E-MU 1212M + Mic Preamp + Studio Monitors

[infinitesymphony]

I ordered an E-MU 1212M when it was on sale a few weeks ago to use as a studio card and now I have a some questions about additional gear.

Before I bought the 1212M, I'd been looking for an audio interface; basically, a studio quality sound card with built-in microphone preamps. Since I already have the "sound card" portion with the 1212M, is it possible to find a microphone preamp to use with it? I'd want some way to transfer each channel to the computer separately (unlike a regular mixer). The microphone preamps built into audio interfaces aren't that great anyway, so I see this as a step in the right direction.

My second question involves studio monitors. In order to keep a balanced signal going to balanced monitors, I need a balanced preamplifier to control the volume, right? Do I need anything else, assuming the monitors are powered/active?

 

[Ingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif I ordered an E-MU 1212M when it was on sale a few weeks ago to use as a studio card and now I have a some questions about additional gear. Before I bought the 1212M, I'd been looking for an audio interface; basically, a studio quality sound card with built-in microphone preamps. Since I already have the "sound card" portion with the 1212M, is it possible to find a microphone preamp to use with it? I'd want some way to transfer each channel to the computer separately (unlike a regular mixer). The microphone preamps built into audio interfaces aren't that great anyway, so I see this as a step in the right direction. My second question involves studio monitors. In order to keep a balanced signal going to balanced monitors, I need a balanced preamplifier to control the volume, right? Do I need anything else, assuming the monitors are powered/active?

Active monitors will have their own volume control. You don't need to have a preamp to output to powered monitors from the 1212m and I would think that it might be better to leave it out of the chain. You can control the volume in Patchmix DSP.

 

[CSMR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Active monitors will have their own volume control.

Though if they do you would have to adjust both L and R separately.

 

[CSMR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif Before I bought the 1212M, I'd been looking for an audio interface; basically, a studio quality sound card with built-in microphone preamps. Since I already have the "sound card" portion with the 1212M, is it possible to find a microphone preamp to use with it? I'd want some way to transfer each channel to the computer separately (unlike a regular mixer). The microphone preamps built into audio interfaces aren't that great anyway, so I see this as a step in the right direction.

Some are good. The 1820m has good preamps.
But yes, there are lots of preamps out there, and any of them will work. Standard analog outputs (RCA, 1/4", XLR) are one channel only so each channel will go separately. Just decide if you need phantom power and what connections you want (balanced/unbalanced, battery/power cable) and get one.
Quote:

My second question involves studio monitors. In order to keep a balanced signal going to balanced monitors, I need a balanced preamplifier to control the volume, right? Do I need anything else, assuming the monitors are powered/active?

A balanced preamp would be ideal (but not discernibly different from an unbalanced connection uness you are using a long run or there are things that could cause interference). Otherwise you could set a maximum volume in the speakers and fine-tune in software (as ingo suggests).

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Active monitors will have their own volume control. You don't need to have a preamp to output to powered monitors from the 1212m and I would think that it might be better to leave it out of the chain. You can control the volume in Patchmix DSP.

Oh, thank you. I didn't know that this was possible. My university's studio has everything controlled via Digidesign interfaces, so I wasn't entirely sure how gain-staging and routing factored in. Balanced TRS to active monitors certainly would be a clean, simple setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSMR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Though if they do you would have to adjust both L and R separately.

If the Patchmix is like I imagine (since I haven't installed the 1212M yet), couldn't I group the left and right channels or bus them both to an aux track for volume control?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSMR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Some are good. The 1820m has good preamps. But yes, there are lots of preamps out there, and any of them will work. Standard analog outputs (RCA, 1/4", XLR) are one channel only so each channel will go separately. Just decide if you need phantom power and what connections you want (balanced/unbalanced, battery/power cable) and get one.

Of course, the 1820M isn't on sale for $99.

Its preamps are good, but not great. Keep in mind I'm used to using dedicated preamps/channel strips upwards of the $2k mark, so I have high expectations. If I bought a regular microphone preamplifier to use with the 1212M, wouldn't that only give me a maximum of two connections (left and right 1/4" balanced input)?

Thank you both for the informative responses!

 

[CSMR]

I meant on the speakers themselves. In software of course you can do whatever you like.
And yes you would get two connections normally - but don't you know more about this than we do? The 1212m only has two channels of analogue input so if you want more channels you'll need a different card.

 

[infinitesymphony]

I guess my question was if there was some magical way to get something like an audio interface without the sound card portion built-in, or some way to bypass the external card in favor of the 1212M's A/D conversion. If not, I suppose I'll be back to looking for an audio interface while I enjoy the sound quality of the 1212M's output.

The 1820M was one consideration in addition to the Digidesign Mbox 2 and Presonus Firepod. Too bad the Mbox 2 is limited to two mic preamps, which would leave me in the same situation, though I would be able to run ProTools LE. *shrug*

 

[utilisateur]

If you want to use the 1212m`s Internal AD-converters there is no way to go fore more than two channels other than mixing everything down prior to passing it trough the 1212M

So you're left with two options, get a preamp with AD-Conversion and ADAT out so you can connect it to the Cards ADAT in (8channels) [SMProAudio preamps,Presonus preamps,Focusrite OctopreLE,Behringer ADA8000 to give you some idea]

Or go for some Preamp with summing/ a preamp+analog summing mixer
and feed the stereo mixdown to the Cards analog ins so you can use its nice converters

Of course you could still go for an old1820M/1616M and use its 8/6 channels of analog in,this may actualy be your easiest solution

(currently in the situation of deciding between 1616m and anycardwithADAT+8channelPRE+DAC .)


EDIT: imho theres no reason to add a preamp to your chain besides the use of a passive solution or the need to switch between different monitors =)

 

[chelrob]

Check out the Behringer ADA8000 mic preamp. It has ADAT IN/OUT and you can record 8 channels at a time.

Studio Monitors don't always have volume controls. You use your Software to control the volume.

 

[infinitesymphony]

So, if I bought a microphone preamp that had ADAT output, I would be able to record each channel onto a separate track?

Are the mic preamps you mentioned also sound cards (D/A), or just mic preamps with A/D converters?

 

[utilisateur]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony So, if I bought a microphone preamp that had ADAT output, I would be able to record each channel onto a separate track?

YES ,using the ADAT interface you can record every channel seperately



Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony Are the mic preamps you mentioned also sound cards (D/A), or just mic preamps with A/D converters?

The Presonus (digimax FS) does AD and DA conversion upto 96kHz(24bit) on 8 channels but has no headphone section can be found for 600$ or 766€
You'd still use your soundcard to get the digital to your DAW though

Theres the Focusrite octopre LE that does both with an optional ADAT interfaace too and is limited to 48kHz(24bit) and ends up being 800$ or 675€
(->soundcardneeded aswell)

Behringer is bothways aswell and limited to a 48kHz samplerate
(->soundcard needed)

Considering the price of the Presonus and Focusrite Units there are a few other contenders in the game that can be hooked up to your PC by Firewire or USB

There is the Motu 8pre for 550 8Preamp 96kHz AD and DA conversion and ADAT out but can just be connected via firewire.It goes for 550€/$


Then you could consider the Focusrite SAFFIRE PRO 26 I/O that does the conversion at 192kHz has 2phone outs and a built in Firewire interface so that would be more of a replacement for your card although you could hook it up via ADAT but i guess that would be nonesense.

PRESONUS FIREPOD - 8 preamps 96kHz AD/DA 8outs+headphone out

Terratec Mic2 (8preamps 96kHz AD/DA 8outs etc) can be found cheap on close out

I know only of fery few multichannel MIC-Preamps with ADAT interface that dont da DAconversion in the same time,especialy sub 1000€

There is the M-Audio Octane that does 48kHz has veeery low distortion and nice SNR and Dynamic range (120dB on the Mic in 133 on the Instrument inserts 110 on lineIn)

The SmProAudio Pr8 and EP84 both very simple and functional the interface puts out 48kHz signal at its max,german magazine keys gave them a very good review


well i'll stop here befor there's too much useless "information"

Imho you should either go for a simple and clean preamp with ADAT interface and dont care about the lower samplerate, or drop your card and go for one of those nifty new external interfaces

 

[infinitesymphony]

Good suggestion. Thanks for the information!