Delta 1010LT OK for beginner?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cuthbert
  • Start date Start date
C

cuthbert

New member
My first post, roll of drums. This is a friendly board so can I ask a newbie question?

I'm about to take the plunge and buy an Evesham Audio PC with a Delta 1010LT soundcard. I need a PC at home anyway and I'm in a band and we do the odd bit of recording. Someone is giving me Cubase.

So, is a 1010LT OK for starting out? We want to record guitars (have POD 2 also), vocals, possibly drums in the future? I know v little about recording, but fortunately I have a mate yet geekier than me whose mind is wired to understand these things!

My dumb question is also...the 1010LT seems to have lots of RCA phono ins. Why do they have these when only hi-fi gear has these connectors? Why not proper jacks you use to connect guitars to amps etc etc?

Many thanks, hope you can help! And does anyone have an Evesham PC set up like this already? I'm assuming Evesham will set it all up for me, but I should clarify that before parting with hard credit card debt.
 
Someone is giving me Cubase.


Hopefully your friend deleted his copy when he gave it to you (say yes to this) and no longer uses it at all. Of course he gave you the Manual too, because you shouldn't go posting around here "does anyone know where I can get a Manual for my (blankety blank)...Software?"

Because NOBODY on this board EVER uses pirated software.(Say yes to this too. It'll keep you out of trouble in the future)

--Ahem!;)

Now on to the good stuff.:D

Het, if you can afford it, go for the 1010LT, Great for the money.

the 1010LT seems to have lots of RCA phono ins. Why do they have these when only hi-fi gear has these connectors?




Alesis ADAT's are Hi-Fi gear? RCA's aren't just for Hi-Fi, They're just a standard un-balanced connection that you may need adapters for to interface with your other stuff.

But you will need a mixer, and if you get the 1010, you might as well get one with 8 direct outs, or at least inserts on each channel. Dosn't do much good to have all those inputs without a way to get signal to them!
:p



BTW, what's your location, Mate?
 
I think the Rca's(which are unbalanced) and the lack of a breakout box help bring the cost down....Delta 1010 ($479) vs. Delta 1010lt($249) is a big difference......
 
Hey Jeff!

Did ya pick yours up at the GC or did ya buy it online. I've been thinking bout upgrading to the 1010lt myself.

If the Cincy GC would price match it, that would rock.

Later,
Pat
 
Tricky- whats up man- been a while- yeah the Forest Fair GC price matched it and they WERE NOT at all thrilled about it- they wanted $380- www.digitalproaudio.com is an authorized dealer and they had it listed for $250- i got them a print out of that and a printout from m-audios site listing dpa as an auth dealer, and they reluctantly did what they had to do- i picked up a cheap cable while i was at it and they said they made a buck, maybe $2- I'm totally happy with it- installed easy and works without any problems- only thing is that 2 of the ins are xlr, so i need adapters to patch those into the 1/4" direct outs of my mixer- i havent gotten around to it, but i dont foresee a problem

-jeff
 
thanks...and follow up question

Many thanks chaps. Piracy concerns duly noted! You are commendably conscientious. I should have made it clear: when I said 'someone will give me Cubase', I meant as a present, brand new. :)

If I can't get a mixer, might I just as well get an Audiophile 2496?

And the other thing: is it worth buying the package 'all in one', with soundcard ready fitted; or is it just as easy to install it and drivers myself if I'm going to save £50?

I'm in Cambridge, UK by the way.
 
cuthbert- It's good to see your software situation is taken care of

As for hardware, building a computer these days is pretty easy, but tweaking for audio and all that good stuff takes some skill. I say if you got the dough just go for a turnkey system. If you've got more time then cash, DIY.

No matter what though, your eventually gonna need a mixer. At least the 1010 lt has two preamps. I think the Audiophile has line in only. Before I got a mixer I used all kinds of things as preamps, but none of them were that great and I really could have damaged my computer.


jeff - That rocks man!! So you've gotta soundcraft now too... I think there's something in the water here because I've been thinking of the exact same upgrades.. Maybe there's some subliminal billboard on 75 for this stuff..
 
cuthbert-
the only thing about a turnkey is all the crap mfg install on there machines- dell / gateway / ibm, whaterver- all install stuff you will never need- mostly tech support stuff, but not necisary and usin space and resources on your machine

trickie-
yup- if your interested in the soundcraft stuff, yet me know- i ordered it through a local dealer (not a retailer, but a contractor) and got a good price on it too

-jeff
 
cuthbert: You don't NECESSARILY need a mixer, 'cause the Delta 1010lt has two preamp inputs (1 & 2) so you can use it anyway. But it would be advisable to get one because that way you can record multiple instruments or a drumkit in separate tracks.

I have a Spirit Folio (8 inputs and direct outs) and both work wonders for me.
 
I think cuthbert was talking bout a turnkey system from a custom audio computer place.

I wouldn't suggest a compaq/hp/dell/gateway/etc.. to anyone.

And yes with the 1010lt you get TWO preamps so you can use it right out of the box, but that's 1/5 of it's available input.

If your gonna get a card with 10 ins why not try to use them?
 
yep- and i didnt realize he meant custom built- my bad- and as not to lose sight of your original question, the 1010LT is a fine piece of equipment, and i would wager that it will not be the weakest link, by a long shot, in your recording setup (mics, pres, recording interfaces) for a while to come. IMO if you need the inputs, its money well spent ( but of course, as always, theres ALWAYS somethin better) and if you want something better, as is usually tyhe case, ya gotta pay for it- biggest drawback ive noticed is the big ass cable dongle hangin out the back- but- get a patch bay and prob solved

-jeff
 
Thanks once again, I'm overwhelmed!!

To clarify the turnkey situation: Evesham, from whom I anticipate buying the PC+1010LT, is not a music specialist by any means. It is a mainstream, direct-to-customer PC seller like Dell.

I have looked at custom built stuff like Digital Village, but I'm really not sure what benefits they offer - they seem to be a touch more expensive. Both have shops in Cambridge. I will clearly use a PC for non-music things. They do sell a PC with a Terratec DMX6somethingfire card, but at this point my head is swimming a bit with alternative specs! And I figure, if I research for ever, I'll never buy anything!

Thanks once again for all your help.
 
Back
Top