Help With Audio Interface Decision, looking to spend $450 Options

[theolog]

I'm looking to invest about $350-$450 in a condenser mic and an audio interface for my PowerBook G4 for use with Apple's GarageBand, but I am having a difficult time finding either professional reviews or testimonials from actual users (with Macs running OS X) of the following audio interfaces. If you have any experience or could point me in the direction of some reviews, I'd be most appreciative! The unit needs to be able to record from a condenser mic (phantom power and preamp?) and guitar simultaneously. Midi would be nice but isn't necessary.

M-Audio OmniStudio USB http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Omni...ioUSB-main.html
M-Audio FireWire Solo http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Fire...eSolo-main.html
M-Audio MobilePre USB http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Mobi...USB-main-1.html
Edirol UA-25 Digital Audio Interface http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua25.html
Tascam US122 http://www.tascam.com/Products/US-122.html

I'm looking to make recordings to share with family and friends like the following (which I did using the built in mic on the powerbook -- yeah, Baby!):

http://www.macjams.com/song/song_profile.php?lid=4160

For what it's worth, I'm looking at mics in the $200 neighborhood, and am trying to choose between the following four:

Studio Projects C1
Rode NT1-A Anniversary Model
Audio Technica AT3035 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
AKG C 2000 B/H100 Microphone with Shockmount

[jonisios]

ff

[Skoobert]

hello there,

i was just peeping the posts and thought i would lend my experience/advice to you...i would stay away from the mobile pre-amp usb inteface....i had one for my condenser mics and it was the biggest piece of crap that ever got near my G4 powerbook....it sounded like someone was frying eggs in the background everytime i recorded...i'm now using a lexicon omega with my studio projects C4 condenser mics....the recording quality is great and latency is not even an issue (even with the usb connection)...you can't use a lexicon omega with protools, but if you're rocking garageband then no worries...i hope this helps a bit...

[theolog]

Wow -- thanks so much for the warning on the mobilepre! The lexicon might be a smidgen out of my price range, but I'll add it to my "possibilities" list. Again -- thanks for taking the time to reply!