Moving up from m-audio audiophile 24/96

[tone_aot]

Hello folks! I was wondering what would be a nice upgrade from the m-audio 2496 that's either pci or usb. I don't have firewire on my comp. I run six channels of audio in thru mixer(3 stereo pairs) when recording my keyboard setup. I just run one channel thru an outboard pre when i record vocals. When i say upgrade, i'm looking for something with better converters. Do the other more expensive delta pci cards have better converters or is it more of a feature determines price kinda thing? Also with usb interfaces, would there be anything reasonable out there(besides an m-box)? I run Sonar not protools. I'm looking for anything from $200 to $400. I reasonably like the sound i'm getting now(have had 24/96 for a few years) but i know it could be so much better overall sound quailty wise. Thanks.

 

[cusebassman]

Something tells me an upgrade from a 100 dollar recording interface to something that costs a couple hundred more isn't going to give you a massive boost in terms of converter quality. There may be a difference, but I get the feeling its akin to spending 200 dollars on a condenser verses 80-100.

As for the firewire, you can always get a firewire interface and a firewire PCI card (that will run you like... 30 dollars). That way you can open yourself up to a vastly greater number of interface options.

I very much like my Firepod, but I couldn't tell you if its better in terms of converters. Are you near a Guitar Center? If so, interfaces are the sort of thing they will sell you, and you can try for 30 days and still get your money back.

I'd recommend getting a firewire PCI card, and then trying out some of the firewire interfaces like that... perhaps even the Presonus Firepod, which Im pretty sure will work fine with Sonar (as far as I can tell, most software and interfaces will work with one another as long as neither has been created by DigiDesign/ProTools).

 

[cusebassman]

Firewire to PCI:

On newegg, the cheapest one I could find that I recognized the company name from was this guy:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815104305

However, there are a ton cheaper than that:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...scription=1394 PCI&page=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Another M Audio card wouldn't be an upgrade at all, I've used 2496 and 1010LT and there is no noticeable difference.

To be honest I don't think you could get much of an "upgrade" for that sort of money, more ins/outs maybe but not an upgrade in converter quality.

I suggest you'd be looking at RME, Lynx, maybe MOTU stuff as a starting point for a worthwhile upgrade from M Audio.

 

[mrface2112]

Another M Audio card wouldn't be an upgrade at all

not completely true. the delta 1010 rack unit has balanced 1/4in connections, an external power supply and the converters are outside of the computer. all of these things are "upgrades" from the 2496 and 1010LT. i have a 2496 as well as the rackmount 1010 and the 1010 does sound cleaner/clearer.

that said, when i started clocking my 1010 to my apogee minime, i noticed a HUGE difference.

anyway, going to a rackmount 1010 is still a minor upgrade at best. i would look at something in an RME or Lynx if you're looking for something that's more than a marginal upgrade.


cheers,
wade

 

[tone_aot]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I figured i would have to purchase the big name stuff to get a good difference. The nearest Guitar Center is in ATL. I was just at GC this weekend. I had no clue you could buy an interface and take it back within 30 days and get your money back! That's great! Is that with any other product too(besides microphones)? I was already thinking about installing the firewire card but i wasn't sure about compatibility issues with my computer. I will definitely check into that. Once again, i appreciate the responses and help.

 

[cusebassman]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I figured i would have to purchase the big name stuff to get a good difference. The nearest Guitar Center is in ATL. I was just at GC this weekend. I had no clue you could buy an interface and take it back within 30 days and get your money back! That's great! Is that with any other product too(besides microphones)? I was already thinking about installing the firewire card but i wasn't sure about compatibility issues with my computer. I will definitely check into that. Once again, i appreciate the responses and help.

Well, that was the case where I buy stuff - I would, of course, ask before going and buying a multitude of interfaces just to test Aside from microphones, I think most items are sold with that return policy.

Also, you've got to feel out the sales people in the particular department you're dealing with - I've never had a problem with returns in the pro audio department at my local place, but there were one or two particular sales people in the accessories department that could (and did) talk me into keeping an item that I hauled back to the store with the sole purpose of returning.

I may not be the strongest willed person in such matters, so it might not be an issue for you I just went back the next day, same time, hoping those two dudes weren't working, and sure enough, different guy. Wasn't his sale so he didn't give a shit, I got my credit back immediately

 

[mrface2112]

just make sure you DO NOT OPEN any of the software. download the drivers from the web and keep ALL of the software sealed in the packaging.

opening the software (even if it's just the drivers disc) means you bought it.

i "demo'd" a presonus firebox when they first came out. didn't like it at all and took it back to GC without a problem.


cheers,
wade

 

[tone_aot]

the delta 1010 rack unit has balanced 1/4in connections, an external power supply and the converters are outside of the computer.

Those are some of the things that sold me on the 1010. I wanted balance ins/outs(tired of rca!) and i figured since the converters were outside, the noise floor mic be a little better. I just wanted to justify spending the dough!! I've heard alot about the apogee stuff. I wish i had the dough for that right now but i don't have it yet. I'll do some more reading on the 1010. Might switch just for more convenience.

 

[deadleafecho]

Hello folks! I was wondering what would be a nice upgrade from the m-audio 2496 that's either pci or usb. I don't have firewire on my comp. I run six channels of audio in thru mixer(3 stereo pairs) when recording my keyboard setup. I just run one channel thru an outboard pre when i record vocals. When i say upgrade, i'm looking for something with better converters. Do the other more expensive delta pci cards have better converters or is it more of a feature determines price kinda thing? Also with usb interfaces, would there be anything reasonable out there(besides an m-box)? I run Sonar not protools. I'm looking for anything from $200 to $400. I reasonably like the sound i'm getting now(have had 24/96 for a few years) but i know it could be so much better overall sound quailty wise. Thanks.

Im in the same boat, looking to upgrade a mackie vlz 1202 and Maudio 2496. However I do have firewire and im thinking about this http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MTUULTRALITE
Any one know if the converters in the ultralite are as good as those in the other MOTU products?
At any rate, I think its worth it getting a FW card.

 

[Ethan Winer]

I was wondering what would be a nice upgrade from the m-audio 2496

That's a perfectly fine sound card, and any quality issues you may have are unrelated to the sound card. If you're looking to improve your setup I'd look at microphones, monitors, and room treatment before considering a new sound card.

--Ethan

 

[mrface2112]

i figured since the converters were outside, the noise floor mic be a little better.

you're right. the noisefloor IS better on the 1010, but the "better" is at a point that's so low that it's more the room than the card itself. i bought my 2496 to do cassette to cd conversions (and cleanup, etc) and it's fared quite well at that. i didn't buy a 1010 to "upgrade" from the 2496--i bought it so i could record bands. between it, the 2496 and my minime, i've got 14 channels coming in which is more than enough to do basic live tracking on a 4 piece band (without an insane drumkit, of course).

I just wanted to justify spending the dough!! I've heard alot about the apogee stuff. I wish i had the dough for that right now but i don't have it yet.

i love my minime--saved for a year for that thing. seriously, though, using its clock to drive the delta significantly improved the sound of the delta.

i'd love to upgrade to one of the 16 channel apogee units, but that's a lot of scratch at the moment and not really at the top of the priority chain. this current "saving up" is for a 500 series rack and some apis (or maybe the buzz, the purple buzz or the new great river offering). there's just so much to choose from in that 500 series form factor. and after the rack chassis buy-in expense, there's a LOT in that $500-800 per channel range (which is in the budget range of a lot of home recordists). but i digress....


cheers,
wade