Topic: 4 channel laptop interface?

[jnorman34]

i am looking for a 4 channel (4 mic pres) interface, USB2 or FW, for laptop remote recording.  the only one i have found so far is the m-audio fast track ultra, but i worry about the quality of the preamps.  are there any other choices or alternate setups i might consider?   i will either be using an IBM thinkpad T61 with vista, or a macbook pro with OSX.  thanks.

[TNJazz]

i am looking for a 4 channel (4 mic pres) interface, USB2 or FW, for laptop remote recording.  the only one i have found so far is the m-audio fast track ultra, but i worry about the quality of the preamps.  are there any other choices or alternate setups i might consider?   i will either be using an IBM thinkpad T61 with vista, or a macbook pro with OSX.  thanks.

19" rackable OK?

If so, Mackie Onyx 400F is a good unit.

[momule]

M-audio firewire 410 has pretty good stock pre's
I run the firewire 1814

[sunjan]

M-audio firewire 410 has pretty good stock pre's

Reading the specs makes me wonder:
2 analog audio input channels
Two independent analog input channels accept a wide variety of input signals. A front-panel switch for each channel selects between 1/4” TS (-10dBV) line-level input on the rear and Neutrik (1/4” TS and balanced XLR) mic/instrument input on the front.

So the FW410 has four input jacks, but since you'll have to switch between them, they translate to only two channels. And the FW1814 has only two mic pres, the rest of the channels are line (1/4"). No can do for the OP, then.

Too bad it seems that most gear with more than 2 mic pres (except FTPU) comes in the rack form factor. 
A few contenders:
Motu 8pre

PreSonus Firestudio Project

Tascam US-1641


...not to mention even more expensive gear like RME Fireface 800, Phonic Firefly 808, Line6     
TonePort UX8 etc...

Some of these racks even require wall power, so check the specs first, if you plan to run them on bus power or battery...

Maybe there are other truly portable interface with 4 mic amps out there, but so far FTPU seems to be the only one?!

[mblindsey]

How about the MOTU Traveler?

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/traveler-mk3

I think it can be modded by:  http://www.blacklionaudio.com/

--Michael

[TNJazz]

I'd still take the Mackie over anything mentioned so far (even the Traveler, although it would be my second choice).

The Onyx pres are solid, and much better sounding than MOTU.  If you plan on expanding with lightpipe inputs in the future though, the Traveler might be the way to go.  The Traveler can also be bus powered, I believe?

[Phil]

What about a digigram VXpocket440?  I might even sell you mine if you are interested.  It's been great but I don't have a need for it any longer.

[Gutbucket]

A fellow I run into occasionally is a laptop taper who needed a 4-preamp interface and tried the MOTU traveler early on but had a bunch of support issues and ended up getting rid of it for a RME fireface 800 which is rock solid and he absolutely loves.  I was disappointed as I was eyeing the traveler at the time.  Don't know if the problem issues have been worked out at this point now that it's a more mature product, but his MOTU support headache rants sour'd me from the Unicorn.  Don't know if others have had similar problems or not.

I've lusted over a fireface 400 & just wish it had four pres.. well, I also wish it was a bit less spendy.

[Steve J]

Been running the Traveler (w/ Black Lion mods) for over three years; and while I'm still not totally pleased with the sound, the flexibility combined with the FW bus powering have kept it in the chain longer than I originally expected. And I personally haven't had support issues; but I've heard that others have.

[sunjan]

What about a digigram VXpocket440? 

I forgot about this one. Smallest of the bunch! I read that one user here had problems with breaking the connector to the card, and had to order replacement breakout cables. But if you're careful, it should do the trick.

[TNJazz]

What about a digigram VXpocket440? 

I forgot about this one. Smallest of the bunch! I read that one user here had problems with breaking the connector to the card, and had to order replacement breakout cables. But if you're careful, it should do the trick.

no preamps on the VX Pocket 

[DSatz]

TNJazz, the analog inputs of VXPocket cards have some range of gain adjustment via software, and if I remember correctly they can be set to accept signals typical of the levels you might expect from professional condenser microphones, though phantom powering isn't available.

I've used a two-channel VXPocket card for six or eight years. Apart from its cable's tendency to separate from the card if I'm not careful with it, it's been flawless. I hear that the analog circuitry on these cards is quite good, but I've only ever used the S/P-DIF input.

--best regards

[Phil]

TNJazz, the analog inputs of VXPocket cards have some range of gain adjustment via software, and if I remember correctly they can be set to accept signals typical of the levels you might expect from professional condenser microphones, though phantom powering isn't available.

I've used a two-channel VXPocket card for six or eight years. Apart from its cable's tendency to separate from the card if I'm not careful with it, it's been flawless. I hear that the analog circuitry on these cards is quite good, but I've only ever used the S/P-DIF input.

--best regards

That's right the pre's are software based and I've ran them direct with no problems for years. I usually use it for Matrix recordings two xlr sound board and two mic's via the other two xlr inputs.  I've also used the spdif in but you can't mix the spdif with the analog for a 5 channel input. doh.. Even running 4 channels at 24/48 it's been rock solid on a semi older xp laptop.