The USBpre will record to 24 bit.... But only up to 48k. I really don't use
it for playback much but I've never heard any strange noises from it. What
you read is from a very old review back when the unit first came out. I use
mine to record live music on location and also for audio duties on my
desktop. The mic pre s are quiet and fine. The metering works very well. In
my case the built in 20db pads come in handy on occasion. The problems with
earlier windows versions are easy to overlook because Win98 did not even do
USB until SE and then only when it felt like it. Windows ME was awful for me
and I try to forget it ever happened. I have had no issues using the USBpre
with XP. I use Wavelab and Adobe Audition. The inputs allow flexibility that
make the unit very useful for recording in various situations. It's a great
unit.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Tim Baker
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 5:43 PM
To:
Subject: [Nature Recordists] Sound Designs USBPre
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
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get
fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/PMYolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
Yahoo! Groups Links
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|