quote:

I want to do some things in midi, and with virtual synths ect

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getting something just for composing

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limited to an occasional songwriting session.

How important is beyond 44 and 48kHz?

trans

Not important at all.

I like my E-MU 1820M just fine. I'm actually going to keep it after I finish my upgrades just because the thing is like a swiss army knife -- there's always something you could use it for. I just need more I/O amongst a boatload of other things.

I can give it a thumbs up. I never ran into anything weird with the hardware. ANYTHING designed for PC is "best guest" almost with the manufacturer (IMO) because they have to make sure their stuff works with a gazillion other manufacturers (hard drives, is a good example) and then anticipate if their stuff will work with whatever new stuff is just around the corner.

Jacl Daniels,

So if recording beyond 48kHz isn't important to you what do you want to accompany this little 2 channel box...

Are you already set and fixed in your current software mixing platform of choice?

Do you have one or are you moving towards learning something new after retiring the ADAT's?

Best, trans

Well lets see:

I have all the outboard gear that a home studio will ever need....and then some.

So I need a device that will take my line level outputs and convert them to digital....and transfer them into my computer. I can run Sonar or VST software if needed (which I have). Or am willing to purchase software seperate too. I do not mix in the box at all right now, even though I have messed with it at other studios.

Anything over 48k is probably more of a waste of hard drive space then it is going to be worth sonically(at least to me). So I am looking for a A/D & D/A converter box with some way to get it into the computer.

I will be retireing the ADATs soon enough. So I would like to be able to continue using the same software on whatever larger platform I will be using too. For ex: If someone recomends an RME box for two channels. Eventually I might buy the RME 800, or MOTU or.. for band tracking. But if someone recommends Mbox, I am pretty much stuck with buying an 002 next. Not that the 002 is bad (pres suck though), but there might be better choices if I am not needing a box with preamps.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacl Daniels:
So I need a device that will take my line level outputs and convert them to digital....and transfer them into my computer. I can run Sonar or VST software if needed (which I have).

So I am looking for for a A/D & D/A converter box with some way to get it into the computer.

If you are looking for superior A/D and D/A I don't think the MBox is your guy.

If you want to get to know Pro-Tools for mixing or just having it to be able to tell potential clients that you have Pro-Tools, then and ONLY THEN would I purchase an MBox.

If higher quality A/D to use with Sonor is really what your seeking.....and you've already got some great high quality preamps...and price isn't so much of an object...why not a very high end 2 channel A/D to run after your preamps into the PC?

Perhaps an A/D with a SP/DIF out to get into your PC?

Agreed.... but what is that?

What is the device I connect to my computer that will allow it to accept SPDIF? That's what I am asking. What device should I use to get the analog into my computer.

I could:
1) Buy a stand-alone converter and a PCI card that will accept the converters signal. If I do this, what is the recomened PCI card?

2) Buy a all in one unit that does the covertion and can transfer my signal into the computer via PCI/USB/Firewire.

To me that is the two choices. Which should I choose? Then once I choose an option, what brand/model should I be looking at within that catagory.

Rosetta 200 and a RME Digital card?
RME Fireface 400/800?

I was just hoping to get some opinions on this topic, if I was not looking for 8/16/24/32 inputs. Maybe I should just go for broke, and buy a Rosetta 800 and a Fireface 800 to get it into my computer.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacl Daniels:
Agreed.... but what is that?

What is the device I connect to my computer that will allow it to accept SPDIF? That's what I am asking. What device should I use to get the analog into my computer.

I could:
1) Buy a stand-alone converter and a PCI card that will accept the converters signal. If I do this, what is the recomened PCI card?

2) Buy a all in one unit that does the covertion and can transfer my signal into the computer via PCI/USB/Firewire.

To me that is the two choices. Which should I choose? Then once I choose an option, what brand/model should I be looking at within that catagory.

The Digital Audio Labs Card Deluxe I mentioned previously would let you do that. It's a PCI card you shove in your computer and you can bring in two analog channels at a time via the pair of quarter inch balanced in's (they'll also take unbalanced connections as well). You'd send the output from your pre's directly into these and select up to 24/96 for your recording quality (depending on what your audio app supports). Conversion is done right on the card. The card also has S/PDIF in's and out's so you could bring things in (and out) directly that way too. If all you want to do is bring two channels at a time in, this would be a pretty easy and cost effective way to do it IMO.

About the only drawback to the DAL card is the lack of MIDI ports (if you need MIDI that is). To get around this I bought an M-Audio MIDISport Uno. It's a MIDI to USB connector device that seems to work very well for my setup. There are undoubtedly better ways to get the MIDI done, but this does what I need it to do for now.

For what it's worth I've read great things of the Metric Halo ULN-2: $1,100.

For the sake of quality conversion though, I wouldn't go with anything of lesser quality than RME.

trans

Lynx 22. A little over $500 for a 2 channel card but you won't find better A/D - D/A conversion in a soundcard.

It's the best. Period.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacl Daniels:
I could:
1) Buy a stand-alone converter and a PCI card that will accept the converters signal. If I do this, what is the recomened PCI card?

2) Buy a all in one unit that does the covertion and can transfer my signal into the computer via PCI/USB/Firewire.

"1)" better quality than "2)"
"2)" more ins/outs than "1)"

So if I wanted 2 channels only I would go with "1)" any time.

I don't see anything in the market that would come close to RME 9652. I believe you can find one of these demo or b-stock for around 450.

May be some fellows over here could point at something else. I would be interested too.

mini me spdif'd into an mbox and you're entirely mobile as well. i use this combo all the time for location stuff where you might need quality down the line. set up & break down in minutes, and the idea is to bypass the pt pre's, and basically just use the mbox to monitor through. plus the mm has better a/d conversion and a clock, for a couple hundred more than the 002. have heard that some of the m powered stuff is still a bit shaky. only downside is mixing matching condensers with ribbons. it's either phantom on or off for both channels, but not sure if that's something you're looking out for. besta luck, -D

I skimmed through this really fast, but I don't know if i saw anyone mention the lynx 2. 2 channel pci card with the aurora convertors for a grand. This card is killer, I just picked it up. It has better converters than the rme, and pretty much all the firewire interfaces.