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#1
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Analog to Digital converter?
Hi,
I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Please help me Julien |
#2
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:03:39 -0800 (PST), Julien BH
wrote: Hi, I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Please help me Julien Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 21, 2:03 pm, Julien BH wrote:
Hi, I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Please help me Julien Is MOTU a good company if we think about drivers? I'm looking at you 828MKII |
#4
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Analog to Digital converter?
Julien BH wrote:
I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? If you use Macs, watch for a used Metric Halo ULN-2, which might go for about that money. -- ha Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Julien BH" wrote...
I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Is there actually something broken (or deteriorating) on your existing equipment? Of just free-floating anxiety because you want something new and shiny? (If it ain't broke, don't attempt to "fix" it.) Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? You would likely get more converter for the $$$ if some of it weren't buying preamps. And, of course preamps (and latency, for that matter) would appear to have nothing to do with transferring analog stuff. I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Sounds like you have a secondary requirement for recording from mics while doing overlays, etc. But you didn't mention any of those requirements? Is the DA-2496 inadequate for the analog transfer project? Perhaps not, and you only need annother mic preamp or something for your $500. |
#6
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 21, 6:47*pm, "Richard Crowley" wrote:
"Julien BH" *wrote... I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Is there actually something broken (or deteriorating) on your existing equipment? *Of just free-floating anxiety because you want something new and shiny? *(If it ain't broke, don't attempt to "fix" it.) Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? You would likely get more converter for the $$$ if some of it weren't buying preamps. *And, of course preamps (and latency, for that matter) would appear to have nothing to do with transferring analog stuff. I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Sounds like you have a secondary requirement for recording from mics while doing overlays, etc. But you didn't mention any of those requirements? Is the DA-2496 inadequate for the analog transfer project? Perhaps not, and you only need annother mic preamp or something for your $500. Just curious? What type of analog are you transfering? cassettes, 1/4"? Also what sample rate and bit size do you want to use? 16 bit 44k, 24bit 44k or 48 or 96k? I use 44k 24 bit. I could go up to 192k but it goes down to a cd 16 bit 44k in the end. atleast for multitrack projects I don't like the amount of disk space it takes up. Two tracks is different. Would you ever have any use for mic pre's? Two 2 channels or for $500 a used 8 in 8 out config might be in the picture. I would not just look at 24/96. I bought a 24/96 that sounded terrible. Glenn. |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 21, 6:47 pm, "Richard Crowley" wrote:
snip Is there actually something broken (or deteriorating) on your existing equipment? Of just free-floating anxiety because you want something new and shiny? (If it ain't broke, don't attempt to "fix" it.) If it ain't broke sounds like great advice. Assuming that the op is transferring analog from LPs or consumer tapes, it doesn't sound like anything spectacular is needed here. |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
I have a question if I may. What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital since I have an aging edirol da-2496 and would like to upgrade. Also, does something without preamps (which would reduce cost and bring higher quality conversion I suppose) and would still give me low latency exist? I'd need only 2 inputs since I record stereo. My budget would be about 500$ top. Am i better to go with good preamps and okay converter instead? Why did you buy the Edirol with 8 channels and mic preamps if 2 line inputs were all you needed? I doubt you'll find anything that sounds in the slightest different to your Edirol. Once you're out of the Soundblaster range, line inputs and ADCs all sound the same these days. You could swap it for a M-Audio 2496 and regain a bit of rack space I suppose! If you need some retail therapy, buy a new microphone or add some interesting distortion with a non-transparent preamp. |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
No OK I'll tell you all my deepest and greatest FEAR of all FEARS.
I have absolutely no complaints about the Edirol thingy. What bothers me is it is a discontinued product and vista is coming very fast as a standard OS (for a PC). I have though of dual booting XP and Vista and that's my only solution. That or upgrade my stuff to something compatible AND at the same time, Better.( I don't think I could get much better imho anyway... ) The only thing that is not great about this product are the preamps, but they aren't bad either. So I could use a new Pre like the RNP ... (much better option I suppose than change the Edirol DA) |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
Oh yeah, and just to say:
I'm not "transfering" anything. I just record directly (voice + guitar + Bass). The rest is synths for now. |
#11
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Julien BH" wrote in message ... No OK I'll tell you all my deepest and greatest FEAR of all FEARS. I have absolutely no complaints about the Edirol thingy. What bothers me is it is a discontinued product and vista is coming very fast as a standard OS (for a PC). Not as fast as you might think. There most likely won't be any really good reason for you to upgrade to Vista any time soon (for recording purposes); when there is, all the interfaces you're looking at right now for $500 will cost a lot less, and there will be newer ones which may even be supported under Vista's successor. I would wait until there's a REALLY good reason for you to switch to Vista (e.g. much easier to use DAW software, or a plugin that you can't run in XP), and THEN upgrade your hardware. No point in jumping the gun. The only thing that is not great about this product are the preamps, but they aren't bad either. So I could use a new Pre like the RNP ... (much better option I suppose than change the Edirol DA) Room acoustics, mics, monitoring, and preamps: that's where I'd spend my money, and in that order. Also education... consider putting that $500 towards a part-time recording course. |
#12
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
Julien BH wrote:
No OK I'll tell you all my deepest and greatest FEAR of all FEARS. I have absolutely no complaints about the Edirol thingy. What bothers me is it is a discontinued product and vista is coming very fast as a standard OS (for a PC). I have though of dual booting XP and Vista and that's my only solution. That or upgrade my stuff to something compatible AND at the same time, Better.( I don't think I could get much better imho anyway... ) Okay, then buy the Lavry 2-channel box. It appears as a standard USB audio device, and consequently requires no drivers other than the standard USB ones built into the system. Only two analogue inputs, with no phantom power, but surprisingly good converters for $200. Even the preamps aren't so bad. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#13
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Julien BH" wrote ...
Oh yeah, and just to say: I'm not "transfering" anything. I just record directly (voice + guitar + Bass). The rest is synths for now. Perhaps you can understand our confusion when you said... "What would you recommend to tranfer my analog stuff do digital " |
#14
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Julien BH" wrote ...
No OK I'll tell you all my deepest and greatest FEAR of all FEARS. I have absolutely no complaints about the Edirol thingy. What bothers me is it is a discontinued product and vista is coming very fast as a standard OS (for a PC). Do you have some compelling reason to switch to Vista? Yuck! People are avoiding it like the plague. |
#15
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 22, 3:22 pm, "David Grant" wrote:
"Julien BH" wrote in message What bothers me is it is a discontinued product and vista is coming very fast as a standard OS (for a PC). Not as fast as you might think. There most likely won't be any really good reason for you to upgrade to Vista any time soon The problem is that he'll want to upgrade (or need to replace) his computer at some point, and if he buys a new computer, it will have Vista installed. If he builds one, he may still be able to buy XP, but not for long, or not very conveniently. You might be able to order a copy from something.com now, but what about two years from now? There's a possibility that Edirol will eventually release Vista drivers for even a discontinued interface, but there are no guarantees. |
#16
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
Okay, then buy the Lavry 2-channel box. *It appears as a standard USB
audio device, and consequently requires no drivers other than the standard USB ones built into the system. Only two analogue inputs, with no phantom power, but surprisingly good converters for $200. *Even the preamps aren't so bad. Can one really get a USB driven 2-channel Lavry box for $200? I'd love to have a dedicated 2-channel DA for monitoring only..... Also, I've noticed that Laurence Payne has more than once mentioned that these days converters all pretty much sound the same. I even recall a preamp shootout in which LP seemed to reveal that many of the regulars in this group couldn't hear the difference between a Behringer pre and some higher-end - or at least far pricer - preamps. Since the Motu 828mkII and the Metric Halo boxes were both mentioned in this thread, I'll say that a friend and I once did an informal comparison of the Metric Halo m/io and the Motu 828mkII. We ran a Neumann KM184 and an Audio Technica AT4033 on a 1968 Fender Deluxe Reverb with a PRS guitar. The mics, placement, room, guitar, amp settings, cables, etc. all remained the same for each test. The Metric Halo sounded vastly better - much to my chagrin, since I owned the 828mkII. I'm not going to weigh in on the whys and hows, but I can't be convinced that there wasn't a significant difference in the sonic quality of the two boxes. To what degree it was the preamps and to what degree it was the conversion, I don't know, but the difference was striking. Best of luck, Julien Steve |
#17
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:36:40 -0800 (PST), Mike Rivers
wrote: Not as fast as you might think. There most likely won't be any really good reason for you to upgrade to Vista any time soon The problem is that he'll want to upgrade (or need to replace) his computer at some point, and if he buys a new computer, it will have Vista installed. If he builds one, he may still be able to buy XP, but not for long, or not very conveniently. You might be able to order a copy from something.com now, but what about two years from now? So that's the time to consider a new audio interface. Now, he'd just be throwing money at a problem that doesn't need solving. |
#18
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:04:48 -0800 (PST), "
wrote: Also, I've noticed that Laurence Payne has more than once mentioned that these days converters all pretty much sound the same. I even recall a preamp shootout in which LP seemed to reveal that many of the regulars in this group couldn't hear the difference between a Behringer pre and some higher-end - or at least far pricer - preamps. I certainly believe that you'll have a hard job hearing any difference between Line In digital on different equipment, discounting the ultra-cheap stuff. If you bring a mic preamp into the picture, it gets more complicated. If you restrict your choice to preamps that TRY to be transparent, it's becoming harder to hear a difference, or to find a bad one. But there are sometimes issues with microphone loading and, of course, there are many preamps that DON'T attempt transparency. Whoever organised or reported a preamp shootout, it wasn't me. |
#19
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Analog to Digital converter?
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#20
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Analog to Digital converter?
I'd be curious how the RME fared in comparison. The RME guys seem to know what they are doing pretty well. --scott I have no idea how well their converters compare, because I've not done much A/Bing, but their drivers are rock solid. I've been repeatedly blown away by the software side of the HDSP. |
#21
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. |
#22
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
"Tim Padrick" wrote in message
"Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. Nothing like just starting right up with an insult, Tim. |
#23
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:50:02 -0500, "Tim Padrick"
wrote: "Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. Do the sums Tim. Look at the frequency response of the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. Look at the distortion level off the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. Look at the noise level of the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. In every one of those cases, the performance of the sound card is vastly, not slightly, better than the vinyl player. This is inevitably so. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com |
#24
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 24, 6:50 am, (Don Pearce) wrote:
On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:50:02 -0500, "Tim Padrick" wrote: "Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. Do the sums Tim. Look at the frequency response of the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. Look at the distortion level off the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. Look at the noise level of the best vinyl player and compare it with a middle of the road sound card. In every one of those cases, the performance of the sound card is vastly, not slightly, better than the vinyl player. This is inevitably so. d -- Pearce Consultinghttp://www.pearce.uk.com Thanks everyone. I'll look into the Lavry if I make the jump on the boat. Are you sure it's under 200$ ? I'm being skeptical. |
#25
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Analog to Digital converter?
Julien BH wrote:
Thanks everyone. I'll look into the Lavry if I make the jump on the boat. Are you sure it's under 200$ ? I'm being skeptical. Hmm... looking at their website, the $200 PRS2 unit that they introduced a couple years ago has been replaced recently with the LavryBlack AD10 and LavryBlack DA10. This has to have happened since the AES show. Sheesh, this is what I miss by not reading Mike's NAMM report. They might still have an old PRS2 in stock, but I am betting that they just couldn't compete with the marketing at the bottom end of the market. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#26
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 24, 10:13 am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Hmm... looking at their website, the $200 PRS2 unit that they introduced a couple years ago has been replaced recently with the LavryBlack AD10 and LavryBlack DA10. Say! That's SOME "replacement." The PSR2 was a completely different thing, but with virtually no marketing, probably confused nearly everyone who heard about it and who may have been a potential customer. I don't even think it used the Windows USB audio device driver, it had a very simple, dedicated recording program, and it was input-only. The idea was that you're make a recording, burn it to a CD, and that would be it. Target market was for teachers to record a lessen for a student rather than musicians who wanted to make home recordings. And in its day, few people were thinking about copying their records to CD or computer. This has to have happened since the AES show. Sheesh, this is what I miss by not reading Mike's NAMM report. Actually, most of the above was in an AES report of mine from a few years back. |
#27
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Analog to Digital converter?
Tim Padrick wrote: "Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. Records were a rather poor method of storing analogue informaton. I heard some safety masters of some original recordings made in the late 50's. Tthese were presented by Al Schmitt at theAES convention in LA in 2000 at the exhibit "When Vinyl Ruled". The funny thing about the title was that vinyl didn't have anything to do with the presentation. The tapes were 1/2" three tracks (7.5IPS) played back LCR on 1950's equipment. Mancini's Peter Gunn, Sinatra, and other top performances of the era were featured. The sound was truly magnificent, and since I was very familiar with a few of the pieces, it amazed me how much better the sound was from the tapes rather than from the records. Records were a poor rendition of the sound. It wasn't until the advent of the compact disc that I heard truly clear sound. Some of the early CD's were pretty poor as mastering and playback hadn't evolved for the new medium, but the way of the future had been presented. Unfortunately with MP3's, sound is devolving to a distorted shallow sounding skeleton of what could be. RHK |
#28
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Analog to Digital converter?
Tim Padrick wrote:
"Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. How about one of these? http://www.artproaudio.com/products....&cat=13&id=128 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._and_Bias.html JAM |
#29
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Analog to Digital converter?
Richard Kuschel wrote:
The funny thing about the title was that vinyl didn't have anything to do with the presentation. The tapes were 1/2" three tracks (7.5IPS) played back LCR on 1950's equipment. I guess it demonstrated the peak of possible quality of that era, before it was further degraded by the vinyl stage. geoff |
#30
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Analog to Digital converter?
"geoff" wrote in message
Richard Kuschel wrote: The funny thing about the title was that vinyl didn't have anything to do with the presentation. The tapes were 1/2" three tracks (7.5IPS) played back LCR on 1950's equipment. I guess it demonstrated the peak of possible quality of that era, before it was further degraded by the vinyl stage. By most accounts, the peak of analog tape performance was more like 15 ips. |
#31
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Analog to Digital converter?
Arny Krueger wrote:
"geoff" wrote in message Richard Kuschel wrote: The funny thing about the title was that vinyl didn't have anything to do with the presentation. The tapes were 1/2" three tracks (7.5IPS) played back LCR on 1950's equipment. I guess it demonstrated the peak of possible quality of that era, before it was further degraded by the vinyl stage. By most accounts, the peak of analog tape performance was more like 15 ips. Depends on the context and the generation count, but in the 50'ties ... I'd recheck the source because 1/2" three track almost certainly implies 38 cm/s to me. All the old tapes I have digitized have been from consumer equipment, but generally it appears to me that 1970's tapes and recorders recorded a full octave more at whatever the speed was than 1950-ties and 60'ties tapes and recorders. Based on that I doubt that a 1950's tape running at 19 cm/s recorded any 20 kHz. I of course risk being told that some pro type recorder did it .... Kind regards Peter Larsen |
#32
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Analog to Digital converter?
On Jan 24, 12:22 pm, Bill Dukenfield
wrote: Tim Padrick wrote: "Don Pearce" wrote in message Presumably since you are transferring from analogue, you have a line level signal available. That means you don't need a preamp. Further, since there are no analogue sources that come close to a standard PC sound card in quality, all you need to do is plug your source into the LIne In socket on a PC and record. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com Surely you jest. Otherwise, you've never heard even a modestly good record player, let alone one of the better models. How about one of these? http://www.artproaudio.com/products....&cat=13&id=128 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...BPLUS_USBPhono... JAM Before buying this, I'll keep my edirol anytime. I'm not a fan of ART products. |
#33
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Analog to Digital converter?
How about one of these? http://www.artproaudio.com/products....&cat=13&id=128 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...BPLUS_USBPhono... JAM Before buying this, I'll keep my edirol anytime. I'm not a fan of ART products. It used to be that you could buy any product from a reputable manufacturer, and rest assured it was a quality product. Today you can buy from those same manufacturers and, unless you do your research, end up with a piece of junk. I think the converse is true - You CAN buy decent products from manufacturers who are known for making poor quality ones. Not sure about ART in particular, but I guess what I'm saying is: keep an open mind. |
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