Which hi quality mobile AD / interface ?

[djanogil]

I need a mobile 2 channels AD with headphones out for location recording.
I use the DAV BG1 preamps, so I only need the converters.

I was thinking of the Duet by Apogee, but I don't know wether one can bypass the Preamps on the unit.
Also I was looking at the Lavry Black AD, but it has no headphone out.

Anything else I should look at?
Quality should be on par with Lynx Aurora that I normally use.

Thx.

[just.sounds]

Metric Halo ULN-2 would be my choice

[djanogil]

Originally Posted by just.sounds

Metric Halo ULN-2 would be my choice

yes I heard a lot of good things about the Metric Halo,
do you know how their converters compare with the Apogee Duet?

The Duet is twice as cheap.

[swafford]

They're better, but the ULN is more then better converters.

It's an amazing software console with some pretty cool plugs, a great company, send and returns, the potential of expansion via ADAT, AES or SPDIF, balanced ins and outs and when you get tired of lugging both the DAV and the ULN, 2 top notch preamps all at close to zero latency. I run mine on an old G4 with half the recommended ram the Duet requires at a minimum.

Really, it's not that they're not in the same league, it's that they are not even playing the same game.

[eshepherd]

ULN-2

[just.sounds]

The ensemble converters are IMHO not on par with the Lynx so I guess the Duet are not an improvement over the ensemble.

The Metric converters are IMHO on par with the Lynx and might be just a bit better with the 2d option. And the quality of the pre's is very good so you could skip the DAV for a backpack setup.

And if money is the problem i would most definitely trade the DAV in for the ULN instead of buying a duet.

Hope this helps but as always you're ears are not mine.

[jaykay]

For location the ULN-2 is a good bet as is the Ensemble. Problem is it sounds like that's a whole lot more than you want or need, you'd just be paying for features that would never be used.

As you said, not sure if the preamps in the Duet can be bypassed although I would definitely imagine so since it is Maestro software driven. If this is the case then this would be a 2-channel no brainer.

For what it's worth, I strongly disagree with the sentiments coming from just.sounds. Both the Apogee and Metric Halo do a decent job, with quality that is quite nearing the Lynx, although I wouldn't say either are on par.

[Plush]

ULN 2 is very good.
Also don't forget Benchmark a/d.

[Clawson]

Yes the Mic Pre Amps can be bypassed on Duet.
If you have any other questions on Duet please let me know or feel free to contact our support department 310-584-9394

Chris Lawson
Apogee Electronics

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by eshepherd

ULN-2

ULN-2
+1

[Jimbo]

U
L
N
2


....I wish I still had mine!

[desotoslo]

the Duet preamps are good and quite acceptable. I have DAV and Duet.

DAV is much nicer (smooth, sweet, rich, with depth--but the first three a mild dose. the depth is deep!) but the Duet pres would be fine. They are clean and uncolored. Not as rich and deep, but fine.

[nas]

I plan on purchasing the Mytek Stereo192 ADC. Very high quality conversion and can be interfaced directly to a Macbook Pro via optical-mini jack or through your interface via digital connections.

Additionally it can run on battery power - obviously designed for mobile use. It does not have a headphone out but their Stereo96 DAC (which can operate at 192kHz does have a headphone out)

Check it out:

MYTEK DIGITAL USA