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heyguido · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:52 am Post subject: Bus Power

As I've followed the discussions of various mic pre's on the board, I've come to wonder if I'm doing my better mics a disservice by relying at times on a bus powered pre/interface..... I've read some discussions which seem to indicate a bus powered pre might not be able to properly drive a phantom powered condenser.... Comments?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject:

Relying completely on your computers power supply to energize your Interface Preamp and Microphone is certainly not the way to go.

If your all in one interfaces is capable of being powered by a wall wort power supply use it. Doing so will also improve the dynamic range of your recordings.
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georgethetech · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:57 pm Post subject:

Do you use the power supply that comes with the Echo AudioFire2, Mike?
Have you A/B tested to see if it really makes a difference?
Those with Mbox Mini's and MicPort Pros obviously have no choice in the matter. Is it the power supply that's the limiting factor at the end of the day? I guess classical circuit design would certainly suggest that the power supply is the MOST important thing. Why else would mic preamps have such massive power supplies, such as the Avalon M5?
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heyguido · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a new all-in-one is in my future for roadwork.... One with a power supply of its own.... Got a favorite? My go-to condenser of choice is a Bluebird. What would you recommend that would slip into the laptop bag? I've got both firewire and USB2 on the laptop, plenty ram and a core I-7 chip, so it should be able to handle either without choking.... Are any of the solid-state/tube variants worth considering?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:29 pm Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:15 am Post subject:

Not to flog a dying thread.... BUT.... I'd rather get good advice than spend days and dollars exploring inadequate gear @ my local GC or SamAsh.....

My present pre/interface is the Edirol UA25ex, which is relatively quiet, but not terribly kind if overdriven. It does NOT, however, run on anything but bus power. With a mic like the Bluebird, I want to give it the best possible path to the software. So....

Focusrite? PreSonus? M-Audio?(don't really care for their sound)....
Somebody's gotta make a decent portable with quiet pre's, acceptable converters, and a wall wart. USB2.0 would be preferrable, but FireWire would be OK, too, though I'd rather not embrace what appears to be a dying standard. Have considered the Grace portable, but that's a little pricey for my wallet.... and no USB. Any suggestions, guys?
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Don Brookshire
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georgethetech · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject:

You want something portable, but also with a wall wart, but not expensive. The three things are kinda at odds with each other, it seems. The Echo AF2 is the only one I know that small with a power supply, but no preamps.

One of the best out there, the Apogee Duet 2, DOES have external power supply, and it's using the "dying standard" of USB 2.0. I don't think USB 2 is going anywhere anytime soon.

Another favorite of mine if you are Windows only is the SoundDevices USBPre 2. USB and bus powered, only. Totally pro, very well made, excellent sound.
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