Shuttle PC...Emu 1820 vs. RME vs. M-Audio? Input wanted

[Jarick_2]

Hello everyone,

I'm moving from a VS1680 to a PC-based setup, and I'm looking at soundcards right now. I've got a nicely equipped Shuttle SFF PC right now with an SB Audigy in there. A large portion of recordings will be a close-miked drum kit (10 channels or so) or recording several acoustic instruments at once, so I'm looking for something that has at least 10 channels. I am planning on using an M-Audio Octane as a preamp, which will have A/D converters and an ADAT output.

I've been considering going the firewire route with the forthcoming M-Audio Audiophile Firewire 18/14, but recently I've found a lot of support for the EMU 1820. Because the SFF computer only has one PCI slot, I'd be replacing my soundcard, and I'd like to know if the EMU works fine for standard PC use. Also, how does the RME Hammerfall (specifically the DSP 9632) compare with the EMU?

So does this sound like a reasonable setup? Do you have any experience with it at all?

Thanks

 

[Jarick_2]

Also, what's the latency usually like between Firewire 400 devices and PCI?

 

[muskgrave]

uh oh..

you said audigy..

..people will stop reading right there and this post will turn into a poo-storm...

..people will wet themselves and trip over one another running to be the first to tell you how bad audigy sucks ....


ok so this post doesn't help you any but i sure get a chuckle out of it..hopefully someone else will too

dlv

 

[Sklathill]

I think the RME is a bit expensive considering it's only 1 ADAT in and out. I'd get the Emu instead, which will give you analog ins and outs, if you're willing to work with 1 ADAT. I'd personally jump up to the 9652 with it's 3 x ADAT as it'd provide more options, like getting an Octane...then getting a Behringer ADA8000 for another set of pres and some analog outs...then getting, say, a Presonus Digimax LT for some more pres...

Oh...and for 1 PCI slot, you might want to check out the MOTU stuff. It doesn't really have the best reputation among cards when it comes to Windows, but it does allow four units off a single PCI-424 card...

 

[Jarick_2]

Cool, thanks for the input guys. I ended up buying the Emu 1820, mainly because they were all really so similar, but I was able to save about $400 after I sell what it's going to replace (net cost to me was $0).

My first impressions are that I had absolutely NO idea just how bad the Audigy was...the high end was muddled, and there was ALWAYS some background hiss...all of it's gone now. This unit is REALLy well made, and it's super loud and quiet. Also, the pre's are actually really nice as well. They completely blow away the crap I was using before, so I can't wait to use some nicer ones, now that I can hear the difference!

Thanks again, and I'll be playing around with this guy for quite a while!