Just wanted to check with you folks on something: I record via the Aphex
Tubessence 107 mic preamp, straight into Sonar via a Gina20 currently. It's
unlikely to change, other than my getting a new sound card. I mix internally
within Sonar, with DirectX plugins, I use softsynths, Reason, etc. When I'm
ready with the final mix, I simply export audio from Sonar - and it creates
a file on my hard drive. That's it - which means after the input stage, I'm
not going out of the digital domain at all. So the quality of D/A converters
are inconsequential to me - other than for monitoring. Usually most 24-bit
pro sound cards should produce good enough quality to sound good enough on
my speakers (Genelec 1029As with 7050A sub). I've used the Gina for a long
time, along with (more recently) the Neon (USB audio interface + MIDI
controller - 24 bit) and find the replication pretty accurate. Although I
agree that the RME Multiface probably does sound better, but here's what I'm trying to
fish at (see below)...
What really matters to me is the A/D conversion that's happening as I'm
going into the box. Is the RME quality better than the Emu 1820 and the
Layla 3G ($400-500)enough to warrant the extra expenditure on the RME Multiface ($500 additional at $920, including the PCI card)? Is it that much
more noticeable? Sorry for these questions - just trying to see what's
possible. I have friends using the 1820 and they are very happy with it. The RME Multiface supposedly, on the other hand, has the 'best drivers on the planet' and the converters sound as good as Apogee. Would someone please give me some advice? Thanks so much! BTW, having many inputs is a definite plus; no. of outputs is not really important (except it should have 2)!
Comments
thanks. I appreciate the feedback. It's just that I'm traveling
thanks. I appreciate the feedback. It's just that I'm traveling in a month and hope to pick something up in Singapore, so any input is good. Is the Audiophile 2496 M-Audio? If anyone has experience with working on all of these or any one of the above mentioned ones, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks again. I just checked out the M-Audio, and it seems it on
Thanks again. I just checked out the M-Audio, and it seems it only has 4 ins and outs. I would like a lot more ins if poss...an additional ADAT interface holds an attraction for me since I own an ADAT and can use it as a breakout box for the interface, thus adding to the no. of inputs. (The Echo Layla 3G, Emu 1820 and the Multiface all have one)... So, have you done any recording through the Multiface yet? I'm leaning towards the Multiface, but I'm still not sure about spending the extra $500....
curry, I just bought the Multiface a few weeks ago to replace an
curry, I just bought the Multiface a few weeks ago to replace an Audiophile 2496. RME was recommended by a friend whose ears and brain I trust, and who has a friend that works for Apogee that admitted the RME converters were just as good. I haven't tracked anything through it yet (will in a short bit), but playback of stuff done through the Audiophile is revealing substantially more detailed mids and tighter bass. I've been tracking on a Mackie SDR and mixing in Sonar, but wanted a way to track several tracks into Sonar as well, just for rendundancy (and I also just inherited a project started in Sonar and wanted to stay there). Nothing wrong with multiple outs either, it will make setting up a cue mix through my Furman headphone distribution system much easier. It was easy to set up, and the ASIO drivers are working fine in Sonar.