Oktava Universal USB Preamplifier

This replaces the small object prampli MK-012 Oktava home. What is nice is that you can convert all the capsules consistent brand. It therefore microwave food in a "phantom" USB cable. So this is also a USB sound card 1 in / 0 out.

Eest all delivered in a cardboard box Plutt nice shape, a kit is provided for the preamp and a USB cable about 2 meters. There is no installation CD or documentation.

UTILIZATION

The unmanned installation on my HP laptop windows vista premium has pos no problem. I then used the universal asio driver Asio4All, so I can record some ideas on any sequencer, in this case Reaper.
In the use of this card, leaving the idea that we have is Completely novice, it's pretty simple.
Only BMOL: rgler nothing to the level of, on sources too strong (guitar amp, overhead), it will adjust the distance from the microphone, especially that first sight, there is no limitation to intgr Pramper.

SOUND QUALITY

This preamp is rather Faithful to the capsules of the marks, we find the sweetness and musicality of MK-012. Unfortunately, the background noise of the internal preamp makes it unusable for a project srieux. It really save scaffold than the prs numrique 0dB to have a reasonable signal to noise ratio, but again, if we multiply the slopes we obtain the background noise of an old 4-track cassette. The signal to noise ratio is about 70Db while most sound cards offer a report of 95 110 Db.

Here is a small representation mechanism of this background:



OVERALL OPINION

I use the USB preamp for 2 weeks, a small APRS return to supplier problem with screw threads. Once we know this is a gadget that serves only to quickly note some ideas later, no longer a problem. By accumulating the tracks, may be irritating all the same. If I had not already Oktava capsules, I probably would not choose this model of micro USB. The introductory price of 45 silent attractive enough for me cde temptation. For cons, the price advertised public seems a bit excessive given the quality of the product.
There are many modification kit (Ebay among others) for this series of micro very popular among Oktava, so I do not lose hope of finding a kit offering better filtering.
This product may feel a Okatava Made In China, he leaves a good idea but it is not successful. For 45, I would do this choice, but certainly not for 70