Tekker
New member
What audio interfaces or soundcards would you guys recommend for the beginner level (<$300), intermediate level ($300-$1,000), and more advanced level ($1,000+)?
Last edited:
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Delta 66
Delta 1010
2-Delta 1010's
Delta 1010
2-Delta 1010's
N
Nashstudio
New member
Hmm sounds like someone should get a fucking endorsment here LOL
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Any endorsement offers have to go thru my lawyer.....
Tekker
New member
I'm looking at getting a SEK'D Siena - 8 in/out (in the not to distant future, hopefully), what do you guys think of this card? Good/bad? Or would you suggest something like the Ardvark 24 or the Echo Layla 24? And any other suggestions for an 8 in/out card/interface would be great too.
Tekker
New member
Gidge,
I'm not to familiar with delta, how many in/outs do they have and how much?
I'm not to familiar with delta, how many in/outs do they have and how much?
dobro
Well-known member
If I had more than $1k to spend on that sort of thing, I think I'd go with a dedicated A/D D/A converter - if you've got that much cash, why screw around with second best?
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Dela 66 had 4 analog in/4 analog out plus S/PDIF i/0.....delta 1010 has 8/8 plus S/PDIF....And if you are looking for PRO results and not just semi-pro, Id definitely take Dobro's advice on dedicated converters....
Tekker
New member
What's the difference between an ADDA converter and an audio interface or soundcard?
vox
Member
The Interface/soundcard convert audio to digital AND interface it with your computer. A stand alone converter is an external box that usually does nothing except convert analog to digital, the good ones will do it VERY well and sound great.
Stand alone converters come in three types, AD - analog to digital conversion ONLY , DA - Digital to analog conversion ONLY, and AD/DA which will convert both ways. Keep this in mind while shopping around.
Stand alone converters come in three types, AD - analog to digital conversion ONLY , DA - Digital to analog conversion ONLY, and AD/DA which will convert both ways. Keep this in mind while shopping around.
Tekker
New member
Then how do you connect the AD/DA converter to the computer?
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
you need to go from the converter into a digital interface on the computer, basically a sound card....the card may or may not also have onboard converters but you will be bypassing them by going thru a digital input....good cards that will accept digital signals range from $100 on up.....Id say unless you are doing pro projects, the converters on cards like Deltas and Echos and Aardvarks will be plenty good.....compared to a Soundblaster type card, the converters on those I just mentioned make an average joker like me wet my pants...to a pro, they'll be ok, but those "big boy" ears can tell that things like headroom and dynamic range and stuff like that just arent top notch like your better name converters.....
C
CyanJaguar
New member
<300 : No idea, as long as it has s/pdif for future converter upgrade, and is capable of 24/96 operation
<600: definitely delta 1010 if one is in his right mind
>1000: MOTU 24i. The prorec guy rated the delta 1010 above all the other 8in/8 out cards, but said he preferred the sound of the motu 24i AND motu 1296 . I think they cost about $1500 though, compared to $550 for delta 1010.
<2000: Delta 1010 plus swissonic da2496 converter. Actually ,$1500(600 for delta+900 for swissonic) The swissonics are good enough for pro studio sound, and they are rated a single notch below the apogee psx-100(no uv22 dithering) which cost $3000(and get rave reviews) and are reputed to sound better than the 8 channel,$8000 apoge ad8000.
Over $4000: go for PARIS, but I doubt that the converters will beat the swissonic (or the motu 24i)
<600: definitely delta 1010 if one is in his right mind
>1000: MOTU 24i. The prorec guy rated the delta 1010 above all the other 8in/8 out cards, but said he preferred the sound of the motu 24i AND motu 1296 . I think they cost about $1500 though, compared to $550 for delta 1010.
<2000: Delta 1010 plus swissonic da2496 converter. Actually ,$1500(600 for delta+900 for swissonic) The swissonics are good enough for pro studio sound, and they are rated a single notch below the apogee psx-100(no uv22 dithering) which cost $3000(and get rave reviews) and are reputed to sound better than the 8 channel,$8000 apoge ad8000.
Over $4000: go for PARIS, but I doubt that the converters will beat the swissonic (or the motu 24i)
Tekker
New member
My friends dad has Paris and it sounds really good but I don't care too much for the editing software. So I think I'll look into swissonic, sounds expensive but it'll be worth it.
Does it matter wheather you had an expensive soundcard or a cheaper one (as long as it has digital inputs) when using the AD/DA converter because you would be bypassing the soundcard's converters, right?
Does it matter wheather you had an expensive soundcard or a cheaper one (as long as it has digital inputs) when using the AD/DA converter because you would be bypassing the soundcard's converters, right?
N
Nashstudio
New member
"My friends dad has Paris and it sounds really good but I don't care too much for the editing software"
Hehe yeah its hard to like a software when you don't know how to use it. If your friends dads, sisters, brothers former roommate has PARIS you wouldnt be able to learn the features of the program. The program can do just about everything from start to finish with a project. It is one of the most powerful software programs out there and does its job very well with rock solid performance. Maybe you should use it a little more or elaborate on your comments a little more because quite frankly I don't understand how you could say that.
Hehe yeah its hard to like a software when you don't know how to use it. If your friends dads, sisters, brothers former roommate has PARIS you wouldnt be able to learn the features of the program. The program can do just about everything from start to finish with a project. It is one of the most powerful software programs out there and does its job very well with rock solid performance. Maybe you should use it a little more or elaborate on your comments a little more because quite frankly I don't understand how you could say that.
Tekker
New member
I may not know a whole lot about it, but....
I do know enough about it to know what I like and dislike about it. My friend's dad gave me one of the two manuals he had, so I had been reading quite a bit on it and I downloaded a demo version of it (which is enough to kind of tell how easy it is to work with). I'm using cakewalk PA 9 right now and I'm used to a lot of the features it has. Some of the things that Paris doesn't have (that I can think of off the top of my head anyway) are the draw audio (pencil) tool and the volume (or pan) envelopes so it's very difficult to match volume when cutting and pasting audio clips. You also can't overlap different audio clips in the same track, when you slide one over it cuts the other one off. This is probably my main concern because I do a LOT of takes and then cut and paste the best parts from each take, so this is a major factor. Another thing is Paris doesn't support MIDI. This is not a big deal right now but I'm learning how to play the keyboard, so in the near future I'm going to want something with MIDI capabilities. I'm not to sure on this one, but from what I've read in the manual you can only have 16 tracks playing at once, even in free form mode you have to assign each track to 1 of 16 instruments which corresponds to 1 of the control 16 faders. So even though you can record more than that, only the track with the highest priority on each of the 16 tracks is going to play, but I may be wrong on this.
I already have an idea of what I want to get for my next software program anyway. I'm looking at the SEK'D Sequoia which has incredible editing features on it, so "for me" Paris just isn't what I'm looking for.
-tkr
I do know enough about it to know what I like and dislike about it. My friend's dad gave me one of the two manuals he had, so I had been reading quite a bit on it and I downloaded a demo version of it (which is enough to kind of tell how easy it is to work with). I'm using cakewalk PA 9 right now and I'm used to a lot of the features it has. Some of the things that Paris doesn't have (that I can think of off the top of my head anyway) are the draw audio (pencil) tool and the volume (or pan) envelopes so it's very difficult to match volume when cutting and pasting audio clips. You also can't overlap different audio clips in the same track, when you slide one over it cuts the other one off. This is probably my main concern because I do a LOT of takes and then cut and paste the best parts from each take, so this is a major factor. Another thing is Paris doesn't support MIDI. This is not a big deal right now but I'm learning how to play the keyboard, so in the near future I'm going to want something with MIDI capabilities. I'm not to sure on this one, but from what I've read in the manual you can only have 16 tracks playing at once, even in free form mode you have to assign each track to 1 of 16 instruments which corresponds to 1 of the control 16 faders. So even though you can record more than that, only the track with the highest priority on each of the 16 tracks is going to play, but I may be wrong on this.
I already have an idea of what I want to get for my next software program anyway. I'm looking at the SEK'D Sequoia which has incredible editing features on it, so "for me" Paris just isn't what I'm looking for.
-tkr
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Well said, Tekker....Paris does rock, but dedicated converters with a decent card and great software can rock too....while good equipment plays a bigpart in all of this, the person operating it is a MAJOR factor....I would guess that Sonusman could make better 4 track cassette tapes than what im doing on my 24/96 card....
So, Nash, hows that Paris endorsement coming along....
So, Nash, hows that Paris endorsement coming along....
C
CyanJaguar
New member
Nash,
Is this true about PARIS. only 16 tracks at once? golly, that's like unfair.
tekker,
Sjoko, uses lucid converters which cost $750, and if you listen to his post in the mp3 mixing clinic, it like WOW. Ted Fletcher also swears by the $750 lucid. He actually says that he prefers it to the apogee.
I was just telling you so that you would know the affordable converters out there. I am actually looking at the two (swissonic or lucid)units my self and I am desperately looking for comparisons or more reviews. ( I have decided to get the lucid
I put some review links here:
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=26120
Is this true about PARIS. only 16 tracks at once? golly, that's like unfair.
tekker,
Sjoko, uses lucid converters which cost $750, and if you listen to his post in the mp3 mixing clinic, it like WOW. Ted Fletcher also swears by the $750 lucid. He actually says that he prefers it to the apogee.
I was just telling you so that you would know the affordable converters out there. I am actually looking at the two (swissonic or lucid)units my self and I am desperately looking for comparisons or more reviews. ( I have decided to get the lucid
I put some review links here:
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=26120
Tekker
New member
Just keeping the post fresh in everyone's mindTekker said:
But I do also have another question; would it be better to get both the ad and the da converter or just use the soundcard as the output to the monitors? I'm assuming probably the da converter, to get the best possible sound to the monitors right? I've been reading about how important it is to have a good monitoring system so it would seem to me that you would want the best sound going to them too.
Tekker
New member
CyanJaguar,
How many inputs does the lucid have and is it just an AD converter (like the swissonic) or AD/DA?
I would think that there would be a way to get more than 16 track playback, I mean once you double track a rhythem and a lead guitar, run a direct bass and mic the cab, 6 or so mics on drums (bass, snare, 2 toms, and 2 overheads), double a vocal and a backing vocal....YOU'RE MAXED OUT!! Think about it 16 tracks is NOT that much, so there must be more that I just have no clue how to do.
How many inputs does the lucid have and is it just an AD converter (like the swissonic) or AD/DA?
I would think that there would be a way to get more than 16 track playback, I mean once you double track a rhythem and a lead guitar, run a direct bass and mic the cab, 6 or so mics on drums (bass, snare, 2 toms, and 2 overheads), double a vocal and a backing vocal....YOU'RE MAXED OUT!! Think about it 16 tracks is NOT that much, so there must be more that I just have no clue how to do.