Alright Fella's, i put a post in the NEWBS section, and received a good bit of info from a few fella's already (great forum and great advice here) but thought i'd post my last reply as i'm nearly there with my choice, just wondering if anyone can possiby sway my decision. All bases have been covered so far in terms of eqiupment being used, expectations, needs, and computer capability, so narrowed it down to these 2:
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra USB 2.0 and
Tascam US 1641
And here is my last post from the thread i posted#
"Its only really the USB 2.0 i'm lookin at but at least i now know what to look for so nice one.
Anyway, did a bit of digging, looked at the M Audio Fast Track specs (this may be helpful to others too)
On the specs it says that it has the M Audio Octane pre amps, which upon further inspection (it doesnt list the db on the specs of the product itself, had to google M Audio Octane) seem to be at 50db. Elsewhere, in a review, someone reported 60db So, this seems not to match what you consider to be good enough, but also, it has a 20 db pad. I'm assuming you can raise it to 70 - 80db with this?
SNR is -103db
Has Phantom power
24 bit/96KHZ
Relating to this comment "Having a unit that boasts 24 bit is not that meaningful if the dynamic range specs of the unit are down below 100db (barely above 16 bit spec of 96 db)" - does this refer to the SNR (103db) or the pre-amp db? (50db, 20db pad)?
also, i cant for the life of me find the rpm of my computer, all the specs i posted above in reply to Supercreep is whats in my system properties in my control panel, doesnt have the RPM. Looked on the net but so many versions of my Acer 7730 i'm unsure, dont think they're too shoddy but i'd like to know.
The Tascam 1641 on the other hand:
Pre-amps - from -2dBu to -58dBu for the eight XLRs and from +4dBu to -42dBu for the jacks
Has Phantom power
SNR not listed
24bit/96khz
So, i'm nearly there. From the reviews, the Tascam seems a bit better due to amount of inputs and ease of access, but people have had probs with Vista, and the Cubase it comes with. The people on the reaper forum have reported probs using it with reaper too.
The M Audio comes with shitter software (Ableton) and so some more will have to be bought or *ahem* acquired. Not sure of its compatibility with reaper. But seems more compatible with drivers hmmmm
Anyone want to throw their tuppence worth in? Make my mind up for me before i journey into the unknown?"
Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts that could possibly sway my decision?
Thanks!
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra USB 2.0 and
Tascam US 1641
And here is my last post from the thread i posted#
"Its only really the USB 2.0 i'm lookin at but at least i now know what to look for so nice one.
Anyway, did a bit of digging, looked at the M Audio Fast Track specs (this may be helpful to others too)
On the specs it says that it has the M Audio Octane pre amps, which upon further inspection (it doesnt list the db on the specs of the product itself, had to google M Audio Octane) seem to be at 50db. Elsewhere, in a review, someone reported 60db So, this seems not to match what you consider to be good enough, but also, it has a 20 db pad. I'm assuming you can raise it to 70 - 80db with this?
SNR is -103db
Has Phantom power
24 bit/96KHZ
Relating to this comment "Having a unit that boasts 24 bit is not that meaningful if the dynamic range specs of the unit are down below 100db (barely above 16 bit spec of 96 db)" - does this refer to the SNR (103db) or the pre-amp db? (50db, 20db pad)?
also, i cant for the life of me find the rpm of my computer, all the specs i posted above in reply to Supercreep is whats in my system properties in my control panel, doesnt have the RPM. Looked on the net but so many versions of my Acer 7730 i'm unsure, dont think they're too shoddy but i'd like to know.
The Tascam 1641 on the other hand:
Pre-amps - from -2dBu to -58dBu for the eight XLRs and from +4dBu to -42dBu for the jacks
Has Phantom power
SNR not listed
24bit/96khz
So, i'm nearly there. From the reviews, the Tascam seems a bit better due to amount of inputs and ease of access, but people have had probs with Vista, and the Cubase it comes with. The people on the reaper forum have reported probs using it with reaper too.
The M Audio comes with shitter software (Ableton) and so some more will have to be bought or *ahem* acquired. Not sure of its compatibility with reaper. But seems more compatible with drivers hmmmm
Anyone want to throw their tuppence worth in? Make my mind up for me before i journey into the unknown?"
Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts that could possibly sway my decision?
Thanks!
