[PC] Please recommend me a soundcard

[guise_]

Hi,

I'm a PC user with KRK Rokit RP8's. I'm looking to spend around about up to £150-£200 on a decent production soundcard. A few questions I have are:

-Which inputs are best to use (over short distance) XLR, or RCA?
-PCI/PCI-Express/USB? Which is the least CPU dependant?

Thanks a lot for any help given.

Regards,

[gnome]

Buy this! I'v ordered mine.

[alphacat]

-Which inputs are best to use (over short distance) XLR, or RCA?

XLR's for any distance. They're balanced and have less resistance (so less potential for hum/ground noise).

[rbnc]

Can I hijack and add: which type of interface is best for low-latency USB or FW etc.

[sainttex]

USBs transfer rates are higher but firewire out performs it at sustained transfers like audio and and large file transfers.

I haven't looked for a while, have any USB 3.0 or firewire 800 interfaces come out recently?

To answer the OPs question. I've had great luck with Apogee's interfaces and highly recommend them. You could probably find a used Duet or a new ONE for around that price range. They've got both XLR and 1/4in which is nice to have.

[alphacat]

...To answer the OPs question. I've had great luck with Apogee's interfaces and highly recommend them. You could probably find a used Duet or a new ONE for around that price range. They've got both XLR and 1/4in which is nice to have.

Apogee gear is great stuff, but since he said this is for a PC gonna hafta say no way on recommending 'em to him since they've openly stopped supporting/developing for PC's.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/02/2 ... re-better/

[guise_]

...To answer the OPs question. I've had great luck with Apogee's interfaces and highly recommend them. You could probably find a used Duet or a new ONE for around that price range. They've got both XLR and 1/4in which is nice to have.

Apogee gear is great stuff, but since he said this is for a PC gonna hafta say no way on recommending 'em to him since they've openly stopped supporting/developing for PC's.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/02/2 ... re-better/

Do you rate M-Audio? Talking specifically about the PCI Delta 1010LT? I'm assuming PCI is the best for low latency (the least CPU stress)?

[sainttex]

...To answer the OPs question. I've had great luck with Apogee's interfaces and highly recommend them. You could probably find a used Duet or a new ONE for around that price range. They've got both XLR and 1/4in which is nice to have.

Apogee gear is great stuff, but since he said this is for a PC gonna hafta say no way on recommending 'em to him since they've openly stopped supporting/developing for PC's.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/02/2 ... re-better/

Weird, I didn't know they stopped development on new drivers for PC, That could be big issues for windows 7. Thanks for pointing that out though.

Do you rate M-Audio? Talking specifically about the PCI Delta 1010LT? I'm assuming PCI is the best for low latency (the least CPU stress)?

Yes you are right about PCI. Instead of everything having to go through your firewire/usb bus -> interface, it essentially is one link closer to your cpu.

I've only had one m-audio interface (firewire 410) and had nothing but problems with it. Heard a fair amount of people have issues with their stuff too.

[guise_]

...To answer the OPs question. I've had great luck with Apogee's interfaces and highly recommend them. You could probably find a used Duet or a new ONE for around that price range. They've got both XLR and 1/4in which is nice to have.

Apogee gear is great stuff, but since he said this is for a PC gonna hafta say no way on recommending 'em to him since they've openly stopped supporting/developing for PC's.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/02/2 ... re-better/

Weird, I didn't know they stopped development on new drivers for PC, That could be big issues for windows 7. Thanks for pointing that out though.

Do you rate M-Audio? Talking specifically about the PCI Delta 1010LT? I'm assuming PCI is the best for low latency (the least CPU stress)?

Yes you are right about PCI. Instead of everything having to go through your firewire/usb bus -> interface, it essentially is one link closer to your cpu.

I've only had one m-audio interface (firewire 410) and had nothing but problems with it. Heard a fair amount of people have issues with their stuff too.

Okay cool, well at least I know to go for PCI which is one step closer. Now I just need recommendations as to what card. I don't wanna spend too much as I'm just starting out. The Rokit RP8s are pretty entry-level monitors also. I'm looking at M-Audio Delta 1010LT and Audiophile 2496. After giving it a bit of thought, something around the £100 mark would be cool.

Regards,

[nowaysj]

E-mu 1616m. I can't say this enough times. E-mu 1616m.

Very clean sound, decent enough preamps (better than any built in preamp's I've heard). Low latency, rock solid asio drivers. And an extremely powerful software mixer that will allow you to route audio anywhere inside or outside your computer.

I've had many interfaces, and nothing ever came within pissing distance of this interface.

Don't be a cheap bastard. Do what you have to do.

Oh, and the nicest little twist to it... you can get a the e-mu pc card and have a fully mobile (still have to plug in the brakeout box though) mastering grade AD/DA converters to record in stairwells, showers, forests, your friend's place etc etc etc.

I use mine with rokits, NO problems whatsoever. In Digital Audio Land that is saying something.

Seriously though.

[jheri]

I've only had one m-audio interface (firewire 410) and had nothing but problems with it. Heard a fair amount of people have issues with their stuff too.

Yeah, I have the Fast-Track Pro, it sucks. Constant drop-outs and distortion.

[deadly_habit]

only m-audio i would advise would be the delta 1010lt,
other than that in that budget e-mu pci/pcie card

[guise_]

only m-audio i would advise would be the delta 1010lt,
other than that in that budget e-mu pci/pcie card

Yo, what are your feelings about the delta 1010lt vs e-mu 0404? Both PCI, e-mu much cheaper but no balanced inputs... Edging towards the m-audio if someone can give me the nod!

[deadly_habit]

depends on how many ins and outs you need
delta is more bang for buck imo, e-mu is solid as well
if running or planning on any hardware delta
otherwise e-mu if all in box

[deadly_habit]

off topic but with most people going all vst and in the box orig pieces of gear have gone cheap, a proper setup to run em all sounding good costs a lil but is well worth it why i recommend multi i/o cheap card like delta

[nowaysj]

How much is the delta 1010?

I would be looking at the 1616m, not the 04 if you're thinking emu.

Do the delta's have multi client drivers? That is a big issue itb. I can use cubase as my mixer and tape deck, with reason, fl studio, live and youtube, all running simultaneously for recording into cubase. That kind of flexibility is key. If you're itb, you gotta be able to mix sources from within the box.

I'm now all itb, well except for vocals, percussion and bass, no synths and samplers cause they were all stolen, ha, but I could set up 3 synths and a turntable with with 1616m, could also simultaneously do sends on digi outs for fx.

I just picked up a 1616 no m, for my laptop for $132 on ebay. You cannot beat that deal for quality audio io. Mobile recording hear I come.

[deadly_habit]

delta 1010 lt or rack is only m audio i'd ever use driver wise
new box im building rme but that is beyond most budgets
used a delta for years no prob
new m audio is cack though same with e-mu since creative labs bought em out
edit: if you want usb tascam is the shit or high end lexicon, tascam has driver issue high end lexicon is more hip hop mic friendly than instrument or synth etc ins wise so have to get some mogami patch cables

[nowaysj]

Have owned two different lexi interfaces, won't make that mistake again. Iowned and liked the tascam on usb, but catastrophic driver trouble.

The 1616 for the lappi is pccard, so it's like the pci buss, no usb/firewire bs.

[deadly_habit]

see if desk so much more stable usb or firewire so many issues or spec issues

[guise_]

I only want PCI, not into all this USB/Firewire shit as it really does tend to rape CPUs. As I mentioned, my budget is quite awkward at the moment so I have to keep within £150 leaving the choice between the two aforementioned cards. Due to the balanced aspect + more inputs I'm looking at the M-Audio Delta 1010LT. When things get a little more serious, I'll look to upgrade to the E-mu 1616M having heard such decent things across the board.

Cheers for the help guys,