RME DIGI96/8 series...?

[PRiZ]

what's up with these cards, I've been reading about them and looking into them for the past few hours and they seen to be state of the art... Does anyone here own one and can vouvh for their quality... I'm really interested in these, and have found them for prices that don't seem realistic for how good they say they are. Are these cards just really modest, I only caught one review, and the reviewer seemed impressed, but I couldn't tell, I thought it was a horribly done review, just dribble about specs etc...
Same goes for the hammerfall... although I think for me this is overkill! How are the sound on these compared to the Lynx, I keep seeing 32/96 posted with the lynx one, I never see this on any other cards...? Thanks!

 

[(M)]

I, too, am interested in this card.

Pros:
S/PDIF RCA i/o
1/4" Stereo i/o
11-96khz sampling
Windows 2000 ASIO support (still rare these days)
8 output channels

Cons:
No MIDI port (nice to have, but easy enough to work around)
No multi-client ASIO driver (windows 2000)

Is anyone using this card to apply VST/DX effects to live input - like a pre-amped guitar? Can this be done with <10ms latency?

 

[PRiZ]

.....

"No multi-client ASIO driver (windows 2000) "
I'm sure they have everything to do with asio and have asio 2, The company that makes them, basically designed ASIO... I don't really understand that well, but the DIGI96/8 is identical to Steinberg's ST24/96... check it out, I don't know what's up with two companies, but there the exact same, same products, different names, check out steinberg's site and see for yourself.
...I know I'ts fully compatible, infact best to use with win2000.
Somebody give us the DL on this card....?
(M) if you find any dirt on this, post it here...

 

[Rubo4]

PRIZ - I answered your question on the big three sound cards in your thread. As for RME stuff go to http://www.rme-audio.com/english/index.htm there is a newsgroup go there and ask your technical questions, they answer it within a day. Just don't ask about comparison most people in there already have RME sound cards.

Boris

 

[PRiZ]

questions...

Are all the Digi series the same card, with suttle differences...?
Can you explain how I can use midi, how much are new midi interfaces, does that include an I/O...I really don't understang this midi interface thing, how does it connect to the DiGi96/8..??
(wondering, do you "need" a midi connector I/O to use a keyboard aslo...?)

Is the word clock extra worth getting, in terms of benefits...?
Doesn't the card have a word clock already, isn't it a crucial for having reliable sampleing...?

"It offers both a 2-channel (SPDIF and AES/EBU) and 8-channel interface (ADAT® optical). Enhanced Full Duplex and Master mode allow a combined operation in SPDIF and ADAT® format."

Hmmm, kinda off on a limb here... what is the difference between 2-channel blah blah, and an 8-channel interface...?

"I just bought a G4/466 with OS 9.1 " waht is this, a mac computer...?

Sorry for all the questions... but I think this will solve most of my problems... A reason why I could see this being as good as the Lynx is, it's a new card, right, 2001...? while the Lynx's first appearance was in 1998, audio technology has come quite a long way since then. Thanks for reading...

 

[Rubo4]

Ok, There are three DIGI series PST PAD and a normal one - which doesn't have analog I/O - you don't need it. The PAD is slightly more expensive because it has AES/EBU connection. The SPDIF and AEB connections are for digital hardware, so if you have something recorder on adat or any other digital equipment and you want to transfer it to your computer you'll need that connection. That's where you need a word clock to sync both your adat and RME card to transfer the audio ( the word clock is optional which cost about $90 US) If I'm wrong on that please someone correct me, I've never used the digital part of the sound card because I record straight from my synths into analog in of the sound card then it converts it to digital. Midi has nothing to do with analog or digital connections - it's totally separated. So if you see a sound card without midi don't make assumptions. Midi is simply a data not sounds from your synth. midi tells your computer sequencer ( cubase, cakewalk, logic) that note were played in what pattern etc. So if you by a midi interface it means that you want to record the notes and patters of your synth an then you can edit it. each piece of equipment have one Midi in one midi out and one midi through, so if lets say you have tree of them then you need an interface with at least 3 Ins. mine has two ins and four outs which means I can record from midi not audio from two keyboards and send the data or control four more. When you record audio to a sequencer it record midi separate from audio -don't get confused between the two. As for which one take a look at M- Audi's stuff like Biport, or like mine made by Motu. Which ever you choose make sure it has serial or parallel connection, don't buy those USB ones ( I meant if it has only USB connections - it's to new and will create problems for you ) the prices are so different from $50 to $500 - If I were you I wouldn't even consider buying new one search classifieds like harmony-central or ebay. G4/466 is a Macintosh computer. I'm guessing your a PC guy - which means the drivers from RME are the latest. go to www.rme-audio.com to see the exact specs of the Digi cards.

Boris

 

[PRiZ]

THANKS!!!

"The PAD is slightly more expensive because it has AES/EBU connection. The SPDIF and AEB connections are for digital hardware, so if you have something recorded on adat or any other digital equipment and you want to transfer it to your computer you'll need that connection."

What if I might want to eventually get something like the Lucid converter, would I need AES/EBU...?

"mine has two ins and four outs which means I can record from midi not audio from two keyboards and send the data or control four more."

I don't undersatnd what you mean by "send the data or control four more"...how would you control four more? this doesn't make sense to me, control four more keyboards?

also is their such thing as digital keyboards, or are all keyboard midi...?

"As for which one take a look at M- Audi's stuff like Biport, or like mine made by Motu. Which ever you choose make sure it has serial or parallel connection, don't buy those USB ones ( I meant if it has only USB connections - it's to new and will create problems for you )"

What's serial and parralel conection...? difference?
Why is USB too new...? I have a new computer and right now can choose what I'll be using...? Is USB really good or what? I keep hearing the word, what is it...?

Thanks this has been extremly helpfull, I'm thinking I'll go with RME... I still wish there where more reveiws or more people that had experience with them. Do you know what the best midi interfaces are and how much...? I don't think it's gonna be easy to find one used.

 

[Rubo4]

I checked out the Lucid converters specs, and it says that you can connect it via SPDIF or AEB, so if you buy the PST model you're be OK too. go to www.lucidaudio.com. Send data or control four more means. If you have 6 keyboard or synths and you have, you connect two of them to your MIDI in interface then record a pattern, then you want to send that pattern to the other four keyboard and use their sound to play that pattern. This can also be connected directly from one keyboard to the other, but to make things simpler you can just connect the out MIDI from your interface to the Midi in in the other four keyboards. Yes there are digital keyboards. Your getting confused again all keyboard have midi it doesn't matter if it's an analog , digital or Wavetable keyboard. I don't know the difference between serial and parallel ports are used to connect your Printer, where as USB is used to connect any other devices you want to add to your system, like a CDRW, External Hard drive .... as long as it has USB port. The problem with USB ( Universal Serial Bus - don't get confused with a serial port ) ports is that the system pins it all the tie checking if any data is moving in or out, that creates timing problems when you record midi, where as serial port or parallel ports are not checked by the system all the time they only respond to a signal which comes from serial or parallel connection ( that's what a computer guru told me ) anybody here please correct me if I'm wrong. Now you said that you're going to be recording one thing at a time then why would you ever need 8 I/O. You can just plug each piece of gear record then unplug and plug in the next one, or get a mixer like Mackie and plug in everything and use it to control from which piece of gear to record you can also use it as a preamp - certain models. As for sequencer Program - you said you want to go the Pro way then why would you learn one program then have to learn another one. Go with either Cubase or Logic - Cakewalk or Sonar are more user friendly ,but don't offer as much as these two in the Midi or audio department.

Boris