I'm about to buy a firewire audio interface and a preamp but I was wondering if I should get one with built in mic preamps or buy an interface and a separate preamp.
These are the options I'm considering:
Separate interface and preamp:
-M-audio Firewire Audiophile + M-audio DMP3 (or some other preamp?)
Interface with built in preamps:
-Focusrite Saffire
-M-audio firewire 410
Your choices are pretty limited when it comes to firewire interfaces without preamps. The M-Audio Firewire Audiophile may be your only choice in that price range. And I believe the Firewire Audiophile only offers RCA line INs.
The rest of the under $500 Firewire models (including the two you list) have preamps but their quality is probably about what you would expect given the price range. So, after recording a while with built-in preamps, you may find yourself upgrading to an external preamp. This might include the DMP3 or something like the FMR RNP. For more money you could look at the single channel Grace preamp (app. $500).
I just ordered a firewire audiophile yesterday. I have been trying to decide which way to go also, but you can get this for $139 now (scitscat, amazon, plus other will price match as well). For this price, it's hard to beat.
If your budget truly is around $500, you might consider the Presonus Firebox. I had a firepod for a while and it had some pretty clean sounding pre's (probably not quite as good as the DMP-3, but still pretty good). Several people on here have done some great recordings with just its pres. And, the firebox also has two separate line ins that you could hook other pres up to later, this with spdif gives you 6 ins total all for about $400.00.
If you're going with a laptop setup (you didn't specify for sure), you might consider the new E-MU 1616. It has 2 preamps, but also 4 Line Ins, ADAT, and SPDIF. all for $400-$500, depending on which model you get. I've read a few bad reviews about the drivers for the card, but I've also read some reviews where people love it. Anyways, just some other options, but I would definitely check out the firebox if you were thinking about the Saffire or the 410.
