Hello,

can anybody recommend a quality 2-channel A/D converter with USB,
firewire or PCMCIA connection for laptop recording? Budget is limited
to 500 $.

I first considered getting the E-mu 1616M for its reportedly excellent
A/D converters. But then I realized I would also be paying for built-in
preamps, DSP, 32 channel mixing, multi-effects processing, 8 analog
outs, etc, for which I have no use. I would prefer a more condensed
solution.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Hesham

H. Khalil wrote:

can anybody recommend a quality 2-channel A/D converter with USB,
firewire or PCMCIA connection for laptop recording? Budget is limited
to 500 $.

I've had a Digigram VX Pocket (PCMCIA card) for about 6 years and I
still think it sounds good. I'd recommend it if everything else is
right about it for your application. Inputs and outputs are balanced
(the breakout cable has XLR connectors) but you can use it with
unbalanced equipment and operating level is adjustable so it will match
up with just about everything. It also has S/PDIF coax in and out, and
SMPTE time code support.

I first considered getting the E-mu 1616M for its reportedly excellent
A/D converters. But then I realized I would also be paying for built-in
preamps, DSP, 32 channel mixing, multi-effects processing, 8 analog
outs, etc, for which I have no use. I would prefer a more condensed
solution.

You don't really pay for that stuff. Those are the features that are
popular so they have to be included in order to make any sales. You'll
find that often you have to pay more to get less. The Digigram
supposedly works at mic level (no phantom power) but I've never had any
success with it in that mode. I use it as a plain vanilla line level
interface it it's been good.

Like most PCMCIA devices, the connector that attaches the breakout
cable to the card is a bit on the fragile side and you have to be
careful with it if you move things around a lot. The cable has a clever
strain relief device that attaches to a vacant D-sub connector on the
back of your computer and keeps the PCMCIA connector from pulling out
if you put too much strain on the cable. Clever. There are WDM and ASIO
drivers for it, so it will work with just about any software.

H. Khalil" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

can anybody recommend a quality 2-channel A/D converter with USB,
firewire or PCMCIA connection for laptop recording? Budget is limited
to 500 $.

I first considered getting the E-mu 1616M for its reportedly excellent
A/D converters. But then I realized I would also be paying for built-in
preamps, DSP, 32 channel mixing, multi-effects processing, 8 analog
outs, etc, for which I have no use. I would prefer a more condensed
solution.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Hesham

I have used the Echo Indigo IO for about 3 years and it's great, has up to
24/96 input if you want it, in a PCMCIA cardbus format. Good drivers,
performs well. Look for reviews on Sound On Sound and other online
magazines.
Ray

Greetings,

If you have a Mac laptop, do consider the Metric Halo ULN2.
These can be had used for $725 or so, and represents an incredible
combination of fidelity,
quality and features. Though a bit more money, well, well worth the
splurge.

http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/products/mio/uln2/

regards,
Michael

watermuse wrote:
If you have a Mac laptop, do consider the Metric Halo ULN2.
These can be had used for $725 or so

I'll bet you know where one can be had for exactly that price, too.
Just one For Sale ad to a customer, please.

The Metric Halo stuff seems really nice. Too bad they've stayed
Mac-only for their entire existence.

Mike Rivers wrote:
watermuse wrote:
If you have a Mac laptop, do consider the Metric Halo ULN2.
These can be had used for $725 or so

I'll bet you know where one can be had for exactly that price, too.
Just one For Sale ad to a customer, please.

The Metric Halo stuff seems really nice. Too bad they've stayed
Mac-only for their entire existence.


Sorry Gang,
Only in earnestly answering the question did I remember to post the
fact that I have an extra ULN 2 to offer for anothers use, independent
of this post. The Metric Halo mic pres compare favourably to other
clean flavoured pres like Grace, Great River and the Convertors are
just so musical. With the range of DA and AD interconnects, headphones
and main controls it just hard to find fault with it,
unless you don't like Macs. (g)

watermuse wrote:

Mike Rivers wrote:
watermuse wrote:
If you have a Mac laptop, do consider the Metric Halo ULN2.
These can be had used for $725 or so

I'll bet you know where one can be had for exactly that price, too.
Just one For Sale ad to a customer, please.

The Metric Halo stuff seems really nice. Too bad they've stayed
Mac-only for their entire existence.


Sorry Gang,
Only in earnestly answering the question did I remember to post the
fact that I have an extra ULN 2 to offer for anothers use, independent
of this post. The Metric Halo mic pres compare favourably to other
clean flavoured pres like Grace, Great River and the Convertors are
just so musical. With the range of DA and AD interconnects, headphones
and main controls it just hard to find fault with it,
unless you don't like Macs. (g)

The MH _ULN-2_ pres compare well; the pres in the 2882 series do not
compare well once we need more than about 26 dB of gain, unfortunately.
What the box offers more than makes up for that, IMO, but we should keep
it real so nobody goes out and buys an MIO 2882 hoping to get eight
channels of Great River-quality mic pres. Ain't happening.

--
ha