Topic: Phatom Power from my laptop

[adventuregeorge]

I totally new to the taping world, so pardon me if I ask a "rookie question"  I thinking of buying the M-Audio Molible USB  Link for specs:

http://www.maudio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=8eb1a9920df341303f81bca7ff458be3

My question: is this a good purchase to get me started?  also,  the phatom power to power my mics would come from my laptop (have 2- 12 cell lithium- Ion with 94 WHR batteries) is it possible to do for let's say a 3 hour show?  I'm also open to other suggestions for a pre-amp that won't break the bank.

Thanks- George

[John Kelly]

To get you started?  Possibly.  I haven't heard many good things about the preamps in the Mobilepre.  You may want to think about upgrading it to the UA-5 or even the Firewire410 (yes, I will continue to pimp this thing out).

As for the power, I have no clue.

[Sean Gallemore]

USBPre1.5

[cpclark]

^what scwhilly said, if you have the loot

[Sean Gallemore]

little more expensive than the other pre/adc/usb boxes but OHHH, the lights!

[mterry]

USBPre1.5

I know I love my USBPre  

as far as power goes. I taped Nickel Creek last year, and with my stock battery, it lasted a litle over two hours. I now use a Valence N-Charge to power my laptop, and that think just keeps going and going

[adventuregeorge]

where can i get a Valence N-Charge?

[cpclark]

www.sonicsense.com

[BC]

little more expensive than the other pre/adc/usb boxes but OHHH, the lights!

Agreed! I have one too. I'd just like to add that the USBPre is a very versatile box, it can take mic, line (balanced TRS in), and tape level inputs, along with SPDIF up to 24/48. So you can use this thing for DAT and analog transfers to your computer as well as taking SBD outputs at shows.
Also, mic inputs have optional 15dB pads for really loud stuff.

I used to run this, then upgraded to a V3, but still use my USBPre to get a 24/48 signal into my laptop. It is nice for laptop stealthing too since it is small and requires no battery power.

Oh yeah, I can pull close to 4 hours with my Picturebook (Sony C1VN) powering this thing if I keep the screen off.

Good luck,
Ben

[John Kelly]

Still, it's limited to 24/48...