good cheap audiocard for a G5

[Dobbie]

I'm looking for a good cheap (well, up to 500, but for that I would
like a decent mic level input) audiocard for a G5 with panther. I
intend to use ALSA drivers somewhat so
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/ is a list of known supported
cards (others will probably work too)

RME cards seem to be liked by about everyone, but I don't really see
how hammerfall could be in my price range, especialyl when one has to
throw in A/Ds as an extra. They also take up a lot of space (most
look like 2 pci slots) and I haven't many openings on the G5 to begin
with. the Digi96/8 PAD looks like it might work and it is expandable,
which could be nice. One thing that I don't particularly like is that
I would be paying for optical in/out which I already have.

M-Audio Delta has a lot of cards that look promising and they all
appear to be supported. I can't seem to really figure out the
difference between the 4/4 and 6/6. the 6 claims to be 6 in and 6
out, but the breakout box only has 4 and 4.. where are the other two
(I'm guessing that I'm missing something obvious)
1010-lt. This looks pretty good, but it seems to offer a whole lot
for only 399 (including mic level inputs, which if they are
worthwhile, would be awesome) from the site it looks like tha biggest
different between the lt and normal is the breakout box/interface.
I'm guessing that the guts are a lot different too, but it doens't
really say where they cut corners.

Echo seems to be the other player in the mac market. The mia/midi
doesn't seem to offer that much except for having midi along with a
decent soundcard. I don't do midi so I'm not really sure if this card
would have much value to me. The gina24 has two line level inputs and
looks sorta like a beefed up mia. I've been having a hard time
finding decent reviews (as opposed to jsut hype)

the delta 1010lt at 279 on musicians friend is starting to look pretty
good, but I would really like to hear about the mic level inputs. I
think the cheapest listed that I'm really considering is the 44 for
229. I can't seem to find many places that sell the rme cards, but
people's reactions to them make me want to still consider them if they
can be had in my price range. the PAD looks like it is usually around
400.

Thanks

[Jonathan Sinclair Dobbie]

same person, different account.

I'm also tempted by http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--MDOOMNISTU a
delta 66 and omnistudio for 400.

the 1010lt lacks phantom power, but in those cases I would just use a
preamp into the line level inputs.

[Kurt Albershardt]

Dobbie wrote:

> I'm looking for a good cheap (well, up to 500, but for that I would
> like a decent mic level input) audiocard for a G5 with panther.

http://www.usbpre.com/ is about $550 and has passable mic preamps.




> RME cards seem to be liked by about everyone, but I don't really see
> how hammerfall could be in my price range, especially when one has to
> throw in A/Ds as an extra. They also take up a lot of space (most
> look like 2 pci slots) and I haven't many openings on the G5 to begin
> with.

The Multiface and HDSP PCI card will only take up one PCI slot, but will
cost a bit more than you've budgeted. There are rumors of a forthcoming
'Multiface Pro' which might have preamps but will probably cost even more.


Aardvark's DirectPro 2496 might fit the bill, but they're just hitting
beta on OS9/ASIO with no mention of OS X.

[Pooh Bear]

Dobbie wrote:

> I'm looking for a good cheap (well, up to 500, but for that I would
> like a decent mic level input) audiocard for a G5 with panther.

There is no computer sound card ever that has a mic input that's worth the
name. For starters it has to be balanced ( unheard of on a sound card )
and have a reliable connector like the XLR. No room for that on an
expansion plate.

A pre-amp inside a PC will pick up RF noise from the internals anyway.

Also, A decent mic input needs variable gain to match to the operating
level.

Get a good soundcard with line level inputs only.

Use a mic pre or a small mixer to feed the sound card.

The best converters have outboard boxes for the analog bits (and much else
too ) . Digidesign do stuff for the Mac. Learn from their approach.

Haven't tried one yet, but USB mic pres seem to be all the rage, external,
which is good and by now, I hope someone has had the sense do to a half
decent one.



Graham