Recommended External Soundcards

JoyRiderz · Post by **JoyRiderz** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:28 pm

I would recommend from cheapest to most expensive;

Presonus or m-audio (m-audio if ya wanna use pro tools)
Digidesign mbox2 pro or 003
MOTU
RME
Metric Halo
Apogee ensemble

obviously if you go for a cheaper unit you can get better converters later on, also I have heard some problems with m-audio + mac and rme in general with their drivers.

you should be able to find all the prices for them @ http://www.awave.com.au/

unsoundbwoy · Post by **unsoundbwoy** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:43 pm

i'm having recurring drama with my presonus.
patiently waiting for tuesday. will call customer support

wilks · Post by **wilks** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:26 pm

For jut 2in 2 out I am loving my Lexicon Alpha. Plain and simple...no bullshit.

unsoundbwoy · Post by **unsoundbwoy** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 1:25 pm

@flippo::
my computer won't register the card at all.
i changed no system settings, installed no new software or hardware. it just didn't recognize it
so i uninstalled the drivers and now when it asks me to plug the card in, it cant tell that its plugged in
it did this once berfore and then just started working again
i'm using a pcmcia to firewire and usb2.0 card all usb devices work, i need to try another firewire device.
i installed the firewire update patch for xp sp 2 and have tried everything else suggested on the presonus website
any other suggestions?

flippo · Post by **flippo** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:39 pm

the presonus guys recomend that if you go pcmcia on lappy, make it a firewire400 only card. Combo cards are problematic apparently.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:41 am

Anyone had a go at the Focusrite Saffire range of FW cards?

Smile on Impact · Post by **Smile on Impact** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:12 pm

Direktor wrote:Anyone had a go at the Focusrite Saffire range of FW cards?

I havn't;
but I have never heard a focusrite pre I liked.

even the ones in the Control 24 suck arse.

I like them on kick and snare, but anything with a bit of treble goes to shit.

the top end is so fast and scattered and crackly.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:52 pm

Have you heard the Red range? The ISA range? LiquidMix/Liquid Channel?

Scholtzy · Post by **Scholtzy** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:09 pm

No problems with the presonus over here thank god!

Smile on Impact · Post by **Smile on Impact** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:26 pm

Direktor wrote:Have you heard the Red range? The ISA range? LiquidMix/Liquid Channel?

Yeah ISA's sound great.
But they are a Neve pre...

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:16 pm

feelslikeafukinrevolution wrote:
Direktor wrote:Have you heard the Red range? The ISA range? LiquidMix/Liquid Channel?
Yeah ISA's sound great.
But they are a Neve pre...

You know your gear mate... For what it's worth, Rupert Neve was an original designer for Focusrite after he left Neve - that's how Focusrite started. So it's not really a Neve pre as such, but designed by Rupert Neve for Focusrite...

Smile on Impact · Post by **Smile on Impact** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:26 pm

Direktor wrote: You know your gear mate... For what it's worth, Rupert Neve was an original designer for Focusrite after he left Neve - that's how Focusrite started. So it's not really a Neve pre as such, but designed by Rupert Neve for Focusrite...

yeah, I call it a Neve Pre because it's Rupert Neve Design.

Just like how, I don't Consider "Neve" pre's to be Neve Pres anymore.
Now that our mate Rupet has nothing to do with the new Designs.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:38 pm

Fo shizzle dizzle my man

NinjaGaijin · Post by **NinjaGaijin** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:59 pm

What is the least you could expect to pay for a decent, at least a 2 channel, sound card?

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:10 pm

The least amount??? Try Behringer...

Cheapest decent one we sell is the M-Audio Delta Audiophile @ $249 RRP. Can be found heaps cheaper at the right places around town...

Smile on Impact · Post by **Smile on Impact** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:49 pm

cheapest. who knows?

cheapest proper one...
Fireface 400
$1400
in my opinion.

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:31 pm

there is pro

and there is prosumer

many are happy with prosumer and make great stuff with it

feelslikeafukinrevolution is not one of those people...

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:22 am

true

saintberry · Post by **saintberry** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:00 pm

Shadowgames wrote:yeah yoru monitors will make a bigger difference when playing stuff back than a soundcard.

but a sound card is just as important.

if the quality of the DAC on your sound card is crap... not matter how good your monitors are, the end product will be mush. in fact the better the monitor the more mush in that situation.

unless of cause your using digital out on your sound card and something else to convert that into volts.

the question is: does the range in quality of cheap vs expensive DACs outweigh the range of cheap vs expensive monitors or speaker/amp combinations.