For around your budget, perhaps a couple of C. notes more, might I recommend that instead of the unit you are looking at, since it only has 2 microphone inputs, necessitating extra outboard microphone preamplifiers. It would make a far more intelligent sensible choice to select something like the Presonus FirePod? 8 "class A" microphone inputs to FireWire along with a bundle version of Cubase. You could then also continue to use your M- Audio unit to give you up to 10 simultaneous microphone inputs! Do the math. Now that's a portable studio! Unless you intend on mixing live PA while simultaneously making recordings, my recommendation is a nice way to go. Conversely the Mackie FireWire enabled mixers with their "boutique" Onyx microphone preamplifiers (provided you get more than 4 of them), would provide you with not only a workable analog mixer, it affords you the dual capabilities of also being your FireWire enabled audio interface. But that is the more costly alternative to the Fire Pod that runs between 600 to $800.

If you really are as poor as you say you are, why not just purchase an additional M-Audio unit as you now have since you can daisychain FireWire? Then you would have 4 microphone inputs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their microphone preamplifiers. If you actually think there is, in all probability its operator error on your part?

Thinking practically I'm poor?
Ms. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD wrote: For around your budget, perhaps a couple of C. notes more, might I recommend that instead of the unit you are looking at, since it only has 2 microphone inputs, necessitating extra outboard microphone preamplifiers. It would make a far more intelligent sensible choice to select something like the Presonus FirePod? 8 "class A" microphone inputs to FireWire along with a bundle version of Cubase. You could then also continue to use your M- Audio unit to give you up to 10 simultaneous microphone inputs! Do the math. Now that's a portable studio! Unless you intend on mixing live PA while simultaneously making recordings, my recommendation is a nice way to go. Conversely the Mackie FireWire enabled mixers with their "boutique" Onyx microphone preamplifiers (provided you get more than 4 of them), would provide you with not only a workable analog mixer, it affords you the dual capabilities of also being your FireWire enabled audio interface. But that is the more costly alternative to the Fire Pod that runs between 600 to $800.

If you really are as poor as you say you are, why not just purchase an additional M-Audio unit as you now have since you can daisychain FireWire? Then you would have 4 microphone inputs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their microphone preamplifiers. If you actually think there is, in all probability its operator error on your part?

Thinking practically I'm poor?
Ms. Remy Ann David

What she said, plus

sell that extra junk you have around (I am a recovering pauper, too) that is collecting dust, and you might have that couple extra C-notes to go with the PreSonus gear. Or auction off the M-Audio if you have to get some more scratch to justify the difference in price.

Or if you are stripped down already, then a second M-Audio wouldn't be bad.

Slim; As a basement dweller, I totally understand, and I really hope you'll do well and succeed in this biz. Hang in there, really.

In the meantime, at your budget situation, don't beat yourself up over specs and subjective stuff. The MOTU stuff is great for what it does, esp at the cost. With TLC, it should go ya fine. Ditto for M-Audio and Presonus and the rest. (Tip: You're not going to hear much difference from one to the other at that price level, it pretty comes down to features, cost and reliability instead of any perceived "Sound" of the unit. (That's more for $1200 preamps and the like.)

Remy gave you some good advice, and I don't have anything to add to it, other than to say get the best you can afford at this point in your biz, and concentrate instead on getting clients, generating work, and finding a way to give 'em what no one else can: YOUR talents. Don't make the mistake of becoming a gearslut/snob this early in your career. That's fine as a hobby and a private passion when you can afford it later on. You have more important things to worry about right now, like surviving.

Oh, and avoid any Behringer gear like the plague. 8-)

Remy, that firepod sounds great. I looked it up and it seems like a solid piece of equipment. Im only in need of about 8 ins. Thats what attracted me to the UltraLite.. it has 10 ins and its portable... i can transport it in my laptop bag. But we'll see.

Its just that ive heard negative things about M-Audio in the past. And im not the happiest with the unit ive got. Im going to look more into that firepod tho..... sweet.

JoeH thanks for your advice as well... Your encouragement is profoundly appreciated.

I mean that.

Whut dey said.

I actually kinda like the MXL Mogami mic yer speakin of. It gives me a shudder to think of it going through any form of Ber-------er gear. Dont waste its sound and your time and money. Everything is as it was spoken.

Ultralite vs Firepod (vs Traveler)

Thanks for pointing this out.
What I am curious about is why you say the FirePod is hundreds more, when a cursory look show it to be $50 at most. If you're comparing the one with full Cubase, then it is a lot more, but then again, you should factor in the price for software for the MOTU as well. (Unless you think their bundled "Cuemix Console" is better than the Cubase LT).

But thank again for the info on Presonus, I think it might be a good alternative to the MOTU Traveller for a simple ambisonic (4-channel) recording setup. I was looking at the ultralite and decided that I didn't want to deal with outboard preamps...

RemyRAD wrote: For around your budget, perhaps a couple of C. notes more, might I recommend that instead of the unit you are looking at, since it only has 2 microphone inputs, necessitating extra outboard microphone preamplifiers. It would make a far more intelligent sensible choice to select something like the Presonus FirePod? 8 "class A" microphone inputs to FireWire along with a bundle version of Cubase. You could then also continue to use your M- Audio unit to give you up to 10 simultaneous microphone inputs! Do the math. Now that's a portable studio! Unless you intend on mixing live PA while simultaneously making recordings, my recommendation is a nice way to go. Conversely the Mackie FireWire enabled mixers with their "boutique" Onyx microphone preamplifiers (provided you get more than 4 of them), would provide you with not only a workable analog mixer, it affords you the dual capabilities of also being your FireWire enabled audio interface. But that is the more costly alternative to the Fire Pod that runs between 600 to $800.

Ms. Remy Ann David