Metric Halo MIO ok for classical recording ?

[Ray Thomas]

I've narrowed my shortlist for preamp/interfaces down to a few suspects like
MOTU 828 MkII, 896, Digi 002rack and Metric Halo MIO. For the distant miking
and low volumes/ hall reverb tails I'm chasing in classical and chamber
musica low-noise set of mic pre's are a must have.
Current top of my list is the MIO....would any users be able to comment on
this aspect of it's operation, or add any observations that might help to
choose between the above options ?

Thanks,
Ray

[WillStG]

>"Ray Thomas"

>
>I've narrowed my shortlist for preamp/interfaces down to a few suspects like
>MOTU 828 MkII, 896, Digi 002rack and Metric Halo MIO. For the distant miking
>and low volumes/ hall reverb tails I'm chasing in classical and chamber
>musica low-noise set of mic pre's are a must have.
>Current top of my list is the MIO....would any users be able to comment on
>this aspect of it's operation, or add any observations that might help to
>choose between the above options ?

The Metric Halo MIO units have very good converters in them , and I like
them a lot. There are two model, the 2882 which has 8 mic pres and the ULN-2
which has 2 mic pres but can also use the digital input at the same time; you
can do 4 in and out with the ULN-2 if 2 channels are digital.

For classical recording the ULN-2 is the preferred choice, as it has much
quieter micpres than the 2882 does. Not that the 2882's micpres sound bad,
just they are a bit noisy.

HTH,

Will Miho
NY Music & TV Audio Guy
Off the Morning Show! & sleepin' In... / Fox News
"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits

[hank alrich]

Ray Thomas > wrote:

> I've narrowed my shortlist for preamp/interfaces down to a few suspects like
> MOTU 828 MkII, 896, Digi 002rack and Metric Halo MIO. For the distant miking
> and low volumes/ hall reverb tails I'm chasing in classical and chamber
> musica low-noise set of mic pre's are a must have.
> Current top of my list is the MIO....would any users be able to comment on
> this aspect of it's operation, or add any observations that might help to
> choose between the above options ?

Nobody in their right mind would recommend the standard MIO 2882 for any
situation where serious gain is necessary. Where little gain is required
the pres sound really good; but MHL assumed the digital gain stepper
planned for production would work as well as the MFG's spec sheet
touted, and since the hash-up on their bench worked well with the analog
gain control employed they started bragging about their great preamps
before they ever heard them. The upshot is that at anywhere near max
gain, which is still only about 42 dB, the pres are unusable for work
requiring low noise and fidelity.

I haven't heard their ULN2 version, but folks I trust say those pres
live up to the claims. I think via inserts one can get up to 4 inputs to
the ULN2 (don't trust me there, go and check at the website). But if
more pres than that are needed, then the 2882 needs a set of good
outboard preamps to function satisfactorily in classical or any other
acoustic work.

The MIO works very well if what one wants is 8 channels of very good
ADC/DAC for the money asked. I am quite happy with that portion of the
offering.

--
hank alrich * secret__mountain
audio recording * music production * sound reinforcement
"If laughter is the best medicine let's take a double dose"