Mic Preamps/Interface - What do you use?

[Andrew]

Hi All,

I'm looking to purchase a multichannel interface to do multiple mic measurements and wanted to see if anyone has had experience on the following units:

1. Presonus FireStudio Project
2. Focusrite Saffire Pro 40
3. Tascam US-2000
4. Tascam US-1641
5. MOTU 8Pre

I like the features on the MOTU and Focusrite units, but would like some feedback from people who have used one or more of these. Pros/cons, what to watch out for, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Arthur Skudra]

Add one more to the list, Roland Octa-Capture. I really like mine!

[Andrew]

Thanks Arthur. I was checking that out too, but I am planning to mount mine in a rack. To my knowledge, there are no OEM rack ears available for the Octa-Capture. EDIT// I didn't look closely... it comes with ears. Looks like I'll definitely need to consider this.

Why did you choose that piece over others?

[Arthur Skudra]

Strange, my Octa-Capture came with OEM rack mount ears in the box (just checked)! Check out the video online, you'll see them rack mounted.

I like it because:
1. Digital control of level for each input, no knobs to accidentally "bump" after calibration.
2. USB 2.0 based (no firewire compatibility issues)
3. Decent looking power supply with friction fit connector on the back of the interface.
4. Metal Case
5. Very compact enclosure that easily fits in my briefcase, though it includes a set of rack mount ears if you want to mount it in a rack. Did I say this interface is surprisingly small and compact for 8 mic pres?
6. 8 mic pres, each with individually controllable phantom power, polarity reverse and level.
7. 4 stereo mix outputs, each individually controllable through the software control panel, front knob master level for busses 1&2
8. Excellent noise floor

A few gripes:
1. While it shows an input clipping on the front panel of the device, it does not reflect this in the audio software you're running on your computer, it stops a fraction of a dB short of 0 dBFS. As long as you watch your input levels on the LCD display and manage them carefully, it should be fine for measurement purposes, and you shouldn't be running input levels that hot anyway when you perform measurements. There's a workaround "fix" in Smaart 7 that will address this issue forthcoming, but the underlying problem is still there. I tried raising the issue with tech support at Roland, but haven't had time to pursue it any further beyond level 1 tech support. Maybe when things slow down a bit for me...
2. I wish the software control panel had some metering capabilities, instead of having to rely on reading the interface's LCD display.

[eddiemapp]

I've been using the Octa-capture recently rack mounted in my processing rack and also have one that I carry in my backpack. I've had absolutely zero problems with it and it seems to be built really solid. Before version 7 I had a USBPRE for years (still do) but haven't used it recently since I can't live without multiple mics for tuning.

Previously I 've used the following

Presonus Firestudio Project (worked great but sometimes had to power off/on to get working properly)

USBPRE (rock solid)

Apogee Duet (Worked we but interface / cable was a bit of a pain)

Mbox Pro 2 (different arrival times between front and back inputs)

[lundbergsound]

I have a Tascam 1641, and it works fine and is great for the price. Build quality seems to be similar to the Presonus stuff I've used; it could be better, but I have not had any problems with my unit.

There is some strangeness with the headphones and monitor outs, i.e., as I recall, they aren't DAs, but rather just the sum of all of the inputs to the unit. While that's weird, for system optimization purposes it does not affect me.

Sometimes it takes a little bit to get the unit to show up as a device in OS X, but once there, it does everything I need and has never dropped out. When using the 1641, I typically have 6 microphones plus EQ and source inputs with two outputs.

If I had to buy an interface again, I might buy something higher end, but for the price the Tascam probably cannot be beat and it serves me well.

[Dan Currie]

Hey Everyone,
I decided to pick up Smaart 7 after my last tour. Wish I would have picked it up before hand cause it would have saved some headaches. FOH in 150-400 cap rooms can be interesting/fun. Especially time domain problems with only 2 hours to load in/soundcheck.

Space is an issue so I'd like to pack everything in my back pack or briefcase. Right now I'm not really interested in a multi-mic setup but down the road it may be nice to have. The octacapture looks sweet but is on the boarder line of what I'd like to spend.

Has anyone tried the Mackie Blackjack?

http://www.mackie.com/products/onyxinterfaces/

Thanks,
Dan

[Rasmus Rosenberg]

Hey Dan,
Can't comment on the Mackie interface sorry, and in general its hard to recommend an audio interface. Just like many other things it all depends what you want to use it for. Is it just for measurement or do you want to record too etc etc. I have 3 setups that I will run through here hopefully it will give some inspiration to picking an interface. And congrats on picking up ver 7, hope you get to take a class as they are really good.
Little background: My main work is as a system tech both freelance (touring/installs) and at a venue with 3 halls 1500cap/500cap/200cap. I also work as a BE and monitor eng. So i get se things from to both ends of the multicore as babysitter or demanding artistic BE/ME :cool:. To me Smaart has become an invaluable tool. I run Smaart ver7 on a mac book pro 15"

Setup 1 "basic": (all ways with me in my backpack)
Mac book pro, Earthworks M23, 1 st-jack->2 st jack adaptor, 2 minijack to xlr and jack adaptor, 1 xlr cable tester (ratt sniffer/sender).
Sorry for the blurry pic.
http://www.rationalacoustics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=346&stc=1&d=1310590295
It allows me to use the internal sound card in the mac. I will split the headphone out of the console and use that as reference signal. If I need a mic signal i will have to use a cable from the venue (here the cable tester comes in handy) and use a preamp on the console. It can get most of my work in "clubland" done and is what i use when doing monitors. It also serves as the backup solution if I use another interface.

Setup 2: small kick ass setup.
Is a woodplate with a Usbpre, a wireless route/switch, power. (a 20mtr xlr-xlr cable, not shown)
The Sm58 is for size comparison.
http://www.rationalacoustics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=347&stc=1&d=1310590295
It came up from the desire of being independent/prewired and wireless. The Usbpre and router are robust enough to be just stuck in the backpack and cheap enough to replace if broken. What rocks is 3 things
1: its all prewired and labled, no forgetting cables or hooking up wrong. All i need from the venue is a mic stand.
2: Its very robust,small, light weight, and still very flexible
3: It has a wireless router, I will write a post about when i get the time, but what it does is it allows me to control smaart from my Iphone. Main use of that is when i place the measurement mic I play soft pink noise through the system. Go out to place the measurement mic, while listen and being able to see on my screen if its a good measurement. That makes getting good measurements really easy and fast, with out running back and forth to the computer. I can turn on/off the generator witch cuts down on the time "annoying" noise is played back. I can be onstage and spin the front fills while looking at what happens at the mic in the audience etc etc. I can put my computer secure on a rack and have the Iphone on the console in front of me with out taking up space on the console. And last but not least I can be in the bar and still see if the BE plays too loud.


Setup 3: Motu travler mk3, the swiss army knife.
My last setup build around a Motu tavler interface. And the most flexible set up. I choose it because it was the smallest 1 unit rack mountable interface with the most (and different) connection possibilities. Small enough to go in my backpack and very light. My mac book pro fits nice on top of it minimizing space. For measuring I have a pelican 1510 case that houses a lot of stuff and the interface. I do 3 matched M30's, ref, and EQ. But I also use the Interface on its own for a lot of other stuff, like recording and as Processing plug in rack. For a club job, tune the PA with Smaart and multi mic's then switch preset and bum you have a 4 SPL transient designers for drums, a C4 for the lead vocal and why not a lexicon reverb..with out repatching (you do have to hook it up at start up).... ok that does require abit more than the interface but just an example of what a flexible interface can do.
http://www.rationalacoustics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=345&stc=1&d=1310553085
Hope it was a litte inspiration and see you out there..

[Dan Currie]

Thanks for the info Rasmus and nice rigs!! I'm leaning towards getting a cheap M-audio unit until an octa-capture is feasible. They're sure to get there share of abuse on the road and it will be a good start for me.

I like where your going with the router...thanks for the ideas. I carry a Ipad and router in my backpack. It's handy when I run across an ls9 or M7. Controlling Smaart will another use for it. I assume your using a VNC. My setup should show up in my signature from now on.

Also the info on this site is really great. Glad I signed up. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute pretty soon. Cheers---DC

[Arthur Skudra]

I carry around an Airport Express for a wireless router for on-the-road use. Simple, lightweight, and small. Works great with my iPad and MacBook Pro, run either Splashtop remote desktop or Studio Six Digital's upcoming Smaart Remote app on the iPad.

[Dan Currie]

Studio 6...that the guy from Terrasonde? Any more info on the app?

[Arthur Skudra]

Studio 6...that the guy from Terrasonde? Any more info on the app?
Yep, the same guy who developed the Terrasonde Audio Toolbox.

Here's a link:
http://www.studiosixdigital.com/

The forthcoming Smaart Remote app uses the API built into Smaart to transmit the data directly from a Smaart measurement engine over wifi to the iPad. Faster than using a remote desktop app. Currently supports one measurement engine at a time that you choose from a list.

[Kip Conner]

I too love my octacapture, it's mounted in my processing rack for 90% of my shows. For fly dates where I have to slim down and I'm not really there but for much more than mixing my own artist I only carry an MAudio MobilePre. It does the job for simple single point transfer functions.

[PrestonSoper]

Anyone know when the Smaart Remote app that uses the API built into Smaart to transmit the data directly from a Smaart measurement engine over wifi to the iPad will be released?
Is it in Beta testing that I may of missed or overlooked on the SSD website?
I'm currently using the Smaart App from SSD on the IPad.
Using splashtop remote over wifi has been somewhat successful but a native application
to interface with my host computer running Smaart would be awesome.

[Adam Black]

Anyone know when the Smaart Remote app that uses the API built into Smaart to transmit the data directly from a Smaart measurement engine over wifi to the iPad will be released?
Is it in Beta testing that I may of missed or overlooked on the SSD website?
I'm currently using the Smaart App from SSD on the IPad.
Using splashtop remote over wifi has been somewhat successful but a native application
to interface with my host computer running Smaart would be awesome.

Hey Preston,

Not sure of what release date S6D has in mind. Though I believe that he'd like to release by AES, which is in late October. But don't treat that as gospel. It is indeed in beta. We are on the beta list and actually demo'd it at InfoComm a month or so ago.

[Kip Conner]

Does anyone here actually own of the S6D's iaudiointerface? how does it work in regards to buss power? I'm pretty excited about having a portable application for basic TF's where I don't need much but basic measurement.

[Arthur Skudra]

Does anyone here actually own of the S6D's iaudiointerface? how does it work in regards to buss power? I'm pretty excited about having a portable application for basic TF's where I don't need much but basic measurement.
I have the old iAudioInterface, it draws power from my iPhone, but only works with the older generation iPhone (3G and 3GS) and similar iPod touch that have an analogue input on the dock connector.

The new one is not out yet, I believe it's release is set for sometime in August depending on how long it takes to get "Apple approved." It has it's own li-ion battery inside. Standard XLR mic input with phantom power and separate line input. Sends audio over the USB bus in the Dock connector for iPhone 4 and iPad.

[Harry Brill Jr.]

MOTU 8pre. Been very happy with it. Had some firewire issues which were solved by getting a card with a TI chipset instead of using the internal FW port on the computer. I'll move to the octa roland thing if I get to control it from Smaart.