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JayDMusic
Published on 01/17/09 at 11:44
This is a review of the M-Audio MobilePre USB Audio Interface. I had bought this piece of equipment right when I started producing. I was ignorant to the game, and I was not totally sure on exactly what I wanted. I walked into the music store and explained my situation to the clerk, and he pointed me to this interface. I was shocked at the price, but after a little research, I was convinced that this was as low as the price can go for a USB interface. I used this interface as a primary soundcard, preamp, and audio interface for all my monitoring and recording needs. I had a relatively new computer and it was really easy to install. I use is for a microphone. I needed to get the mic signal from Point A, the mic, to Point B, my computer.
UTILIZATION
When I installed it, it was automatically detected. I had to download some drivers, but once I saw the Windows XP bubble pop up that said "Found New Hardware: MobilePre," I was pleased but also suspicious because it was never that easy. It was. There were almost no compatibility issues. I had to learn some things with regards to setting up my default Audio Input/Output settings in Windows and in Reaper, but this was a problem that I soon grew out of. The general configuration setup couldn't have been easier. The manual was easy to use, and it outlined everything that could be done. I was happy with it.
GETTING STARTED
When I installed it, I realized that the drivers were almost always working properly. I could unplug it, and hear the little jingle through my computer's soundcard that there was hardware removed. If I plugged headphones into the MobilePre when it was unplugged, and plugged the MobilePre back in, I would hear the jingle from the MobilePre. Couldn't be much simpler. However, there were sometimes issues when the sound would get very static-y, and muddy, and everything was lower in pitch. A simple restart always fixed it. Latency was low in Reaper as well as Audacity. The headphones were nice because I could monitor the tracks. Because it's a USB device, you can only record two tracks at a time. For somebody who really only records vocals, this is not an issue.
Some nice features that I would like to tell you guys of are the sort of idiot lights they have on it. If it's clipping your sound, it has a light for you. It will let you know exactly when and if it's clipping in real time via a little light next to the gain switch. Also, there's a signal light next to the clipping light that'll tell you if it's getting sound from the device plugged in. That way, you will know exactly where the base of the problem is, instead of believing that the instrument is working fine and looking at your PC. This is your middleman, and you can get to the root of the problem. Also, there is a dedicated 1/8" headphone jack as well as a master 1/8" jack so you don't have to mess with pesky 1/4" adapters. Also, the headphone jack has a dedicated knob for volume. For people who use budget microphones for podcasting, it also has a 1/8" stereo mic jack for your microphone if your soundcard can't swing it.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for various tasks for the last year and a half. I enjoyed the usability of it as well as how user-friendly it was with the clipping lights and the signal lights. It's a very simple interface, perfect for somebody who doesn't need all the fancy stuff that a mixer has. Like I needed to, you get your signal from Point A to Point B. The cons, however, were petty. The headphone jack came a little loose so I have to angle the jack on my headphones to get full stereo sound. Also, the blue light burned out on the interface, but it's really a non-issue. It's a tough little piece of hardware. It's great for those starting out, and at the price, it's pretty easy to get. Cop it if you need something simple and easy to use, and if you're not recording a Symphony Orchestra.
UTILIZATION
When I installed it, it was automatically detected. I had to download some drivers, but once I saw the Windows XP bubble pop up that said "Found New Hardware: MobilePre," I was pleased but also suspicious because it was never that easy. It was. There were almost no compatibility issues. I had to learn some things with regards to setting up my default Audio Input/Output settings in Windows and in Reaper, but this was a problem that I soon grew out of. The general configuration setup couldn't have been easier. The manual was easy to use, and it outlined everything that could be done. I was happy with it.
GETTING STARTED
When I installed it, I realized that the drivers were almost always working properly. I could unplug it, and hear the little jingle through my computer's soundcard that there was hardware removed. If I plugged headphones into the MobilePre when it was unplugged, and plugged the MobilePre back in, I would hear the jingle from the MobilePre. Couldn't be much simpler. However, there were sometimes issues when the sound would get very static-y, and muddy, and everything was lower in pitch. A simple restart always fixed it. Latency was low in Reaper as well as Audacity. The headphones were nice because I could monitor the tracks. Because it's a USB device, you can only record two tracks at a time. For somebody who really only records vocals, this is not an issue.
Some nice features that I would like to tell you guys of are the sort of idiot lights they have on it. If it's clipping your sound, it has a light for you. It will let you know exactly when and if it's clipping in real time via a little light next to the gain switch. Also, there's a signal light next to the clipping light that'll tell you if it's getting sound from the device plugged in. That way, you will know exactly where the base of the problem is, instead of believing that the instrument is working fine and looking at your PC. This is your middleman, and you can get to the root of the problem. Also, there is a dedicated 1/8" headphone jack as well as a master 1/8" jack so you don't have to mess with pesky 1/4" adapters. Also, the headphone jack has a dedicated knob for volume. For people who use budget microphones for podcasting, it also has a 1/8" stereo mic jack for your microphone if your soundcard can't swing it.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for various tasks for the last year and a half. I enjoyed the usability of it as well as how user-friendly it was with the clipping lights and the signal lights. It's a very simple interface, perfect for somebody who doesn't need all the fancy stuff that a mixer has. Like I needed to, you get your signal from Point A to Point B. The cons, however, were petty. The headphone jack came a little loose so I have to angle the jack on my headphones to get full stereo sound. Also, the blue light burned out on the interface, but it's really a non-issue. It's a tough little piece of hardware. It's great for those starting out, and at the price, it's pretty easy to get. Cop it if you need something simple and easy to use, and if you're not recording a Symphony Orchestra.