Can someone please help me with a decision?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Malice_227
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Malice_227

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Hello everyone, I was browsing the net last night looking for soundcards. I was looking forward to getting an Aardvark direct pro 24/96 untill I came here and read up on the E-MU 1820M.

Before I go any further, I'll fill you in on some information to help me pick the right card.

First of all, the number of inputs and outputs isnt an important factor to me, as I record everything solo, what IS important to me is sound quality. Im looking for the best possibal audio quality I can get at a max of $500 U.S plus tax. I want somthing heavily sheilded to block out PC noise, silent transperant preamps, and Im eager to try out a S/PIDF connection with my BOSS-GT 6.

I also have a question about recording with cubase vst/32. The highest I can set the recording quality at is 24 bit and 48.000 kHz. Can you get a plugin or update to record at 96 kHz? Do I have to buy SX or another recording program to get 96 kHz?

Are those cards compatable with my system? My specs are:

AMD duron 850 mhz processor, 320 megs of ram, and windows ME. (I know, its crap but I have no money to upgrade right now)
Whatever card I get is going to have to be PCI as well.

Should I expect to hear a big difference between either of those cards over my crappy sound blaster live? (Im expecting a yes here but I'd like to hear it)

And lastly, how does the E-MU 1820 (without the M) compare to both the 1820M and the aardvark direct pro 24/96? Because due to my budget I may have to get somthing along the price range of the 1820.

Thanks for your time guys.
 
Look at the dual channel Lynx1 and RME soundcards if your looking for high quality PCI internal soundcards. If it as me I stick with the Aardvark.

SoMm
 
I checked out the lynx cards, even the lynx one is out of my price range :( Then I checked out the RME, they are also a bit pricey, and also dosnt include a breakout box.

Thanks for your thoughts though,I appretiate it.

Im still very curious about the E-MU cards though, the 1820 and 1820M in particular.
 
Im sorry I missed your budget limitation. But then I found this:
http://www.bayviewproaudio.com/rme_quadmic.html

Are you absolutely sure you can't scrounge a little extra?

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/lynxone.htm This Lynx1 is under $500 and is an awesome card.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--EMU1820 is $399 for two channels... I think thats a pretty good deal but Im not sure if it can compete with the Lynx or RME as far as quality goes.

As far as VST 32 it might be a reach to even use the 48khz sample rate. I think for the most part 48khz will be fine so I wouldn't worry right now. IMO, there are alot of folks still using 48Khz, including myself even though Im fully capapble of 96Khz. If you can squeeze the SX upgrade in with the EMU BOB then youll probably never know the difference. When you do start to know the difference then you'll want to upgrade anyhow. It never ends :)

SoMm
 
I would also recomend the M-Audio Omni studio as it is a PCI interface and a breakout box/mixer. It also has S/PDIF so you would be able to use it with your boss pedal.

Another option is the audiophile 2496 which is 2 in and 2 out with an additional S/PDIF i/o. With that you would want to buy a small mixer with preamps though. A spirit notepad does the trick. That combination should still keep you under $500 US.

And yes you will hear a big difference between any of the cards that have been suggested and your SBL. Keep in mind that the SBL will also only record at a max of 16bit even if you do have Cubase set for 24bit.

I would be a little concerned about running WinME however. WinME is basically a bug fix for Win98 and I doubt that you will see any future drivers/support from most manufactures in the near future for either 98 or ME.
 
Thanks guys. Checked out the lynx1 link you gave me mixerman, looks like a great card, are the only inputs MIDI and S/PIDF btw? maybe I missed it, but thats all I saw. I still dont know if I can afford it, like I said I may have to get somthing at $399, well see anyways.

As for E-MU using xp, well I have xp kicking around here somewhere, its just when I reformatted I used the disc my PC came with, which had ME. My concern with going to xp is that, will cubase vst/32 work on XP? How about sound forge 4.5?

Thanks again guys.
 
Ive heard of both the M omni studio and audiophile before, never really checked them out though. How is the sound quality?

Also, do either of those cards have pre amps? A decent pre amp would be great as Im forced to use a very cheap behringer MIC 100 right now, which is, well not very good, not to mention all the extra noisy cords.

I am interested to hear about those cards though.
 
The quality is very good. You will find lots of users of m-audio cards on this board.

The omni studio has 2 preamps built into the breakout box as well as inserts, sends, 2 headphone jacks etc. It really is a cool little box.

With the audiohpile 2496 you would have to buy a cheap mixer with preamps to duplicate all the functions that the omni studio gives you.

It's worth checking out if you can.
 
For your guit, isn't your BOSS GT-6 your pre-amp anyway?

I use the AP 2496 with a 1604A mixer and it works out just beautifully for recording everything one at a time. The mixer provides the pre-amp for dynamic mic's and phantom power for condensor's if need be. The AP 2496 has analog I/O, Midi I/O and Spdif, so it does just about everything for $150.
 
Well guys, I just put xp back on the PC. I seem to have most things working right, so I'll probably be getting an EMU card.

Does anyone know if there'll be much of a difference between the EMU 1820 and the 1820M? I can order the 1820 today, but Im gonna have to try and sell my digital camera to get the 1820M.

To reply to the BOSS GT-6 being my guitar pre amp, that is correct, but I wouldnt be to comfortable sending vocals through it. On that same note, having pre amps built into the card is verrryy convenient, less cords means less noise.

Anyways, many thanks for your help guys, and if anyones got some personal experience with the EMU 1820 or 1820M, please let me know!
 
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