Audio from DMP3 preamp to computer?

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n0thing

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Hi! I've heard that the M-audio DMP3 is a good budget preamp, but as far as I know it uses two 1/4" outputs. Since I'm using a laptop to record, which doesn't have two ins, how do I get the audio from the DMP3 to my computer? I'm guessing that I gotta have some kind of audio interface, but I don't want it to be to pricey. Maybe 100$, or slightly more, any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!
 
I really appreciate your answer, but that's a PCI card and you can't put those in laptops. ;) I've been checking some PCMCIA cards out, but it feels strange spending almost double the price for a piece of equipment just used (for me, atleast) to transport audio from a preamp to a computer.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a simple USB audio interface (as long as I'm not sacrificing sound quality for a cheaper price).
 
n0thing said:
I really appreciate your answer, but that's a PCI card and you can't put those in laptops. ;) I've been checking some PCMCIA cards out, but it feels strange spending almost double the price for a piece of equipment just used (for me, atleast) to transport audio from a preamp to a computer.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a simple USB audio interface (as long as I'm not sacrificing sound quality for a cheaper price).
Ah...crap. I saw that, about the laptop, and spaced it when I saw the 44. Sorry man. Go back to the site, and check on the usb ones. There are a few there, but I've never used one.
Here's one in your pricerange.
http://www.frontendaudio.com/M_Audio_Fast_Track_USB_Audio_Interface_w_Mic_Lin_p/5972.htm
 
1. The Fast Track (USB) seems nice, and it's in my price range but as far as I can see it has only one 1/4 input. The DMP3 preamp has two outs, so is this "incompatibility" something that you can solve? With like, an adapter of some kind?

2. Yeah, I've been checking those firewire ones out too, but really, they are way over my price range (100$, those are like 250$) for the simple task I need them to do.

Edit: Btw, I saw the Line 6 TonePort UX1 for a reasonable price. Is this one okay? I mean, I'm happy as long as it doesn't fuck with my sound too much. ;)
 
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Both of those

are primarily for plugging a guitar into to get it into the pc. You need a more generalized stereo (at least) external sound card. If all you want to do is get two channels max in at one time, then USB would probably be OK, but FW would be better.

Look at the M-Audio stuff. I think they still make an external Audiophile.

Let me go look real quick.
 
While I'm looking

what are you trying to record? The DMP has two outputs, but that's for two mics, or two guitars, or a mic and a guitar, etc.

What are you wanting to do simultaneously?
 
Thanks! I thought that it was one 1/4" for left and one for right. At the moment I think all I wanna do simultaneously is to record with one mic (SM57). In the future I'll get another one, to record with the both at the same time.

So I could just use the 1/8" in on my sound card then? It's one of those built-in sound cards on my motherboard, wouldn't that mean that the quality would be pretty bad or does it even matter?

I'm gonna go ahead and guess it does matter, so I checked the Audiophile (FW and USB) out. I live in Sweden, and the USB one costs 1500 kr (180$ or something along those lines), the FW version was 2200 kr (~250$). Are those basically the same thing, because then it's only the transfer speed from the unit to the computer that matters, right? The price tag on the firewire unit is pretty hefty for me, so is there really such a big difference?

Sorry, that's many questions at the same time, but I really appreciate that you guys are taking your time to help a newbie out.
 
Thanks for answering, and yeah, those are options I'll look into later, but I know there are firewire/USB preamps for about the same price (or even lower) as the DMP3, but from what I've understood the DMP3 is some kind of "super preamp" that sounds amazing for the price you pay for it. At the moment I just want to send audio from a 1/4" to my computer the easiest way possible.
 
The M-Audio MobilePre USB will give you preamps, as well as a better soundcard converter, and they're pretty cheap - a few folks on these boards use them...
 
Thanks, but as I said in my previous post, I want the DMP3. Or is the one you're suggesting equally good?
 
n0thing said:
Thanks, but as I said in my previous post, I want the DMP3. Or is the one you're suggesting equally good?
No, the DMP-3 is better, but if you needed to try to get all-in-one on a tight budget, it's better than many....
...I've had a second-hand DMP-2, and now a DMP-3 that had both been through the wars, and perform like champs....if you've got the bucks to do both, get the DMP-3, for sure....it'll always be handy....
 
Okay, but I guess I could spend a little more than I originally thought.

I just found this one for a really good price. I know Behringer isn't the best brand, and is generally hated on this forum (I think?), but that one have basically everything I want: two ins, nice looks and firewire. But how is the sound, anyone have an idea?
 
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