Highest quality soundcard?

ThomasATL wrote on 3/25/2000, 10:02 PM
I'm looking for input on how to get the highest quality
conversion into Vegas. I'm not talking about the $5000
Apogee's, but what would be just under that. Furthermore,
if anyone has a short list of what to look out for, i.e.
dynamic range.

Has to be a minimum sixteen inputs. I've heard that the
Frontier card is nice but what would be the best lightpipe
converters? Maybe the MOTU pieces, but I've heard nightmare
stories about PC drivers.

My thought was that if I could solve this problem, I
wouldn't have to look towards the new Mackie or Tascam 24
tracks just to have some stability when it comes to
tracking a live band at once.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

Comments

saff wrote on 3/26/2000, 12:38 PM
Thomas --

I have a Frontier Dakota card and can recommend it without
reservation to all Vegas users. The integration with Vegas is
wonderful.

For that reason, I would strongly recommend looking into Frontier's
Tango24 8-channel converters -- the price is right, and I don't know
anyone using them who isn't happy with their sonic characteristics.

I don't actually have Tango24s myself (yet): I'm still using my ADATs
as A/D converters (trust me, I know this is a weak solution!). But my
experience with Frontier has been so exceptional, I wouldn't look
anywhere else for a A/D conversion solution for my Dakota card.

My 2 cents....
Carl

Thomas Kay wrote:
>>I'm looking for input on how to get the highest quality
>>conversion into Vegas. I'm not talking about the $5000
>>Apogee's, but what would be just under that. Furthermore,
>>if anyone has a short list of what to look out for, i.e.
>>dynamic range.
>>
>>Has to be a minimum sixteen inputs. I've heard that the
>>Frontier card is nice but what would be the best lightpipe
>>converters? Maybe the MOTU pieces, but I've heard nightmare
>>stories about PC drivers.
>>
>>My thought was that if I could solve this problem, I
>>wouldn't have to look towards the new Mackie or Tascam 24
>>tracks just to have some stability when it comes to
>>tracking a live band at once.
>>
>>Would appreciate any thoughts.
mm wrote on 3/27/2000, 10:23 AM
>Has to be a minimum sixteen inputs. I've heard that the
>>Frontier card is nice but what would be the best lightpipe
>>converters? Maybe the MOTU pieces, but I've heard nightmare
>>stories about PC drivers.
Hello, here is my 2 cents worth: I own a MOTU 2408 and am using it
successfully with Win98, pent3 450, 128mb Ram, 2 IBM Ultra 13.5 gig
hard drives and 2 Tascam DA-88's! I have never had any problems with
the PC drivers! I must admit though, this computer is for digital
audio only, meaning no other programs or(modem) are on it! Prestine
sound and incredible functionality! The new MOTU 2408 boasts 24 bit
i/o on the analog side, but with Tascam DA-xx's the TDIF i/o is
impeccable, no problems encountered after following several posts on
this forum regarding setup. The VegasPro manual is not exactly clear
regarding the fine points of how to setup to record. Need anything
more? Contact me, MM.
ThomasATL wrote on 3/27/2000, 11:34 PM
Michael,

I was just looking at the new 2408 MKII today! I must admit, the new
TRS I/O's make it look nice. I have a TMD1000 as well as an ADAT. The
I/O's would be perfect for inserting outboard gear. My initial worry
was how the drivers matched with Vegas. It has no problems with 16
tracks at a time? I have a similar setup to you.

PII450, 256 RAM, 2 9 gig barracudas.

Thanks for your input- as well as yours, Carl.


michael mcgaughey wrote:
>>>Has to be a minimum sixteen inputs. I've heard that the
>>>>Frontier card is nice but what would be the best lightpipe
>>>>converters? Maybe the MOTU pieces, but I've heard nightmare
>>>>stories about PC drivers.
>>Hello, here is my 2 cents worth: I own a MOTU 2408 and am using it
>>successfully with Win98, pent3 450, 128mb Ram, 2 IBM Ultra 13.5 gig
>>hard drives and 2 Tascam DA-88's! I have never had any problems
with
>>the PC drivers! I must admit though, this computer is for digital
>>audio only, meaning no other programs or(modem) are on it! Prestine
>>sound and incredible functionality! The new MOTU 2408 boasts 24 bit
>>i/o on the analog side, but with Tascam DA-xx's the TDIF i/o is
>>impeccable, no problems encountered after following several posts
on
>>this forum regarding setup. The VegasPro manual is not exactly
clear
>>regarding the fine points of how to setup to record. Need anything
>>more? Contact me, MM.
>>
MacMoney wrote on 4/3/2000, 1:11 PM
I agree with Michael
We have 3ea. MOTU systems and they are really good.In the main room I
am running a PIII 600 with Ultra 160 SCSI with 2ea. Seagate ultra 160
SCSI drives,We push Vegas VERY hard!!We are going lightpipe to our
Mackie D8b,we have a Darla and a Darla 24. That works very well with
Vegas.I would buy MOTU if I needed another system.I hope this helps.
George Ware
Mac Money Studio


michael mcgaughey wrote:
>>>Has to be a minimum sixteen inputs. I've heard that the
>>>>Frontier card is nice but what would be the best lightpipe
>>>>converters? Maybe the MOTU pieces, but I've heard nightmare
>>>>stories about PC drivers.
>>Hello, here is my 2 cents worth: I own a MOTU 2408 and am using it
>>successfully with Win98, pent3 450, 128mb Ram, 2 IBM Ultra 13.5 gig
>>hard drives and 2 Tascam DA-88's! I have never had any problems
with
>>the PC drivers! I must admit though, this computer is for digital
>>audio only, meaning no other programs or(modem) are on it! Prestine
>>sound and incredible functionality! The new MOTU 2408 boasts 24 bit
>>i/o on the analog side, but with Tascam DA-xx's the TDIF i/o is
>>impeccable, no problems encountered after following several posts
on
>>this forum regarding setup. The VegasPro manual is not exactly
clear
>>regarding the fine points of how to setup to record. Need anything
>>more? Contact me, MM.
>>