Poll: Best soundcard brand

  • Thread starter Thread starter ssman
  • Start date Start date

Poll: Best Soundcard Brand (bang for buck under $500)

  • e-mu

    Votes: 51 16.7%
  • echo

    Votes: 30 9.8%
  • m-audio

    Votes: 145 47.5%
  • RME

    Votes: 72 23.6%
  • creamware

    Votes: 5 1.6%
  • ST Audio

    Votes: 3 1.0%
  • Terratec

    Votes: 11 3.6%

  • Total voters
    305
I've had three different m-audio cards for the last 6 years or so and they've all been great. I read 'driver problems' from a couple posts but I've never had any driver problems (used a omnistudio, 44, and now a 1010).

Also you can get the 1010 modded by black lion. Sweet.
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
I have an M-Audio Delta 1010....that being said....when I upgrade, it will be an RME Fireface 800.


is the $1000 increase in price for the fireface 800 worth it?
 
I just bought a Terratec EWS88MT for $50 from an old friend, man it's sweet. I had to download the driver, so since it's the updated one, I haven't had the driver problems most people have had. But what is cool for me, is that I can run both my Delta 1010lt and the EWS88mt in Audition.
 
I can't believe they didnt put a headphone jack on the front of that thing.

the RME is class above the others, but its a whole lot more money too. Just depends on your budget and your needs. Thats why theres so many of them out there.
 
I have a Delta1010, 1010LT, 410, FW 410, Mobile Pre USB, Steinberg VSL 2020, and have not had any driver issues. Low latency, and decent AD/DA conversion. Also use Presonus Digimax LT, and Apogee Rosetta 800. The Rosetta kicks butt on AD/DA conversion, but costs 3-5 times what the low cost units do (per channel). So far all these units have been reliable and stable on Pentium platforms. The more tracks in the mix, the greater the need for better converters. AB comparisons clearly demonstrate this.
 
colinear said:
is the $1000 increase in price for the fireface 800 worth it?

From Delta 1010 to RME 800 I would say it depends on how serious you are in recording. If you can keep your wife and family and make the upgrade then probably YES.

I just upgraded from Roland VM3100Pro (which uses RPC-1 card) to RME Fireface 800 and I love it. It's a difference of day & night.
 
2496

It doesn't surprise me that m-audio is the favorite. The 2496 is fantastic.
 
I have a ESI Juli@ and it works great. :p

Did post earler on this thread was going for a Mackie 400f but changed my mind :eek:

Going for RME Fireface 800 for my next DAW I am building :D :D :D :D :D

But can also borrow a pair of RME Octa8s when i need them if there not in use :cool:
 
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I have an RME pci card in my box. It is rock solid stable, sounds crystal clear, good build quality, and the asio driver works with almost all software.

It has 26 channels in and 26 channels out all operating simultaneously with zero cpu load and zero latency monitoring. I can expand upon it for more channels too if I want, (analog or digital.)

For $599 new, I couldn't beat it. I just can't find anything wrong with the damn thing.

RawDepth
 
RawDepth said:
I have an RME pci card in my box. It is rock solid stable, sounds crystal clear, good build quality, and the asio driver works with almost all software.

It has 26 channels in and 26 channels out all operating simultaneously with zero cpu load and zero latency monitoring. I can expand upon it for more channels too if I want, (analog or digital.)

For $599 new, I couldn't beat it. I just can't find anything wrong with the damn thing.

RawDepth


what model do you have?
 
thanks...

I thought you meant analog I/O's...haha, but I thought adat was for adat machines with the adat tape that looks like a vhs...so you can record straight into computer through an adat connection?


what are you going into it from?
 
pacman9000 said:
I thought you meant analog I/O's...
You can get different expansion boards for it that does have analog inputs and outputs.

pacman9000 said:
...but I thought adat was for adat machines with the adat tape that looks like a vhs...so you can record straight into computer through an adat connection?
You are correct. Alesis developed the ADAT lighpipe connection for those digital recorders. But it caught on and became popular for other gear as well. It can deliver 8 separate high quality channels simultaneously through one single ADAT cable. This sound card has 6 ADAT connections, 3 are for input channels and 3 are for out.

pacman9000 said:
what are you going into it from?
I connect it to three of these micpres. Analog audio goes it, digital audio comes out! Check out the picture of the rear pannel. You'll see the ADAT connectors.

However, I will soon be upgrading to these.

So you can see why I call it versatile. I can record 24 channels simultaneously and then return all 24 to my analog mixer for mixdown. I even send the 2 track mix back to the computer again through the SPDIF.

RawDepth
 
RawDepth said:
You can get different expansion boards for it that does have analog inputs and outputs.


You are correct. Alesis developed the ADAT lighpipe connection for those digital recorders. But it caught on and became popular for other gear as well. It can deliver 8 separate high quality channels simultaneously through one single ADAT cable. This sound card has 6 ADAT connections, 3 are for input channels and 3 are for out.


I connect it to three of these micpres. Analog audio goes it, digital audio comes out! Check out the picture of the rear pannel. You'll see the ADAT connectors.

However, I will soon be upgrading to these.

So you can see why I call it versatile. I can record 24 channels simultaneously and then return all 24 to my analog mixer for mixdown. I even send the 2 track mix back to the computer again through the SPDIF.

RawDepth



much appreciated, very helpful...and yes you are right that is alot more versatile...not that much extra...i was going to go for the layla3g but this may be a better option in the longrun for me, thanks for bringing it to my attention!
 
hey i was just wanna ask why is everybody talk about M-audio & RME. how about LYNX?

sorry, im new in this industry and my EMU1212m just broke down and im trying to find a new sound card. EMU is good but i hate the patchmix... can anybody suggest me an easy one around $500 - $600?? i was thinking lynx, as long as the sound is good and user friendly

thnks
 
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