Home studio, question about M-audio firewire 140

[bturabian]

Hello,

I am singer, songwriter and recently I decided to record at home where I can have indefinite time to record new takes and improve my performance which is impossible in a studio for which you don't have the budget.

This is what I have:

Pro Tools m-audio powered
Firewire 410
Avalon M5
Dbx 160A
Neumann TLM103

I believe my Frewire 410 has just a quarter inch input and not a TRS balanced line input. Do you think I am loosing sound quality using that input?

Also, do you think the Firewire 410 is compatible with Avalon M5? Should I consider other audio interface?

Thank you,
Berge Turabian

[Cailyn]

The 410 has 1/4 inputs on the back and XLR balanced inputs on the front. Isn't a TRS and 1/4 jack the same thing? For a mic, the XLR balanced input is best. Can't answer the other question.

[bturabian]

Thank you!
But as I know, while a TRS and 1/4" use the same plugs, the input signal going into the cable are quite different. The TRS is a balanced signal.

Berge Turabian

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by bturabian

Thank you!
But as I know, while a TRS and 1/4" use the same plugs, the input signal going into the cable are quite different. The TRS is a balanced signal.
Berge Turabian

Oops, my bad. The 410 has a balanced input on the front that accepts either an XLR or TRS connector.

[bturabian]

Yes, of course, I know about it. But using front inputs will mean I am using two preamps, even when the volume is completely off. And as a matter of fact recording from the front needs also engaging the pad to attenuate the power of signal from the Avalon, while the signal going through the back input is not preamped. The idea is to use the Avalon M5 as a preamp.