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M-Audio MobilePre USB Interface with Microphone Preamp

2 XLR inputs, 2 1/4 in. unbalanced outputs. 48v Phantom power.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          7 out of 10
 
 

"16-Bit mobile recording on a budget."

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          6 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from gmail.com
Submitted: 2/6/2006
Style of Music: CCM
Musical Experience: Active Musician, Amature Producer
Location: Houston,TX

 

 
Feature:
USB powered, phamtom power, 1/4" line-inputs x2, XLR/mic imputs x2. No ac adapter needed, just plug in the USB cable and the unit is on. No thrills here, no 24-bit, no MIDI interface. Just a solid 16-bit ADC, with good drivers (ASIO 2.0, DirectX) with good bundle software. You must have a high-end laptop with at least one GIG of RAM!

Quality:
For the money you can't do better. TASCAM offers something similar with the addition of MIDI for about $50 more, their quality is not in the same league, stick with M-Audio for external USB/FireWire boxes.

Value:
I love thIS product, it's bare-bones and works as advertised! The real value here is in the bundle software Ableton Live Lite 4 is good stuff and will make you want more! The Ableton Lite software combined with this USB interface provides a home studio in a box for those who own high-end laptops.

Sound:
Nothing comes close at this price point... I'm using Audio-Techica AT2020 Large Diaphram Condenser Mic, I've also plugged in a pair of Sure SM57's and recorded a drum kit using a two mic technique, it did it's job... I'm going to say this a few times: you must have a high-end laptop with at least one GIG of RAM! Take the hardware requirements written on the box of this product and double them... otherwise you're going to experience problems when doing multi-track recording (especially if you're trying to add effects in while tracking). This isn't a limit of the hardware, but a reality of digital recording... it takes a lot of horsepower inside the computer and no external box can give you that.

Overall:
At some point I'll want to upgrade to an external interface that accomodates 24-bit and MIDI, when I do I will look to M-Audio first. In the meantime I have a great little box that I can plug-in between my laptop and portable mixer and have a mobile recording studio... Also for about $150, this is the most inexpensive hardware you can buy to make use of Pro Tools M-Powered (if that is your choice... I've found a love for the Ableton Live packin sofrware).

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"QUALITY, you gotta love m-audio"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from gmail.com
Submitted: 7/26/2006
Style of Music: Hip Hop Jazz Trip Hop
Musical Experience: Active Artist
Location: NEW JERSEY

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
2 inputs phantom power, it has headphone jack, stereo output, digital connectors, basically exactly what i need right now.

Quality:
its not to heavy, but sturdy for sure. i take this thing throw it in my back pack and get in my ac to hook it up to my labtop for on the road recording and its always on point. had it for 3 years i constantly bring it out. not in the case either.. just throw it in a backpack how it is.

Value:
it was 150, and well worth it.

Desirability:
Now it does.. the one i have isnt as sexy, but its still DAMN good amp.

Sound:
Okay let me say this thing has a serious digital sound. SERIOUS, the microphone obviously makes a difference and the performer recording. i own an audio technica 3035 and they work fantastic together. ive had it for 3 years and i still love it.

Ease of Use:
its straight up. nothing crazy to figure out.

Support:
its the best. because i never needed them, i got this amp... never once had to call m-audio

Overall:
i love this. i will replace it eventully im sure. but for my first amp and home studio soundcard its definetly worth it. i can record anything with 1/4 inch jack to XLR inputs. if this product got lost or stolen i would be heartbroken, i love it.

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"Great product, great price, Very easy to use and set up. Very functional and does what it is supposed to do. Sound quality dep"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from sbcglobal.net
Submitted: 2/10/2005
Style of Music: Rock, metal
Musical Experience: Active
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

 

 
Feature:
I really do not need MIDI, but it isn't there if I wanted to use it. Other than that there are ample inputs for any type of user. I did not use any of the software provided except for the driver of course. I use adobe audition, formerly cool edit pro, I have Sonar 4 pro but the adobe software is much more user friendly in my opinion

Quality:
It is plastic, but for a home studio you really don't need a steel casing. It sits atop my computer tower where it is much more accessible than a PCI card on the back of your tower. I can't imagine what a nightmare that would be to have to pull the tower out every time you wanted to make a connection. USB is the way to go.

Value:
For the money, there's really nothing out there with as many inputs and/or sound quality. Sure you can spend more and get better quality but this thing really is a great value.

Desirability:
Uh, not sure about sex appeal. If you create some killer jams with it, you could probably appear to have more sex appeal with the ladies, ha ha.

Sound:
I'm quite surprised at some of the bad reviews. This tells me that either: A: Some of these people do not know how to use the product and/or their software or B: They are using second rate recording/mixing software. The sound quality will be as good as your equipment, mics, guitars, software etc. I have no problem getting beautifully produced tracks from the mobile pre. Input levels are key, you have to adjust your input levels on both the mobile pre and the recording software to prevent clipping, once this is done you are golden. If you're trying to record your entire band with this thing, I don't think that is what this product was intended for. I use it to get solid great sounding ideas to bring to the band. The software I use has so many effects and post production options I can get a great finished product.

Support:
I had a few difficulties at first setting this thing up. Tech support was not toll free but they answered the phone very quickly, were friendly and more than willing to help me out. We found that my windows platform at the time was too old (Windows 98 SE). Windows XP is the best platform to use if you want the mobile pre to work smoothly and trouble free. Never needed repairs and probably will not.

Overall:
It suits my needs in my home studio for getting ideas down that are crisp and clean to bring to the band every week. I can't forsee buying anything new for a long time or at least until technology changes and makes something better and more affordable.

15 of 16 people (93.75%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"This product is the best fot!"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 7/7/2004
Style of Music: Country heavy metal with record scratches
Location: City, State, Country

 

 
Feature:
Ok. balanced or unbalanced 1/4" inputs and xlr inputs. that's really hard to find in similar product for the same price. The xlr has 48v phantom power for condenser mics, also; it's switchable on or off. If you purchased a phantom power box for a mic, that may cost you $50 alone. The gain knobs for each channel show clip level and monitor levels. This is really useful when trying to determine input clip or output clip from different instruments/sources.

Quality:
The money spent on this unit is probably up in the top ten for all musical related stuff i've purchased over the years. I use is practically every day and has never given me trouble at all.

Value:
I did lots of research for other products within the same price range. For the amount of things you can do with this unit, you won't find another competitor being able to match the features and quality. I saw the tascam us-122 unit sells for $200. It has the same features plus midi capability, but heard mixed reviews about it.

Desirability:
I sleep with it every night. There are more holes than I kno what to do with.

Sound:
It has a dedicated headphone output with a volume control in addition to another stereo output. I usually listen back to mixes through headphones, but every now and then, I listen to the mix through my home stereo (the second output). Can't get better than this.

Support:
I sent an email to tech support and received a response that answered my question within a day.

Overall:
If I find another product for the same price that can record more channels at once, then i'd move on. until then, mobile pre forever!

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"Nice for the price!! (That rhymed)"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          7 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from tarawa.navy.mil
Submitted: 12/28/2004
Style of Music: Horrorcore Rap.
Musical Experience: Active musician.
Location: Long Beach,CA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
It has just enough to keep me happy.

Quality:
Its plastic... but its solid and it looks and feels like it could take a few drops... not as if Im gonna test it out or anything.

Value:
150 aint bad at all for what you get.

Desirability:
Sex appeal? I suppose my mic hits on it when Im not around.

Sound:
I hear a definate upgrade in the sound... cleaner, and clearer. It doesnt sound so great with bass or guitars but I use it for vocals.

Overall:
So far so good. Im happy with the product.

2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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M-Audio MobilePre USB Customer Review

Overall:
          6 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          7 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          7 out of 10
Sound:
          6 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 1/17/2008

 

 
Feature:
For what it is, it's a must for beginners. It's the first thing I got, and though constantly having to turn it up and down was annoying, for the price, it was well worth it. It helped me learn when I knew absolutely nothing. Easy to use and set up. Definitely recommend it for beginners to recording.

Quality:
Made sturdy, packaged well.

Value:
For the price and application, it's awesome. If you're looking to start recording, have very little money, and don't know much - get this thing. You won't be disappointed.

Desirability:
In the range of novice-intermediate interfaces, it's pretty solid. However, if you can muster up a couple hundred bucks more, you'll be MUCH happier with a FirePod.

Sound:
The biggest drawback for me with this thing has been recording vocals. The preamp, though it's supposedly 48v phantom power, is quite weak. I have to turn it WAY up when singing quietly, and WAY down when singing loudly. It's really annoying having to mediate between volumes like this and split up my vocals in accordance to loudness. I know it's not my condenser mic - I just got a PreSonus Firestudio and ran the same mic through that - everything is gravy. So, something is up with the preamp.

Ease of Use:
It's cake.

Overall:
Don't regret buying it, but don't expect to get totally top-notch sound out of it by a long shot!!

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"Go buy 80 of these things..."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 5/12/2006
Style of Music: Hip-Hop and R&B
Musical Experience: Best Rapper/Song Writer Alive
Location: Cleveand, OH

 

 
Feature:
it came with Ableton Live, which sucks, but the direct monitor feature i nice, and the drivers are ready right out of the box. truly a plug and play device. OH, and Protools M-Powered support puts a smile on my face :)

Quality:
well made and sturdy, not much to say, everything works fine!

Value:
hell yea, you get waaaaaaaaaaay more than what you pay for. they could sell this thing for double the price if they wanted. its great!

Desirability:
yea, looks good in the studio, makes girls all hot and bothered when they come over, lol

Sound:
perfect for what i needed. im just recording vocals, and the preamps on the Mobilepre are silent. no hiss, no hum, no nothing. and dont let the "USB is slow" myth worry you, becasue i have no latency issues with the unit.

Ease of Use:
you gotta dumb as hell to have problems with this thing. if its hard 2 use, its not the unit, its you.

Support:
i dont kno, i havent had any problems with it..

Overall:
As of now, i dont really thing i'll grow tired of this. for a home recording studio where all you want is clean, crisp vocals, this little box give you all you need. once you run a compressor and a few effect plug-ins through your vocals, they sound perfect. but you have to have editing skills, you cant blame the box if YOU suck, lol.

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"Easy to use, bullet proof and sounds as good as some studio work I've had done....what more could you ask for !!"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 7/13/2006
Style of Music: Light Rock - Acoustic - Alternative.
Musical Experience: Lead Singer, Guitar Player, Home Studio
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

 

 
Feature:
if theres more features available with an interface product, I'm sure it would be over my head...this thing has everything I need.....did I mention phantom power !!!

Quality:
its a metal case and few buttons, for me....thats great the less there is, the less I can break !

Value:
under $200 to record off of a computer at home, with near perfect quality.....brilliant.

Desirability:
I waited for 6 months for it to be available......at about $200 cheaper then the next closest unit I was looking for, I got more then I could have asked for....did I mention its phantom powered !!!

Sound:
I'm using it pretty portably, with my laptop and a phantom powered condenser.....great dou !!! its crystal clear couldn't ask for anything more!!!!

Ease of Use:
as its been said, if you can't work this thing.....you get a "1" not the box.

Support:
I have dealt with M-Audio before but never for this unit, they are very friendly and knowledgable though !!!

Overall:
M-Audio nailed it with this product !!

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"An Excellent Device for Recording On Your Own"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          5 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 7/5/2009
Style of Music: Alt Country and Experimental
Musical Experience: Active Musician
Location: Daytona Beach, FL, USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The product came with almost nothing -- you have to buy a mike, mike stand, and a mike cord to start recording voice or acoustic instruments. I can't remember if it came with a USB cable or not (sorry), but it uses a standard one.

Quality:
It's a freakin' work horse. We cart it all over the place and have dropped it a few times. (1/4 inch cords must be replaced frequently as with any instrument device).

Value:
I paid about $100 for it 3 years ago. Call me cheap, but that's what I'd pay now.

Desirability:
Plain Jane device. Mounting strips would be nice so it doesn't fall off the table when we yank on the cords.

Sound:
I've owned my Mobile Pre Amp for about 3 years and use it to record songs on Garage Band software on my 2006 Imac. I love, love, love it. It took awhile to figure out how to make everything work together, but once I did, it can record just as well as a professional studio (and for so much cheaper and you can take as long as you want!). Use good quality cords. Buy good quality mikes designed for the proper sound frequencies - high for vocals and strings, low for drums. Plug electric guitars, etc., right into the back with a regular 1/4 inch instrument cable. Record these as "real instruments." Adjust the input volume on the mobile pre amp: as high as you can without it blinking red (that's clipping). For keyboards with a USB output, skip the pre-amp and go right into the computer. To play it all back, I hook up a 1/4 inch instrument cable to the back and into an amp -- sounds great! Or, plug headphones into the front for adjustable stereo sound (not the back).

Ease of Use:
The only problems I have had have been with my own software and computer settings defaulting back to factory audio internal input/output.

Overall:
I want to buy the fancier version with more inputs -- do they even still make it?

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"A good value but too much hiss"

Overall:
          7 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          6 out of 10
User: a customer from houston.rr.com
Submitted: 4/4/2005
Style of Music: Classical Guitar
Musical Experience: Hobbyist
Location: Houston, Texas, USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The 1/8" stereo mic input is very handy. Stereo with independent gain is good. Has XLR, 1/4" and 1/8" inputs, phantom: a good feature set at a good value price.

Quality:
Seems durable - no problems.

Value:
A good value at a low price. For ultra-high fidelity PC recording of acoustic instruments or classical music, I am trading up because of the hiss.

Sound:
The sound is good for the low price of the unit, but that being said, it has too much hiss for my ears recording a nylon string guitar using a stereo mic. I compared this side by side with an Edirol UA-5 in the same setup and found that the more-expensive UA-5 had a much cleaner signal with minimal hiss. For basic demo use, it is good enough though. Line recording at lower gain settings was very clean.

Overall:
I got good use out of this product but I found out the hard way it introduces too much hiss to the signal in my opinion on mic recording. Line-level recording, for example to record old media onto a PC is great.

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