Recommend a soundcard

[jimmy77611]

I'm currently using a Delta 1010lt with Sonar PE8 on a PC, and I'm thinking about upgrading my soundcard. I'm looking at a MOTU 8pre, Echo Audiofire 8, or Echo Layla 3G. Are these cards good, or is there something else in the same price range I should consider? Also, will I see much difference in sound quality?

 

[TimOBrien]

Unless you have a really high-end treated room, expensive monitors and years of experience, it's doubtfull you'll really notice that much difference.

My experience with Motu has been 100% positive. (I run an 828mkII daisy-chained to a Glyph firewire drive on my XP laptop with ZERO PROBLEMS. All the Motu gear is the same guts and drivers. Hint: Ya gotta have TexasInstruments firewire chips.)

Otherwise, here's a great guide and tested suggestions:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

 

[jimmy77611]

That's interesting. I hear a lot of people claiming that they had a clearer, less muddy sound getting away from the delta series. Actually I have a treated room, great monitors, and 10 years or experience recording. I'm just wondering if going to a better interface will help me acheive some extra bottom end and clarity that my mixes seem to be lacking, but I don't have a boatload of $$ to spend.

Unless you have a really high-end treated room, expensive monitors and years of experience, it's doubtfull you'll really notice that much difference.

My experience with Motu has been 100% positive. (I run an 828mkII daisy-chained to a Glyph firewire drive on my XP laptop with ZERO PROBLEMS. All the Motu gear is the same guts and drivers. Hint: Ya gotta have TexasInstruments firewire chips.)

Otherwise, here's a great guide and tested suggestions:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

 

[noisewreck]

Unless you have a really high-end treated room, expensive monitors and years of experience, it's doubtfull you'll really notice that much difference.

I disagree. I went from a Terratec card to Aardvark Pro Q-10 and the difference was night and day. Granted I am using Mackie monitors but my room was not treated at the time. In fact moving from Terratec to the Aardvark made the case for better room acoustics.

To the OP: between the MOTU and the Echo, I'd go for the MOTU interfaces. If you want to stay in the $500-$600 range, you might want to also take a look at the Presonus interfaces as well. If you don't mind going higher then that, you definitely cannot go wrong with the RME offerings. You might be able find some in the low $700 range if you shop around.

 

[TimOBrien]

Actually I have a treated room, great monitors, and 10 years or experience recording.

You didn't say that in your first post, did you???

Most people who ask that question come here with a $300 setup, no experience and want $10million studio sound and cant figure out why their off-brand setup wont do it...
;-)

I don't have a boatload of $$ to spend.

I think we're all in that boat these days....

 

[dgatwood]

Even with an untreated room and mostly cheap mics, the difference between my 1010LT and my FIREPOD was night and day; my 8Pres are a slight step up from the FIREPOD.