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M-Audio Audio Buddy Budget Microphone Preamp - Preamplifier | 
 enlarge | Brand: M-Audio
Category: CE
List Price: $160.40
Buy New: $98.97
You Save: $61.43 (38%)
New (3) from $98.97
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 62695
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
MPN: 9900-40776-00
Model: Audio Buddy Budget Microphone Preamp
ASIN: B000EHYILG
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Usually ships same day as payment received!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
If you're looking for a whole lot of preamp on a tight budget, you'll see where this popular product gets its name. Affordability and performance make the Audio Buddy one of the most popular mic preamps in home recording today. You get professional microphone support along with line inputs impedance-matched for ideal performance with electric guitar and bass. Simply put, the Audio Buddy is a workhorse mic preamp that sounds great and won't hurt your budget.
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| Customer Reviews:
Inexpensive No Frills Preamp July 17, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I realized I needed to boost the input from the microphones I was using if I was going to get a better quality recording. Since this is a home studio setup, price was a major consideration. The M-Audio Audio Buddy met my most immediate needs and provided some bonuses as well. Only after I became a little more educated did I experience any dissatisfaction with this piece of equipment.
The Audio Buddy has a lot going for it. It provides two input and output channels, something I was hard pressed to find in other microphone preamps in this price range. For input, you have a choice of either XLR or the common inch plug for either channel. For any given channel, you can use either, but not both at the same time. This is standard, so this is not a gripe with the unit. Output is inch plug only. In retrospect, it would be nicer to have XLR output option as well.
The sound from the unit is clean. There is very little coloring added to any input. There is plenty of gain to be had from this little box and the sound stays clean, even when the signal is really boosted. This is also a no frills device as there are no built-in effects. Then again, this is a low price preamp, so you get what you pay for.
One immediate dissatisfaction was the knobs controlling the gain. They are not as smooth as I'd like and setting the desired degree of boost is a little tricky. Once set, however, the unit holds firm. I would have like bigger control knobs.
Once I started reading, I was disappointed that I have to be tethered to a transformer. I am using this box in conjunction with recording to a PC. Now I've discovered there are units that draw their power from the USB port on the PC. Since I may go mobile and record with a laptop, this reliance on A/C power could be a real bother for me.
All in all, I am satisfied with the Audio Buddy. It meets the goal of providing a clean preamp signal at a low cost. If you remember this is a no frills unit, it is very good. If you want more features, and are willing to pay for them, you may want to look elsewhere. As it is, I'd rate it as a solid four star choice.
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