Just curious, Why the Lexicon Omega for testing? I've used one and the mic pres on it are pretty crappy. I had to send it back to Lexicon for repair. In that price range, the Emu boxes are a better deal for a USB interface. YMMV.

I'm looking for just this sort of feedback. I need a high quality USB sound card with a good mic input. I was hoping a name like Lexicon would deliver, but apparently not?

Can you link your recommendations?


EDIT:


This it? http://www.zzounds.com/item--EMU0404

Sorry for not providing the link but that is the one I was thinking of. I've never actually used one but a good friend whose ears I trust recommended it to me. If you have the money, here are two more options. On the high end, the Apogee Mini-me would be the other USB sound card with mic input I would recommend. The Apogee converters are top of the line and the Mini-me is a solid little device that I have used to record classical music. Here's a link:

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/245288.html

If you're looking for a solid, USB microphone preamp/converter, right in the middle of those two is the Sound Devices USBpre. I own one of these and it is built like a tank and sounds pretty clean too. Here's the link:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292993-REG/Sound_Devices_USBPRE15_USBPre_Version_1_5_.html

I was very suprised at the poor build quality from the Lexicon when I opened it up. It's the type of box that just tries to do almost too much for the money. The Lexicon name is on it more for the reverb plug-in it comes with than anything else.

The others you posted are a little more than I had in mind. I'm just looking for somethign that will give accurate results.

The E-MU unit does look solidly built. If it is going to be accurate I'll go that way, otherwise I can spend more (I'll be dropping over $10K on this project after all) but I'm not into wasting money either.

Charlie:

Although I've never used one of M Audio's mic preamps, I do own one of their soundcards and the quality/performance is excellent.

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces