What audio interface should i get??

mojew · #1 05-05-2003

So i'm looking to step up from my SBLive! and get into some serious recording. kind of as a hobbie and maybe a part time money earning thing working with some local bands too. And the first thing i need is a good way of getting multiple tracks of audio into my computer. Things i'm looking at right now are the motu 828, the motu 2408, and the aardvark q10.

i like the q10 because its got built-in preamps. But the motu things look great too. can anyone make any suggestions? money isn't so much of an object but i should probably try and keep it under a grand. And i kind of want to stay away from anything pro-tools as i'm super happy with sonar so far.

James Argo · #2 05-05-2003

You must have a look in Computer Recording & Soundcard forum for this topic. Just a hint...

Click soundcard this way...

Jaymz

James Argo · #3 05-05-2003

...and if you don't find INCA 88 there...

Click this way for Inca 88...

Jaymz

moskus · #4 05-05-2003

Thank you, James! You're still the man!

James Argo · #5 05-05-2003

...and the truth...

Click this way for the best sound card ever...

LOL!!!

mojew · #6 05-05-2003

sorry. i'm a bit new to this board, i just thought people in the cakewalk forum might be able to suggest stuff that works well with cakewalk. i'll definitely check out the inca 88 though. thanks!

moskus · #7 05-05-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by James Argo
...and the truth...

Click this way for the best sound card ever...

LOL!!!

You shouldn't post like this, James. People might believe you!

And it wont help them at all!

mojew · #8 05-06-2003

word. i've got an sblive right now. the sound is "okay"... but its frustrating as hell to record drums with only one input... even two would be a million times easier.

moskus · #9 05-06-2003

I suggest the Audiotrak INCA88, since that's what I use...

I'm very happy with it, but if you want a 24/96 card with 8ins/8outs, I suggest the Delta 1010.

But the Inca88 shurely is great for the price!

mojew · #10 05-06-2003

yeah, i definitely want 8ins/outs and definitely want 24 bit. it looks like the delta is a good bet. can i chain a bunch of those together incase i eventually want more input/output?

moskus · #11 05-06-2003

Yepp!

James Argo · #12 05-06-2003

Terratec EWS 88 MT is also good option beside the great Inca 88 & Delta 1010.

Jaymz

moskus · #13 05-06-2003

But does it have WinXP/2000 drivers?

James Argo · #14 05-06-2003

Yes, I believe they're here to download...

Jaymz

moskus · #15 05-06-2003

And what about WDM-drivers?

The page doesen't mention any WDM-drivers. Only ASIO, MME and GSIF.

James Argo · #16 05-06-2003

I believe it works just fine. BluesMeister got one (EWX2496), and he didn't get any problem with it.

Jaymz

moskus · #17 05-06-2003

The EWT88 shure looks like a card I could go for...

Maybe I will, it's even cheaper than my Inca88. And it has 24/96-capabilities. And is not a discontinued card... But I need money first (don't we always).

mojew · #18 05-06-2003

okay, i'm leaning more and more towards the delta 1010, but i'm still very attracted to the q10 because it has built in preamps, and the motu looks very nice as well... but i've heard both can have compatibility issues? are there any resources where i can read about these compatibility issues?

that terratec card looks fantastic too. i'd never heard of terratec before... are they a well known company?

carlosguardia · #19 05-06-2003

I just got a really good deal on a Delta 1010LT brand new... I was on a good mood, had the cash, the deal was really good and I went ahead and bought it. I had made the attempt to import the q10 for a while but they were futile since I'm in Costa Rica and it's not easy to have things like that shipped here. Anyways, I bought it a couple of hours ago but I'm at work so I have to wait untill I get home to install it. In any case, I'm quite happy with the upgrade (I was working with the SBLive platinum 5.1) but want to know what opinion you guys have about the 1010LT???!!!!!

Carlos

acidrock · #20 05-06-2003

Here's a card I wish I had.The front inputs override the back ones so you don't have to access the back.

http://bayviewproaudio.com/edirol_da2496.html

Paul881 · #21 05-07-2003

The Edirol range is beginning to make some waves (no pun intended

) in HoRec circles, some very nice reviews.

JasonBird · #22 05-08-2003

I got rid of the 2408 mk 3 and got into an RME Multiface and it's been great! Audio, spdif, midi, adat. 24/96, great driver support, and works with laptops and pc.
Jason

canada-paul · #23 05-09-2003

I've been using an SBLive and have been itching to get something half decent. I definately consider myself a newbie, and used to think that the difference between an SBLive and something more expensive was like splitting hairs. But is it just me or does everyone's ears get subconciously trained over time without thinking about it?? I can't even bear to hear what my guitar sounds like after it runs through the SBLive. I used to monitor on the 'out' side of the soundcard through my stereo, and I thought my Korg Pandora sounded lifeless (its noisy, and not really useable for direct recording, but it's definately not lifeless). Then I got a mixer and started monitoring from the board the the little thing just jumped to life, but when I played back my .wav of cruddy guitar riffing, it sounded kinda like I'd recorded through a telephone. The low end disappears and the highs are cut off. I mentioned it on this board some time ago and someone mentioned that I was hearing my A/D convertors. I plugged my headphones into the end of the cable that was running from my tape-out on the mixer to the soundcard just to be sure it wasn't the mixer or the cable that was screwing with the signal and it sounded fine. Then I plugged the headphones directly into the line out on the soundcard to check and see exactly what the .wav sounded like after running through the soundcard but before getting back to the mixer. It sounded like absolute crap. So the weak point in my link is definately the sound blaster and not the Pandora or the mixer (I like the Behringer UB1204-Pro quite a bit actually).

Time and time again people here had suggested that the SBLive wasn't sufficient for decent recording, but until I finally heard it for myself (and it took a year or so for me to finally hear it), I didn't believe it. The real test will be when I purchase a new card (maybe a Delta 44) to see if I hear a huge difference. My worry right now is that I shell out the $350 or $400 Canadian to pick one of these puppies up and I only get half way to the kind of sound quality I want. To me, using 24/96 audio quality you should be able to capture and re-create exactly the tone and subtleties you hear straight out of the Pandora. (Which, after the sound card, I will likely find doesn't do the trick anymore and will get a POD XT or similar)

Anyways, to all those sticking with their SBLive's for now... from my experience, with alot of listening and a little bit of time, you too will discover how unbelievably crappy these things capture audio. Its not splitting hairs at all. There's less difference between a 128k MP3 and a CD than there is between what goes in and what comes out of a SoundBlaster.

Paul881 · #24 05-09-2003

Quote:

Time and time again people here had suggested that the SBLive wasn't sufficient for decent recording, but until I finally heard it for myself (and it took a year or so for me to finally hear it), I didn't believe it

Yeah, Canada-paul, its true. You just can't believe the difference between an S/B Live! and a pro-am soundcard. Its like night and day.

moskus · #25 05-09-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by canada-paul
There's more difference between a 128k MP3 and a CD than there is between what goes in and what comes out of a SoundBlaster.

Don't you mean:
"There is less difference between 128...."

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