Good High End Audio Cards...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnM
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JohnM

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I'm currently using a MidiMan 2496 but I'm ready to upgrade to a high end system that has a rack unit with XLR inputs, etc.

Can some other post preferences for systems, etc. If you have any links to articles comparing them or awards for any of them I would appreciate it. These are amoung the ones I'm resarching:

LynxStudio
MOTUN 828
Edirol DA-2496
MidMan Omi Studio
Arvark
Digidesign
EchoLabs - Gina,Layla,Darla
etc.,

Thanks,
John

PS...Plan to upgrade from Sonar 1.3 to Sonar 2.x XL
 
How many inputs?
Do you need a digital input?
Wordclock?
Midi?

You may be comparing apples and oranges,first you need to figure out what you want out of the card.

Have you really outgrown your 2496 or is this gearlust speaking?

If you're recording by yourself could your money be better spent on other items?

Sorry for answering your question with questions but you need to narrow it down a bit.
 
acidrock said:
How many inputs?
Do you need a digital input?
Wordclock?
Midi?

You may be comparing apples and oranges,first you need to figure out what you want out of the card.

Have you really outgrown your 2496 or is this gearlust speaking?

If you're recording by yourself could your money be better spent on other items?

Sorry for answering your question with questions but you need to narrow it down a bit.
Click to expand...

Don't need a lot of inputs but do want XLR and I prefer it to be in a rack. Currently using Behringer mixer with XLR into RCA inputs. Prefer it to have it in rack plus some of the rack units have additional feature I may want to play with.

I think I have digital input on the 2496 but havn't used it yet. Don't think I need it.

WordClock? Don't think so.

Midi? Absolutely.

Maybe I don't need everything they have. I was thinking I would probably get better recordings. Just an assumption.

Thanks for your reply....(That was fast).
JohnM
 
Well I read the article and a lot of it is irrelevant seeing as you already have a system with Sonar.
As far as 98se being better,I had 98se and I upgraded to XP.With Sonar and WDM drivers 98se is a joke.

One possibility to consider would be a high end rack preamp with digital output.You could isolate your signal chain bcause it's digital and keep your present card.You would also gain a decent preamp which is where it all starts.This way you could kill two birds with one stone,and yes it would have xlr inputs.
If down the road you decide you need a new sound card the preamp would still be a relevant piece of gear.

Remember:a dedicated preamp will probably be better than the built in preamps included in the soundcard.
 
PS:I'm not trying to change your mind,I'm trying to save you money.You've already got a serviceable soundcard and if you're like the rest of the people on this board the gear lust/list only gets longer and longer and.......
 
if ur looking for the best audio quality possible from what i've heard the Lynxtwo is the way to go...and if u ever feel that the card is limiting to you don't worry it has AES/EBU and ADat lightpipe so u can buy a standalone converter and send the signal digitally in ya DAW
 
If, by XLR inputs you mean direct microphone inputs like I think you do, I'd recommend the Aardvard DirectPro 24/96. The microphone preamps are very clean and good, while each of the 4 channels can be used for line input too. It also has great monitoring capabilities so the musicians can hear while they record, and includes eq, compression and reverb (more for monitoring than recording, but still quite handy).

-lee-
 
I would go with the EchoAudio Gina24/96 (2 in's and 8 out's). If you want the upgrade (which provides 8 in's and 8 out's) go with Layla24/96... but Layla is like twice the price... but VERY high end.

Gina is as good as it gets I conclude from doing side by side spec comparisons with some of the other leading products.

Check out www.echoaudio.com

-Alex
 
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