M-audio solo and direct asio monitoring?

[Mac Hine]

How is the M-audio solo pre-amps compared to others? I have been reading that they are not very good quality? Should I get better audio card? and would I notice the difference?

I am currently concidering Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or Presonus audibox 22vsl but I am worrying that is there really reason to change?

Edit: I record with rhode NT1-A which is currently connected to solo.

[Mac Hine]

And second question. I have to use quite big buffer size at a moment which is causing problems when recording vocals. I try to activate the direct asio monitoring but there is propably something that I miss totally?

I have enabled the direct asio monitoring from solo interface. Then according to FL manual I have to disable the "send to master knob" in FL. Allright, done that. I cant hear the vocals at all? Where should I monitor the dry (no latency) vocals? I assumed that when I disable the "send to master" knob, I could still monitor the recorded input (without it going through sequencer) from soundcard headphones? Apparently this is not a case? So, what I am missing here?

[Uncle E]

None of these have particularly good sounding preamps and combining them with the NT1-A is a particularly bad pairing. I recommend either getting a preamp (the new Presonus TubePre V2 ought to work out well for you or you could step up to a Golden Age Pre73, which is world class for not much money) or get a new mic (the Apex 460 or MXL V69M would work well with the Solo preamp).

[Mac Hine]

Ok, thanks for suggestions, I will check those! Is there really big difference getting separate preamp comparing when using the one provided by soundcard? I was thinking that direct connection with soundcard would save me from troubles with few extra devices in link to cause noise etc...

What makes the nt1a bad combination with solo?

I have also TUBE MP aswell but it seemed to cause more troubles than solve. That's what I get when I bought stuff cheap in hangover.

I will check those mics you suggested aswell. I have also SE 2200a but i have liked the nt1a more.

[Uncle E]

Is there really big difference getting separate preamp comparing when using the one provided by soundcard?

Not always but the Pre73 far exceeds what you'll find in all but a few interfaces. The TubePre v2, though not as good as the Pre73, will be particularly good with your NT1-A, which is why I recommended it.

I was thinking that direct connection with soundcard would save me from troubles with few extra devices in link to cause noise etc...

All true! That's why I only recommend getting a separate preamp if the upside far outweighs the potential downside.

What makes the nt1a bad combination with solo?

Bright, harsh, and noisy meets bright, harsh, and noisy.

I have also TUBE MP aswell but it seemed to cause more troubles than solve.

The Tube MP is NOT a great preamp, especially in regards to noise. However, it does provide a soft sound that mellows out the NT1-A's high-end nicely.

I will check those mics you suggested aswell. I have also SE 2200a but i have liked the nt1a more.

In that case, upgrade your preamp, not your mic, since a new preamp will make both those mics sound better.

[Mac Hine]

Thanks Uncle E, I have been spending a day in a net reading reviews from these. :)Apparantly Presonus TubePre V2 is a new model and not available here, so I have to wait a little. In a meanwhile there seem to be few Pre73 on secondhand market. Lets see which one comes first

In a meanwhile, any solo users out there who could verify if the direct monitoring can be used with FL? (the second question)

[Mac Hine]

I changed the topic to get answer to my second problem. Hopefully some solo users with FL out there Anyway, here is my problem:

I have to use quite big buffer size at a moment which is causing problems when recording vocals. I try to activate the direct asio monitoring but there is propably something that I miss totally?

I have enabled the direct asio monitoring from solo interface. Then according to FL manual I have to disable the "send to master knob" in FL. Allright, done that. I cant hear the vocals at all? Where should I monitor the dry (no latency) vocals? I assumed that when I disable the "send to master" knob, I could still monitor the recorded input (without it going through sequencer) from soundcard headphones? Apparently this is not a case? So, what I am missing here?

[RunBeerRun]

I have a different M-Audio card, and on mine you enable direct monitoring by a knob on it, not inside the daw.

[Mac Hine]

Allright, I figured it out. Asio direct monitoring works but the volume of it is very low. It was there all the time but I did not hear it. When I lift up the input volume, I can hear it very good but problem is that the sound then clips.
Apparantly there is no volume controll for monitoring sound which would not affect the recorded sound.