Help me choose a soundcard

[Rag]

Hi everyone, this is my first post! I've been reading for a while, but I just cant seem to be able to weigh up the pros and cons different audio cards available, so I thought i'd just ask

I am looking to change my recording setup, as I am tired of my vs2480 and the "this is a roland product so you must only use other roland products with it" crap. (Wont get sidetracked there)

I am planning on buying an AMD64 based system, and a soundcraft M12 mixer for its pres, I already have a few mics kicking about, and I can always borrow more mics and pres.

All I want is just balanced inputs into my pc really, some Hi-Z inputs for guitars would be handy, but I can always pick up a couple of DI boxes, so thats not a big deal really.

I have at the moment an Edirol DA-2496. What I'm looking at ranges from a pair of Delta 1010s (have the solved all the problems with them not working on AMD machines, and the problems with running 2 of them in the same machine yet?), an EMU 1820M (does it actually have 10 analog ins or 8? The flash demo on their site shows that one of the daughter cards also has a pair of balanced analog i/o), or a MOTU 24i/o (the most expensive option, but I like the fact that I can add 3 more units for more combinations of analog/digital i/o).

I would like to be able to record atleast 16 tracks at a time. Can the EMU card record from its analog ins aswell as its ADAT in at the same time? If so, at what sample rates? I could buy a AD to go with the 1820m for the extra analog ins.

I will be recording to either Cubase SX or Nuendo, so the cards must be fully compatible with that software.

One more thing, I know that M-Audio manufactured the RBUS cards for roland, and the pci card that came with my Edirol 2496 is essentially an RBUS card. Would it be too much to assume that the Delta 1010's breakout box is infact just an analog > RBUS interface? The ASIO control panel of the Edirol card, the roland RPC-1 card and the Delta 1010 all LOOK the same, but is there any chance I could run the 1010 alongside my DA2496, using the drivers i currently have installed, until i buy my second 1010? Stupid question maybe, but if anyone has tried it, or know of someone thats tried it, please let me know.


Thanks in advance, I really am confused about which card would be the best option for me, any advice at all would be greatly appreciated

 

[Bulls Hit]

The emu1820 has 8 analog ins.

The 1010s should work OK on amd now.

Maybe check out some of the Motu units as well, like the 2408

 

[Rag]

Do the eight analog ins on the 1820m include the 2 preamps, or is it 8 analog ins + 2 preamps? If it came to a choice between the 1820m and the MOTU 828mk2, which would be a better option?

 

[crankz1]

The 1820M has 6 line level inputs plus the 2 preamps to equal the 8 analog ins.
The 828mkII offers 8 line level inputs plus 2 preamp inputs for a total of 10 analog ins.

Which one is better .... I couldn't tell ya. I only know that I'm quite pleased with my 828mkII.

 

[Rag]

Awesome, well i guess its the 828mk2 for me, seems the best option. Know any good 8 chan AD boxes? Was thinking of something like them Lynx ones, or might just get the behringer for now, wont be recording through it, just need it for scratch guitars and vocals whilst drums are being recorded.