Big Craigie wrote:

At the moment I have an M-Audio Audiobuddy Pre-amp. That is fine for
boosting the signal into the PC but especially with the bass (I am just a
beginner) obvioulsy I want to make sure I don't overload or distort, the
same goes for vocals.
So, I am looking at the above units.

The way to assure that you don't overload and distort is not to buy
another piece of gear, it's to set the preamp gain and output level (if
there are separate controls) properly. Be conservative and don't try to
hit the peak level.

The M-Audio Tampa is a single channel pre-amp and compressor and looks a
really nice piece of kit (although 2 rack units high) and is costing £169
(approx $311). but it would allow me to dispense with the Audio Buddy, less
patching to do and easier access to the XLR mic inputs which on the Tampais
out front while the Audio Buddies XLR mic inputs are on the back.

The Tampa has been reported to sound . . . well . . . interesting. In
other words, it has a sound, and that's probably not what you want as a
beginner. Plug the cable in to the back of the Audio Buddy and leave it
there. Buy another mic cable if you have to.

The Audio Buddy isn't the greatest preamp in the world but if it works
with your microphone, it's probably all you need for now. Learn to set
levels properly, then (and only then) learn how to use a compressor. A
compressor is a processor - it's designed to change the sound. It's not
a safety valve.

So, I really don't know what to do and I am looking for advice or
recommendations.

Save your money, learn to get the best sound you can with what you
have, and then when you can hear what's wrong, figure out what will
make it better. It might be a compressor, it might be a new preamp, it
might be a different mic. It might even be a different bass or a new
set of strings.