USB Interface versus PCI soundcard. M-Audio MobilePre vs Audiophile 2496.

[funkoptimus]

I am looking at dumping my drummers tracks to PC from our hard disk recorder(tascam 788) and then recording the other tracks straight to PC. I wont be using more than a single stereo track at a time.

I narrowed a couple of options and I am not sure which route to go.

M-Audio MobilePre USB Interface

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOMOBILEPRE

Or the old reliable M-Audio Audiophile 2496

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOAP2496.

I am running an older home brew PC with an Athlon 1800, 512 RAM. I also have a Dell laptop Inspiron 9300,Pentium M 730 (1.60GHz/533MHz FSB) a bit faster.

The option of the USB is nice in the fact that I dont have to swap out cards.(multiple sound cards a "no no"?) Along with the fact I can use on either machine as needed.I am looking at dumping my drummers tracks to PC and then recording the other tracks straight to PC. I wont be using more than a single stereo track at a time.

I narrowed a couple of options and I am not sure which route to go.

M-Audio MobilePre USB Interface

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOMOBILEPRE

Or the old reliable M-Audio Audiophile 2496

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOAP2496.

I am running an older home brew PC with an Athlon 1800, 512 RAM. I also have a Dell laptop Inspiron 9300,Pentium M 730 (1.60GHz/533MHz FSB) a bit faster.

The option of the USB is nice in the fact that I dont have to swap out cards.(multiple sound cards a "no no"?) Along with the fact I can use on either machine as needed.

 

[Bulls Hit]

While the mobility is nice, the problem with the Mobilpre is that it will only record in 16-bit.

The other problem that you're likely to encounter is there is no guarantee it will work on your Athlon box, as some of those earlier usb implmementations were crap. Should be OK on the laptop though.

So if you're happy with 16-bit, you don't have any preamps and you have other usb devices that work great on both of your machines, then the Mobilepre is for you.

Me, I'd get the audiophile