valid than anyone else's, because rest assured, someone will disagree with you.
The best you can do is read other peoples opinions, analyze them yourself, listen yourself, and make a decision. On the thread I posted above, I listened to both samples and found *I* preferred the konnekt's converters.

[Apollo Ace]

Originally Posted by tdot

Like I said:
TC Electronic Impact Twin | Sweetwater.com
Probably the best PC interface you can get for under $500.
The babyface you won't get for under 700.

when compared to the Focusrite saffire pro 40, which of the two would win. I did research on both of them, but can't choose.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by Apollo Ace

when compared to the Focusrite saffire pro 40, which of the two would win. I did research on both of them, but can't choose.

You actually trust his recommendation? Wow! I'm out of this section lol, getting a bit ridiculous.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by tdot

Because I have learnt that gear *IS* 'random, vague' things.

Which mic sounds best on a singer? Obviously, it depends on the singer.
Which converters sound best to you? That obviously depends too.

Unless something is universally bad, you can find threads of people praising it, as well as threads of people knocking it. Your opinion is no more valid than anyone else's, because rest assured, someone will disagree with you.
The best you can do is read other peoples opinions, analyze them yourself, listen yourself, and make a decision. On the thread I posted above, I listened to both samples and found *I* preferred the konnekt's converters.

Are you going to say that my Mytek converters are as good as Konnekt8 converters? lol come on. They don't even hold a candle.

I can tell that you are posting a bunch of stuff on here and you haven't used any of the gear in question. Listening to samples does not make you knowledgeable. USING the gear in your own, pro environment does. Once you start using quality gear, it doesn't become so random as you would think.

I am starting to see to many newbs posting in this section, asking amateur questions, and other newbs replying with amateur answers. This section is not made for AMATEURS. It was going so well in the past few weeks, now some people have joined in and are ruining it with uninformed opinions. No wonder pro people are posting less and less in here.

[Apollo Ace]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Are you going to say that my Mytek converters are as good as Konnekt8 converters? lol come on. They don't even hold a candle.

I can tell that you are posting a bunch of stuff on here and you haven't used any of the gear in question. Listening to samples does not make you knowledgeable. USING the gear in your own, pro environment does. Once you start using quality gear, it doesn't become so random as you would think.

I am starting to see to many newbs posting in this section, asking amateur questions, and other newbs replying with amateur answers. This section is not made for AMATEURS. It was going so well in the past few weeks, now some people have joined in and are ruining it with uninformed opinions. No wonder pro people are posting less and less in here.

Chris, then what would you suggest for a budget of $500?

[Apollo Ace]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

You are going to want to buy an interface regardless. The mid range M-Audio interfaces don't suck, as stated, and have actually improved quite a bit over the years. The preamp, well, they are usable. Big room to upgrade.

My advice to you would start on a small budget. You can probably get away with about $500. Get an interface of your choice with a pre (you only need one for hip hop, if you do other things, that need more than 2, this advice doesn't apply). Get a mic like an AT2020 or a MXL V63. That about $100. Just use decent computer speakers. Spend some money on your interface you feel is best for your money, and all the other misc stuff, cables, mic stand, etc. You could even do a USB condenser.


What this won't get you is good results. It's also a waste of money, you will probably replace every single part of your chain. Sounds stupid, right? What you won't do is buy some crazy mic/mics, preamp, etc, and figure out, they don't really work for you. Secondly, much of the expensive stuff, especially interfaces, new mic models, and new preamp will improve quite a bit in the time you learn what you need to learn and are ready to upgrade.

When I bought my Rode NT1a, there were maybe 3 affordable condensers at the time. Now there are about 50. When I bought my Delta 1010LT, it was basically the only cheaper card that had more than a few ins and outs. Now there are much better options. So, now that I need to upgrade, I have much more affordable options that are true upgrades.

bro, you act like hip hop doesn't need much equipment. I want to make good quality music, and I'm not going to get there with an mxl67, lol. Sorry, it takes more then just the necessities to make hip hop

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by Apollo Ace

Chris, then what would you suggest for a budget of $500?

I'd say you need to stretch that dollar a bit and get an RME Babyface. Or, you can do what I did, get a M-Audio Firewire Solo for 100 bucks used, then add a preamp to it or better yet, a converter. You could add the Firewire Solo, add a GAP Pre, add Apogee Converters in the long run etc.

Just get something with SPDIF so you can upgrade your gear later on.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by Apollo Ace

bro, you act like hip hop doesn't need much equipment. I want to make good quality music, and I'm not going to get there with an mxl67, lol. Sorry, it takes more then just the necessities to make hip hop

First off bro, if you are just recording vocals, you don't need much equipment. You need a mic, a preamp, and something to turn that digital (converters). That can be as simple as a mic and an interface. So, yes, it can be that simple.

I don't know your budget but I can see what you are looking at and unless you can afford a lot more, I wouldn't worry about a lot. Pick gear you can use now, you will inevitably replace it as time goes on, get the best budget gear to get you buy. I wouldn't spend less than $1000 on monitors, for example. If you don't have a dedicated computer for making music, add another $1,000. Treat your room, preamps, multiple mics, etc, it's going to add up. I was just giving you a logical starting point.


Again, unless you are starting with a $5000 budget, you will replace things, just get the best for your money. Your preamp you won't replace will be about $1000 minimum, if your budget is $1000, you can't really do anything workable with just a preamp, right?


I don't know, maybe you know more than me, I don't have a great setup for vocals as that isn't my mainstay but I have $3000 invested there, though much of that overlaps to beat making (interface, DAW, plug ins, etc).

I will be honest though, if I was a rapper, I would buy a USB mic and do a lot of rough takes. Then when I was ready, I would hit a real studio. There are plenty of places around me with a $5000+ vocal chain that charge $50-75 an hour. I am not even talking about converters, the engineers skills, proper acoustics, etc.

[mintyfreshbeats]

For what it's worth, I just purchased a Focusrite Saffire 6 and I've been pretty happy with it.

Using both FL Studio 9, 10, and Logic Express. Windows 7 and Snow Leopard.

$150 new via eBay.

Good luck on your purchase, whatever you choose.

[damien907]

Originally Posted by tdot

As I have never heard the Duet in person (I hate apple) I have never had a chance to hear its 'quality'. I have however, heard a pro tools HD system and an RME interface, though just briefly (never owned either, the RME I was actually considering buying) so it's probably better to leave those opinions to people more qualified to answer - people who owned both units and A/Bed them

Fireface 400 vs Konnekt 48 converter loop test w/example
Konnekt vs Fireface 400

In the 2nd poll, the majority of people actually preferred the TC over the RME - but as it seems the opinion is still pretty split, so I am assuming it all comes down to preference, and that they're both on the same level. In the first thread, there is clearly a sound difference between between the two units.

However, I do not own an Impact Twin. I own an older model, the Konnekt 8, and I can say that the converters are pristine - they're really quite clear. As for the pre-amps, they're just average, but from what I'v heard, the RME has pretty poor pre-amps as well. The TC preamps are obviously very clean pre-amps with little to no character. I am assuming since the Impact Twin has upgraded preamps with the DSP section, they may sound quite a bit better. Still, using a ~$500 preamp will end up sounding many times better than most built in preamps (which is why converters on an interface are much more important to me).

I actually use to own a FireWire 1814 - and I can tell you the difference is like day and night. I did an A/B with the FW1814 and the Konnekt 8, it sounded like the top end of the 1814 was completely chopped off, and it was filled with mud compared to the Konnekt 8 (and this is just output of commercial tracks!). I was amazed at the difference I heard (and how bad m-audio junk really is). The converters are such an upgrade I can't even compare the preamps, they cut half the high end detail from anything going into the 1814.

And, I just ordered a Studio Konnekt 48 thumbsup
While the Impact Twin/Konnekt 8/Konnekt 24 all use the same A/D converters as the FF400 (combined A/D-D/A), the SK48 uses the same A/D and D/A converters as the FF800 (separate A/D D/A) so I'm hoping I'll get a little more character out of them - even if I don't the quality is already astounding thumbsup

EDIT:
I should also include the downside. The drivers for the TC interfaces aren't the greatest (which you probably know if you have done research on both units). From what I have read, the RME drivers are rock solid (that seems to be what they are known for). The TC drivers do have some issues - but if you're a technical person like me they shouldn't be a problem for you I have read that the RME drivers can run at very low latencies - the lowest I can get the TC down to is about 128 samples. For me, this doesn't really bother me, because I don't have much OTB gear to sync with the track - if you had a lot of external gear this might be an issue. My TC drivers like to stop working every time my computer goes to sleep forcing me to restart the windows audio service, which can be annoying, but they have never failed during a track or anything serious to that extent. If I had a lot of external equipment, it might have been worth it for me to get a FF400 over a Studio Konnekt 48, but since I don't, I felt I would get more value for dollar getting the SK48

hey, thanks for the lengthy reply dude, i just got my impact twin in the mail today, so im gonna be trying it out in the next couple weeks when i have the time. im pretty excited about it, and can say it feels like its built really solid. the most solid interface i have ever touched actually, so im thinking if this translates over to the sound i will be very impressed.

and i do have a grace m101 to go with it so i wont be using the pres in the unit itself for awhile, i was just asking that because i may track some acoustic guitars in stereo with it in the future. i guess ill see how it goes.

[Apollo Ace]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

First off bro, if you are just recording vocals, you don't need much equipment. You need a mic, a preamp, and something to turn that digital (converters). That can be as simple as a mic and an interface. So, yes, it can be that simple.

I don't know your budget but I can see what you are looking at and unless you can afford a lot more, I wouldn't worry about a lot. Pick gear you can use now, you will inevitably replace it as time goes on, get the best budget gear to get you buy. I wouldn't spend less than $1000 on monitors, for example. If you don't have a dedicated computer for making music, add another $1,000. Treat your room, preamps, multiple mics, etc, it's going to add up. I was just giving you a logical starting point.


Again, unless you are starting with a $5000 budget, you will replace things, just get the best for your money. Your preamp you won't replace will be about $1000 minimum, if your budget is $1000, you can't really do anything workable with just a preamp, right?


I don't know, maybe you know more than me, I don't have a great setup for vocals as that isn't my mainstay but I have $3000 invested there, though much of that overlaps to beat making (interface, DAW, plug ins, etc).

I will be honest though, if I was a rapper, I would buy a USB mic and do a lot of rough takes. Then when I was ready, I would hit a real studio. There are plenty of places around me with a $5000+ vocal chain that charge $50-75 an hour. I am not even talking about converters, the engineers skills, proper acoustics, etc.

dude your right. fck this home recording bullshit. i'm just going to go record at some studio. fck my life.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by Apollo Ace

dude your right. fck this home recording bullshit. i'm just going to go record at some studio. fck my life.

If your music needs to be out today, go to the studio.


This is a little off topic but I feel it applies to this thread. Most home recordings don't have issues because of gear. They have issues for many reasons. Sometimes, it's just a lack of talent. Often it has to do with one or more of the following. People buy good enough gear but don't worry about room acoustics or mic placement. Some have ass the acoustics thinking they are doing something right and have a booth they can barely fit in. Others want to do everything from beat making, rapping, mixing, mastering, etc. The main thing is many have never been to a studio so they don't know how far off their environment really is.

At the end of the day, I think most people could get results that far surpass what they would believe only by using proper acoustic treatment, proper mic placement, and hiring a great mixing engineer. Even on a $500 setup.

[sHOWpONY]

Originally Posted by Ed Zeppeli

If I were starting from scratch, I'd get an interface with well-reviewed a/d conversion and at least a few built-in preamps. I'd also make sure there were uncoloured line inputs so I could add external preamps in the purest possible way.

I have a Presonus Firestudio but I don't believe I can do a line-in without going thru the actual preamp stage of the interface. This doesn't allow me to truly test out other preamps without going through the Presonus circuit. bummer.

Good luck,

Warren

Hi Warren, I'm pretty sure that's NOT the case with the Firestudio. I have the project and I read on the Presonus forum that going into 'line in' does bypass the firestudio preamp.

Cheers

[Ed Zeppeli]

Originally Posted by sHOWpONY

Hi Warren, I'm pretty sure that's NOT the case with the Firestudio. I have the project and I read on the Presonus forum that going into 'line in' does bypass the firestudio preamp.

Cheers

Well if you try it and the gain for that channel on the front changes the level you're hearing at all then it does not get bypassed. I haven't actually tried it yet.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Originally Posted by Ed Zeppeli

Well if you try it and the gain for that channel on the front changes the level you're hearing at all then it does not get bypassed. I haven't actually tried it yet.

Well, I just ran an outboard preamp into Return 1 on the FSP and indeed the front gain for channel 1 raises and lowers the level.

So, I don't believe it gets bypassed unfortunately.

Regards,

Warren

[sHOWpONY]

Thanks. Guess I better go back and verify my source!
Still got the digital in on the rear, or, I'm told by my supplier that if you take your outboard pre into the 'return' jack, you bypass it. Still yet to verify that.

Thanks

[NARMAR]

Originally Posted by Nahuel

obviousely you didnt perform any testings. I did. Its not the m audio 610 that have unstable latency issues its the firewire protocol, just letting you know...also with firewire intercaces you ll experiment random cpu peaks and other crappy behaviours... This protocol is dated unstable and crappy. I experienced it. tested it. Other did...its not a conspiracy theory its a verified fact...usb in the other hand is stable and enough for small interfaces. No random latency issues with it either.

I agree. Why do you think apogee Duet2 went back to USB!

[omeo101]

im about to buy a rhode nt1a and i really dont know which preamp to get with it, im not trying to spend more than 300$. i record hip hop vocals. any suggestions?

[Big Boi R3NZ]

impact twin an then later get a mic pre when you can.but get a good mic before you worry about a pre.

Impact twin is nice. I don't have latency issues with mine.or drops or crackles and clicks as others said. The new drivers are stable..I use a firewire card with mine.

The on board pre is good and better than alot of interface well up to 1000. and if anyone can name one better for around a thousand..then get the impact twin and an external mic pre with the cash difference.

Impact twin- for 200 or so- got mine for 215.
gap 73-$200-500 if you get a modded one.

That's a great chain (depending on mic you have)

[evilpeezy]

If your just starting and want a dexent interface with converters get a Steinberg MR816 F*ck M-audio. Buy something you wont need to upgrade after 2 months. that is probably the best under $1000. I wouldnt spend more then 300 on a interface, personally. I would use a interface only to get my sound to the PC. I use some of the best converters, preamps and compressors. My interface is cheap I just bypass all the conversion and preamps.