I'm looking into getting a new interface for recording the stick while on vacation.
I'm using windows, so no Apogee stuff.

My question - does the stick need instrument (hi-z) inputs or would line inputs be adequate enough?

The reason I'm asking this is that quite often the mobile interfaces have only one of the inputs switchable to (hi-z).

As is the case with the RME Babyface:
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php#5

The Focusrite Forte has two instrument inputs, but has some shortcomings - no digital in/out, no MIDI in/out, psu needed for phantom and louder headphones:
http://global.focusrite.com/usb-audio-i ... ifications

NI Komplete Audio 6 - seems OK, but is the bulkiest:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... fications/

Any ideas? It would be great if I didn't have to get/carry separate preamp(s).

What kind of pickup do you have on you Stick?

I have the ACTV-2.

Check out the Echo 2 from Echo Audio, might be the kind of thing you're looking for. Really great sounding gear too.

Cheers,
Andy

With the ACTV-2 the input impedance doesn't really matter. You have a buffer circuit between the pickups and the input.

I have an m-audio unit that sounds great, but it took them forever to update the mac drive for it.

Still you might want to check out their M-track Plus.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MTrackPlus.html

It seems to have a lot of the capabilities you're looking for.

While not totally mobile (requires an A.C. power source - power supply is included for your area) the Mackie 402-VLZ3 mixer has two switchable instrument inputs that match the high impedance of Stick Stickups and the like. There is also a feature that will mix left and right to mono and much of that cool, clean Mackie touch throughout the rest of the mixer.
(Phantom supply for two mics, gain controls on the inputs...)

http://www.mackie.com/products/402vlz3/index.html

In theory the Stick pickups deliver instrument type signal and should sound best if recorded/amped by inputs that work that way, but I must admit that to my ears I get just as good sound when using line level inputs on my RME Fireface400. But I use two instrument level inputs anyway ...because that needs less make-up adjustment inside the box. Hm... what I just said is in fact that "line level is less good but I can't hear a difference" and my theory for explaining this is that there are so generous buffers when recording at 48k to 24 bit files as I do that the difference becomes minimal.

In audio interfaces you pretty much get what you're paying for and if you are happy with an Echo that is a less expensive option than an RME (I have an Echo as my backup interface and prefer the sound of the RME). I've used the RME extensively under both Windows and Mac OS X and don't hesitate to recommend it (or the companies later models).

Good info guys, thanks, I'll check out these options too.

Per, what about recording level - gain, when you tried the line inputs, was it possible to record loud enough? Near 0 dB?

I know it's not necessary to record that loud, but it would be good to have some leeway.

I have a IK Multimedia Stealth Pedal that I received from a competition and although it's supposed to have instrument level inputs - the max rec level I get out of it with the stick is about -32dB.

Yes, of course! Anyway from super low to digital clipping is possible. I'm using the PASV4, active EMG pickups and passive Fender single-coils on different instruments and I always adjust the recording gain (for the RME) to match the pickup being used. Peaking around -12 dB is a headroom I feel safe with when printing 24 bit files.

That's a good thing to know, opens up a lot more options to choose from.

Echo 2 in addition to the RME and Forte seems promising.
I've thought a bit about the digital and MIDI ins/outs and although they can be helpful at home, the absence of them on the go isn't a dealbreaker for me.

All my MIDI devices I can carry use USB.
And digital input is just on my amp.

In the future, connecting with the iPad can possibly come up.
RME babyface needs a PSU for that, which is an inconvenience.
So, I don't think that I'll go recording the stick in the woods with the ipad, I'll take my laptop then