Spot:Audio Card recommendations?

plasmavideo wrote on 7/1/2004, 1:47 PM

Spot, I know you are really into the audio side of things, so here is a question I posted in the Sound Forge forum, but I thought I might catch you here for your thoughts. Since posting this, I have been looking at the M-Audio website at their cards. Several of the low end cards look interesting:

"I just put together a new A/V editing computer, a P4 with hyperthreading and WinXP. I would like to get a sound card to replace the onboard AC97. I edit as a "prosumer", and I do a lot of "home movie" video editing, audio for video, some voiceover work and restoration of old audio material. I had a Sound Blaster Audigy on the old computer. I loved the sound quality, but it was a PCI bus hog and I had some problems getting it and my Canopus Storm video card to love each other. There were some other issues as well.

Are the new Audigy 2 drivers any better in this regard? Keeping in mind that my budget is "Audigy card compatible" are there any other recommendations for an audio card with similar specs, including 24 bit encoding? What about the USB interface boxes? Perhaps I need something to compliment my onboard sound rather than replace it and the USB idea seems to be ideal for that. Mutitrack instrument recording or midi is not a priority. In fact, 2 channel stereo in and out is about all I need. I will be going in and out of the I/O with a Behringer mixer.

I use Sound Forge 7, Acid, Vegas and the Canopus Storm editing software. Any ideas would be most welcome. Thanks!"

Tom

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Comments

Chanimal wrote on 5/15/2005, 5:24 PM

Spot,

Based on the criteria above, what current card would you recommend?

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/15/2005, 5:31 PM

For surround, multi-channel input, I'd be looking at either the M-Audio FW410, or the Echo EchoFire. I've got both, and both are great.
I personally prefer PCI based cards, because of resources, but these two are great. A lot of people own these cards, and seem to be very happy with them.

FrankieP wrote on 5/15/2005, 6:39 PM

I have the E-MU 0404, Stay away from this card. E-MU does not play well with sony software. E-MU is working on better drivers that will work with are software. So they say. Do a search over at the acid forum, you will see the trouble some have been having like my self.

Hmmm...
I got the 1212m, no problems with Vegas 5, no problems with Acid Pro 5, works great with Nuendo 3 and Wavelab 4. Isn't the drivers the same for all E-MU cards? So far it has been very stable for me.

Chanimal wrote on 5/15/2005, 9:11 PM

I would prefer a PCI version--or are the firewall version better (less noise, more isolated, etc.). Which one of the M-Audio PCI cards would meet my needs. It looks like the Audiophile 192 only has 4 audio out (5.1 compatable?), but it has midi). The Delta 44 and 66 look older and don't have midi. The 1010LT has midi, mic in, 10 out, etc. Cheaper than the 410 firewire.

How are the Revolution 7.1 cards?

Also, if I got one of the 1010LT's, how would it compare to my Audigy2 Z? What do I gain and what would I give up?

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/15/2005, 9:25 PM

The Revolution is a good starter card, but the difference between the Revolution and the Delta 1010 are immense.
I've got a Revolution for my laptop.
If you want PCI, I'd look at finding one of the last remaining Echo Layla's. They are awesome. The Delta 1010 is a great card too.

The quality of sound is no different in any of the Echo cards, because they use the same Cirrus chip for all their converters.

Chanimal wrote on 5/15/2005, 9:40 PM

By the way, I found a great website that shows videos of the actual trade show product presentations taken at Winter 2004 NAMM. It contains demos from E-MU, Echo, Korg, Mackie, ProSonus, Roland, etc.

http://geraldodarbilly.com/documents/75.html

Terrific demos!

By the way, you mention a big difference between the Revolution and Delta 1010. Aside from connections, is there a big quality difference?

Also, what do I give up if I toss my Audigy2 ZS versus one of these pro type of cards?

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/15/2005, 9:49 PM

You'll gain a tremendous amount of dynamic range and quality of audio over the Audigy. You'll gain a quieter monitoring system, you'll gain accurate reproduction of non-processed audio. On the recording side, you'll gain a LOT.

The Revolution is mostly a consumer-oriented card that has a couple pro tweaks. The DACs aren't very good in it, and it does process audio on the output. But it's still a lot better than an Audigy

Jeff_Smith wrote on 5/15/2005, 10:41 PM

The delta 1010 does not have a headphone out. No problem if you don't need that, or if you use a mixer such as the mackie 1202.

PumiceT wrote on 6/6/2005, 6:09 AM

The Firewire 410 is going for $299 now!! Even at Guitar Center (if you prefer a brick and mortar store over online sales).

I think I'll be getting one for monitoring 5.1 surround real-time.

trock wrote on 6/7/2005, 3:18 PM

I used to have a Delta 44 and it was a good workhorse card but in blind listening tests the high end wasn't as transparent as some other cards, noticeably the Lynx cards (which are of course considerably more expensive). I ended up getting RME's and Lynx's.

It was particularly noticeable on instruments with high harmonics such as 12-string guitars and percussion, especially when listening through high-end converters and monitors. In its price range though, it was a good overall card as was their Audiophile series and also the 1010. I don't know if their newer cards have improved their high-end transparency as I haven't tried them but it's entirely possible as it's been a while.

Bob Greaves wrote on 6/7/2005, 7:07 PM

I use a delta 44. I have no need (yet) for 5.1. Mine is a project studio intended for solo artists who layer and multitrack. I have never been disapointed with this card.

I am, however, watching with great interest since m-aduio has been bought out by pro tools. I will be disaapointed if the drivers and hardware become only fully enabled when using pro tools products. I have no reason to beleive that this would ever happen, but I find I distrust a company that feels it needs to use products like PACE.

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/7/2005, 7:34 PM

If it settles you at all, Bob, for the time being, AVID seems to be letting M-Audio run independently. Very few personnel changes, and they seem to be growing in the relationship rather than being put asunder. I'm impressed with how it's gone thus far.