Audio Interface vs Portable Recorder

[SavageRiffer]

OK, so I've been using a Tascam DP-02 for years but the hard drive died, so I bought a Steinberg UR22 mkII to replace it. Actually before the UR22, I tried out a Presonus Audiobox. What I noticed is that everything seems to just sound better as if there is some kind of special processing that enhances the audio. I'm still using the same mics and cables by the way. The Tascam sounded rawer and nothing ever seemed to sound really good. That being said, I've recorded with 3 different amps and through the audio interface they all sound quite similar.

I'm new to this type of recording so what is the deal? Why do my recordings sound so much better yet so similar with different gear? Is it because the D-Pre of the Steinberg, or the quality that a computer and interface can record at, or just that the Tascam sucked?

 

[SavageRiffer]

Check out the Zoom F8 if you want a portable recorder that can also be an interface. Cool unitZ

Well I'm sticking with audio interfaces from now on. I was looking at the Zoom R8, but recording directly to my software is so much faster to render files, and seems to sound better overall. It also seems a lot harder to get a good mix with the recorder either from the unit itself or from exporting the .wav files. It's just that the interface sounds so much better than what I've gotten before that it almost seems artificial. However, I'm starting to think the mic pre on this UR22 is exceptional compared to any multitrack recorder, or even to similarly priced audio interfaces like the Presonus and Scarlett.

 

[JamesPeters]

For inexpensive mic preamps, they're quite good. You're probably hearing the difference between a nice mic preamp and a not-so-nice mic preamp.

For electric guitar we have the option of using not-so-nice mic preamps and getting away with it pretty easily. But there's still a noticeable difference in the preamps, and having one with more detail in the sound (without sounding harsh either) is something I welcome.

IMO you're currently in this position: buying more expensive mic preamps than the UR22 will have diminishing returns. You could try other mic preamps and you might appreciate them more still, but for the money you have a pretty good sounding pair of preamps.

 

[JamesPeters]

This is a weird argument. So buying better preamps will have diminishing returns WHY?
Buy the best Preamps you can afford. There are NO diminishing returns.

You are already hearing what marginally better preamps are doing, imagine if you had REALLY FUCKING GOOD PRE'S

What are you talking about? Do you know what "diminishing returns" means? And did you actually read what I said?

By the way, I own "better" preamps and yes I hear a difference. Do you think people hearing my recordings hear the same amount of difference I do? (Hint: the answer is no. And some people have preferred my recordings done with just the UR22's preamps.) So I will continue to use my better preamps which cost many times more than the UR22. And I'm not saying anyone else shouldn't either. I'm just giving realistic advice.