Best XLR To USB Mixer/Recorder

R

Robertofish

Active member
I am thinking of getting an XLR to USB mixer/recorder for VO, I use Final Cut Pro 7 and have Logic Studio as well so I am set on recording software, I use an Audio Technica AT4053b for inside use with a Rode NTG-3 for outdoor use, I record using a Zoom H4n in 24 bit 96khz to get the best quality, I also want to get the best quality possible with 24 bit 96 khz in the mixer, what does everyone think? My price range is up to 400$ but if there is a better option slightly above that I would get it to, I looked at the Focusrite Sapphire Pro 24 which is nice but I don't know about its pre amps, I will later buy an Edioral R-44 so I want good pre amps in the mixer, what do you think?
Thanks
 
Focusrite has a very good reputation for classic mic preamps. It is a brand more favored perhaps by the studio music recording community than by the location production recording people (where brands like Sound Devices are king). But I would expect Focusrite to have better mic preamps than most other brands, especially the prosumer gear like Roland/Editol, et.al.

Note, however that the Saffire Pro 24 is Firewire, not USB. So you need a Firewire port on your computer.
 
I've tested the Focusrite pres and with the exception of some of their cheaper models, they are very good and have a natural, open and transparent sound.
 
Cheaper being less then 200 or 500 or less, I have also thought about getting a usb microphone that might make it easy to do VO but I don't know that the quality would match up to that of the NTG-3 or Audio Technica even if I spent the 300 on it, what do you think of usb based microphones? Do you think the focusrite sapphire pre amps would match up to that of the Edioral R-44 it will be some time before I buy one of those however.
 
When choosing a computer interface, I find that reliability is one of the biggest factors. If you are using mac, then as mentioned above apogee is good, and close behind it motu which makes some interfaces with many features for the cost. From what I've gathered though, echo audio might be some of the most reliable interfaces out there for both mac and pc (at least in the lower price range) that also has decent preamps. Edirol is also pretty good.

These interfaces were made for music, so the preamps might not be as quiet as those made for field recording, but if you are content with the preamps in the H4, which is known to be quite noisy, then any of these interfaces would probably be a step up.

If you really want to step up in quality, then you can look at the sound devices USBpre 2. It's 650 dollars, but you will get a rock solid machine with two channels of low noise, high gain preamps, good low cut, limiters, and metering. It also has some uses as a field mixer.
 
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That's a pretty neat booth :)
I've been thinking about experimenting with something similar, maybe built around a zeppelin open at the front for use on a boom (obviously not something for longer takes due to the added weight). I imagine that this helps reduce the problem with shotguns indoors. Does it introduce some phasing problems due to the edges of the booth? Do you have any sound clips demonstrating how it sounds with and without it?
 
I'm also in the same boat as the OP, and have been eyeing the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for use with a Rode NT1a.
 
While these type of 'anechoic' boxes work pretty good for close mic'd narration, the results in a 'boomed' set-up would likely be unfavorable.
But let us know what your results are anyway Jema.
 
Yeah, I recently asked some other people about this idea, and they were very sceptical, thinking that it might disrupt the mics directional function and perhaps create phasing problems due to reflections so close to the mic. I'm still thinking about trying it out though just to see, but it probably wont happen for a few weeks.
 
I have Lion and it has been known to have compatibility problems, will this be a problem with the focusrite sapphire? What does everyone think about a usb microphone, would those be as good quality?
 
The USB interface is not the determining factor for quality. It is still the basic quality of the microphone. There are a few good mics with USB interfaces, and a lot of ordinary-to-bad ones. An XLR to USB adapter cable would be a "universal" solution that would allow you to use whatever quality ordinary (XLR) mic you can afford at the time.
 
Well I guess the question is if I could get a usb microphone that is better then my NTG-3 or AT-4053B for the price of the XLR to USB Mixer. The Focusrite Sapphire is 250, any good quality usb mics for that price?
 
I have not seen any shotgun USB microphones. (And I wouldn't expect any, either.)
If that is your criteria, then the decision is already made for you.

You can include me in the group of people who are very dubious of putting a shotgun in a tiny "anechoic" box.
 
I don't really care about whether or not it is a shotgun microphone just the quality? If I can get a better usb microphone for the same price as the mixer that would be better.
 
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