Ardvark Q10 preamp/converter characteristics?

[ambi]

The ardvark q10 seems like the perfect card in every way for me. It eliminates the need for me needing a mixer because it has preamps, seperate headphone and monitor outputs with volume knobs, hi z guitar inputs, etc... It seems to be perfect, it's more expensive than say a delta 1010, but it has the preamps and everything else. So everything is perfect in theory, but it all comes down to the sound of the unit.

Could anyone give me a rough overview of its sound preamp/coverter wise? Mainly preamps.
Mackies are considered quite clean and uncoloured, the Art is warm and a bit dark, etc... Does it have any areas that are exadurated, or any areas that are lacking? I would be recording pretty much all tracks with it so would there be any frequencies building up in a certain area?

Just a general overview of its sound if anyone has a minute? I've heard the a/d conversion is on par with others in it's league such as the delta 1010.

 

[Beezoboy]

You're right. It is the perfect card. It works solid and has preamps that sound to me better than the Mackie XDR. I don't know how to do seperate headphone mixes though with it. I have really not messed with that yet though.

It really is a great card and sounds good too. Price is a bit prohibitive, but when you consider that you totally don't need a mixing board it makes it quite a contender. I would say the only step up from here might be a Motu HD192 or something. Then there is always lynx and lucid.

Beezoboy

 

[ambi]

Thats true, but the motu is quite a price jump isn't it? Another concern i just though about was monitoring your mix while tracking. Say when doing vocals i wanted to listen to the mix from the computer, and my vocals coming through the headphones in the mix, could you do this? On the mackie board i used before i had the computer output going to the mackie, and then controlling the signal from there, and adjusting the input of the mic so i could get the volume right for recording. Hmm that doesn't really make sense. Is there softwear that controls the ardvark q10 so i could adjust those things?

 

[DigitalDon]

That's not a problem at all. I use Cakewalk PA 9 with my Q10. While you're recording new tracks any existing tracks you don't have muted will also be heard in your headphones or monitors. Both the record and monitor levels are easily adjustable from the Q10 software control panel and Cakewalk panels.

As far as quiet preamps, my previous recording gear was a Tascam 424, then a Yamaha DSP Factory and now the Q10. Of course there's no comparison in sound quality. Can't respond on the Mackie, etc as I've never owned one. My main reason for purchasing the Q10 was to bypass purchasing a mixer (couldn't have afforded a Mackie anyhow) and to simplify my signal chain.

DD