Behringer or PreSonus (USB v. Firewire)

[nathanfox]

Behringer B-CONTROL AUDIO BCA2000 - http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/3700

PreSonus Inspire 1394 - http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/7768

These units seem to do the same thing but I've heard that firewire is better than usb and Behringer are not a very good make.

Please can you give me some views and which one is better please. It is to connect a stereo input (2 1/4" jacks) and an xlr microphone so both units are ideal. I prefer the PreSonus but I was also wondering whether the firewire port on my Soundblaster Audigy card will be ideal to connect this unit.

Thank you in advance for any help,
Nathan

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Update;
I have just found this unit. It appears to be the same price with less features but it does come with a nice carry case. The link is - http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/4666

What is my best bet out of all three of these units?

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[Sampler]

On the PreSonus, you can't use both 1/4" inputs AND the XLR...whatever input is used bypasses the other...in other words, if you have a mic connected to the left input, you can't use the 1/4" input on the left side...same thing with the other side.

The Behringer has more inputs and would allow you to connect both 1/4" cables as well as the XLR. It's a nice unit, and I wouldn't pass it up because of the name...true, Behringer does not make the highest quality products, but I would certainly consider this one.

That third one you mentioned doesn't have an XLR input. It seems like a nice one with everything you need to get started, but you will need an external preamp for your mic.

The PreSonus would be my first choice, but for what you want to do...and assuming that you don't want to buy any other gear...the Behringer would be your best bet. If you're willing to invest an an external preamp, the third one seems pretty good.

 

[nathanfox]

sorry it seems I have made a mistake.

My keyboard is jack to RCA phono which I have adapters to to make it jack to jack. So if I leave it phono, it appears, on the PRESONUS, that I can plug it into the stereo phono inputs on the back (if you click on the link above and then expand the image you will see this clearly) or click onto this link to look at the images here - http://www.presonus.com/inspire1394.html

Will this work?

Nathan

 

[Zeeb]

Behringer is coming out with a Firewire box real soon. Under 90 dollars too. And yea, Behringer is the Wal-Mart of music products.

But, yea, the PRESONUS phono jacks on 3 & 4 will work the way you said. It even shows it in their hook-up diagram.

 

[cawhite12]

Behringer is coming out with a Firewire box real soon. Under 90 dollars too. And yea, Behringer is the Wal-Mart of music products.

It's already out. Its the FCA-202. I just ordered one off of MF to try out with solely using to drive soft synths (namely Hypersonic) in a live situation with my band. Don't Like dragging a larger non-bus powered interface to rehearsals. I didn't trust the USB stuff (bad reviews mostly) and didn't want to shell out the money for an Indigo IO or DJ. Hopefully it works well for what I need it for, I'll let ya know. Also, it was only $79.99 on MF.

 

[nathanfox]

ok then so what do we think.

This - http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/7768 - that appears to have software mixing

or

This - http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/8321 which appears to have hardware mixing (which can be annoying) on the console.

Which one do we think?
I don't mind paying more if the first is a better machine!
Are Behringer reliable because I've been told they don't sell very good products?

Any replies would be great

 

[cawhite12]

If the small money saved isn't an issue, then the Inspire is going to be your best bet. The only deal with the inspire is that it is completely software controlled (including headphone volume, mic and line levels, output volume). If you don't mind opening up another window to raise or lower a level, then go with that. It will no doubt be a better product than the behringer, in fact I have a Firepod, and it's great. Like I said, I only got the FCA-202 to use with softsynths and my MIDI controller to keep myself a bit more portable. I really have no intention of EVER recording with it, just to use in a live situation. I should get it in a few days. I'll run it through my routine, and see how it holds up. It was cheap and I can return it if it doesn't work right.