Good portable interface and mic pre amp to go with new laptop?

[littlejim84]

Hello there. I'm starting to record people using my portable setup... Nothing to fancy, just will going round with my laptop (new MacBook Pro 15) and taking my AKG C414 B-XLS microphone, hopefully my soon to be purchase X/Y mic (Rode NT4 a good one??) and recording singer and song writers. Flexibility and mobility are key here, as I'll be mostly travelling on buses, trains and even my bicycle!

... Thing is, I need a more portable audio interface and want to make sure I get a good recording (up to two channels really) so thinking a mic pre amp would be good too...

What possible portable friendly devices would you recommend to go with the laptop and my AKG and possibly the X/Y mic (Rode? Dont know yet...) ... As this should cover most situations with vocals (got some lush recordings from that AKG already), guitar and piano...

Please help? Try and understand I'm not exactly made of money either! The laptop was on credit and the AKG was a lucky accident from a music web shop (long story)... Thank you Slutz!

[littlejim84]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

Metric Halo ULN-2 is probably the best 2 channel FW interface for the mac. On a budget, look at the Apogee Duet.

Wow, that Metric Halo looks amazing. Out of my price range for now though... It does look great, never seen it before.

At the moment, I have a M-Audio Profire 2626 (M-AUDIO - ProFire 2626 - High-Definition 26-in/26-out FireWire Audio Interface with Octane Preamp Technology), but this just isn't practical to move around quickly and easily... I was thinking of getting the smaller M-Audio 610 (M-AUDIO - ProFire 610 - High-Definition 6-in/10-out FireWire Audio Interface with Octane Preamp Technology) as I know that, if any thing like the 2626, it'll at least be pretty stable on my system... It's smaller, portable... Then I was thinking of grabbing a FMR RNP (the really nice pre amp box) to plug that into the little M-Audio unit. Would that be worth it?

Or is the Apogee Duet pre-amps really that superb to warrant getting that instead? Additional: I really do need two headphone outs aswell - my last 2 recording jobs (with my old gear and laptop) really really did need the two headphone outs.

[mattsplace]

Here is another one option, PrismSound Orpheus.
Orpheus Recording Interface Home Page


But if u need only 2 inputs go for the Metric Halo, it have good pre's and converter (comparable to apogee rosetta)

[jbjoubaud]

Originally Posted by mat1306

Here is another one option, PrismSound Orpheus.
Orpheus Recording Interface Home Page


But if u need only 2 inputs go for the Metric Halo, it have good pre's and converter (comparable to apogee rosetta)

The OP can't afford a Metric Hallow, what does it tells you about the Orpheus ?

[littlejim84]

Originally Posted by jbjoubaud

The OP can't afford a Metric Hallow, what does it tells you about the Orpheus ?

Exactly... I'm sure the Orpheus and the Metric Hallow is amazing (the future maybe?) but right now...

I've decided over the last few hours that I will keep my M-Audio ProFire 2626 - all about just finding the right backpack for my bike to keep it portable. It's a pretty robust unit really... So I may just keep it.

People round here seem to regard the preamps of it not too bad then? I should maybe concentrate more on getting the mics positioned better, ensure it's all 24bit and use Logic's built in tools to get it nice for the singer/songwriter? ....this is probably more important right now?

[Audio Hombre]

look for a deal on a used fireface 400. really, anything else is a lateral move if you can't afford a metric halo. the fireface is rock solid both in build and drivers and the 2 preamps are just fine actually.

[Bodoc]

is worth it.

The Duet will not be the limiting factor in achieving good results granted all the other factors (acoustics, mic, mic position, etc) are in place.

[Insomniaclown]

Apogee duet is the way to go. The pre's are clean with lots of gain available, and the converters are excellent as well. Probably the most portable interface out there as well.

[gregwar]

+1 duet, get a headphone splitter

*edit: you will also need a fw 400 to 800 cable ($20) if it's a unibody mbp that's what I use with my ensemble and for more fw I/O belkin makes an express card to 2 fw 800 ($120) this is good for running an external hdd, pcm96, etc. Also needed to pick up a mini dvi to dvi adapter.. thank god the laptop was free!

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

Metric Halo ULN-2 is probably the best 2 channel FW interface for the mac.

+ 1