I would like to buy an audio interface of some type to allow recording to
both my laptop and desktop computers. In particular, I like the looks of
the Sound Designs USBPre 1.5 unit. I know a number of you have mentioned
that you own and use this device. The other day, I came across this page:
http://wahiduddin.net/tech/usbpre.htm
I was wondering if some of you who are familiar with the USBPre might
comment on the authors criticism. Some of the complaints won't affect me
(like operating system... I have Windows XP).
The audio whine problem sounds like it was fixed for the actual recorded
file, but that you can still hear it in audio playback. I take it to mean=
that the file on your hard drive will be whine-free, but if you play the
file and listen through the USBPre, you'll hear it. Has anyone else had
any experience with this?
16 bit audio output... apparently still the case.
Latency... according to Sound Devices, the ASIO drivers are now available.
Software problems... anyone concur with his complaints?
Many of his "alternatives" won't work if you're in the field, since they
require AC. This is where it gets frustrating. There's not very many
USB-powered units available, and many of them appear to be of low quality,=
with the manufacturer refusing to publish meaningful specs, so I assume
that they won't be up to the quality of the USBPre. I see that TAPCO
(Mackie) has a new unit called the link.usb, but it apparently isn't
shipping yet, and I can't find specs on it either.
There are some nice FireWire units that apparently can be bus-powered, but=
that takes a 6-pin FireWire connection, and my laptop (Dell) only has a
4-pin connection. And a quick survey today of quite a few PC laptop
manufactures reveals the same... only 4-pin connectors. There are PCMCIA
adapters that will give you a 6-pin FireWire connection through the Cardbus=
port, but they don't apparently provide power, from what I can determine.
I could get a battery pack and use one of the FireWire units, but I'd
rather not... the expense, upkeep, extra weight, and bother. So it looks
like the USBPre would fit the bill... if it is of good quality. But if
someone can think of a way to come up with a 6-pin FireWire port that can
provide power from the laptop's battery, I'd appreciate hearing about
it. That would open the door to some of these FireWire units.
BTW, does Sound Designs intend to update the unit or replace it any time
soon with a USB 2.0 compliant unit? And maybe higher specs, like 24 bit,
96 or 192kHz.?
Thanks,
Tim Baker
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