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Cheers!
Having done a bit more homework, I've decided that the best option is just to get the fastest possible PCIe soundcard I can, and run a mixer off it for my analogue I/Os. This means I no longer have to worry about anything other than the performance of the soundcard itself, mainly with regards latency. As far as I can tell, MOTU and RME are the way to go here... any recommendations? Again: no need for a breakout box now, I don't think.
simply check the manual for the motherboard which should come with every PC ... it will show a drawing and a list of expansion slots@mrgatenby said:
Ah and how do I make sure I can get PCIe? Fairly confident, it's a brand new PC with a great motherboard.
christian
The MOTU 2408 consists of a PCIe (or you can order it with a PCIX) card and a breakout box connected to the card with a Firewire cable. However, the fact that it is a Firewire cable does not mean that it is making use of the computer's Firewire circuitry. MOTU has just announced a new version of its 828 Firewire interface that comes with new features and new software - - which may imply that their PCIe interfaces will be similarly updated, you might want to wait a little to see if this proves true.
If you want the "fastest" possible card with the lowest latency - - and price is no problem - - you might want to check out Apogee's offerings. Their Symphony card reputedly has the lowest latency available but requires one of their proprietary D/A or AD/DA boxes. These are VERY pricey items: the Symphony card is about $720, the Rosetta AD/DA 8 channel converter is about $2700 + $190 for the requisite Apogee X-Symphony card to connect it to the Symphony, the DA-16X, 16 channel digital to analog converter is about $3200 (+ $190 for the requisite Apogee X-Symphony card - - for A/D conversion you would additionally need an AD-16X box at the same price as the DA - 16X box). To control volume from these output devices it appears you would need a mixer or something like the Dangerous Music D Box Summing/Monitoring system (beginning at $1400). I've heard this stuff and it sounded great, but . . . . it does cost about $5000 to duplicate the features of the MOTU 2408 which costs less than $1000.
@cm said:
the apogee does have a tiny disadvantage though ... there are no windows drivers available (at least i couldn't find any) and it seems michael is on a PC ...
christian
Christian:
A "tiny dsadavantage" - ah yes... However, the DA-16X does seem to have a driver for Widows XP. Personally, it all seems rather extravagantly expensive. I have often wondered exactly whose DSP chips one would find inside these things...
Ok I'm making some progress. I think these are the soundcards I've narrowed it down to:
That's the RME Multiface II, the RME Hammerfall DSP9632 and the E-MU 1616. The latter 2 are significantly cheaper, though I'd have to buy a mixer to allow recording of live instruments too. The question is now: is it worth spending that extra money on the Multiface in order to keep latency and other performance issues to an absolute minimum? I'm having a hard time getting an idea of what the difference will actually be.
If there'll be no significant difference, I'll probably get one of the cheaper options with a basic mixer, and spend the money I save on more VST instruments.
I'm so close, bear with me.....
@cm said:
i'm somehow biassed, but whenever possible i'd choose RME ... their drivers are outstanding for all platforms and the mixer utility is great for internal or re-routing of audio
christian
Christian:
I'm wondering if you - - or any other forum participants - - can say whether you find the RME interfaces significantly better in sound than the MOTU interfaces such as the 2408. I realize RME's mixing software has features that MOTU's software lacks, but am just wondering here about differences in sound quality. I am planning a new system and have not found anywhere in the New York area where one can A/B different equipment.
since i'm one of the *pig-eared* guys i can't comment on sonic details (i'd assume the used application would have actually more influence) ... but regarding quality and availability of drivers as well as for support the vote goes clearly to RME
christian
