Can I string two pre-amps into my PC

[keithpurtell]

I'm using Audacity on a Windows XP SP3 machine. Here's the problem. I need to quickly record some music for the minister at my church (two flute solos) but the microphone input plug on my Audigy sound card is damaged and unusable. The only other option I have is an M-Audio MobilePre USB. This will accept a standard mic input and route the signal into the PC via a USB port. However, as many of you know, the MobilePre has a problem with the noise floor. By the time you set the output knob to a level that is reasonable for the PC, you also have noticeable noise.

Here is my proposed fix: I also have a nice like ART Digital MPA rack-mount preamp. If I feed my mic first through the ART, would I be able to provide the MobilePre with an input that is strong enough that I don't have to raise its output knob to the noisy level?

 

[RandyW]

I've never used any M-audio stuff other than a couple of delta 1010's when I first started out.
But it has been my experience that a good pre amp will definitely help you with your noise
level. I would keep the gain on the maudio at 0 if possible so it does not apply any more of
its characteristic to your signal than necessary.
If the maudio has a line in I would use that instead of the xlr connector. I not sure if the maudio
will let you change your xlr input to a line signal like some of the new apogee stuff.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

The Mobile Pre has line/instrument inputs on 1/4" jacks. One is on the front and one is on the back.

 

[keithpurtell]

Now all I've got to do is dig through the hardware box and see if I've got an XLR to 1/4 adapter!