Am I the only one who wants a recording interface without preamps?

Hello interface manufacturers! I'm looking to upgrade my recording chain and have some very good racked up preamps. I would love something I could use that would allow me to output the signal from the pre and go into the computer but all I see on the market are these devices with 8 preamps and an ADAT in. What's up with that? Compromise I guess, for the home recordist who wants it all in one package for $499. Digidesign makes you use their hardware - that kind of locks a guy in doesn't it?

I have been using a Roland VS2480 - pretty cool box all in all but would really like to take it up a notch. Guess I'll keep looking.

Roland Juno Stage review

Roland used to be my favorite company but I feel they have once again missed the boat. Finally got to try one of these at G.C. the other day and I was less than impressed. Weak piano sounds, 80's synth sounds, odd length keys that didn't feel right for organ or piano. . . and way over priced. $1350 - 1400 for this thing? C'mon! I had really hoped it would be the answer to a quick keyboard set up with a lot of options but it seems everything it has is a compromise. No thanks, I'll continue the extra effort of setting up my P-90, Moog Little Phatty and Alesis QS7. The Alesis is really my least favorite but the organ and synthy string sounds are OK in a band setting. I run the organ through a Boss Rotary pedal, P-90 sometimes gets a phaser, and the Moog goes through my Akai Headrush for the echo stuff.

Digitech Jamman beats Boss RC 20 XL

Digitech Jamman is so much smoother than the Boss Looper - got it yesterday and it doesn't have the stutter that the RC 20 XL has. The only thing the Boss had going for it was the reverse feature but I really didn't need that.

Boss Loop pedal RC-20XL question, review

OK for messing around at home but unusable as a live looping tool. When I record a pass with the left pedal and hit the left pedal again it plays what was just recorded but there is a stutter - 40 to 60 ms before it actually kicks in. I sent one back because it was defective. Sometimes would not pass audio at all and a couple other problems. The second one still had the stuuter problem. A rep at Roland told me his did not stutter but a rep at Musician's Friend said he had a friend who had a stuttering pedal too. Roland is a good company but they missed the boat on this one. The Akai Headrush which I also own, is a great pedal but you only get 24 seconds of looping. See my post on the Headrush.

AT Pro 37 microphone review, Rode NT1-A

Kept hearing about the Audio Technica Pro 37s and finally picked up a pair for a little over 200 bucks. They sound amazing on guitar and piano - like a clear window to the sound of the instrument.





Also got a pair of the Rode NT1-a mics - very nice indeed. RMC Audio had the pair for $238. Used them on my Yamaha U3 piano and was really pleased. Looking forward to trying them on drum overheads.