I currently have a Delta 1010 that I am pretty happy with, but I was
wondering if I upgraded to an RME Multiface would there be a noticable
difference in the sound quality of the converters? Would my money be
better spent on just buying a 4 or 8 channel converter? If so, what
would be a cost effective converter?

Thanks.
Tim T

"Tim Terral" wrote in message
om...

I currently have a Delta 1010 that I am pretty happy with, but I was
wondering if I upgraded to an RME Multiface would there be a noticeable
difference in the sound quality of the converters? Would my money be
better spent on just buying a 4 or 8 channel converter? If so, what
would be a cost effective converter?

Why don't you take a .wav file of one of your best recordings and loop it
through the converters in the Delta 1010.

Preface it with a test tone at say 1 KHz -1 dB when you do the looping to
make sure that you don't change its level by more than 0.1 dB in the
record/playback process.

Chop off the test tone and match the timing of your input and output files
with your DAW software.

Then compare the input file to the output file using software you can
download for free from http://www.pcabx.com/program/index.htm .

Let your ears be your guide. If your best music isn't further audibly
degraded by looping through your ADC & DAC converters, then there's a good
chance it didn't lose much the first time you put it through just the ADC.

If you find need some instruction in the use of this software (most people
do), start your reading at
http://www.pcabx.com/training/getting_started.htm. For examples of how this
works with other PC sound interfaces, please see
http://www.pcabx.com/product/soundcard/index.htm .

In article writes:

I currently have a Delta 1010 that I am pretty happy with, but I was
wondering if I upgraded to an RME Multiface would there be a noticable
difference in the sound quality of the converters?

I'm never sure how to answer one of these all too frequent "will there
be a difference in quality?" questions, but somehow it always comes
out about the same. You say you're pretty happy with what you have, so
why are you considering making a change? Are your clients saying "This
sounds like it was recorded on a 10 year old SoundBlaster. Why don't
you get something better before we start on the next project?" If so,
then it's likely that the problem lies elsewhere, not your Delta 1010.

If I was going to get something new (first time purchase) and had the
budget, today I'd probably go for the RME, but if I was on a tight
budget, I'd be inclined to get an adequate interface (which the Delta
is) and see where else I could better spend my money.

Would my money be
better spent on just buying a 4 or 8 channel converter?

Maybe, or maybe buying just one really good 2-channel A/D converter,
and a good D/A converter so that you can really hear what you're
recording - or even some really good monitors so you really CAN hear
what you're recording, and a couple of really good mics and a
different (audio) color preamp so you have more tricks in your bag.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )

"Tim Terral" wrote in message
m

I currently have a Delta 1010 that I am pretty happy with, but I was
wondering if I upgraded to an RME Multiface would there be a
noticeable difference in the sound quality of the converters?

I'm never sure how to answer one of these all too frequent "will
there be a difference in quality?" questions, but somehow it always
comes out about the same. You say you're pretty happy with what you
have, so why are you considering making a change? Are your clients
saying "This sounds like it was recorded on a 10 year old
SoundBlaster. Why don't you get something better before we start on
the next project?" If so, then it's likely that the problem lies
elsewhere, not your Delta 1010.

No one is complaining, except me. I have always heard that converters
will help to define the tracks better as well as open/clear-up tracks
(assuming they were recorded correctly in the first place) more so
than if they were not used. I record acoustic/vocal music and clarity,
accuracy and openness (sp?) are what I am striving for. Granted, I am
certainly part of the equation here and do not profess to be a "pro".
My kit is modest, (Soundelux U195, Josephsen C42, Oktava MC012,
Langevin DVC and NHT A10 monitors), but good enough where I think a
good converter would make sense.

How do you know for sure that you don't already have a good enough
converter?

Would my money be
better spent on just buying a 4 or 8 channel converter?

Maybe, or maybe buying just one really good 2-channel A/D converter,
and a good D/A converter so that you can really hear what you're
recording - or even some really good monitors so you really CAN hear
what you're recording, and a couple of really good mics and a
different (audio) color preamp so you have more tricks in your bag.

This may be a mute point if I keep my 1010, as I THINK the SPDIF input
only accepts a stereo input, not 8 channels.

I have a Delta 1010 right here and I can confirm that. Plain ordinary
SP/DIF, 2 channels in, 2 channels out.

Not sure though. If this
is the case, then I would get a good A/D converter (Lucid, Mytek,
Benchmark) and eventually get the the Benchmark 2-channel DAC. I would
like an 8 channel converter so that we can record our band live, which
would also entail buying another pre amp, which I will do (RNP and/or
Sebatron VMP 2000e).

So why not rent a better converter and see
what it does for your life. You might like to keep the Delta anyway
and get something to connect to your computer through its digital
input. That will give you more flexibility and you won't compromise
the performance of your premium quality converter.

I was thinking about renting a converter, but where I live, that is
not an option. Any ideas on who might rent converters?

When you talk about connecting something (I am assuming the converter
in this case) through the digital input of my computer, are you
refering to Firewire or USB connections? Which brings me to another
question. Before we begin our next project we are going to be getting
a new computer. Any recommendations on whether to go with USB 2.0 or
Firewire, advantages/disadvantages?

I am interested in checking out the new Bechmark A/D converter,
whenever it comes out. I understand it will have 2 preamps as well.
Fletcher had indicated he was not that impressed with Benchmark
preamps in the past (if I understood him correctly), but likes their
converters. This would be a great solution for me if the pres are any
good, because I need two more channels of preamp. Any opinions?

Thanks for the help.

In article writes:

I was thinking about renting a converter, but where I live, that is
not an option. Any ideas on who might rent converters?

Do you live someplace where mail, FedEx, or UPS doesn't deliver? The
rental houses in Nashville, LA, and New York are all accustomed to
dealing with rent'n'ship. I just looked at toyspecialists.com and was
blown over by the daily rental rate and limited selection of A/D
converters. Somebody help this guy out and send him someplace he can
afford.

When you talk about connecting something (I am assuming the converter
in this case) through the digital input of my computer, are you
refering to Firewire or USB connections?

No, I'm talking about connecting its digital output to the digital
input on your present interface. Be sure to rent one that has the same
digital output format as the digital input on your interface. I think
the Delta 1010 has coax S/PDIF inputs on the host card, if that's the
model you have.

Before we begin our next project we are going to be getting
a new computer. Any recommendations on whether to go with USB 2.0 or
Firewire, advantages/disadvantages?

Look in your crystal ball. Today I'd say Firewire, but who knows? If
audio is your concern, right now there are several Firewiare audio
interfaces and as far as I know, only one USB2 audio interface. But if
you're getting a real computer rather than a laptop, it's easy enough,
when the need arises, to add a card for the one you ain't got. This in
itself shouldn't be the reason to buy one desktop computer over
another, but it could be a deciding choice for a laptop since laptops
are limited in their expansion capability. You can get a Firewire
interface on a PCMCIA card, and if you you can't yet, I'm sure you'll
be able to get a USB2 PCMCIA card. But if you have only one PCMCIA
slot (as my laptop does) that kind of limits how much you can use at
one time.

I am interested in checking out the new Bechmark A/D converter,
whenever it comes out. I understand it will have 2 preamps as well.

It looks like a nice unit.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )