Mic-mate question..

[BobSacamano]

Like many of us, I'm traveling during the holidays, and taking the road-rig, which consists of laptop, mic, P-solo pre-amp, and of course, the MXL mic-mate,,,my problem is, even on the low setting, the signal in Adobe 1.5 is pretty strong, when I use the P-solo the level is off the charts..is there something I'm missing in AA 1.5 where I can adjust input levels?,..or something elese?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Mic Mate Pro

I'll let one of the Adobe experts answer your question...

I just wanted to let people know that there's a new product called the Mic Mate Pro. It has a headphone out for zero latency monitoring, and a volume adjustment for the phones. Also offers phantom power, etc. like the original. Sells for around $80.00.

Check it out at http://www.mxlmics.com/condenser_mic/micMate/MicMatePro.htm

 

[jefflaurence]

Bob..the mic mate is not really needing a preamp because it has one in it..so essentially you are double amping the mic. With mic>P-solo>micMate>AA1.5 I am amazed that it is clean..and not somewhat distorted..

because the Mic Mate is a USB driverless unit you can't go into the properties and adjust it..

I just ordered a new product from BLUE Mics..called the Icicle..looks a little more rugged than the MicMate (which I love BTW) and I think it has an attentuator for an actual LINE IN..might be promising.

 

[Jonathan M.]

Are you guys familiar with the MicPort Pro?

Micport.com

It slightly more expensive but well worth it. Not to mention used by folks at CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the BBC.

 

[SirRoxalot]

MicPort Pro

Are you guys familiar with the MicPort Pro?

Micport.com

It slightly more expensive but well worth it. Not to mention used by folks at CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the BBC.

The MicPort Pro has been discussed here before, and on other boards in this forum. It appears to be a bit more robust than the Mic-Mate, and is similar in features to the Mic-Mate Pro. Price is one issue. Typically, Mic-mate is around $50, Mic-Mate Pro is around $100, and the MicPort Pro is around $150.00. Emmett, other MXL-phobes, and those who need one for extensive field use may find that MicPort Pro is worth the extra $$$.

There was also an issue with the MicPort Pro and SiS chipsets found on a lot of low-end PCs and some laptops. Here's the info from the Centrance website:

I'm getting occasional clicks with my Windows machine

MicPort Pro works with pretty much every Mac and PC, but we have discovered one incompatibility. If your PC has an SiS 7001/7002 USB host controller (the USB chip on the motherboard with which MicPort communicates directly) then there may be occasional clicks in the audio. This is a known clocking bug in the SiS chip, which found its way into some laptops in 2006. There is a work around. Use a USB 2.0 hub between the computer and MicPort. This will clean up the clock, and correspondingly the sound.

There's a solution, but carrying a USB 2.0 hub around to solve the problem sort of reduces the portability and convenience.

 

[Emmett1057]

While I am a bit MXL phobic, I'm also open minded...Somewhat. I have not heard the different devices in an ABX setting to test them. But I have heard the MicPort Pro by itself and was blown away by how good it sounded. Wow. Seriously. Granted, I had very low expectations going in, but it really has a nice sounding preamp. I'm not saying the others don't sound as good because I have no evidence to suggest that. However, I will say that I would be surprised if they sound as sweet. Prior to hearing the MicPort Pro, I was expecting something that sounded 'acceptable'. It's better than that. From what I've heard, I would trust it as a preamp in the studio, not just a mobile rig. I'd put it on-par with some of the standalone preamps that run $200-$500. Good stuff.

Emmett