"Aaron" wrote in message
Hello, I was looking into buying a new interface for my computer. What
would be best to look into, PCI Card, USB, or Firewire. Also, could you
recommend what you like. I will mainly use it for midi and some guitar
and
mic tracks. Looking to spend around $500 (U.S. dollars). I don't need
anything elaborate. Just looking to use it along with cubase SX and some
VSTi,s Like LM4, Halion. and Reaktor. Thank you for any help. Aaron

Buy based on budget and features, not how it connects to the computer.
There are so many variables that you have failed to tell us. Do you need it
to be portable? If so then will you have access to AC? If not then your
options are limited. How many tracks will you be recording at once? You
say "midi, some guitar, and mic tracks" but that doesn't tell us how many
guitars or mics you'll be recording simultaneously. Will your interface
need to have preamps or are you using external pres, either from a mixer or
outboard gear?

I'll give you some suggestions on 8+ channel interfaces: Stay away from
Delta cards unless you're prepared to deal with the headaches that go along
with them (search the archives to see what I'm talking about). Okay, I'll
break it down by connections (all are 8 analog channels unless otherwise
specified):

Firewi
Motu 828 - 2 preamps - $750
Motu 896 - 8 preamps - $1250
Presonus Firestation - 2 preamps - $700


PCI:
Motu 2408 - 0 preamps - $850
Motu 24i - 0 preamps - 24 channels output - $5-600 on eBay
Motu 24i/o - 0 preamps - 24 channels in/out - $1420
Aardvark Q10 - 8 preamps - $830
Echo Layla - 0 preamps -optional cardbus card for use with laptops - $700
RME Multiface - 0 preamps - most professional piece of gear listed here, but
has professional price - around $1400 with either PCI card or CardBus for
laptops

USB:
Don't know of any 8 channel ones but Edirol makes some nice units that I
think are 2-4 channels as does Sound Devices

Aaron wrote:

Hello, I was looking into buying a new interface for my computer. What
would be best to look into, PCI Card, USB, or Firewire. Also, could you
recommend what you like. I will mainly use it for midi and some guitar and
mic tracks. Looking to spend around $500 (U.S. dollars). I don't need
anything elaborate. Just looking to use it along with cubase SX and some
VSTi,s Like LM4, Halion. and Reaktor. Thank you for any help. Aaron

For $200 I can recommend the new two channel Tascam US-122
USB powered front end. It's 24 bit and samples at 44.1 kHz
or 48 kHz. Its features and gozintas and gouzoutas are very
flexibly designed. Built like a tank. I've measured its
mic-in EIN noise at -124 dBu (-126 dBV) A-weighted and next
weekend I'll get access to an Audio Precision System Two to
measure its distortion. It sounds very clean to me with DPA
4060's, Earthworks TC30K's and Oktava MC012 Hypers. It was
designed by Frontier Designs and their PCI based interfaces
are pretty well regarded.

It works flawlessly into DP4 on my iBook but has fits on my
Win98SE system. I'm told that for USB audio you need a Win
verion that is beyond that level.


Bob
--

"Things should be described as simply as possible, but no
simpler."

A. Einstein

On Sat, 12 Jul 2003 15:39:48 -0700, Bob Cain wrote:



Aaron wrote:

Hello, I was looking into buying a new interface for my computer. What
would be best to look into, PCI Card, USB, or Firewire. Also, could you
recommend what you like. I will mainly use it for midi and some guitar and
mic tracks. Looking to spend around $500 (U.S. dollars). I don't need
anything elaborate. Just looking to use it along with cubase SX and some
VSTi,s Like LM4, Halion. and Reaktor. Thank you for any help. Aaron

For $200 I can recommend the new two channel Tascam US-122
USB powered front end. It's 24 bit and samples at 44.1 kHz
or 48 kHz. Its features and gozintas and gouzoutas are very
flexibly designed. Built like a tank. I've measured its
mic-in EIN noise at -124 dBu (-126 dBV) A-weighted and next
weekend I'll get access to an Audio Precision System Two to
measure its distortion. It sounds very clean to me with DPA
4060's, Earthworks TC30K's and Oktava MC012 Hypers. It was
designed by Frontier Designs and their PCI based interfaces
are pretty well regarded.

It works flawlessly into DP4 on my iBook but has fits on my
Win98SE system. I'm told that for USB audio you need a Win
verion that is beyond that level.


Bob

Bob,

I'd be interested in hearing the results of any further tests. Hope
you post them. I was considering an Audiophile 2496 USB because I
don't need the extra bells and whistles, just the best and most
reliable in's and out's I can get. I kind of like the fact that it
doesn't draw power from USB. I suppose the Mobile Pre would be a
better comparison since it shares similar features with the 122.

G.

"George W." wrote:



I'd be interested in hearing the results of any further [US-122] tests.
Hope you post them.

Will do.

I was considering an Audiophile 2496 USB because I
don't need the extra bells and whistles, just the best and most
reliable in's and out's I can get. I kind of like the fact that it
doesn't draw power from USB. I suppose the Mobile Pre would be a
better comparison since it shares similar features with the 122.

Besides the price and configurability what drew me to it was
that it _is_ powered by USB. I wanted that for remote iBook
recording and still get about three hours of record time
with it attached.

On the other hand, my iBook went out of sync with the
battery while using it and I can't get it back in sync. I
hate to admit that it just occured to me that the USB
powering while on battery might be the cause. The iBook
seems confused about how much charge the battery holds and
when it is fully charged, etc. I think the battery itself
is ok and am awaiting AppleCare coverage to get it
serviced. It could be that there is a problem with powering
USB devices from an iBook on battery but I won't know until
I get the current situation fixed and see if it continues to
screw it up (on waranty.)


Bob
--

"Things should be described as simply as possible, but no
simpler."

A. Einstein

The questioner is considering PCI, so it can't be for a laptop.
Why would anyone consider USB or Firewire if plugging directly in to
PCI is an option?

I was considering an Audiophile 2496 USB because I
don't need the extra bells and whistles, just the best and most
reliable in's and out's I can get. I kind of like the fact that it
doesn't draw power from USB. I suppose the Mobile Pre would be a
better comparison since it shares similar features with the 122.

"Laurence Payne" wrote in message
The questioner is considering PCI, so it can't be for a laptop.
Why would anyone consider USB or Firewire if plugging directly in to
PCI is an option?

Flexibility because it's going to be used with a laptop in the future. PCI
slots and resources quickly fill up. Firewire and USB 2 are both fast
enough (I assume you are referring to transfer rates because I can't think
of another reason why you would think PCI is so much better). The hardware
is just darned pretty (Firestation). Much easier to install. Some can be
powered by USB or Firewire (MH Mobile I/O). Easy to link multiple units.

So, why would anyone consider PCI when USB and Firewire have all of these
benefits?

On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 07:38:31 -0500, Thomas Bishop wrote:

"Laurence Payne" wrote in message
The questioner is considering PCI, so it can't be for a laptop.
Why would anyone consider USB or Firewire if plugging directly in to
PCI is an option?

Flexibility because it's going to be used with a laptop in the future. PCI
slots and resources quickly fill up. Firewire and USB 2 are both fast
enough (I assume you are referring to transfer rates because I can't think
of another reason why you would think PCI is so much better). The hardware
is just darned pretty (Firestation). Much easier to install. Some can be
powered by USB or Firewire (MH Mobile I/O). Easy to link multiple units.

So, why would anyone consider PCI when USB and Firewire have all of these
benefits?

I think your earlier post about buying based on budget and purpose
makes sense. If someone's not doing more than two tracks at once I
don't see that it matters if it's PCI or USB. All the better entry
level cards are limited to two in/two out anyway. The only reason I
can think to wait on USB is for more 2.0 units to start appearing.

"Thomas Bishop" wrote in message
...

"Laurence Payne" wrote in message
The questioner is considering PCI, so it can't be for a laptop.
Why would anyone consider USB or Firewire if plugging directly in to
PCI is an option?

Flexibility because it's going to be used with a laptop in the future.
PCI
slots and resources quickly fill up. Firewire and USB 2 are both fast
enough (I assume you are referring to transfer rates because I can't think
of another reason why you would think PCI is so much better). The
hardware
is just darned pretty (Firestation). Much easier to install. Some can be
powered by USB or Firewire (MH Mobile I/O). Easy to link multiple units.

So, why would anyone consider PCI when USB and Firewire have all of these
benefits?

Let's make a list of USB 2.0 interfaces:

Roland UA-1000 which is still vapor.

Lets make a list of really pretty good PCI interfaces under $300:

*lots*

Let's make a list of USB 2.0 and Firewire interfaces under $300

are there any?

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
Let's make a list of USB 2.0 and Firewire interfaces under $300

are there any?

Why do you get to set the price at $300? Let's say $400 and I can name the
Delta 410. : )