Setup Listed: Should I get Pre? New DI Box? Help!

[dbeanerz]

Current Gear:

Windows XP Pro
Athlon 2.8 Ghz, 2GB Ram, 300GB HDw
Lexicon Omega USB Box
-Used to record Mics, Bass direct, Guitar direct, and Keys
M-Audio DX-4 Monitors
Monster Audio Cables
Shure SM-57 and SM-58
Yamaha CS6x Keys
Adobe Audition
Cubase SX 3
Propellerhead Reason
Various VST
-Recording various genres of music


Hello. Thanks in advane for your interest in my question.

1.) Firstly, in using the SM-57, with all the gain in the world
I pick up a very faint signal. In turn, with all that gain provided,
I get a noisy recording. I have the SM-57 running directly into
the Lexicon Omega.

From here I realize I should probably get a Mic-Pre amp, and
have been looking at the DMP3, because I enjoy the price (I'm
a part time working, full time college student) and the dual
channels.

I've also considered getting out of the woods with the Lexicon,
seeing the Firepod and such. So my question is in two parts-
should I get a mic-pre to enhance my recordings, seeing that
I get a faint signal with the SM-57, and could also use when I
record my Bass. Any suggestions on which pre?

Secondly, would I notice a great difference if I purchased a
firepod? The Omega does give good results, but its been any
thing but a smooth ride. I'm forced to use ASIO4ALL drivers
just to get a latency of 16ms (factory ASIO give 96ms), and
the ASIO4ALL drivers are hard to work with.

Summary:
1.) Will Mic-Pre help my low volume signal problem with the
SM-57, and which Mic Pre could be suggested? (Favoring DMP3)

2.) Should I invest in something other then the Lexicon Omega,
such as the Firepod? (Can not go too much above 300$ or so.)

3.) Is there a difference in latency between Firewire and USB 1.1?

Thanks for any help.

 

[IronFlippy]

Do you have a laptop or desktop system? If it's a desktop, then I'd recommend getting a PCI sound card. M-audio makes a series of good ones, the Delta series. For under $300 you can get the Delta 1010lt. Or you can get the next ones down the line if you don't need that many simultaneous inputs. The DMP3 you were looking at is a good choice from what I hear (I don't have one myself, I just use the pres on my Yamaha mixer).

I don't understand why you're getting such a faint signal from your Omega though, it has built-in preamps.

Summary:
1) Mic pres do bring up the volume of mics, and yes, the DMP3 is a good choice.

2) If you have a desktop system, then yes. Go for a PCI interface.

3) I don't have experience with external sound cards, but I'd imagine USB 1 would be very slow in comparison to Firewire. PCI is faster than both, hence my recommendation.

 

[dbeanerz]

What are the benefits of a PCI Card (Delta 1010lt) versus a DI Box such as the Omega?

And yes I'm baffled as why the gain from the Omega is not sufficient myself.

Thanks for your replies.