I don't know either system you're talking about. In fact, it's possible that no one here has had both types anyway, or at least done any extensive comparison tests of them both so as to give you a 'for certain' opinion, or even anything more than a guess.

I could say that if one is a built-in, on the mother board type and one is a pci card, add-on type, the add-on, if of any quality at all, might be my choice - with no testing of either. But, in this case, I might be wrong.

Other than that:

1. If you want quality, you have to pay for it. I paid 500 bucks for my audio card(No "rack" at all.) some years ago and it's sort've been left in the dust by newer stuff - some now less expensive, some more, but, since I did my homework, mine's still just fine for what I do.).

2. If you want to know what quality is, who offers it and how much you have to pay for it, read reviews, compare specs, try to hear some and ask around, as you're doing now, but feel pretty sure that you've gotten enough info to make a good choice before you plop down your coin. Certainly, more than just a few "votes" on a web site like this...

Basically, you need to know more than just model numbers before you can even ask a proper question, let alone make a proper choice. The information is out there, get busy. I, too, wonder what you'll get, once you know more of what you're talking about... Let us know.

We've all been there - now it's your turn to learn...

TG

Good question, tough answer. I have a P4 system with 2 Delta 1010's. I had it custom built by a company who only made PC's for audio (Nuendo only). EVERY component they put in (video card, memory, XP pro etc) was known and proven to work well with the system they built for me. You CANNOT just throw shit together and have a good system. You MUST know whats going on. All that said, my PC and 2 Delta system with a UAD card, Wave Platnum, and Nuendo 2 works and sounds great. I've made lots of record high quality records on the thing, BUT i do have problems sometimes and it can get tricky.

The mac is great but it depends on what system your running. If your doing pro tools then it's badass. If your doing Nuendo 3 then its even more badass, any other platforms and I don't know......I have heard that the G5 and Nuendo 2 don't play nice together. Digi o1 and o2 are crap you don't want that. If you have the bucks I'd get the G5, Nuendo 3 and at least 2 Delta 1010's. If you can spend more on better converters go for it.

I think the mac is probably the best, and Nuendo kills pro tools, you'll never look back once! (say what you want, i don't care)

The other thing that might be cool is to call Sweetwater and see what they can put together for you and see what kind of tech support they have after you have the computer a few years. Just don't let them sell you pro fools.

Been down this road with all this and this is the truth as I see it.

ROCK!!!!!!!!

Slight tangential, but...

J-3

Tell us about why the digi 002 is shite., and in detail, in your opinion, please.

I actually use Cubase SX 3 (with an old Roland VS880-EX as a mixer and a/d converter to S/PDIF to an Echo Mia MIDI) and have been contemplating a change to a Digi 002.

.nick

sorry for the late reply

I`ve just got a G5 now I don`t know whether to go for Digi 002 or Logic/Delta. I`d really want to go for TDM but it`s too goddamn expensive. Digi 002 sounds like crap?

hey T-3 thanks for the advice. Sweetwater`s got ProTools Training if you purchase it from them. Nuendo is way above my budget. Any comment for Logic? Are you having any problem with SX3, nick?

thanks a lot

Re: Slight tangential, but...

millionvalve wrote: Tell us about why the digi 002 is shite., and in detail, in your opinion, please.

Hi, I just thought I would throw in the stats according to the websites about these two pieces of gear. Keep in mind we are not comparing apples to apples here, cause the delta-1010 is JUST a converter into the computer, and not a mic-pre at ALL.

However with that said, I am a 002Rack owner, and I love it. Just need to get an external adat converter like an apogee, and your all set.

Anyway, here are the stats that I found:

Delta 1010
----------

frequency response: 22Hz-22kHz, +0.3/-0.2dB

dynamic range: 114dB (A-weighted) (A/D and D/A)

signal-to-noise ratio: 114dB (typical, A-weighted)

THD:

002Rack
-------

Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz

Dynamic Range:

Inputs 1-4: 101 dB A-weighted
Inputs 5-8: 108 dB A-weighted

Signal-to-noise ratio:

Inputs 1-4: 0.004% @ -3 dBFS input level (minimum gain)
Inputs 5-6: 0.002% @ -1 dBFS input level
Inputs 7-8: 0.003% @ -1 dBFS input level

THD:

THD+N @ 40 dB gain (mic input) @ 1 kHz:
Inputs 1-4: 0.004% @ 1kHz, -1dBFS after 40 dB gain

also, compare that to the apogee rosetta 800 that everyone raves about:

Frequency response: 10 –20k (+/- 0.2 dB) at 44.1k

Dynamic range: 114 dB A weighted (AD + DA)

Signal-to-noise ratio: unlisted

THD+N: -105 dB (AD), -103 dB (DA)