PC interface comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2?

[Rale]

I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
drivers for it.

Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
(via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know.

Thanks,
Rale

[Kurt Albershardt]

Rale wrote:
>
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.

I have no direct experience with the ULN-2, but here are some possibilities:

RME FireFace 800 (generally excellent reviews with a few complaints about low preamp gain.)

Grace Lunatec V3 with a Digigram card or other simple I/O.




For ~$1000 more than the ULN-2 you coudl get a Sound Devices 722 and ditch the laptop altogether...

[Kurt Albershardt]

Rale wrote:
>
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.

I have no direct experience with the ULN-2, but here are some possibilities:

RME FireFace 800 (generally excellent reviews with a few complaints about low preamp gain.)

Grace Lunatec V3 with a Digigram card or other simple I/O.




For ~$1000 more than the ULN-2 you coudl get a Sound Devices 722 and ditch the laptop altogether...

[Arny Krueger]

"Rale" > wrote in message
om
> I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.

What makes you think that the ULN-2 is really comparable to the L22?

[Arny Krueger]

"Rale" > wrote in message
om
> I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.

What makes you think that the ULN-2 is really comparable to the L22?

[WillStG]

<< (Rale) >>
<< I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
drivers for it.

Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
(via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know. >>

You know a 1.2Ghz iBook 256/30G is $999 right now. And if you are
running CubaseSL/SX/VST5.2beta or Nuendo you could connect such an iBook to
your desktop PC with Systemlink and work crossplatform, with all the processing
power of both machines combined. You would still need an interface with a
digital I/O on both machines though, and maybe some clever crossgrading of
software.

BTW, the 80 bit mixer in the Metric Halo 2882 is a better sounding summing
buss than in a lot of the software out there, better than Logic's summing
busses. And if you do decide to get a ULN-2, I can give you a very good deal
on a non DSP ULN-2 new in the box.

Will Miho
NY Music & TV Audio Guy
Audioist / Fox News
"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits

[WillStG]

<< (Rale) >>
<< I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
drivers for it.

Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
(via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know. >>

You know a 1.2Ghz iBook 256/30G is $999 right now. And if you are
running CubaseSL/SX/VST5.2beta or Nuendo you could connect such an iBook to
your desktop PC with Systemlink and work crossplatform, with all the processing
power of both machines combined. You would still need an interface with a
digital I/O on both machines though, and maybe some clever crossgrading of
software.

BTW, the 80 bit mixer in the Metric Halo 2882 is a better sounding summing
buss than in a lot of the software out there, better than Logic's summing
busses. And if you do decide to get a ULN-2, I can give you a very good deal
on a non DSP ULN-2 new in the box.

Will Miho
NY Music & TV Audio Guy
Audioist / Fox News
"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits

[Rale M]

Thanks to all of you who replied. To answer Arny's question: I have not had
a chance to use Metric Halo, so all that I know about it is what I heard
about it or read in magazines and various newsgroup postings.

I am aware of the fact that it is difficult to find an equivalent to the
Lynx card that would be usable on a notebook unless one is ready to spend
much more money, and this seemed as a good alternative. Of course, I am
speculating and I don't know this for certain, which is one of the main
reasons why I am making this posting. However, Arny, I appreciate that you
wouldn't let me get away with it.

Rale

"WillStG" > wrote in message
...
> << (Rale) >>
> << I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.
>
> Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know. >>
>
> You know a 1.2Ghz iBook 256/30G is $999 right now. And if you are
> running CubaseSL/SX/VST5.2beta or Nuendo you could connect such an iBook
to
> your desktop PC with Systemlink and work crossplatform, with all the
processing
> power of both machines combined. You would still need an interface with a
> digital I/O on both machines though, and maybe some clever crossgrading of
> software.
>
> BTW, the 80 bit mixer in the Metric Halo 2882 is a better sounding
summing
> buss than in a lot of the software out there, better than Logic's summing
> busses. And if you do decide to get a ULN-2, I can give you a very good
deal
> on a non DSP ULN-2 new in the box.
>
> Will Miho
> NY Music & TV Audio Guy
> Audioist / Fox News
> "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits
>
>
>

[Rale M]

Thanks to all of you who replied. To answer Arny's question: I have not had
a chance to use Metric Halo, so all that I know about it is what I heard
about it or read in magazines and various newsgroup postings.

I am aware of the fact that it is difficult to find an equivalent to the
Lynx card that would be usable on a notebook unless one is ready to spend
much more money, and this seemed as a good alternative. Of course, I am
speculating and I don't know this for certain, which is one of the main
reasons why I am making this posting. However, Arny, I appreciate that you
wouldn't let me get away with it.

Rale

"WillStG" > wrote in message
...
> << (Rale) >>
> << I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.
>
> Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know. >>
>
> You know a 1.2Ghz iBook 256/30G is $999 right now. And if you are
> running CubaseSL/SX/VST5.2beta or Nuendo you could connect such an iBook
to
> your desktop PC with Systemlink and work crossplatform, with all the
processing
> power of both machines combined. You would still need an interface with a
> digital I/O on both machines though, and maybe some clever crossgrading of
> software.
>
> BTW, the 80 bit mixer in the Metric Halo 2882 is a better sounding
summing
> buss than in a lot of the software out there, better than Logic's summing
> busses. And if you do decide to get a ULN-2, I can give you a very good
deal
> on a non DSP ULN-2 new in the box.
>
> Will Miho
> NY Music & TV Audio Guy
> Audioist / Fox News
> "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits
>
>
>

[Ray Thomas]

Hi Rale,

If 2 channel only work is envisaged, I can highly recommend the little Echo
Indigo I/O laptop device..amazingly quiet as an input card, and you will see
extensive reviews of the item on their website. I routinely record direct to
an external hard drive at 24 bit/96kHz with superb results !!

Ray Thomas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
"Rale" > wrote in message
om...
> I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.
>
> Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Rale


---
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[Ray Thomas]

Hi Rale,

If 2 channel only work is envisaged, I can highly recommend the little Echo
Indigo I/O laptop device..amazingly quiet as an input card, and you will see
extensive reviews of the item on their website. I routinely record direct to
an external hard drive at 24 bit/96kHz with superb results !!

Ray Thomas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
"Rale" > wrote in message
om...
> I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> drivers for it.
>
> Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Rale


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/2004

[Rale M]

Thanks Ray and, once again, thanks to all of you who replied.

Rale
"Ray Thomas" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Rale,
>
> If 2 channel only work is envisaged, I can highly recommend the little
Echo
> Indigo I/O laptop device..amazingly quiet as an input card, and you will
see
> extensive reviews of the item on their website. I routinely record direct
to
> an external hard drive at 24 bit/96kHz with superb results !!
>
> Ray Thomas
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --------------------------
> "Rale" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> > comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> > Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> > hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> > with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> > of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> > Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> > drivers for it.
> >
> > Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> > docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> > non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> > such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> > anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> > (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> > on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> > firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rale
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/2004
>
>

[Rale M]

Thanks Ray and, once again, thanks to all of you who replied.

Rale
"Ray Thomas" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Rale,
>
> If 2 channel only work is envisaged, I can highly recommend the little
Echo
> Indigo I/O laptop device..amazingly quiet as an input card, and you will
see
> extensive reviews of the item on their website. I routinely record direct
to
> an external hard drive at 24 bit/96kHz with superb results !!
>
> Ray Thomas
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --------------------------
> "Rale" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I was wondering if someone could recommend a PC notebook interface
> > comparable to Metric Halo ULN-2. I currently use a desktop PC with
> > Lynx L22, but will have to use a notebook more frequently, so I was
> > hoping to be able to find a good, transparent interface, preferably
> > with low noise preamps that would have performance comparable to that
> > of the Lynx card (true, Lynx L22 does not have mic preamps). Metric
> > Halo ULN-2 looks great, but unfortunately, there are no Windows
> > drivers for it.
> >
> > Of course, I wouldn't mind using the Lynx card with a notebook, but
> > docking stations that have full size PCI slots seem almost
> > non-existent (except for the older laptops), and PCI expansion systems
> > such as MAGMA cost as much as expensive firewire audio interfaces. If
> > anyone knew of notebooks that have capability to accommodate PCI cards
> > (via docking stations or in any other way), had any other suggestions
> > on how to set this up, or had sugggestions on a good
> > firewire/USB/PCMCIA interface in this price range, please let me know.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rale
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/2004
>
>