Question on USB Audio Interface

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rfreschner

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I'm using a Heil PR-40 dynamic mic to record audio for instructional videos for my camera club to my Tascam DR-60D, but would like to record directly to my MacBook Pro. I'm definitely a newb at this and, after doing some research, it appears that a USB audio interface like the Steinberg UR-22 might work well for this purpose, but I wanted to check before wasting any money on it. Would this work? TIA.
 
rfreschner said:
I'm using a Heil PR-40 dynamic mic to record audio for instructional videos for my camera club to my Tascam DR-60D, but would like to record directly to my MacBook Pro. I'm definitely a newb at this and, after doing some research, it appears that a USB audio interface like the Steinberg UR-22 might work well for this purpose, but I wanted to check before wasting any money on it. Would this work? TIA.
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Certainly NOT a waste of money! The UR22 is a very well respected AI in its price range.

The pre amps are said to be very clean which is useful because although the Heil is a superb mic it has an output only a smell greater than the SM57. Some here might say the Focusrite 2i4 pres are better but I personally doubt that there is much in it. If the mic is to be used for close vocal work you should have no problems. If you did need extra gain look at the Cloudlifter pre amp since of course you don't need phantom power for the mic.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Certainly NOT a waste of money! The UR22 is a very well respected AI in its price range.

The pre amps are said to be very clean which is useful because although the Heil is a superb mic it has an output only a smell greater than the SM57. Some here might say the Focusrite 2i4 pres are better but I personally doubt that there is much in it. If the mic is to be used for close vocal work you should have no problems. If you did need extra gain look at the Cloudlifter pre amp since of course you don't need phantom power for the mic.

Dave.
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Dave - Thanks for that advice. I am a bit concerned about the gain needed, so I'll keep the Cloudlifter in mind.
 
rfreschner said:
Dave - Thanks for that advice. I am a bit concerned about the gain needed, so I'll keep the Cloudlifter in mind.
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Hi Rick,
I have just pulled the specc' on that camera, bit of a beast innit?! I see it has mic inputs and at that level of equipment I would expect them to be pretty good. They give a "minimum input" figure of -72dB but no indication of the level that produces in the camera (such chocolate teapot figures are now the norm these days I am afraid, seems nobody can write a decent specification!) .
I would be interested to know what your intended MO will be should you buy an interface? NOT that I would dissuade you from getting one. I believe that anyone that "does audio" with a computer should have a decent AI.

Dave.
 
Hi, Dave -

The DR-60D form factor is tailored for use with a DSLR and, although it can be used in my office, it's really not the best tool for the job. For instance, I can either use the USB port to power the device from my laptop or connect to store the recordings on my laptop. I'd prefer the latter, but the DR-60D sucks up the batteries. If I could get something that would do both for a reasonable price, which the UR22 seems to do, then it's worth it. I can't imagine I would need much in the way of expandability at this point in time.

As I mentioned, I'm rather new to this and having a bit of a time deciphering all of the terms and technology. I read through what documentation I could find on the UR22, but really can't figure out how to compare the preamps on it to the ones on the DR-60D as to how they would perform with the low input of the Heil mic.

Rick
 
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