sound card and pre-amp combos

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnnypraze
  • Start date Start date

When comparing options and quality which route would you go...?

  • Combo

    Votes: 4 17.4%

  • Seperate components

    Votes: 13 56.5%

  • Depends on card and pre

    Votes: 5 21.7%

  • Doesnt really matter

    Votes: 1 4.3%
  • Total voters
    23
johnnypraze

johnnypraze

Hip Hop Head
Im tryin to find a nice sound card and pre-amp set-up. I wanna stay in the 400-500 range.

Theres just so many options Im not sure what best fits my needs.

Im going to be recording strictly vocals (hiphop and R&B) so many ins and outs arent needed.

Right now Im looking at:

E-MU 1820 Recording System $399.99

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 $150.00 & Roland MMP-2 $250.00

Aardvark 2496 $500

Which do you recommend in my situation and why...?

What other combos should I take into consideration?
 
There's pro's and con's to each, so this is more or less personal preference.

The EMU seems to be a great card, however, I cannot comment on the pre's, as Ive never heard them in use.

The Aardvark's pre's are ok, nothing special, but it's a nice set-up.

The roland pre is real nice for the price, once again it's a modeling pre, so if you dont like the sound you get, try another preset.

So, any of those are a good choice...personally, I would go with the Roland set up, second the EMu, and 4rd, the Aardvark.
 
Why not just go with an M-Box? For $500 you get high end Pres and Pro Tools. If you only need 2 inputs it might be the system for you!
 
M Audio

I'm using an M Audio delta 66 which has 2 preamped inputs and has worked and sounded fantastic for me.

It's gotten pretty good reviews as well and is simple, easy to use.
 
Im confused, wouldnt I still need a soundcard with the M-Box, or did I miss something...?
 
Don't worry, it's easy to get confused with all the different interfaces being thrown around here. The Mbox is USB. From what I can tell any soundcard would work. Although I know nothing about them.

The Delta 66 Omni Studio is a soundcard with a breakout box. With 6 in with 2 mic pre's, and 6 out.
 
so does it matter at all what sound card you have with a mbox?
Is the soundcard even used when using an mbox? In other words how does the soundcard react with the mbox?
 
I'm not sure. I went to thier website and they don't say anything about a recommendation for a sound card. Maybe someone else here can help.

Sorry!
 
Im pretty much set on the Audiophile 2496 & Roland MMP-2
but does anyone know anything about this piece...

Tascam US428 http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--TASUS428

Both setups would be the same price.

Would this be a step down compared to the roland and m-audio card?

If so why?

Is USB ok for recording, or should I stick to PCI?
 
As I understand it, the Mbox doesn't interact with the soundcard, but bypasses it. Part of what the Mbox does is the A-D conversion, of course.
 
good. I knew the Mbox did the A/D conversion. just got confused when it sounded like the soundcard would play a part in it. I plan on getting an Mbox when i get the money. The Mbox also has its own outputs for monitering which is good cause then i can hook up moniters and keep my 5.1 system (as far as i know anyway)
 
i was thinking of getting the m-box but decided against it....iv heard it has latancy problems, and its very hard to upgraded from it..you are stuck with pro-tools, and everything is in one unit, so you cant change the preamps, or the soundcard, or anything else...im planning on getting the roland right now...looks like a nice piece of hardware
 
13th_Omen said:
Why not just go with an M-Box? For $500 you get high end Pres and Pro Tools. If you only need 2 inputs it might be the system for you!
Click to expand...

Um, I don't think I would call those high-end pres...... I believe the 1820's pres are better than thern mbox.

I have the 1820, and I have heard the pres on an mbox, although I have NOT ab'd them side by side. I wouldn't call either high-end pres.
 
If you can stretch a little, look at the Firepod. Much better pres, and it comes with Cubase, $600. And if you wanna go way pro check out the Fireface, $1500.

Aardvark is out of business so you won't get support. (At least that's what I've heard.

ProTools is overrated.
 
hey

13th_Omen said:
Why not just go with an M-Box? For $500 you get high end Pres and Pro Tools. If you only need 2 inputs it might be the system for you!
Click to expand...


Not many people would concider those focusrite pres "high end"
Also aardvark isn't updating the drivers for their products anymore
However for the hip hop RnB the Mbox is probably the best option plus its bundled with PTLE and a slimdowned reason version and abelton
live , I think
 
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