Advice on soundcard purchase, please?

  • Thread starter Thread starter agnor
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agnor

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Hello everyone. I'm looking to start recording at home on my PC, the same as everyone else. I've been reading as much as possible everything I can find about it, and am preparing to buy a soundcard. I would greatly appreciate it if you guys could recommend a card.

First off, this is a solo project. I'll be using mostly line-level inputs, which an occasional MIDI track. I'll be recording one track/instrument at a time, so I don't see a need for something with 6/8/etc inputs. If it comes with it, fine, but I don't NEED it.

Also, all of my editing / mastering / whatever will be done on the PC, so I won't need to go out to rack-mount effects, or anything like that. Like above, it the card comes with it, fine, but I don't NEED it.

Now then, to the matter of budget. Initially, I had planned on spending no more than $200 or so. I know I won't get a top-o-the-line card for this. But from what I've read, something in this range would probably work just fine for me. However, I do have a credit card, so I *could* buy something more expensive, if I could justify it. IE, it'd be so much better that it'd be worth the extra 200 or 300 ;)

Here are the cards I've been looking at.

Echo Mia
M audio Delta 44
Audiophile 2496

And then I also took a look at the Delta 1010LT, but it's 379 on musician's friend, so really need to know if it's worth it to get that.

And those are the ones I've narrowed it down to. I've heard that the soundblaster Audigy cards are to be avoided for pro (or semi-pro, whatever) audio recording.

I could really use some help here, please. This is a big purchase, and I DON'T want to screw it up. Thanks for taking the time to read!
 
id go with the Audiophile or Mia.....

if you go with the delta 44 you wont have midi ins/outs so that will be $$$ added to the cost......

the only reason to go with the 1010lt is if you need 8 ins/outs....otherwise you have pretty much the same features as the Audiophile......

if you need balanced connectors go with the Mia....it will cost a few extra $$$ but if that is an issue then it will be worth it....i find keeping cable runs short, the Audiophile doesnt have a problem......
 
What about the M Audio Omni Studio? I know it's 429, but it also has the capability to use mics... also, it would seem (but maybe I'm wrong) that the breakout dealie that comes with it eliminates the need for a mixer?

I'd be willing to pay the extra money, I suppose, if I knew that I it'll do what I want to do now (see above), as well as possibly use mics in the future, as well as having digital I/O. And not having to buy a mixer sounds great, too.

But I'm looking at the picture on it, and I'm not seeing the inputs. How many inputs does the Delta 66 have, and what type? 1/4"? RCA?"

Argh. This is confusing :)
 
the Delta 66 is 4in/4out analog 1/4" plus the digital i/o....the omni studio uses the delta 66 pci card with a different breakout box wchich has the inputs, aux channels, headphone outs, preamps....if all you need are 2 mic preamps, yes the omni can replace a mixer.....and the 2 preamps are very nice ones.....

http://www.digitalproaudio.com/manufacturer/midiman.html

the omni is $382 here...if you rather deal with a different dealer, they may match the price.....

ive dealt with sharon at www.audiomidi.com and had a great experience.....
 
don't forget though....

that the delta 66 doesn't have any midi in/outs...you'd have to get a separate midi interface if you went that route....

the delta converters are real nice though...I have a delta44 and am very happy with it...I use a SoundBlaster Platinum Live for midi in/out, soundfonts, etc.

as far as the omni-studio eliminating the need for a mixer...well, I guess that depends on what you're using a mixer for...if you want to record more than 4 inputs (+2 digital) at once, then you would still need a mixer...but if you're recording 2 mics + 2 line levels (and 2 digital inputs, possibly)..you could go straight into the omni-studio box and it would work quite well, I'm sure...
 
I'm really thinking about the Omni studio (with the delta 66). Getting a seperate dealie for MIDI wouldn't be that big of a deal. Other than that, it seems to be everything that I need, plus having a lot of stuff I very well may use in the future.

You guys think this is a good purchase?
 
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