Need help to decide- Ultralite + preamps??

leandrogonza · Post by **leandrogonza** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:56 pm

Hello:
I am in doubt.

I have a Motu Ultralite. Which is a great piece of gear. Very happy with it.
BUT

It only has two preamps. So if i need to record 8-10 microphones simultaneously (drums mostly).

People told me to get a preamp.

BUT.

The motu ultralite has 2 pre amps, and 8 ins 1/4.

If i get a preamp, i need it to have 1/4 plug out.

Would the "not balanced connection" affect the sound received by the Ultralite??

Any recommendations??

thanks

pulsoc · Post by **pulsoc** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:59 pm

This is part of the reason I'm eyeballing the presonus Firestudio. 8 mic in/preamps that can also serve as line-ins. Very adaptable.

datapopstar · Post by **datapopstar** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:03 pm

i think the inputs of your ultralite are balanced, but they use trs-stereo plugs instead of xlr-plugs.
no problem so far, if your preamp has a balanced output....

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:20 pm

Have you looked at the MOTU 8pre soundcard?

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:23 pm

I'm in an identical situation! I use the Ultralite, but need another 8 preamps to record our band.

A cheap solution I've found is this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=480830
It's an 8 channel mic pre strip for $100. That's a hell of a deal, but I'd be a little concerned as to the audio quality. It would be a good, cheap fix if you aren't doing anything that requires really nice equipment.

The better solution would be this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=240408
The MOTU 8pre. For $500 (if you shop around online), you could daisychain it with the Ultralite, and basically add on another 16 recording channels.

Another solution would be to buy a used Yamaha mixer with 8 channels and mix using that. I think I will probably go the 8pre route when one pops up on eBay for around $400, but in the meantime, pick up that 8 channel mic pre strip for $100.

leandrogonza · Post by **leandrogonza** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:29 pm

Thanks for the responses.

I think i sould have bought the pre8 from start.
it cost the same. But now i am stuck with the ultralite.
which is fantastic for DJ,s. Or electronic musicians.
But not for the one who needs to track a band live, or something.

I cant spend another 550 on a pre 8.

i might be buying a behringer bullshit for 200.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:04 pm

There was a really positive review for the Behringer Ultragain Pro in Tape Op Magazine a while ago. Larry Crane tested it agianst an Apogee and was amazed at how little difference there was in the sound:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2 ... erter.html

It has eight xlr ins, eight xlr outs, and eight mic preamps. It can be used to utilize all of the analog inputs on an UltraLite. It can also be used as an ADAT lightpipe expander, so if you ever have an interface with an ADAT lightpipe input in the future, this will be very useful.

I use an M-Audio Octane for this purpose. It's twice as much money, but I have to say, I love the thing. It's been really good to me. The most important advantage the Octane brings over the Behringer is that there are pads on every channel. When recording a live band, drummers and guitar amps, those pads WILL SAVE YOUR ASS. Seriously.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... reamp.html

acroberts · Post by **acroberts** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:18 pm

So SalesDude, using that Behringer, I'm wondering how to the UltraLite's 1/4" TRS In's? An XLR-to-TRS cable?

I'm also considering the UltraLite (or Edirol FA101 or Presonus FireBox) to replace my FastTrack Pro - I need something Firewire and 6-8 Outs...

...BUT, I may be recording a band sometime in future, so should I seriously consider something that's build for expansion (ADAT?

If going the latter route, been looking at Presonus FireStudio or 2626 or MOTU 8pre, MOTU Traveler, etc