Need Help With Selecting New Sound Card

Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/20/2009, 3:36 PM

This is an area of one of my greatest weaknesses...

Currently I've got an M-Audio Delta 410 card, which was discontinued some time ago. My speakers are the M-Audio Studiophile LX4 system.

When I go into the control panel, under the hardware tab, it's set for a sample rate of 44100Hz. Every time I change it to 48000Hz it reverts back to 44100! Same thing with the ASIO/WDM buffer size.

On top of this I can't get any more driver updates. I don't have--never have had--any way to control the volume on the table top (other than thru the control panel).

Wanting to keep the speakers, what sound card would you suggest? Nothing extravagant, mind you, but something that will work with what I have.

TIA


Comments

kdm wrote on 10/20/2009, 3:54 PM
In that range, I would suggest the Emu line (1212, etc) or TC Electronics Konnekt series. Both sound very good for the price. Drivers are reasonably good (e.g. should be fine for Vegas), and seem better than MAudio, but not as good as RME.

As far as sample rate - do you have Win system audio set to the MAudio card? If so, try turning this off (set to any onboard audio device if you have one).

It is possible the system may be trying to reset/control it, even though the drivers and control panel aren't supposed to allow that. Some drivers aren't as robust in dealing with sample rate change requests as others and can be reset by the system, or even Quicktime.

Also check Quicktime's Audio preferences under Select Audio Playback and Recording Devices - see if changing the default from being the MAudio card. It might be, and if QT or iTunes has a process running, it might be taking control of the MAudio driver.
farss wrote on 10/20/2009, 4:04 PM
I've been using the M-Audio Firewire 410 since I bought V4!

I prefer the idea of having my low level audio outside the PC's case.
The other upside is a couple of times I've taken the 410 with my VAIO into the field for doing overdubs on location. It's easier to move my little studio to the location that trying to fit a grand piano in my house.

One thing with the 410 that might apply to your card. In the Hardware tab of the control panel I can select the clock source between external and internal. If I'm using the SPDIF optical input then it has to be set to external, when not it has to be set to Internal otherwise it'll indeed stay stuck at 44.1KHz.

Bob.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/20/2009, 5:03 PM

"... check Quicktime's Audio preferences..."

That's the ticket! That solved the 48000Hz issue.

I'll take a look at the suggest cards.

Thanks!

EDIT:

Nope, I spoke too soon. It's gone back to 41000Hz. When I open Quicktime, it goes back to 48000. When I close it, it goes back to 41000.


Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/20/2009, 5:09 PM

Hey, Bob...

Based on their Web site, it appears that M-Audio no longer carries the Firewire 410, either.

That's my problem, I can't find anything on their site that seems to support the M-Audio system I have. And it's not that old!


biggles wrote on 10/20/2009, 8:42 PM
My needs are pretty modest. I recently invested in this USB unit from Behringer and it does me:

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA222.aspx

Wayne
farss wrote on 10/20/2009, 9:43 PM
The 410 is replaced by the 610 which looks much the same as the 410.
They're still releasing drivers for the 410 but not for your Delta unit. Quite likely the drivers for the 1010 would work. You could try an email to them.

There's a lot of similar units around when it comes to external firewire boxes. Probably just buying one on the features you need wouldn't see you go too far wrong.

I just looked up the manual for your Delta 410. Have you had a look at the Hardware Tab in the uni'ts control panel? You most likely need to set the clock source to Internal.

Bob.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/21/2009, 4:29 AM

Yes, the "sync source" is set to "internal." Yes, I e-mailed them yesterday. Haven't heard anything back from them yet.


JohnnyRoy wrote on 10/21/2009, 5:45 AM
> The 410 is replaced by the 610 which looks much the same as the 410.

Jay, I love my M-Audio Firewire 410. It's been a workhorse for many years. I would definitely go for the 610. If you can't afford the 610, then the Firewire Solo is like 1/2 the 410 except it has one mic in and only stereo out. My fear would be that the Solo might get replaced soon since it looks like they are updating their entire line so that makes the 610 more attractive from a longevity point of view.

~jr
Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/21/2009, 6:13 AM

Johnny, thanks for your suggestion. I'll give that a look.

Woodenmike wrote on 10/21/2009, 7:44 AM
Like KDM, i too have been a long time user of the EMU products. Their product line has remained consistent for years and for the most part been rock solid audio cards...i recently retired my original 1212 card (about 7 years old) after it got knocked out by a lightening strike, but up until then it performed without issue and with periodic driver updates, it was able to follow updated configurations in several computers. That said, the down side of these products is the frustratingly confusing patch mix virtual mixer it uses to make the connections to your i/o ports and applications. I have had professional sound guys admit that it is not an intuitive mixer to use and as such have never fully realized all the features these units have built in.
R0cky wrote on 10/21/2009, 9:06 AM
I have had great success with Echo products. In my studio I use the Layla 3G. A little more than the 610 but it is 8 full channels plus 2 digital i/o while the 610 has only 2 analog inputs.

In the field I use the AudioFire 8 which is essentially the same product only with a firewire interface. I have found that Echo firewire products work better than anyone elses, I think because the wrote their own firewire driver. XP firewire has many bugs.

rocky