advice on a simple (cheap) audio interface giving true lin..

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paul m <matthpau@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Those of you following my other post on pre-amp usage will know why I'm
>posting this one....
>
>If I was to bite the bullet and get an audio interface that gave me
>decent quality true line level input for the lowest price possible (I
>already have one audio interface, but unfortuantely it doesn't give a
>true line level input without going through some sort of internal amp),
>what are my options, and what are your recommendations?

Actually, I'd tell you to buy the cheap Lavry box, and then pad down the
input. The (somewhat high gain) input on the Lavry is cleaner than the
line input on most similarly-priced boxes.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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paul m wrote:
> Those of you following my other post on pre-amp usage will know why
I'm
> posting this one....
>
> If I was to bite the bullet and get an audio interface that gave me
> decent quality true line level input for the lowest price possible (I
> already have one audio interface, but unfortuantely it doesn't give a
> true line level input without going through some sort of internal
amp),
> what are my options, and what are your recommendations?

Historically, the Echo Mia would be my answer to this question. Good
quality, and true line-level inputs and outputs for under $200. The
downside is that its 1/4" inputs and outputs are in fact unbalanced.

This week, M-Audio's Audiophile 24/192 might be the superior product.
It looks pretty good on paper! It's major advantage in my book is true
balanced I/O for a competitive price.

http://www.pcmus.com/Stuff/Juli@%20with%20RCA%20IO.zip

In terms of cards that I've tested myself, if balanced I/O is not an
absolute requirement, for a few dollars more you can get a M-Audio
Delta 1010LT with 8 line-level inputs and outputs, two of the inputs
being balanced.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> Those of you following my other post on pre-amp usage will know why I'm
> posting this one....
>
> If I was to bite the bullet and get an audio interface that gave me
> decent quality true line level input for the lowest price possible (I
> already have one audio interface, but unfortuantely it doesn't give a
> true line level input without going through some sort of internal amp),
> what are my options, and what are your recommendations?

An "internal amp" is required to act as a buffer. You can't expect an
interface's inputs to go straight to the a/d converter without accommodating
a wide variety of inputs, otherwise it would be proprietary, specialized to
a very narrow range of external devices, making it less useful in practice,
and definitely not cheap.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <1104400853.819419.47660@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
paul m <matthpau@hotmail.com> wrote:
>OK, I'm a bit ignorant on the differences between balanced and
>unbalanced. From a little research I understand that balanced is
>better, but can you tell me why?

This is discussed in the FAQ.

Balanced lines aren't always better. Balanced connections reduce noise
induced in long cables, and allow you to lift signal grounds, but they
require more electronics in the signal path.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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In article <1104400853.819419.47660@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com> matthpau@hotmail.com writes:

> OK, I'm a bit ignorant on the differences between balanced and
> unbalanced. From a little research I understand that balanced is
> better, but can you tell me why?

It isn't always better, but when it's not better, it isn't worse than
unbalanced either. It's better if you're feeding it with a balanced
input, but if not, it doesn't matter.

The reason why it's better to buy balanced is so you'll have it if you
need it. But if, because of budget or functional needs, you end up
compromising something more important just to get the balanced device,
don't do it.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

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On 29 Dec 2004 05:47:09 -0800, "paul m" <matthpau@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>If I was to bite the bullet and get an audio interface that gave me
>decent quality true line level input for the lowest price possible (I
>already have one audio interface, but unfortuantely it doesn't give a
>true line level input without going through some sort of internal amp),
>what are my options, and what are your recommendations?

The cheapest Soundblaster Live, available cheaply on ebay, has a line
input capable of quite respectable quality.

I don't think you'll find a card at any price that connects Line In
directly to the pins of the A/D chip. Nor would you want one to :-)
What's the issue with input circuitry?

CubaseFAQ www.laurencepayne.co.uk/CubaseFAQ.htm
"Possibly the world's least impressive web site": George Perfect

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In article <1104499271.921194.30070@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com> matthpau@hotmail.com writes:

> The question arose because I purchased an outboard mic pre-amp. Several
> people commented that since I was using it with a Tascam US 428 that I
> would effectively then be putting my mic through 2 preamps - the new
> outboard one, and the one internal to the Tascam.

Did "several people" look at the manual, or look at a block diagram
(unfortunately not in the manual), or even ask TASCAM? Did you?

> They then suggested
> that the Tascam, like most cheap interfaces didn't provide a true line
> level input that would allow me to get around this.

Perhaps they weren't aware that Inputs C and D don't have mic preamps.
Connect your outboard mic preamp to those inputs if you're paranoid
about such things.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

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In article <1104685662.232943.74290@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> voxman@arvotek.net writes:

> Aren't there analog inserts on the Tascam US-428 like on the smaller
> Tascam USB interfaces?

Nope. They didn't figure that was important on the first product of
the series.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

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On 2 Jan 2005 19:34:03 -0800, genericaudioperson@hotmail.com wrote:

>the M-audio Audiophile 24-26 is a good sub-$100 beat around card. I
>wouldn't call it "audiophile", but it has a convenient way of working
>without problems in a variety of circumstances.

And as "audiophile" is generally a term of derision... :=-)

CubaseFAQ www.laurencepayne.co.uk/CubaseFAQ.htm
"Possibly the world's least impressive web site": George Perfect