M-Audio Delta 1010LT

[Elton Bear]

I'm eventually looking to get a decent desk, use the M-Audio Delta 1010LT PCI card, get good mics, treat my room... yadda yadda.
What I want to know is, in the mean time can i just buy the Delta 1010LT and plug my guitar straight into, like i have been doing on other people's computers with the Tascam US-122?

Cheers, Elton

 

[dgatwood]

I'm eventually looking to get a decent desk, use the M-Audio Delta 1010LT PCI card, get good mics, treat my room... yadda yadda.
What I want to know is, in the mean time can i just buy the Delta 1010LT and plug my guitar straight into, like i have been doing on other people's computers with the Tascam US-122?

I'm assuming you don't have a mixer.

The 1010LT has preamps, but most of the things I've heard about them haven't been positive.... You'd also need an adapter because the pres are XLR. Really, you'd need a transformer because they're low impedance XLR. So consider two $14 transformers from Radio Shack, and you're a third the way to four decent pres with a Peavey PV6.

In short, you'll probably want at least a halfway decent mixer to get some good pres. If you think you need 8 pres, you might consider the Peavey PV14. If that's too much board for you, you might consider the PV6, PV8, or PV10.

 

[travelin travis]

Dgatwood, you heard right. The 2 built in 1010lt pre's suck whiskery donky balls. The good news is that you can disable them using the jumpers on the card and just use those 2 inputs as regular line inputs. You will need something to use for a preamp, take your pick, mic preamp or mixer. If you want to record direct guitar, you will also want either a di box or a pre/mixer with a hi z instrument input. Connecting a guitar directly to a mixer line in sounds like crap to me but you could try that if you want. In my experience, it results in alot of extra noise and limited frequency response. I've noticed that some of the small format mixers targeted toward recording do have one or two instrument inputs so that would be something to keep an eye out for.

That Tascam interface has an instrument input on it. It's an all in one solution for anyone that needs something simple on a budget.

If you get a 1010LT, be sure to factor in the cost of preamps or a mixer. If you go with only preamps, you'll need a headphone amp too. You'll probably need one anyway if you will be recording a band. You could get a small format mixer like one of the Peaveys mentioned which would provide X number of preamps and a headphone out to start with and add dedicated pre's as you need them. Just be sure to factor in everything cost, feature, and space wise. An all in one interface might be a better solution / might not be, depending on your circumstances. Good luck with it all.

 

[Elton Bear]

Cheers guys. My question was badly phrased, but you managed to answer it anyway

What I meant was, could I buy the Card before the Desk and do without the mixer for a bit, while my money situation recovered (apparently not), I was always looking at getting a desk.

I was looking at the Peavy RQ-2318 - I know they're discontinued though, perhaps the PV series might be a better idea than shopping for a desk I probably can't find

Thanks again guys

 

[dgatwood]

PV20