Mic Preamps - Mixers vs. USB Audio Interfaces

[JakeZollner]

Hello everybody.

I've done a lot of research on home recording recently and I've already acquired some gear.

I've got FL Studio 10 Producer Edition, a Mic Stand with Pop Filter, an MXL 2006 Condenser Microphone, and the Behringer UCA202 USB Audio Interface. I'm still learning the basics on FL Studio, I haven't been able to use my Mic yet, and the $30 Behringer has already paid for itself with all the music I've been able to record from my old iPods with missing sync cords.

I'm now trying to decide which way to go in recording with my Mic.

I could buy one of the $100 Yamaha, Mackie, or Peavey Mixers and route RCA cables from the Stereo Output to the Stereo Input of the Behringer Interface, or I could buy one of the much better $100-$150 Focusrite, Tascam, or Presonus USB Audio Interfaces that already have one or two XLR Mic Preamps.

My overall question is: Are the Mic Preamps on the more expensive USB Audio Interfaces of greater quality than the Mic Preamps found on the Mixers?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Justsomeguy]

Hey man, welcome to the boards

I've not done any extensive testing on this but my suspicions would be that the the preamps in the budget mixes vs budget interfaces would be relatively comparable. However, you do have to remember that it's not just the preamps that will effect the sound of the recordings. The Analogue to digital convertors (A/D) will probably be much better in even a relatively cheap audio interface (such as the focusrite saffire 2i2 or the presonus audiobox) than in the Behringer UCA202. Also, cabling up a cheap mixer to a cheap interface is 1) a bit of a pain and 2) with the extra cables etc can degrade the signal slightly.

Don't get me wrong, for years i did a similar thing (i had an old Maudio Firewire Audiophile without built in preamps. it was mainly meant for DJ's) and ran external preamps into from an older Behringer 4 channel mixer via TS to RCA cables and it wasn't awful, but the ease of use and relative sound quality of the presonus firestudio mobile i upgraded to made me wish i'd upgraded sooner.

As i said, i've not any extensive testing on the subject, this is just for my experience with similar RCA only audio interfaces and a range of mixers/preamps

 

[JimmyS1969]

IME, mixer type interfaces typically suck. Get a interface like the Lexicon Alpha, or any product meant to do the job. Mixers that happen to have a USB out, tend to be (IMO) a second thought. Tascam is my personal favorite for low cost interface. Low end Behri and Alesis stuff works, but you will be replacing it quickly.

 

[KineticSound]

The Analogue to digital convertors (A/D) will probably be much better in even a relatively cheap audio interface (such as the focusrite saffire 2i2 or the presonus audiobox) than in the Behringer UCA202.

+1. The A/D converters on the UCA202 top out at 16 bit (yikes!). As converters go, these are more of a toy than anything else.

I agree that the best bet would like be a combo preamp/USB interface box. Until one gets into a higher class of mixer, it's not likely to see a notable increase in quality using a mixer's preamps over a combo box.

The options are, as the OP points out, numerous. To the OP, if you are looking for a good quality preamp in a budget interface box, I have experience with and can recommend the Apogee One (if you're on a Mac), the Lexicon U22, and the Avid Fast Track or MBox. I have owned Tascam units in the past (FW-1082) and wasn't impressed with their preamps. I cannot speak to the Focusrite Scarlett or Presonus units as I have not used them.

Good luck!