Equip Options - Which Way To Go?

[sberry]

I am faced with some decisions about equipment for a modest home recording setup. I currently own a Behringer Eurorack UB802 mixer. I need an analog/digital converter to get a good signal into my laptop computer. I'm in a bluegrass band and we currently huddle around a single condenser microphone (though we want some option for increasing the number of mics in the future)

Opt 1: Purchase a Phonic Helix Board 12 (and sell the Behringer for what I can get for it).
Opt 2: Purchase a Tascam US122 USB Audio/MIDI Interface.

Considerations regarding Opt 1:
- It can do both functions so I don't need two seperate components.
- I'm told the mixing components of the Helix are better quality than the Behringer
- Software doesn't come with the Helix board (though I can use what I already have)

Considerations regarding Opt 2:
- I'm told the mic preamps are better in the Tascam
- If we needed to add microphones, we could add the Behringer mixer into the equation though that would then bypass the better mic preamps that are in the Tascam.

Needless to say I'm trying to squeeze the best arrangement out of a modest budget. Both of these options will cost about the same.

I'd appreciate anybody's wisdom regarding my choices.

Thanks!

 

[SonicAlbert]

Of those two choices I personally would go with the TASCAM. The Phonic board is most likely just a sideways move from the Behringer anyway.

This will be a stereo, two mic setup only. If you feel you'll want more tracks in the near future you might want to consider an eight channel audio interface. They are more expensive, but perhaps a little more future-proof as far as you needing to upgrade again later.