"Keith G" wrote

OK Arny, try this: when using the USB mic, I frequently have to boost the
signal by 12 dB or so to get a good showing in the software. As a
long-term recordist, due you think this is deleterious to the sound
quality or would hardware preamplification (if I could find any*) be a
better way to go?


*Plenty of 'Blue Icicle' type XLR/USB and 'MicPort' *converters*:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r2Du_1r8VE


....but no USB/USB preamplifiers, from what I can see.

Well you won't get any. By the time the signal gets to the USB connector
it's already in digital form, so the opportunity for pre-amplification has
already been and gone. You'd need to increase the analogue gain *inside*
the microphone.

David.