Comaprisons!!!The three top dogs!!!

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PRiZ

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Apparently the three best sounding, somewhat high budget range cards are the... Lynx one, RME's lines, and the Soundcard deluxe.
Through experience or personal oppinion what is your pick...or is there one unlisted that you think should be in this category.
This post is semi-self centered towards my own needs, but I'm me.

What is the best to get...? I can't decide, they all seem like their for me in some way, but not the one...

Lynx...is perfect in everyway, but doesn't have 96 sample rate, which I feel is a huge drawback.

RME...(DIGI96/8 series in perticular) I can't tell where the sound quality rivals beside, or if this is really a good card, I havn't found enough on it, aslo I have to buy my midi compatibility.

Deluxe...Seems like it's perfect in soundquality, but it doesn't have midi and I don't know if it can...also lacks the features of the other.

These cards are all super, and the price range is in my budget either way...I need some oppinions, I think I've read everything ever written in the history of these cards and can't draw the line..

Also if it helps, I'm looking for connections for a pair of monitors, and preamp, and midi I/O for a keyboard. :)
but you don't half to decide for me, just your oppinion will be help enough. ThanKs!
 
Thanks!!

Sonusman even though you didn't reply, a reply I found of yours is freak'en ausome!!! ...This bassically solved my Lynx and DAL card deluxe problem, but it's still a matter of THE RME's cards...?

"I am looking into a soundcard myself for Mastering in the studio. Currently I rip mixes in. Anyway, I was seriously looking into the Card Deluxe. But, I think that I have found a more versatile card for the same money.

Go to www.lynxstudio.com and check out their card. Sonically speaking, the only difference between the Card Deluxe and the Lynx card is that the Lynx card will not support anything above 48khz sampling rates on it's A/D D/A converters. The Card Deluxe support up to 96khz. But, the Lynx DOES support 96khz through it's Digital I/O port.

Now, here is where the Lynx is a much better value.

Neither card has a wave synth on it, but, the Lynx has two fully duplex midi ports on it. This is important if you are going to be using extenal sequencing, or tone modules while recording. Also, some gear will only sync with MTC (midi time code). So with the Card Deluxe, you would have to purchase a midi sound card. I have a Soundcraft Ghost console in the studio and am looking forward to a reliable card to finally start using the dynamic mute automation on the console. I only need midi ports to do this (and of course software that records midi).

Both cards have 24bit A/D D/A converters. High bit converters is going to make more of a difference in the quality of the sound then higher sampling rates will. I am not saying that higher sampling rates won't make a difference, but just not as much of a difference. So the Lynx's downfall of only supporting 48khz on the analog converters is not all that big of deal at this point. If you are not using Moster Studio Pro 1000, or silver core wire in your setup, I doubt that you would be able to appreciate 96khz sampling rates anyway.

The Lynx card's digital I/O is software selectable between SPDIF and AES/EBU. This is important for going between outboard stuff such as CD-R recorders, DAT machines, etc....... The Card Deluxe only has SPDIF on coax type connectors. All big time digial transfers happen on AES/EBU, and many studies and blind listening tests have shown that AES/EBU is a better sounding digital format.

The Lynx card has Word Clock I/O on it. This is important if you ever want to sync video players, ADAT's, and any number of other things that need Word Clock. Some effect processors support Word Clock as well as have AES/EBU I/O. With the Card Deluxe, you would not be compatable with some of this stuff without buying other cards.

Both cards have NT drivers. That is a plus because it means that the cards are well designed and will work well on just about any OS. NT drivers are hard to write. If these cards have them, you can bet the are stable drivers.

The Lynx card is going for $450 at Bay View Pro Audio Music in WA. www.bayviewproaudio.com I believe will get you to their website, and they are not charging for shipping UPS ground in the USA.

I would really consider the Lynx card instead. It is compatable with all the good software. It is more versatile. And if you ever really want 96khz sampling rates down the road, well, A/D converters that will support this will be around $200-300 be year end."
 
priz,

You may or may not take this advice (most likely not, you seem to be asking the same questions over and over) but I honestly think that most of the Lynx's features are things that would be useful to Ed but not quite as much to the home user. Most "prosumer" gear does not have AES/EBU capability and cannot sync to word clock. Meanwhile, a lot of actual "pro" studio gear does. So unless you plan on investing thousands of dollars in gear that can do AES/EBU, or at the very least, record on ADAT, you will never make use of these functions. The MIDI interface is useful in both settings, but any $10 sound card can function along side a "prosumer" sound card as a MIDI interface. The Lynx is known for having excellent converters, however, but probably no better than the M-Audio, Aardvark, or Event cards. The fact that this card is 2-in, 2-out in analog is pretty limiting.

Instead of the Lynx, I would recommend the M-Audio Delta Studio, Seasound Solo, or Aardvark Direct Pro. All of these are fairly comparable. I would lean towards the Delta myself. For less than the Lynx card you are getting good pre's, some outboard mixing capability, pre-A/D monitoring, 4 analog ins and outs, etc. Basically you're getting more of what you need and less of what you don't. To the home user, the Lynx card offers little more functionality than an SB Live, apart from better and higher resolution convereters. I honestly think that you would be sorely disappointed by the Lynx. If you were building a studio full of AES/EBU capable gear, and had 8 tracks of ADAT to record to, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Lynx, but that is simply not the case. So please, consider my advice and consider some other cards.
 
"To the home user, the Lynx card offers little more functionality than an SB Live, apart from better and higher resolution convereters"

thats good enough reason for me....the Lynx converters performance is far superior to M-Audio's, Aark's, and Event's......
 
Gidge said:
"To the home user, the Lynx card offers little more functionality than an SB Live, apart from better and higher resolution convereters"

thats good enough reason for me....the Lynx converters performance is far superior to M-Audio's, Aark's, and Event's......
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I would like to see a valid comparison that proves this. The only thing that I can find is this where it ranks below the Aardvark, Event's, and just above the Delta. I have heard well respected people say that the Lynx's converters are top-notch. I don't doubt the quality of the converters even though I would like to see any review or comparison that proves it superior to these other cards. However, I really doubt that I or priz or most other homerecordists would favor the slightly better converters over the functionality of something like the Delta Studio.
 
I hear ya Doel.....thats why I love my Delta card......but I suggested a Delta in another thread and he sent me here to give an opinion of these three cards only....I think the cost/performance ratio doesnt justify buying a Lynx One, but thats just my opinion....
 
Ahhhh, I gotcha. Yeah, I agree, its the best of the three he lists, but I also think he needs a new list. ;)
 
qwe

Priz...
Look, I still don't know what you are spending, but the Lynx 2 on that page lists at about $1000... you'd be crazy to buy that card with 2 inputs.
Find a cheap card with s/pdif inputs and midi (under $200) and find a cheap price on a Lucid converter (fullcompass has them in b-stock!!!) and get a good preamp. End of conversation, I doubt all your research will lead you to anything better than this. The Lucid and cheap soundcard could be had for about $800
Now, go buy something before you change your mind again!
Paul
 
haha...

That sounds like good idea to get a good converter by Lucid...
The Lynx one sounds better than the delta 1010 I've heard, and I'm sure it's true.
I'm not a home recordist, I'm a prosumer!!!
To Dolemite... I've been into the Delta, and Aardvark etc...and realized all though these cards are good deals, but there's better sounding cards out there...
I've seen the Lynx for 400$...that's not very much for what it is, I don't need numerous I/O's... Just midi for a keyboard, to plug in a preamp for a MIC, and monitors with built in amp.
I only need one channel, but I'd take two...
This is hiphop, it's not complicated music to make, I don't need any instruments...
P.S. I'm not looking for a cheap fix.
What do you all think of the RME's DIGI96/8 series...?
I'm not changing my mind, the cards are... :)
 
123

"I'm not looking for a cheap fix"

Therefore, check into the Lucid and a card with s/pdif inputs. This will give you 2 inputs. You will not find anything better sounding, and you can accomplish this for under $800 if you try hard enough.

"theres better sounding cards out there.... I dont need numerous I/O's"

Ummm, dude... The Lucid is the best sounding "card" that YOU have the opportunity to have. This is the best sound quality advice you've been given, ever.

"I only need one channel but I'd take 2"
Umm, the Lucid and a cheap card fills this requirement nicely, and even LOOKS good.

Dude, if you spend money on the Lynx card, it should be the Lynx 2 at least... don;t sell yourself short. You;re so worried about 96 that you may have failed to notice that the Lynx 2 handles 32 bit, or actually 32/196. Big numbers seem to make you happy, there it is, Nirvana in a soundcard.

Last time I say it to ya man, if you don't get the Lucid, you just sacrificed some sound quality. Period. Checl out fullcompass and see how much they are asking for the B-stocks they have, I'll bet they are in the $400-$500 range.
Good luck selling yourself short. This time next year you'll be wondering why you didn't listen to me, but its your money.
I wish someone woulda told ME before I spent the cash.
Peace,
Paul
 
Re: haha...

PRiZ said:
That sounds like good idea to get a good converter by Lucid...
The Lynx one sounds better than the delta 1010 I've heard, and I'm sure it's true.
I'm not a home recordist, I'm a prosumer!!!
To Dolemite... I've been into the Delta, and Aardvark etc...and realized all though these cards are good deals, but there's better sounding cards out there...
I've seen the Lynx for 400$...that's not very much for what it is, I don't need numerous I/O's... Just midi for a keyboard, to plug in a preamp for a MIC, and monitors with built in amp.
I only need one channel, but I'd take two...
This is hiphop, it's not complicated music to make, I don't need any instruments...
P.S. I'm not looking for a cheap fix.
What do you all think of the RME's DIGI96/8 series...?
I'm not changing my mind, the cards are... :)
Click to expand...

Fuck it, I give up...
 
wow,

I just saw the Lucid at macmidimusic.com for $660 for the ad9624.

I heard that its better than apogee and that the sound is as smooth as silk
 
Hey tubedude...

This is the first post you've suggested the Lucid...
I've been asking about it for a while now and no one was answering. I'm gonna check into this now, what soundcard do you suggest I should get with it...anything that has the right, I/O's and midi...
How exactly does a converter like this work in my setup...
Mic - preamp - converter - soundcard to computer...?
Do I just not turn off the functions of my souncard and let the Lucid do the work, except for the connections/inputs/outputs etc...
Thanks Cyan, that looks like a good price I'll check into that also...
I'm still reading that article on the 24/96khz and quality of soundcards... I'll have a better idea of what I need after, but so far it is really stressing that a good converter (like lucid) is really needed for good sound...

What should suit my needs, I need an AD and DA converter, right? the SRC96/24 is 2000$, Found it for 1300... IS THIS FOR PC!!!!!!! please answer asap! Looks like I might be going back to work and saving more sooner than I thought :) I need the event20/20 bas too if I want to do anything that I can hear.
If this is what I need to get the quality i want, I'll get it, besides it's gonna last me my whole life of producin music right...
Aslong as I can make beats, while I'm saving for the preamp and Mic, I'll be happy besides, it's gonna take a while to learn the software and all, by the time I've got most of it down, I'll have enough for the mic etc...

Dolemite... What's wrong with you.
 
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Re: Hey tubedude...

PRiZ said:
Dolemite... What's wrong with you?
Click to expand...

LOL.....you're kidding right? Seriously dude...I'm just trying to help you out here. You're asking for advice, you're getting it. I really just think that you're approaching this the wrong way but what do I know? Go ahead and spent $1000 or so on 2 basic channels of audio. Actually, why don't you tell us exactly how much you have to work with? I'm sure we could figure out how to spend it for you. The points that I have been trying to stress are:

1. Get something flexible. You don't want to spend $1000 on 2 channels and find out you need 4 or 8. The best converters in the world do you no good then.

2. Don't put the money into a huge expensive setup until you can do it justice. A fart on a snare drum through a Lucid is still just a fart on a snare drum. If you can't handle this then be prepared to learn an expensive lesson in turd-polishing.

3. Many of us have better gear than what the Beatles had to work with. This is just an example, I am not a Beatles fan (this analogy applies to a lot of old stuff) but it just shows you how the talent on both sides of the mixing board is the overriding factor, not the gear itself.

I guess if you have a couple thousand to sink into your burgeoning music career then do it. You're gonna make it all back when you get a record deal right? Right? :confused:

One thing I would consider if I had your kind of money is a used ADAT and an ADAT edit card.

it's gonna last me my whole life of producin music right...
Click to expand...

I'd be surprised if that lasts more than a couple days. I don't know your background but you sound like a spoiled 16 year old to me.
 
Oh gawd!!

I'm almost 20, I've earned every penny working hard at min wage.
Went about 5 months without spending barely a penny on anything unnesessary. I've been wearing the same clothes for the last two years almost. I've been paying dues to get this money, I got 500 from my mom for graduation, I guess I'm spoiled.
I'm producing hiphop, so I only need two channels, in fact I only need one channel, two's a luxary...
Why do you just assume I want expensive equipment so it can do the work for me... (shows how you think)
I'm going to work hard and get good at making things sound good, but I want quality sound aswell... It's not about earning my money back, it's about making good music and having fun.

You sound like a lazy fat bitch that can't hold on to money long enough or work hard enough to get decent equipment, so instead chooses to make fun of those that can to fullfill his own self depriving jealousy with a ghetto gear snobby disillusion that he's actualy happy with what he has...
 
Priz, I think Doel is truly just trying to look out for a fellow home-rec'er.....He probably feels that, like I do, it would be a BIG mistake to plunk out a big wad of cash all at once on what you think you need....Once again, Ill lay out a plan for you.....

Delta Audiophile, Art Tube MP, RNC compressor, and Marshall mxl67v......start here, get your system up and running, recording some tracks and see where you are there....from there, see what you are lacking and go from there....its the way most of us do, and the best way.....

If you feel the converters on the Audiophile arent cutting it (but Im sure they will), you can go with the Lucid's which would hook into the Audiophile's S/PDIF, so it wont be a waste getting the Audiophile......

as far as monitors, the 20/20bas are very over priced in my opinion...you can get the 20/20 unpowered for 299.99 and a amp for under $200 and have basically the same thing.....or you can get the Yorkville YSM-1's for 178.00/pair which sound just as nice as the 20/20's.......

All Im saying is when you work your ass off as hard as you did for your $$$$, you will want to get the most out of it....One thing youll have to learn in life is knowing who to trust....every piece of gear I suggested to you, while inexpensive, will deliver great results....
 
I'm producing hiphop, so I only need two channels, in fact I only need one channel, two's a luxary...
Click to expand...
priz that was a dumb ass statement. im producing hip hop and i need at LEAST 14 or more channels. key boards,drum machines,samplers,mics,guitars. your producing hip hop so you only need two channels??? you make it seem as if hip hop only requires 2 channels.

you seem to be stressing 24 bit 96khz. your gonna burn a cd with those numbers? good luck. you can have a card that is 5,000,000 bit with a sampling rate of 96,000,000 khz. if YOU suck your music WILL suck. you need to learn the basics. you WONT be able to learn and gro and learn how to route unless you get your hands dirty.
This is hiphop, it's not complicated music to make, I don't need any instruments...
Click to expand...
???????????? what the fuck???? no turntables external samplers or synths or drum machines????

priz im telling you right now. your going over board with this sound card thing. try to get the most bang for your buck. why waste all your money on one piece of gear? just because it has high specs doesnt mean its good. you are new to this and you should try to get a good basic sound and work from that. so you think your vocals are gonna come out sounding like it was recorded by brian gardner???? GOOD LUCK!!!!!



czar
 
Czar,

Take it easy on the guy...I can see his enthusiasm and it does my heart good to somebody wanting to do this so bad....I agree that his enthusiasm could bite him, and thats what my last post warned him about.....but lets try and do it in a less condescending way......(is that even a word?).......
 
alright...

If doel was trying to look out for me he shouldn't do it in that way, he came off like he was just trying to stear me away from what he doesn't have because he didn't think it was fair...
"I don't know your background but you sound like a spoiled 16 year old to me." That line lit my fuse... sorry if I came off too ruff.

"priz that was a dumb ass statement. im producing hip hop and i need at LEAST 14 or more channels. key boards,drum machines,samplers,mics,guitars. your producing hip hop so you only need two channels??? you make it seem as if hip hop only requires 2 channels.

I really only thought I needed one channel... channels are for doing things at the same time as others... I'm not using an external sampler and if I did I wouldn't be doing anything at the same time, if I was using a keyboard I wouldn't be doing vocals at the same time... So I'm not sure what your getting at, or I need more than I thought and don't understand channels enough.

No I'm not planning on using any external gear, except what I "need" to have external... sample straight to computer, synths in computer, drum machine same etc... eventually one day I'll get tables and sample off the root of the music.

The reason I think like this is everyone I've talked to in the past all say the same thing, if you get cheap equipment your just gonna want better in a month and your gonna end up wasting much more money...this is true, I don't know if the quality will satisfy me with something like an audiophile. It might sound as good enuff to reach my standards, which really arn't that high...
I don't even know what a soundcard above SB sounds like...
people say it makes a difference, and people say the products that are more $ makes a difference. How can you go wrong with quality, the worst is I waste more money than I could've, but I've got something that will last forever. If I get something cheaper the worst that can happen is I waste money on something that I'm only gonna replace with something better, and therefor I'd be spending the same amount as the higher quality price and the price of the equipment that didn't come to my demands in the long run... I'm not looking to have to buy again is what I'm saying.
I get the impression from alot of you that I should get a setup now to see how it is, and get better at using it. Then spend way more on new equipment that I could of got in the first place, but atleast knowing for sure that what I'm spending my money on, is what i need... Overall the two choices are about equal.

I can take a short cut through the woods and save time or get lost. I can stick to the sidewalk and be sure I'm getting where I wanna be on time even though I know it's gonna cost more energy...

As for the Lucid I never even looked at the specs, but I know it's the best quality I could want period. so I can't go wrong...
A lifespan of superb quality sound would pay off about a thousand times over what I payed for the equipment, infact almost none of the equipment is that expensive if you realize how much more it used to be, or how much effort went into what your actually getting.

I didn't necessarliy say that the Lucid was my choice, but it deffinitely comes as a strong competitor to the rest...
As for the Event 20/20 bas, I've seen them for 700$ and from what I've been told, I beleive monitors are the most important peice in a studio and the reviews are more than flatering when it comes to these, but I havn't checked into the Mackies yet...how are they in comparison...
I'm not trying to be stupid, but money isn't important to me...
Good sound quality is... :)

The audiophile option is looking good, because even if I wanted the Lucid, I still need a soundcard... It is suprisingly good, I saw it for 159$...
seems to good to be true, If I was gonna get a card I'd still get something like the Lynx, but the audiophile and the Lucid converters would deffinitely give me great sound...
I don't even have enuff for the monitors, lucid and the audiophile.

thanks!
 
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Hi there ive had a listen to the Mackie HR824 Monitors

and when i compared them to all of the monitors in the shop nothing came close the more you listened to the mackies then listened to another set of monitors the more you wanted to own the mackies im no technician or recording expert but for my money the mackies won hands down i even listened to the events and although they were good listen to the mackies straight after and and in my opionion my ears judged the mackies to be what i wanted to own listen to all before you buy is always the best way ive found to go about buying monitors

Regards Wayne
Melbourne Australia
 
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