“old” MobilePre USB – what can this be used for?
 

As part of some video equipment acquisition I received a “MobilePre USB” device, probably circa ~ early 2000? vintage, but I don’t know what I can really use it for. It is obviously intended for an indoor use because it has “feet” and there is no 1/4” tripod mounting screw. It is an earlier model of the current MobilePre USB but appears to have essentially the same features and functions.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/...0-100-8714.jpg


Is the MobilePre intended for studio use?

I’ve got a JuicedLink CX211 that should be arriving shortly and these two items appear to basically do the same thing but the only difference that I can see is that the JuicedLink can be attached to the camera and therefore some adjustments can be done in real time.

[Edit: don't know why the link to the picture won't work. If anyone has some advice I'd be interested. I copied and pasted the BB url in the post and it's all there but for some reason it links to a blank page. The full-sized picture is there but when viewed via the link it turns out white]

If they, in fact, basically do the same thing, then what use can the MobilePre be put to?

I use to have one or those way back when. Prior to Win XP, getting the drivers too work was a pain. It would work fine with a laptop.
Little use with a camera though.

MobilePre USB picture url
 

Thanks for the heads up about the software issue. I've got the CD for it and the USB cable but I don't want to load another large file on my computer unless I know there is a use for it.

Getting back to the picture problem. Hopefully this link will work.

Posting the BB url per instructions:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/...dio-gear.html?

The MobilePre is basically an external sound card for your computer and is really a quite different critter from the Juicedlink. It would be used as the audio interface on your post-production workstation and for recording direct to the computer, usually back in the the studio, though there's nothing wrong with recording direct to the computer for double-system sound in a field scenario such as at a concert where mobility is not an issue. A lot of mixers working on location feature film productions work from a sound cart that carries all their gear and an interface/laptop setup is sometimes used as the primary recorder in that scenario. But since the MobilePre is not a stand-alone device, it's really not a field recording device or mixer unless you're also taking your laptop with you. It does not have an internal battery or power input connector and requires a USB connection from a computer for its power. It's pretty much useless as an XLR->3.5mm adapter for the camera because, in addition to the lack of any way to power it, the camera's 3.5mm input need's a mic level signal while the MobilePre's audio output is line level.

Good Explanation
 

Thanks for the good explanation, Steve. The boldface type really helped, too.

Sounds like it's a keeper then. I've got the USB cord and in the instructions it does mention that it gets it's power from the USB but one needs a good USB source as some are underpowered.

Reading back through the archives I came across a statement that someone made which was to the effect that "he never lets the audio touch the video". For my "dream projects" that I plan on, video on a cruising boat and video of live music performances, generally by soloists, this concept is something I will work on. For the shoot-n-run videos probably not, or not so much, due to time constraints. They only give us 24 hours in a day.