Direct Pro 2496 vs. Delta 66/Omni

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian Ferrell
  • Start date Start date
B

Brian Ferrell

New member
Could someone with knowledge of these cards please check out my previous post (2-8-2001) entitled 'Vegas 2.0 vs. Pro Audio 9.0' and shed some light on this soundcard subject? This business of bundling software with soundcards makes an already complicated matter even more so.
 
Call me cynical, but in most cases the 'bundled' software is just a freeware, limited edition.

I think the idea is that once you get used to the format of one program you'll go and buy the full version once you hit the limits of the bundled freebie. Also these versions quite often have no support or updates without forking out $$$.

Admittedly, I don't know the actual version of Vegas on offer hear, but I'd definatly keep your Cakewalk man.

IMHO, totally ignore the bundled software when buying S/C's, judge it on the I/O options and reputation.

If you want 10 in's n outs checkout this https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=22453

I hope I havn't confused the issue further :)
Bones
 
Bones, I read that post before and checked out the Hoontech gear, but you convinced me to go back and check again. The thing that I didn't like about Hoontech was that I thought I would have to buy it direct from Korea w/$50+ for shipping. However, when I returned to the Hoontech website, I found that there are American dealers. The DSP 2000 bundle can be had for $491.00 (including shipping) from http://www.audiencedp.com located in Spokane. Is that who you bought your Hoontech from? If not, do you know if they're reputable? That truly is a good deal for a 10-in, 10-out box/card combo with 2 XLR inputs w/phantom power. I'm still thinking of the Direct Pro because I would be saving $180 and I don't know if I'd need all the I/O's of the Hoontech, but it's definitely interesting. I know that a lot of the cards come bundled with limited edition software 'cause I almost got fooled into buying it. They usually tip you off with the suffixes 'LE' i.e, 'Cool Edit Pro LE' or 'SE' (for 'Special Edition')---yeah, right- 'Special' this. I don't think the Pro Audio 9 or Vegas 2.0 bundles I'm talking about are limited editions because every place I've researched them, they say they are the full versions. But.......they could be fibbing, as you say. Again, do you know if that audiencedp.com is reputable?
 
Actually man, I'm in Australia and bought my SystemIII from the shop round the corner. I had to order it in though :)

I suppose any online buying involves a level of trust, I see they have lots of phones but no address, maybee call them and get them to send you a catalogue or something.
At least you can get some sort of impression from their manner and proffesionalism as well as a return address if anything's amiss. I do know that Ola (in sweden) got his from the korean site with no troubles.

Again, I hope I havn't confused the issue for you, but I did do a lot of researching before I settled wiff da Hoons and I'm actually happy with the beastie :)

Good luck,

Bones
 
Ok, thanks for your help. Unfortunately, now I've got other problems: a burner that suddenly won't read or write discs, although it worked fine a couple of weeks ago. Looks like another new post coming up for me......

Brian
 
Wow, you are right Bones, the Hoontech would be cheaper (for me, anyway) to buy if I got it from the Korean online store at http://www.buydigital.com ---the place Ola got his. With 7-day shipping to my home in the States, it's still only $416.00!!!!! I don't think they have secure online shopping, though, so it would cost me a few extra bucks for a wire transfer.
 
Brian,
Have you installed a new or cracked Mp3 ripper onto your box recently?

If you have, that's your CDR problem.

Get rid of it and see if you still have any probs.

Wasn't audio catalyst by any chance?

:)

Bones
 
Bones, you may have hit the nail on the head. I recently installed CD Wave, a wav file editor. I did try sending it to the recycle bin and the burner still didn't work. I'm gonna try removing it all together and let you know if this works. I hope it didn't corrupt the burner permanently. What made you think of that?
 
Nope, didn't work. I'm gonna try disconnecting and reconnecting the drive from the IDE cable. Maybe it needs to be reinitialized. Later, tho.....gotta go to work now.
 
some corrections:

the hoontech has 8 i/o not ten. the 2 xlr are the same channel as the 1, 2 TRS.
It cost $360 not including shipping... the 410 is the mkII card which has extra options... you don not need...

greetz guhlenn ;)
 
Ah, Guehlenn, that's something they don't tell you on their website.... that the XLR ins are the same as the 1&2 TRS ins!---interesting. .. But couldn't some of the digital ins on the back of the DSP 24's card and I/O bracket be used as extra ins to support 10 track simultaneous recording? Some manufacturers seem to claim these when they count ins, unless I'm mistaken. They claim the DSP 24's card itself is capable of 10 channel digital (8 channels of analog) I/O with appropriate boxes.
Yes the bundle is $360 + $56 (7-day shipping for me) = $416.
 
The ADSP Comes with an internal Optical I/O bracket.
The System3 comes with 8 preamped Bal Ins and 8 bal Outs.

That's 10 in's and 10 out's, they all work simultaniously, I've done it, (recording 8 tks of audio and recoding a mix to Mini disc in real time running Asio2 monitoring in Cubase.

The ADSP Mk2 is another matter, there are converters on the card, I don't like this as it can pickup interferance from being in the PC's box. A look at the forum on the hoontech site will show that ppl who have gone this option have had trouble with this (the answer seems to be to get a ground loop isolator and/or upgrade your power supply to 250Watts).

Allthough the Mk2 has the same upgrade possibilities as the ADSP the onboard converters are overidden by any outboard rack that you add and it becomes the same as the ADSP in this configuration. In effect they are redundant.

As an entry package the ADSP will give you 4 channels of 16bit and/or 4 of digital 24/96,000(dependant on the digital device you use). To get the other I/O options you need an external rack.

IMHO the way to go is to get the ADSP then when the $$$ allow buy the C-port or go the whole hog and get the system3, that way you arn't buying anything that won't become redundant. Hope I'm not sounding like a salesman, I'm not.

Bones
 
That's 10 in's and 10 out's, they all work simultaniously, I've done it, (recording 8 tks of audio and recoding a mix to Mini disc in real time running Asio2 monitoring in Cubase.


Hey bones, this can be done by using the 2000 package???


or go the whole hog and get the system3, that way you arn't buying anything that won't become redundant.

that's a double not, what do you mean? Anything you buy for DAW recording will be old and redundant in a year. that's the way it goes.
I did some research on the hoontech and found out that although in terms of SNR and Dynamic Range it's the worst card... check the specs of your mixer!!! most of us are whining bout there inferior card but the mixer is the weakest part mostly.
Anyway it's the cheapest card around with 8i/o (or is it 10, bones clear this up please???)

greets guhlenn;)
 
Yo Guhlenn,

I'm not sure what you mean by the 2000 package, they seem to call all the rack options by different names in differant places..could that be the C-Port?

This is from the specs sheet on the System3
Features:
"- 10 x 10 24-bit/96kHz 100% Full-Duplex recording path support (yup that's ten ins and outs :) )
- 8 x inputs (8 x XLR balanced)
- 8 x outputs (8 x XLR balanced, 4 x Stereo TRS unbalanced line level) *both included
- S/PDIF, OPTICAL & AES/EBU I/O connections as standard
- 1 x 16 channel MIDI interface port
- Up to four PCI cards can be sample accurate sync linked (40 Channel I/O)
- Internal or external sync supported (External can be set via the S/PDIF input)
- 22kHz~99kHz frequency rates supported
- direct monitoring for input signals (zero latency, by hardware)
- Internal mixing, routing and monitoring software provided
- Logic Soundtrack 24 (24-bit/96kHz powerful recording software from Emagic)
- Drivers for Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, ASIO 2.0 (latency can be lowered to 3ms), GSIF (GigaSampler/-Studio)

Controller Chip & Converters:
- ADC III external rack uses Crystal Semiconductors ADC (24bit/96kHz, 116dB S/N ratio A-weighted)
- DAC III external rack uses AKM DAC (24bit/96kHz, 110dB S/N ratio A-weighted)
- Audio DSP 24 host card uses the IC Ensemble Envy24 I/O controller chip (ICE1712)
- Audio DSP 24 internal I/O for standard windows system sounds (mini-jacks on card) uses SigmaTel STAC97xx 18bit AC-97 Codec (ADC & DAC) 95dB output S/N ratio (a-weighted)"

As you can see the 10in/out is supported in full duplex.

Regarding redundancy, if you buy the Mk2 you get 24 bit converters on the card. These will become obsolete if you add an external rack. These racks have cleaner converters onboard. The whole point of an external rack, is to keep the converters away from the interference nightmare found inside a computer. Buying the ADSP24 as is you save bucks because you're not paying for something that you don't need.

"I did some research on the hoontech and found out that although in terms of SNR and Dynamic Range it's the worst card... check the specs of your mixer!!! most of us are whining bout there inferior card but the mixer is the weakest part mostly."

You lost me there dude, the specs on the mixer? What mixer? The only time I use the software mixer is to mute monitoring on outboard FX. All the monitoring I need is in the host program though ASIO2 Direct monitoring.

As to the reseach you've done, please give me some links or quotes so I can investigate this...

"in terms of SNR and Dynamic Range it's the worst card"

From my reseach the S/N ratio is 116dB A Weighted; comparable to the new LAYLA 24 which has 115dB A weighted or the Steinberg Studio pack which only has 100 dB un weighted.:)

Lastly, YES it has 10 ins and outs, 8 are analogue 2 are Digital.

Regards

Bones

quotes used;
http://www.hoontech.com/english/products/system3/info.html#
Echo digital audio press release -Spring 2000
Steinburg Club Cubase -winter 2000
 
no no no

you got me all wrong... i wasn't talking bout the fine III system you have... LOL. a wonder you didn't slay me ....

i was talking bout the 2000 package (C-port ).
They use the same converters though. And i remember now bout the ten i/o; the card supports it but the rackbox doesn't, so it really ends up being 8i/o

And YOU don't use a mixer cause you've got preamps allready... but us poor people don't with the 2000. ;) so uhm then you need a preamp , or for again the poor people some mixer. As poor people tend to buy cheap stuff the mixer will be the most weak link in the chain so it doesn't matter that the 2000 system only has a SNR of about 90 dB as that's better then the cheap ass mixer i'm gonna use anyway.

so again i was half talking to myself (wondering why i'm poor) and the other half to brian (telling him the 2000 package is actually not that bad...).

system III is better and more expensive...SO NOBODY TRASH THE SYSTEMIII KAY? CUZ YOU'LL BE IN TROUBLE WHEN YOU DO YOUNG (WO)MAN!!! LOL

;)

greetz guhlenn
 
OK guhlenn I'm with ya now, but I still think there's a couple of clangers in there,

The C-Port DOES give 10 in/out capabilities, 8 In/Out analogue, 2 of which share with the peramped pair. The other2 are Digital and on the XG1 card that comes with the ADSP. This is the same as my System3 :)

Check out the Hoontech site. Yes the pre amped in's share with channels 1/2 but the other 2 in/outs are Digital.

Also the C-port has 100Db A weighted SNR according to their specs. And yes the converters are the same (Terratech uses the AKM's too). http://www.hoontech.com/english/products/proaudio_index.html

I bought the system3 in three goes 'cause I'm a proffesional muso living on an incredibly tight budget.

1st the ADSP card, but then I had to deal with 16 bit sound.

2nd the DACIII, and I could hear all my previously recorded stuff and mix it at 24 bit.

3rd the ADCIII that gave me the full setup. This took me 3 months to get bucks together.

I don't want to quote any prices but if you can find a reseller in your area, do haggle :)

Yes the 2000/C-Port has 10 ins/outs, 8 are analogue 2 are Digital, but again I think the SystemIII is the better buy.

Regards

Bones
 
sorry,

i should have been more clear. i don't give a f*ck 'bout dig ins so i ignore them when reading specs. but your right.
And yes the system III would be the better buy but well, you gotta have the cash, right? And the thing is that our bass player has an old inkel live board which we're gonna modify so it has direct outs. this gives 8 preamps and will cut costs. and yes the specs say SNR 100 dB but the system III specs say 120 DB SNR and that aint gonna happen in real life either... (although 116 is pretty damn good!)

you don't have to quote prices i searched for them a long time ago... found out that, for me, the hoontech HiteC store is by far the cheapest solution although i pay tax and shipping cost too.
i 'm still thinking 'bout the system III but we just don't have the cash... right now
we have some time before our studio is ready so till then i'm just comparing...

oh my e-mail adres is guhlenn@hotmail.com could you mail me when you have new recordings to listen too?

thanks!
greetz guhlenn
 
I can see your point about not giving a f**k about the two digital ins, Guhlenn. I probably will never need more than six simultaneous recording channels (which is why I'm still considering the Delta 66 card), but it would be nice to know that I had ten if I absolutely HAD to have 'em and the two digital ins on the Hoontech would be the way to do it with the Hoontech ADC/DAC 2000, although I don't know of anything with digital outs that I would be recording simultaneously with 8 other analog sources, except maybe extra mics thru a digital mixer (which I don't have anyway). Come to think of it, I don't think I'd be able to record 6 simultaneous analog channels with the Delta 66, because two of its six I/Os are digital. That may be the deciding factor in me getting the Hoontech, since it seems that the Aardvark Direct Pro 2496 doesn't support Windows NT.

Bones, a note about my burner: I've tried everything that's been suggested by tech support and other advisors. Everyone seems to agree---- the drive is kicked. I'm sending it back as soon as I get an RMA# from Plextor.
 
digital ins aren't very usefull but two channels aren't a waste you might need 'm some day... i just thought that two dig ins might come in handy when recording samples and stuff, i don't know too much about it but i believe that's digital. anyway why do you need 6 i/o? it's too much for a singer/song writer and too little for a complete band...

fill me in on that one

greetz guhlenn;)
 
Well, I need the six channels in case I wanted to record a real drummer as opposed to a drum machine or a software drummer. I figure six would be enough to mike a kit for my purposes. Actually, you are probably right, because, as formerly discussed in my post, Combo Portable Console and Soundcard, I won't be dragging my PC out across our large yard to the chicken coop which is the only place I realistically have right now to record a full kit. I used to use my Tascam Porta One for that purpose, but it was only a 4-tracker with 2 tracks simultaneous. As RWhite pointed out, why not use a laptop for that, which made me think, "How about a portable digital 8 track?". Then I could dump the six (plus or minus) recorded drum tracks onto the PC for further addition and mixing of tracks. Trouble with that is, if I only have a two channel soundcard, I would have to either pre-mix the drums to stereo on the portable or record only two of the six drum tracks (from the portable) at a time to the soundcard, in which case I would imagine that I would be able to synch the six together on the PC. I just thought it would be better to get a soundcard with as many channels as I thought MIGHT be necessary as opposed to wishing I had them later on. Now, Guhlenn, aren't you sorry you asked? ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top