Audiophile 2496 Drawbacks (?)

[nevets]

I recently purchased a 2496. I'd like to make sure it is a strategically wise choice. (Today is the last day I can return it.)

My goals for the card:

1. songwriting aid: transcribing, etc (via hookup with digital keyboard and Finale software)
-> got this to work

2. copy old cassettes etc. to CD
-> literature claims this can be done

3. copy minidisk content to a CD
-> by connecting headphone output of minidisk machine to analog in (????)
- I have a cable which would seem to support this
- headphone jack is the only output

4. record songs - layering of tracks is fine
- digital (keyboard etc) and analog (acoustic guitar etc)
-> I believe the latter can be done with pre-amp, mikes, software, etc (as seen in other postings).

What I am missing by not having "CD Digital In"? The ability to add CD content (and other digital sources) to something I create, I guess (??). If I do end up needing this can it be achieved by other means?

I am willing to spend a little more if it makes sense to do so.

Thanks for any help,
Steve

 

[Chris Fallen]

If it works for everything you're doing then that sounds like a good soundcard to keep.

And I don't know about "CD digital in," but you DO have a digital in with the s/pdif.

 

[Stealthtech]

What I am missing by not having "CD Digital In"? The ability to add CD content (and other digital sources) to something I create, I guess (??). If I do end up needing this can it be achieved by other means

If you mean using data from another CD....then you can do that thru your software. Simply extract or import the data or audio from any CD and add it to your music track.

 

[nevets]

Thanks for the input. I am now thinking it would be best to start off with something out of the box which supports live audio too. At a glance it looked like M-Audio's Omni Studio would fit the bill but upon closer it appears to have no MIDI support.

So what about the M-Audio Delta 1010-LT? I see the word "MIDI" all over its web page (http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/1010lt.php). I would like to know for sure that its feature set is a super set of that offered by the Audiophile 2496 so I can get the capabilities mentioned above. The 2496 web page (http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/audiophile.php) explicitly lists the following:
• MIDI recording and playback
• Digital transfers; Digital mastering
• LP/cassette-to-CD transfers
• Computer-based Home Theater systems
• Computer-based Hi-Fi systems

I'm guessing one can do all of this (and more) with the 1010-LT but I'm new to this world. Another way of stating all this is: Is the 1010-LT all I need or do I still need a "basic/consumerish" card like the 2496?

Also: Should I really lay out the extra bucks and get the 1010 -> separate box -> less noise ??

Any knowledge about this?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Stealthtech]

The AP has limited ins & outs...2 analog and 2 digital + MIDI
The 1010 is 10 in 10 out, I think 2 of those are digital.
The AD/DA converters on the 1010 are somewhat better than the AP.
The 1010LT and 1010 are 2 different beasts. One has a bundle of cables and the other has a breakout box (hence the cost difference)
If you need more than 2 inputs simultaneously then the 1010 will be a better choice.

 

[nevets]

So to have MIDI with the 1010 I need a second card?

Similarly, what is missing if I went with MBox? MIDI and what else? The jacks look much different than say the 2496: e.g. no left and right RCA jacks (confusing ??).