Echo Gina 3GL or Layla 3GL?

NickHope wrote on 6/7/2005, 10:36 PM

I currently have a Terratec DMX 6Fire 24/96 sound card. It's OK and nice sound quality but has 3 disadvantages:

1. No full duplex drivers (which I think is the reason that Vegas can't share the card with other applications or even with a 2nd instance of Vegas).

2. No phantom power for my microphone

3. Unbalanced inputs

So I'd like to upgrade. The Echo Gina 3GL seems to fit the bill perfectly and has a nice small footprint, but before I purchase I wondered if I ought to be paying more on the Layla 3GL. So some specific questions:

1. Am I correct that the Echo cards' full duplex drivers mean Vegas could share the sound card with other applications and with a 2nd instance of Vegas?

2. Would I miss the mechanical phantom/power on/off on the Layla (it has to be switched in software on the Gina 3GL)?

3. Am I going to miss the "word clock" feature onthe Layla? I don't even really know what it is!

4. Are the Gina's 6 analogue outputs going to be enough? I THINK I need just 2 for my M-Audio BX5 monitors but I guess so but maybe I have overlooked something.

My situation is a home studio, editing video in Vegas, creating DVD's in DVD Architect. Stereo only at the moment but possibility of 5.1 later.

Nick

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/7/2005, 11:44 PM

The Gina is a GREAT card, although I like the Layla better, just because of how it's form "feels" but both are great cards. I think you'd be very pleased with the Gina. The phantom power switch is the only "real" drawback, and you'll likely find you'll either leave it on or off.
Why spend the bux if you don't need to?
Both Echo cards are full duplex. And they'll share nicely.
6 outputs are enough for 5.1 surround.

NickHope wrote on 6/8/2005, 12:18 AM

Thanks very much Spot.

Would it be a problem leaving the phantom power on all the time, even if I'm not recording?

Nick

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/8/2005, 12:22 AM

*generally* leaving phantom on is not a problem. Leaving it on with no mic connected is no problem at all.

Sidecar wrote on 6/18/2005, 11:38 AM

I have a Layla 24. Be aware that you ought to turn off all XP system sounds at the control panel (select "no sounds" as an option in the pull down). Echo recommends turning off System Sounds.

If you leave system sounds operable, strange things happen.

I was once recording some live narration at 24 bit. My email was open and a message arrived. The system "beeped" the message's arrival.

When I played back the narration, it was too fast and sounded like chipmunks. I had to re-record the session.

What happens is that system sounds are a lower bit rate...8 bit, I think. If you have Vegas set to record or work at a higher bit rate (16bit/48Hz...normal for DVCAM) and an XP system beep happens for any of a hundred reasons, the Echo card instantly sets itself to that new (lower) bitrate even if you are in record mode.

I may not have all the tech details right, but I do know the Echo can be confused easily by system beeps.

Another problem I regularly encounter (Vegas 5) is when I capture video from a source and then click back to Vegas from VidCap and the 5.1 routing is all messed up. My left/right stereo front signals are coming out the L/R rear speakers. Or the audio is playing back in slow motion.

It clears up if I close VidCap, close Vegas and reopen Vegas. It's a pain and I don't know why it does it. Don't know if it's any better in Vegas 6.