D44 or PRO LX? pleeze help!

[soldati]

hi folks! ok, i'm a beginner. man, it's overwhelming getting started when you've been in analog so long!

i need last minute guidance picking a soundcard (i have to buy it today - long story). i've done the best research that i can. but, there's still so much that i'm unsure about & terminology that makes my head ring like a bell! anyhow, i think i've widdled it down to 2 choices:

Delta 44
or
Aardvark direct pro lx
(or even the audiophile 2496)

got any opinions? what will the differences, practically, be for me?

also, why would someone need an ad/da converter - isn't my soundcard doing that for me?

 

[Alchemist3k]

I don't know anything about the Aardvark but I can say that the Delta 44 is a reliable soundcard with good audio quality for the price.

Separate A/D/A converters are desirable in high end systems. Believe it or not D44s etc are still at the low end of the soundcard market (although they're still good for the home user of course!) and are often referred to as 'pro-sumer' devices rather than 'professional' level devices. However, high-end studios with computer based recording systems often want the highest audio quality possible. A soundcard as most people understand it is in fact two items in one - it is a soundcard PLUS an A/D/A converter (which is often a rackmount breakout box). However, high end PCI cards, such as the RME Hammerfall devices, are merely the soundcard only and do not have any A/D/A abilities built-in but rather a separate external converter is required.

High end converters are usually much better than those built into most units. For example, Apogee probably make the best available but they cost 3000 pounds (that's about $4700US) each for merely an A/D or a D/A converter! These offer the best quality conversion possible and would normally be connected to a soundcard via ADAT. Pro Tools HD systems are similar in that they also have separate converters as breakout boxes.

 

[Fusion2]

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