lexicon, m-audio, tascam - help a newbie

[danboy777]

what's better, the Lexicon Omega, the M-audio USB, tascam us 122, DMP3
Dual Microphone/Instrument Preamp,

I have a 2.5ghz, 256mb ram - celeron (ouch) this however doesn't seem to be the problem. I just need more volume it seems. I have tried 2 different mic's and actually my 15 y.o. ev sounds much better (live, brighter) than my brand new sm57.
ANYWAY, these pre-amp dig recording units range in price from $149-$299
- I need to pre-amp my sm57 (levels are too low and I don't want to overprocess and end up with hum)
- my integrated soundcard is probably not good enough (realtek ac97)
- compression might be nice
- I like the Sound Forge but I have only used the demo. If one came with a unit that worked as well - even better

I feel this would solve my cheap integrated soundcard and microphone (low levels - need a pre-amp I guess) issue and get me the good quality spoken word audio I need AND give me 2 mic inputs. Again, this is only for the spoken word but I do get passionate at times as I am speaking so compression could be important

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Any of the four would most likely be an improvement over the PC soundcard on a number of points.

As far as the lack of amplitude problem, it could very well be solved by a proper mic pre and better I/O port than the microphone jack on a standard PC soundcard. But before you automatically go and plunk down the money, you might want to make sure that A) You are indeed going into the mic input of the card, and B) that the master volume control for the mic input on the soundcard itself is turned up.

Though I will say that it is likely that even if the soundcard is being used 100% properly, that you still are not getting the right levels from your pro-grade microphones. This would not be the first time I have heard of this happening. So doublecheck to make sure you are plugging in and setting levels to the card properly first. And in that's not good enough, go ahead and plunk down the money.

But on which one you ask?

Between the Tascam and the M-Audio, I personally would select the Tascam for sound quality, durability , reliability and potential ease of installation.

I have little direct knowledge of the Lexicon model you mention, but my beneral impression of Lexicon products is similar to another brand beginning with Lex...Lexus. . Lexicon in general makes quality high-end processing products (e.g. reverbs, finalizers, etc.). They have an excellent reputation, but you tend to pay a premium for their stuff (usually worth it.) If that same profile bubbles down to this class of product, my guess would be that it's probably a good product and probably on the higher side of the price range you mention. Would it perform better than the Tascam? I couldn't say for sure, but I'd hazard a bet that in this class of equipment (entry-level/portable) any sonic differences would be mostly minimal. The Lexicon is probably very nice, but whether it could outperform the Tascam would have to be shown to me.

The other dial pre that you mention I have no info on at all, so I won't comment on that. So my final recommendation: Tascam.

G.

 

[RD423]

I have the tascam 428. And also I have used the 122. I would recommend tascam products over a lot of different interfaces. So with it you will get more than your money's worth.