Pro-level Soundcard

[rbV5]

I need to make some quality recordings for a project and my old PC based home studio isn't up to the task. I'd like to use quality components, but try not to kill my budget.

For starters, I need a decent soundcard with excellent analog inputs (primarily) for my guitars, digital and MIDI ports are a plus also. It needs to work well with Sonar (my DAW) and have good ASIO driver support.

I'm leaning toward the E-MU 1212M but also looking at the M-Audio Delta 66

I see both are supported in MS XP, but no Vista drivers yet? I'd like to think that both would be supported in Vista, as I'm considering it as my OS. The E-MU looks like a particularly good value at <$100, is it going to be good enough?

Thanks for any advice

Edit: Fixed E-MU link

 

[SonicIce]

I heard this was good so i'll throw it in here
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOAP2496

 

[coaster831]

Originally posted by: rbV5
I need to make some quality recordings for a project and my old PC based home studio isn't up to the task. I'd like to use quality components, but try not to kill my budget.

For starters, I need a decent soundcard with excellent analog inputs (primarily) for my guitars, digital and MIDI ports are a plus also. It needs to work well with Sonar (my DAW) and have good ASIO driver support.

I'm leaning toward the E-MU 1212M but also looking at the M-Audio Delta 66

I see both are supported in MS XP, but no Vista drivers yet? I'd like to think that both would be supported in Vista, as I'm considering it as my OS. The E-MU looks like a particularly good value at <$100, is it going to be good enough?

Thanks for any advice

Edit: Fixed E-MU link

The E-mu card is cheaper because it only has 2 simultaneous analog inputs (as does the audiophile mentioned above). The Delta 66 has 4- just depends on how many you need at a time. The 1212M has slightly better converters than the M-Audio delta cards, although unless you have great mics and preamps, the A/D/A in either of these cards will be plenty good.

The E-mu tends to have more stability issues than the M-Audio as well from what I have read- I own the Delta 66, but have never used the Emu. Most people tend to like the Emu better sonically (by a small margin).

I have no info regarding Vista compatibility.

Also, note that neither of these cards have built in preamps, so to run mics into them, you'll need to buy a mixer or standalone preamp.

 

[rbV5]

Thanks for the input guys;

I doubt I'll need more than 2 concurrent analog inputs, so thats good to know. I'm a solo musician and play all the instruments. I'm working on an a project to create a full solo instrumental CD primarily for my folks (as I explain in my thread I link below)

I'm also building a dedicated Music workstation this time around; I have plenty of 32 and 64 bit XP pro licenses, and I can't see any advantages with Vista music production, especially if compatable hardware/drivers are slow to come to market.

Stability also plagues my current setup; I've had numerous crashes recording tracks, or long sessions when mixing several tracks together; I've become adapt at constantly saving progress, but my new rig is just going to have to be more stable (hopefully building a dedicated rig soley for music production will alleviate the majority of the instability)

I know my crappy mixes seriously hamper the quality of My recordings, I'm a fair musician, but a poor studio/sound engineer unfortunately. I have been doing some research on mixing and mastering however, and it has made a significant difference already. So now I need to get some basic equipment together so that my recordings themselves can more closely match my musicanship.

I could use some help on the rest of my equipment also. I know I need a MIDI controller, but I'm not sure what else I need for my basic studio. I use MIDI drums and I currently record either straight in with my guitars (My acoustic Guitar is an Ovation Balladeer with nice onboard electronics, so I don't need to mic my guitars at all) or using my J-Station along with a J8 footcontroller. I'm looking at perhaps just adding a Line6 TonePort KB37 which features a MIDI controller, Bass Guitar and Vocal modelers that I could maybe use, and then also picking up a decent Mic for starters.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think having it dedicated solely to audio will help a lot with stability. It might take a bit to figure out what works and what doesn't (software, drivers, etc.), but once you get it figured out you should be able to make a pretty much rock-solid system. Not only that but you shouldn't need to worry too much about security and things like that which is a big cause of the constant bug/debug of software where updates tend to break stuff. Once you get a solid setup you shouldn't need to mess with it much and so you can concentrate purely on the audio.

The nice thing with these prosumer lever audio solutions is that they tend to have most of their features working like they should and not need constant updates to improve.

Vista right now doesn't offer you much tangible for your uses so I wouldn't even bother with it until there is hardware designed with it in mind. XP has plenty to offer and should for quite a while yet, and its not too difficult to make it stable.

I can't wait to hear your recordings after your new setup is done. I recall listening to them and that was the only thing that really I didn't like. I think once you really delve into the mixing/mastering aspect you'll gain an entire new level of capability as that is a major aspect to the final result.

 

[herm0016]

you should stick with some m-audio gear it is well supported and is very high quality. if you really want to do some pro-level stuff look at the m-power protools setups or at wave burner.

 

[Dream Operator]

My Delta 66 has been great. I bought it with the bundled outboard box that has 2-XLR inputs, 2 Headphone outputs and much more. The monitor volume knob lasted about one year. Other than that, solid. Good drivers for XP. I use the SPDIF out to my Denon receiver. I also like that you can add more cards with it (upto 3 total). I have the Audiophile 24/96 for MIDI and analog RCA use.

 

[rbV5]

I can't wait to hear your recordings after your new setup is done. I recall listening to them and that was the only thing that really I didn't like. I think once you really delve into the mixing/mastering aspect you'll gain an entire new level of capability as that is a major aspect to the final result.

Thanks, I'll update my thread as I go. I've found some good mixing tutorials, and it does make a tremendous difference....I did pretty much everything wrong I want to record new tracks before I bother mixing my old stuff, none of my stuff is good enough yet, and the new versions should be dramatically better.

if you really want to do some pro-level stuff look at the m-power protools setups

I've been looking at pro-tools m-powered stuff. It might be a little more than I want to spend at this point, and I already have a fair investment into Sonar. I'll have to see how things work when I get my basic components together, and figure a workflow so that I can get the ball rolling. I've definately not ruled out m-audio gear.

My Delta 66 has been great...... Good drivers for XP

Thanks for the feedback. The drivers are definately an important consideration. My current setup lacks ASIO support and crashes all the time, I'm ready for a break from that Do you do alot of recording?

 

[coaster831]

Don't get the M-powered pro tools stuff unless there is some great need for Pro tools compatibility. There is nothing you need in pro tools that sonar can't do, and the m-audio converters, while decent, really aren't anywhere near pro level converters.

Stick with the Audiophile or 1212m. If you have extra money, get a decent outboard pre and mic- I think you'll find it a big step up from recording your guitars direct (definitely your acoustic, and if you have a decent amp, your electric). A studio projects vtb-1 preamp and B1 microphone would make a lot bigger difference in your recordings than switching to pro tools.

 

[rbV5]

electric). A studio projects vtb-1 preamp and B1 microphone would make a lot bigger difference in your recordings than switching to pro tools

Those are definately within my budget. I read a couple reviews, and they both sound like excellent values and well suited for my setup.

Any reason to use a mixer in my setup if the soundcard has enough inputs? Would it be helpful for a nOOb to use a mixer on the backend at all, or is the software interface good enough to really learn how to get a good mix? Alot of this stuff is new to me, I don't want to get stuff that I don't really need, but I'm willing to spend a little cash to get a decent setup.

Thanks again for the input everyone, its a big help

 

[Dream Operator]

My Delta 66 has been great...... Good drivers for XP

Thanks for the feedback. The drivers are definately an important consideration. My current setup lacks ASIO support and crashes all the time, I'm ready for a break from that Do you do alot of recording?[/quote]

Not much recording recently. Decent amount of mixing. I've been doing a "restoration" project if you will. A good friend made an album in his basement. Good music, poor engineering. I use Nuendo 3 and Vegas 7 (ASIO for both).