Mic mate, MicPort Pro or Fast Track Pro?

Zach Clift

Hi guys. Being a newbie I know almost nothing about pre-amp & mixers & i'm just getting my equipment together for my first home studio. I would basically like to connect my Behringer B-1 condenser mic to either my Creative X-fi soundcard or my USB port on my pc. I've read on these forums about a few items that help you do that called the - Mic mate, MicPort Pro & Fast Track Pro. First off, Are these products all considered preamps? Second, I'm on kind of a tight budget so I was wondering if the Fast Track Pro & all it's functions were really neccesary seeing how I have a good soundcard & software like Audigy. And lastly, Do they all sound about the same or is the Fast Track Pro much better at cleaning up noise?

Also, if there's anything out there that's better than these three products and in the same price range, please let me know.

Thank's!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008, 12:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Zach, I'm not a techie-geek so I'll wait for people like Jacob Ekstrom, Colin Campbell, or Ed Gambill to offer their two cents on that.

I WILL say, though, that I just went to your demo page here and was pretty much blown away by the little bit I listened to. I can't believe you're just starting out in this biz. If so, the rest of us need to hang it up now. You're really good and should do very well in this business. Best wishes!

Cameron Thomas · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008, 13:46 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Zach,

I've heard the Centrance MicPort Pro is real good for a compact, all-in-one device. It's great for mobility and travel--I'm seriously looking to get one when I have to shift my recording area around or for trips. Plus, it's Vista compatible and has volume control. I was just about to try the MXL Micmate but I don't believe it's Vista compatible and no volume control.

I have read on this board some issues with Fast Track--one of the ladies here was having interference issues of some sort.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Cheers,
Cameron

Doug Parks · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008, 23:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Allow me to weigh in on both the Fast Track Pro and the MicPort Pro. I have one laptop with XP and another with Vista and have never gotten Fast Track Pro to work properly. (And dealing with M-Audio's tech support is fuggetabouditt city.) You can easily wait 30-60 minutes. Once I called 50 minutes before the end of the day, held the entire time and then got disconnected. And I downloaded drivers 48 quadrillion times.

When I got to the point I felt I couldn't waste any more time on this wonderful product, the MicPort Pro was just becoming known and I picked one up after reading that Harlan Hogan got one to use while on the road. I have mine coming out of my Aphex 230 preamp, but you don't absolutely have to have a preamp with MicPort Pro. It has decent oompf, its own volume dial, and a spot to plug in your cans. Works like a charm! No contant driver downloads or EVEN ONE call to some tech support clown.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008, 00:48 (GMT) Post subject:

How's the signal-to-noise ratio on the MicPort Pro? I'm thinking of getting one to replace my ART TubeMP because I think it might be introducing a little noise into my audio chain, and I have no XLR input to my computer so I end up having to use a phono plug adapter out of the pre-amp.

Doug Parks · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008, 00:53 (GMT) Post subject:

That's one thing I'm not sure about, though if you use it with a preamp I would imagine it would be better than just using the MicPort Pro alone. Assuming, of course, the preamp is doing most of the amplification.

Zach Clift · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008, 07:23 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank's alot for the kind words Scott. I'm really glad it's not just my family & friends who dig those demos of mine. LOL I actually recorded those down at Sound Advice in Chicago with all their fancy equipment & software. Now if only I had a setup like theirs, i'd be all set! Haha. Well, you gotta start somewhere right? Very Happy

Thank's again to everyone for all your help & i'll keep reading all your replies to see what's best for me.

BTW, Here's my PC specs:

AMD 4800 X2 dual core
2 GB RAM
Vista Home
Creative X-Fi soundcard

Jacob Ekstroem · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008, 01:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Zack.

First off all, even if Mr. Pollak were so kind to put me in such good company, I am by no means a preamp/soundcard guru, but I'll try & do my best to help.
And yes... you are INDEED very talented, Zack! I'll get back to that...

Your questions:

Q#1: Mic mate, MicPort Pro & Fast Track Pro - Are these products all considered preamps?

Hmmm... I guess so. But I would never go as far to actually recommend the first two for serious use. I honestly don't believe them to be up for test opposite "real" preamps... but again, what is a "real" preamp?
A preamp don't have to cost $1000+, have tube circuitry or lots of nice gizmos to be sufficient for what we do. And some vo-artists do fine even without one, if they use a USB microphone (there's a preamp in the mic, obviously). But when things begin to roll for you (and I have a feeling they will eventually, from what I heard on your demos), you will end up kicking your own butt for being frugal. With today's technology, pro spec. equipment is within reach even on a reasonable budget. I've done several posts on the forum with recommendations on equipment needed for serious vo recording in the $300-400 range, which included microphone, mixer w/ preamp, and soundcard. And with a talent like yours, you should consider investing in it.

That said, I have no personal experience with either of the three preamp-solutions you mention, but given the choice I would pick the Fast Track any day. Which leads me to your second question:

Q#2: ... wondering if the Fast Track Pro & all it's functions were really neccesary seeing how I have a good soundcard & software like Audigy.

Well... honestly, Zack, I really wouldn't define the X-fi as a "good" soundcard. Not in this world, at least. Remember the discussion we had a while ago regarding your PC? This is kinda the same problem; your soundcard was built for gaming, not for recording pro voice overs. Sure, the specs looks ok, but believe me, specs only tells you that much. But since you have the option to go USB, let's...
Now, the Fast Track Pro is a two-channel device. You probably don't need two channels, but most of the USB interfaces have it. Also, you probably don't need MIDI. And if all you basically need is a preamp for your B-1 and a USB-interface, then let's jump directly to

Q#3: Do they all sound about the same or is the Fast Track Pro much better at cleaning up noise?

If we're concentrating on USB pre/interfaces... and again, without having any real personal experience with them, my guess is the Fast Track is not particularly better than the competition. It's an entry-level device with a decent preamp, but nothing more. But one thing's for sure: it does NOTHING as for cleaning up noise. If your B-1 or cables are noisy, any preamp will amplify it, not supress it.

Q#4: if there's anything out there that's better than these three products and in the same price range, please let me know.

A good, reasonably priced preamp with a USB output? That's easy:

- The ART TubeMP USB, a single channel tube pre with a USB output, $100 @ Zzounds. Ridiculous...

But then off course, I wouldn't personally recommend USB at all. My standard recommendation for a killer newbie setup is this combo:

The ART Tube MP*, same as the above but without USB output, $65 @ Zzounds (completely ridiculous!), or, if you really wanna have a blast, spend a little more and get

The Studio Projects VTB1 preamp, probably the best budget stand-alone pre on the market, $120 @ Zzounds (totally ridiculous!!!!)

Feed any of those into

The ECHO Mia soundcard, a PCI-based two-channel soundcard with balanced in/outs, $130 @ Zzounds.

Why? Because I've seen too many newbies go the USB-route and end up pulling their hair with driver issues, incompabilities with software etc. The Mia is PCI-based, has rock-solid drivers, a competent AD/DA converter, and has balanced in & outs. And for what it's worth, it's what I personally use Very Happy

As for the VTB1 preamp: well, in this pricerange, it blows anything out of the way. And compared to the Fast Track Pro, the Mia/ART non-USB combo is both better and $5 cheaper, and while the Mia/VTB1 combo is lousy 50 bucks more, it gives you several hundreds of dollars more value, sound quality-wise. Get it??

There. I said it. Again. But anyway Zack, I hope you could use some of this. As I said (and others before me), you have quite the talent for this vo-stuff. Do yourself a favour and invest a bit by getting a decent beginner setup that will serve you well, and from there, concentrate on the art. The force is strong with you.

*Edit: I see now that Mr. Gordon have thoughts about the ART. Personally I would still favour the ART/Mia combo over the MicPort Pro, without knowing the details about Mr. Gordons chain.

(Disclaimer: No, I do NOT have Zzounds-stocks, or a brother-in-law working there. I'm Danish, have never shopped there and never will, so feel free to consult any other dealer you prefer. And no, I'm not related to J.S. Gilbert, I just couldn't stop writing...)