Firewire PCI Card Help

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Golden

Golden

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I've used the search function, found some info. I've read that some of you guys use the siig cards.

For me, I'll only be using the firewire card for the transferring of wav files from my pc to external drive and vise versa . I'm recording and mixing on tape, so I won't be using the card for recording.

That said, would a basic cheap firewire card do the trick?

any suggestions?
 
Golden said:
I've used the search function, found some info. I've read that some of you guys use the siig cards.

For me, I'll only be using the firewire card for the transferring of wav files from my pc to external drive and vise versa . I'm recording and mixing on tape, so I won't be using the card for recording.

That said, would a basic cheap firewire card do the trick?

any suggestions?
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IME, FW cards are pretty much a matured commodity these days; stay away from the very cheapest and go with a brand that has some general crediblity and you should be OK.

The last one I bought what has worked beautifully and flawlessly for me for everything from HD video capture to external device hookup was the Adaptec DuoConnect, which offered several FW and USB ports on a single PCI card for something like $35, give or take. A great buy.

I'm not sure that the DuoConnect itself is still available (I bought mine a few summers ago), but I have had a long history with using Adaptec i/f cards, all of which has been positive, so I'd recommend looking at what Adaptec may currently have to offer as a good option to look at.

G.
 
It doesn't really matter whether you are using the FW card simple tranference of files, or heavy duty audio recording. You need it to WORK.

Get the most compatible and best reviewed by users, even if it means paying $20-30 extra. That's peanuts when compared to the time and hassle a cheap but problematic FW card can cost you.

If you buy cheap and it doesn't work right (as has happened to me in the past), the cost of postage, restocking fees, and your time (assuming you feel your time has value) can easily eat up any savings you might have thought you were getting. When stuck like that, chances are you may not even bother with returning the offending item, and simply trash it and buy something better (what I did).

This of course ends up costing you more as well. So my advice is to spend the money and get the right card the first time.
 
Combo cards are not a good idea either. Get a card with a TI chipset that is JUST firewire400. Youre less likely to encounter problems that way.
 
thanks gentlemen. I think I might go with a Lacie 400 PCI. Lacie seems to make a good product in general, so I think I'll go with them.

good choice?
 
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