M-audio Delta 66 Question?

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coolsoundman

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I want to buy the m-audio delta 66 for my computer. I see that it has the 6in/6out connections, but one question. How would I go about connecting my studio monitors that I bought for my computer to this to hear the playback for mixing? or would I have to keep my old sound card for this?
 
You use a pair of the outputs to a stereo amp, to which you connect speakers... or use powered speakers and skip the amp in between. From the recording software you send the output signal to that pair of outs.
 
If you have powered monitors, you can connect them directly to outputs 1/2 on the Delta 66. I run those outputs to a Presonus HP4 headphone amp, which has monitor outs. That way, I can connect headphones in there. A small mixer would accomplish the same thing. Also, the Delta 66 only has 4 analog inputs, plus SPDIF, for a total of 6 inputs (if you have SPDIF gear).
 
I can understand the in/out's stuff, but what is and does the spdif do? And what use does it have in recording? :confused:
 
If you have to ask, why are you considering buying it?

The Delta 44 is exactly the same card without the S/PDIF i/o. Get that.

What it is, is a digital audio connection (the initials stand for Sony/Phillips Digital Interface). You can hook it up to gear that outputs or accepts this kind of signal. For example, a DAT or MiniDisc recorder...
 
I've got the Delta 44. It's a really good buy if it's what you need.

Call Sweetwater and talk to those guys there....They can help you select exactly what you need...Don't be afraid to ask them your questions.
 
AlChuck said:
If you have to ask, why are you considering buying it?

The Delta 44 is exactly the same card without the S/PDIF i/o. Get that.

What it is, is a digital audio connection (the initials stand for Sony/Phillips Digital Interface). You can hook it up to gear that outputs or accepts this kind of signal. For example, a DAT or MiniDisc recorder...
Click to expand...

So much for no such thing as a dumb question.......


Coolsound - There are a few preamps with S/PDIF outs, and some active monitors have S/PDIF inputs. It can also be useful as a word clock for sample accurate sync of different soundcards and such. You may never use it, or you may find yourself someday wishing you had it. Probably the former, but read up on it and make an informed decision.
 
Could I use the Delta and still use my old sound card for everyday use on my computer? And I also read somewhere on the net that some people have purchased another card to help expand their capabilities in recording for having more input channels. Is this possible?
 
Robert D said:
So much for no such thing as a dumb question.......
Click to expand...


I guess I came on a bit strong there... sorry, coolsoundman... I was probably in one of my cranky moods (which outweigh non-cranky ones 20 to 1 these days).


coolsoundman said:
Could I use the Delta and still use my old sound card for everyday use on my computer? And I also read somewhere on the net that some people have purchased another card to help expand their capabilities in recording for having more input channels. Is this possible?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can. But as far as expanding your recording ability to be able to do more tracks, well, it's not quite that simple. Some cards can be linked to other of the same kind -- for example, the Delta 66, or the MOTU stuff. But you can't readily do it with different kinds of cards, and certainly not with your existing on-board sound or SoundBlaster-type card and a Delta 66. Each card will use its own timing reference and they will not lock together, so they'll be out of whack. What you can do is use the SoundBlaster as a MIDI synth while you use the Delta to record.
 
AlChuck said:
Yes, you can. But as far as expanding your recording ability to be able to do more tracks, well, it's not quite that simple. Some cards can be linked to other of the same kind -- for example, the Delta 66, or the MOTU stuff. But you can't readily do it with different kinds of cards, and certainly not with your existing on-board sound or SoundBlaster-type card and a Delta 66. Each card will use its own timing reference and they will not lock together, so they'll be out of whack. What you can do is use the SoundBlaster as a MIDI synth while you use the Delta to record.
Click to expand...

As Al points out, mixing different cards will usually lead to drift between their reference clocks. Over the length of a song the drift can become substantial. But back to S/PDIF, if the two cards have it, then one can be the master, and the other can be set to slave to the master card's clock over S/PDIF. Another type of connection some interfaces have is called wordclock, which is strictly for clock sharing, but the Delta 66 can do it via S/PDIF. S/PDIF carries two channels of audio and clock.
 
If you have no Digital Instruments then the Delta 66 would be a Waste of Money Pluss many Motherboards allready Have P/SDIF In/Out if you need to Connect a Dat Machine or use anything Digital......

I have a Delta 44 and it is Great and when useing "Mackie Traction 2" I can record From the Delta 44 and From my Integrated Sound Cards "Line In" at the Same Time (In 16 Bit Mode) but only when useing the ASIO4ALL Drivers and recording in ASIO Mode, and any Sync problems because of Different Clocks can be Fixed after recording but I haven"t noticed any Sync Problems yet but my Recordings aren"t more than 5 minutes Max anyways......

If you need More Inputs you might think about getting a Mixer as a Front end but the Drawback with that is you can not Adjust the Levels of each Input on the Recorded Track so the Mixer Levels have to be Set correctly before recording.....

Cheers
 
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