ISIS Maxi Studio (Guillemot) Review

[Kryten]

I'm currently writing up a full review for the Maxi Studio ISIS to send to Dragon but here's my thoughts.

The ISIS allows 8 channels (4 stereo pairs) of input (at line level) and 4 channels (2 stereo pairs). It also has some SPDIF digital in/out, but I don't know a lot about this end (I'm a guitarist and computer tech, not much of a recording guru).
The MIDI playpack is excellant, with upgradable memory using SIMMs.

Basically I needed a card to playback my drum tracks (done in MIDI) and record guitar, bass and vocals (not my vocals . This card does it very well. Running on a Celerono 400 with 64Mg and plenty of hard disk space, I haven't had any problems with limited number of tracks (only trying to work out what to play . I'm using Cakewalk pro audio 8 becuase I already know how to use it. It did come with bundled software but I haven't had a good look yet.

Changing modes (this is a bit unfortunate as you have to reboot your computer) between Console (being able to use the 8/4 in/out) and Game mode is simple and surround sound (or emulated surround I should say) is available.

In general

Pro:
8 in
4 out
digital in/out
dedicated breakout box for ad,da conversions and connections
easy installation (then again I'm used to pulling computers apart.)

Con:
Line level inputs mean you need mic pre-amps or mixer (which I'm saving for know)
Clunky looking console for the input levels, it works but it's not exactly brilliant to look at)
horrible name, i mean , ISIS, reminds me of some Egyption knockoff.

That's about it, if any one has any specfic questions...ask.

D:\>

[neadam]

Have read in several recording forums with people who say the drivers are garbage for that thing. I'm also the computer tech type, and figure i could work around this, where did you buy it and how much did you pay? Does the midi card support standard soundfont files? Ever tried it with n-track or cool edit pro or soundforge? Just talked to a guy over in flavios forum (fasoft.com) who says that other than crappy install instructions, it runs and sounds good, and he only paid like $300. (as opposed to the aark, or gadgetlabs, or uggghh-layla)
Thanks for any input.
Nathan

[sdemmery]

Ive had the ISIS for about a month now. Yes the drivers and bundeled Logic Audio are Garbage. The card has a problem with Via Chipsets, which cause the card not to be recognised on some boot ups. (This is a big problem for many users & guillimot say there will be no fix)

I run a AMD 500 K6-2, 2 X 20GB Segate 7200 UDMA 66 drives, 256MB ram. I got contiuous, PCAV11 errors from Logic (ususally caused by a processing problem on the effects) so I dumped it and started shopping around for other packages. I ended up testing Cubase 3.7VST 24, Cakewalk Pro 8, Vegas Pro, Samplitude & N-Track. I had problems of different sorts with all these applications but I must say not as bad as Logic. However Im now sticking with N-Track, It really is the dogs bollox, giving me almost no problems except not being able to add more than 2 effects on individual channels & 2 on aux, using 8 tracks. (just need to mix down or use editor to do some permenant effects) Anymore than this and N-track refuses to work claiming buffering probs. This and many of my other faults could I think be due to the K6-2 chip. Im going to invest in a PIII 600 or Coppermine which as I understand have better floating point calculations than the K6 which is what is used in adding the effects.

Anyway thats my $0.00 worth. All round yes it has given me major problems, but I like a challenge & hey its was a lot cheaper than some of the other cards out there. "You get what you pay for"

[tutton]

Yo Guys

This thing was my WORST nightmare and Im a experienced Comp tech and Guitarist.

>>quote<<
>Ive had the ISIS for about a month now. Yes the drivers and bundeled Logic Audio are Garbage. The card has a problem with Via Chipsets, which cause the card not to be recognised on some boot ups. (This is a big problem for many users & guillimot say there will be no fix)

Yeah mine has probs on bootup with the Athlon board, but they said it wouldnt work with a VIA chipset but its fine....this thing was a pain in the Pentium II ,III but a dream in the Athlon....Ive had this card for 12 Mths now and Logic is fine once you work out how to make the card behave

Drivers.... The latest ones here... www.sound-music.com

work fine

Tony

[tutton]

As for the Tech Guys in some of these Helpdesk companies half of them wouldnt know what there on about. (IE Event and Guillemot...)

Apparently these two Manufacturers cards wont run with the a VIA Chipset in the Althlon...Rubbish! thats how much they know.

Stay Away From the VIA thay say Stay Away.. HA .....what would I know though I've only built and worked on 400 odd systems....

All I can say is Get Rid of the Games and build the Comp for Audio.....THE moral of the story is...Your not going to know what Chipset is going to work until you try it


Tony


[This message has been edited by tutton (edited 06-27-2000).]

[MISTERQCUE]

How much does the ISIS cost 'bout?

[tutton]

Exactly $759 Aust. duno bout there but most likely some ridiculous price...like $179 US
but not sure

Tony

[pornuccio]

I am currently waiting ( four weeks and counting) for my ISIS card to arrive, and I am also about to purchase a new computer, such as the AMD 700, which I hear does good floating point calculation. I'm not much of a computer wiz, so I was a bit worried with thje talk of chipset conflicts with the card. Can anyone recommend the best one to buy?

[tutton]

Yo
The best chipset ?????

Tony

[LongWaveStudio]

Can anyone telling me of a way to stop Logic Audio (Pro and Platinum) to stop giving me PCAV errors? I've found quite a lot of people experiencing the same problems when using it with the ISIS. I've switched to Cubase/ProTools till I can sort Logic out. HELP!

[Spider]

well i was having the same problems.. i was using a 5200 speed drive at the time .. so i replaced it with a 20gb 7200 speed and it seems absolutely fine.. I use to have terrible problems with sync problems just recording audio... make sure dma is on ...

spider