The ultimate portable setup for pre-prod/mixing

[LeSedna]

Hello

I would like your opinion on what would be the best portable setup !

I am talking something as simple as :
- a soundcard
- a microphone
- headphones
to go with my MacBookPro 15inches

and nothing else.

I currently own an apogee duet and use a rode NT1 and the HD650s when i am not on monitors.

Although this all sounds very good for what it costs, I would like something even more portable so it can actually fit in a small travel bag with all the things i carry. I will be travelling even more than before, in hotel rooms, and would like to use the opportunity sometimes to preprod or to train on vocals.

So my only requirement is that the sound card must be thunderbolt unless it is impossible. I need that because the new macbook pros don't have an ethernet or firewire port anymore and I don't want to use an adapter if possible, and I also wanna turn to the future. What I have is :
- 2 thunderbolt ports
- 2 USB 3 ports
- 1 microphone input/output 3.5mm jack

So since I need one USB port for the ilok when I need it, I wanna save the other port if possible. My sound card therefore needs to be thunderbolt, or my internal sound card (which is not that bad).

Are there any nice options around ? The only use would be for vocal recording, and occasionally single guitar recording but I am not even sure. The main goal is to simply carry in my bag a microphone, a headset, and maybe a sound card.

The headset needs to be closed, as my HD650s are good for me but a little bit fragile for non stop transportation, and being open, in some hotels in can be a hassle.

- I like apogee for their integration into the macosx audio core system which makes my life easier. Any love for one of their simpler and newest interface ? Like this one, that I could actually plug into my ipad and use garageband for its simplicity and synchronization with my laptop, for very simple recording (like juste my voice over an mp3) ? http://apogeedigital.com/products/one.php
- Is there anywhere a simple external sound card that only does one quality output ? Or something like a high quality and compact 1in/1out (jack) sound card ? Is it too much to dream of a thunderbolt based card so I could chain it with a thunderbolt external drive for example ?
- I am new to thunderbolt, could you if needed simply use an adapter from thunderbolt to firewire or usb ?
- Anyone tried the Apogee usb preamped mic ? http://apogeedigital.com/products/mic.php it doesn't need to be the best mic in the world, but after all, why not if it could simply save me the need of a sound card as this would mainly be for pre-prod and my MBP can more or less handle decent projects with its internal sound card with a low latency as long as there aren't too many plugins loaded !
- ATH M50s ? Or something like that ? Again, i could even plug the headset into the internal jack as I wouldn't necessarily need high quality converters. I am actually considering using my bose travelling headset just for that, it's actually not bad even though its price tag goes into its brand name and the noise cancelling feature more than its sound quality, it is actually not that bad, so this is low priority. http://www.bose.fr/FR/fr/home-and-p...elling-headphones/quietcomfort-15-headphones/

Thanks !

 

[amarshism]

we fly nonstop. I take my macbook air and a drive with all my fly/work files that sessions run off via usb, apogee duet and the singers 58 if we need to rap track anything. I always travel with my 250s and hd600s

 

[mva801]

You could get an Apogee one. It has an internal mic if you're not looking for anything crazy, and a breakout cable for instrument inputs. That's the only thing I could think of that would be even more portable than a duet and small mic.

Then you'd just have laptop + apogee one. Use it's own mic for vocals, plug in a guitar if need be. It does have a mic pre too if you need to use a better vocal mic.

I also have one of those "baby Neumann" tlm102's that is pretty nice, and fucking TINY. That's totally portable.

 

[neptunian]

Two smallest Thunderbolt interfaces I've seen are the Zoom Tac-2 and UAD Apollo Twin (Duo or Solo):





Headphones, probably the Focal Spirit Professional... flat, accurate, closed-back.



I have the ATH-M50s and while they're alright, they do have a color (veiled highs and strident mids) that makes me no longer trust them for EQ decisions.

On the mic, I agree with mva801, the TLM 102 sounds ideal for portability. Though the pop filter and mic stand would take up space, and lack of room treatment in hotels would be audible. In contrast, the SM7B can be hand-held and is ultra rugged, good room rejection. But not a small mic by any means, and not sure if the above interfaces have enough gain for the SM7B -- 60dB max on the Zoom, 65dB max on the Apollo Twin.

 

[neptunian]

- Anyone tried the Apogee usb preamped mic ? http://apogeedigital.com/products/mic.php it doesn't need to be the best mic in the world, but after all, why not if it could simply save me the need of a sound card as this would mainly be for pre-prod and my MBP can more or less handle decent projects with its internal sound card with a low latency as long as there aren't too many plugins loaded !

Here's their latest version of it:

http://store.apogeedigital.com/store/index.php/products/mic-96k.html

Requires Mac OS version: 10.7.5 or later. All samples and reviews of it are good, quality seems on par with any mid grade LDC out there. If you're only doing pre-prod, why not save some major cash with that. Apogee sells a 3m extension cable for it too.