Is my Audio Interface effectively a preamp?

[Kipper]

I am studying up to gift myself with some home audio recording and I am just learning about mics- I know I want condensor so I've found the Edirol uv-5 with phantom power, is this effectively acting as a preamp, or will the amp modeling make it effectively so?
I know I can get a mixer for 50 bucks, but I am simply running out of space here. Do I need a preamp, too?
Thanks, Kip

 

[DigitMus]

Not familiar with that Edirol piece, but if it has a mic-level input (the phantom power is a giveaway) then yes, it is a pre-amp. Whether it's any good or not is another question entirely...

Scott

 

[Innovations]

If you are talking about the UA-5 then yes there are preamps on each mic input. I get fine results from mine but have no dellusions that the preamps are as good as on a dedicated unit. They do not seem to have a ton of gain, since even with a reasonably loud source and a fairly hot mic (V93M) I usually need them set at least at 3/4 of max to get a decent signal.

Here is a review of the unit.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar02/articles/edirolua5.asp

 

[Kipper]

thanks

Thanks for the responses. Yea, I know I could do better, but this is my starter kit. I have been assured that I will be spending much more money making things better as the years roll by, but I think that I can be happy with this for a period. At least until I am making over 50grand a year as a producer.
Kip