what is the best soundcard?

[B_Rock]

its time to build my computer. ive got the cash and im going all out, all top of the line. what soundcard should i get. this pc will be used for recording dj sets, live bands, virtual multitracking bands, and composition. it will also be used for audio mastering for video her in a few months, so doldy technology might be a must as well. price is pretty much no object when it comes to this. i dont wanna spend $2k on a sound card though. what do yall think????

[djmerritt]

the new ProTools HD hands down is the best.

within your price range...

easiest to work with would be the MOTU 896

for my PC i use the M AUDIO 4 or 6 something... it's really is good! (and clean)

[B_Rock]

cool i'll look in to those. how much does the pro tools card run?

[djmerritt]

cool i'll look in to those. how much does the pro tools card run?

about $10,000

the others are around $1000

i have the M Audio 4 something and that only cost me $3-500 i can't remember. (it's PCI based)

the 896 is firewire- so you just plug and play/record.
(it's also expandable and can get you very high quality recordings)

the motu 2408 mk2 or mk3 are both great solutions.

for the m2 you'll need a motu pci-324 card, mk3 needs a 424

these things rock..8 channels analog io (24 bit on the mk3), 3 adat banks, 3 tdif banks, spdif. you can mix/match between analog/adat/tdif using combinations of banks for up to 24 channels of active io

the pci-324/424 cards can run multiple 2408s simultaneosly, giving a ton of potential io (96 channels)

i use a 2408 mkII, i love it. good solution if you need flexible io

[bobby kurtz]

Originally posted by B_Rock
cool i'll look in to those. how much does the pro tools card run?

I think HD1 is $8995, HD2 is $10995, and HD3 is $11995 ... basically Digidesign bends ypu over on the cards.

Originally posted by Oblique
the motu 2408 mk2 or mk3 are both great solutions.

for the m2 you'll need a motu pci-324 card, mk3 needs a 424

these things rock..8 channels analog io (24 bit on the mk3), 3 adat banks, 3 tdif banks, spdif. you can mix/match between analog/adat/tdif using combinations of banks for up to 24 channels of active io

the pci-324/424 cards can run multiple 2408s simultaneosly, giving a ton of potential io (96 channels)

i use a 2408 mkII, i love it. good solution if you need flexible io

FYI: The 2408mk3 / PCI424 will not be out until later this year. But I can't talk enough about how good the PCI324 system is. And the analog i/o on the 2408mk2 ARE 24bit as well- the original 2408 was 20bit on RCA jacks versus balanced TRS 1/4 on the mk2 and mk3.(The only new features that the 2408mk3 are halfduplex 96khz sampling rate, the ability to have 4 interfaces on the 424 card versus 3 on the 324 card, and the ability to send/recieve SMTPE time code on the analog i/o). Side Note: I have a MOTU 24i Interface FOR SALE (HEHE) which has 24 24bit analog inputs that plugs into the 324 or 424 cards. You can purchase a 324 card for around $100.

Both of the MOTU Firewire interfaces the 828 and the 896 are amazing quality, portable, and work very well.

There are some other really good cards out there but remember the bigger the company the quicker driver updates and bug fixes come out. The MAudio cards are a great value. Also the Hammerfall RME cards have amazingly low latency for software/virtual instrument and multitrack use.

[moshen]

the motu 2408 mk3 is an excellent suggestion by oblique and bobby.

[jens]

well, id agree..
for the price (around 600) a motu2408 mk2 cant be beat
plus you can always add a 24i analog expansion to it (right bobby!) for multitracking live instruments/mic's etc
oh yeah, the 828 or 896 is also nice if you have firewire.. mac g4, etc


thats pretty much the cadillac of soundcards
there is also the m-audio delta1010 which is a Very nice/solid interface...

and also the echo layla24 ... (which im kinda partial to Echo, since they are so rock solid in my machine...)

and let me tell you.. I have been through soundcard hell!!

But im in heaven for right now

[bobby kurtz]

Originally posted by jens
well, id agree..
for the price (around 600) a motu2408 mk2 cant be beat
plus you can always add a 24i analog expansion to it (right bobby!) for multitracking live instruments/mic's etc
oh yeah, the 828 or 896 is also nice if you have firewire.. mac g4, etc

Thats right! haha ... good thing you posted that because I forget to say that the 24i is FOR SALE and had to edit my post.

where are you moving to jens!???

[ahman]

Alsocheck out the presonus fire station
its fire wire
8 1/4 inch ins andouts
2 mic and 2 insturment pre
word clock
spidf
midi
extreamlyversitile controls

[B_Rock]

ive decided to go with the digidesigns digi-001. its the same thing we use at dallas soundlab. kind of the 1200 of the studio soundcard world.

[jens]

well, if you are SET on protools, stick with digidesign .. cant go wrong...


Im going to Saudi Arabia

for non-mutlitrack applications, i like the audiophile 24/96. I haven't heard this one though, just read reviews. The price is right - $200