Awsome soundcards for affordable prices!!

[Shonsteez]

Peep this shit if havent already?? - http://www.emu.com/products/category.asp?category=754&maincategory=754

It says that they got tha same A/D converters as Digidesign Protools HD setups!...Thats pretty fucking dope - Im most likely gonna put myself in debt tonight and order one of these things - probably tha 1212m, tha lower end model, for 199.00 dollars...its too good of a deal and i dont need tha preamps on tha upper models cuz im gonna drop some more dough on a sick desktop mixer to be used in conjunction together....Peep that shit though! Real good deal if yer lookin for a soundcard thats up to par with some lofty features you normally find in way more expensive brands and that brand has been keepin shit on lock for days so.....

Steez

 

[Formant024]

You should scope out them Emulator X cards. It's a bundle with or without a breakout box combined with a 1010 to function as a dsp sampler ( vst, dx, rtas etc ) or standalone dsp sampler via midi. Besides being a dedicated sampler it would nicely support your little daw ( if you're not recording complete bands this is a good setup, so basicly the hiphop production for pc only setup ). The 1010 is a stripped 1212, but still zero-latency 32chnl int. mixer and virtual patchbay. There's about 500 preseted fx and 50 Z-plane ( morphing ) filters for 36 destination per voice/sample without killing your cpu. The Studio version adds 2 line/mic pre amp, phantom powered, 6 balanced inputs, 8 balanced outputs, Turntable input ( riaa pre amped ), 24-bit/192kHz ADAT I/O, 24-bit/96kHz coaxial S/PDIF I/O, 24-bit/96kHz optical S/PDIF Out ( all are switchable ) 2 sets of MIDI I/O, 4 stereo 1/8" Speaker Outputs ( supports 7.1 )and Stereo Headphone Output.

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=2212&category=631&maincategory=631&nav=over

This kills the digi002 hehe, definitly for the price/quality .

 

[Shonsteez]

Word! that shits fucking cheap as hell! I mean for what u get anyway....Yo i think im still goin with tha 1212 tho....I dont think i would need tha sampler, Im gettin a mpc soon and i use records and cd's for samples, so im kinda at a loss tryin to figure out how it would better serve tha setup i have now.?

 

[Formant024]

well, I see your point but the mpc fits a good hardware setup and an additional quality sampler wouldn't be too much to think about in such a hardware setup. But considering that you're probably working on a DAW, so pc biased setup with vst's etc then a mpc's sampling quality wont match that of the EMU ( and all the dynamics / fx / filters featured with the card wont top the all sampling features in the mpc ). Dont forget that unless you rock a mpc4k the best feature of any mpc is it's sequencer cq. timing. With that fact in perspective you might understand that a mpc is by timing very interesting in a hardware ( midi ) biased setup. Not because of the sampler, but simply the double midi I/O and tight timing. Another issue worth thinking of is that the emu card is a 24bit 192kHz sampler / fx processor through DSP, the mpc is 16bit 44kHz ( 2k/2kxl ) sampler and optional with fx ( except for 1k which has some fx but again, only 16bit 44kHz ).

Quality wise the EMU is far more advanced which simply implies to a better buy for value and purpose since adding a mpd16 to the emu brings you to a far more efficient setup than a mpcxk combined with a 1212. It would also save you some serious money.

But, I know the feeling, everybody wants a mpc but it can make a setup less practicle when you depend on a pc instead of hardware.

 

[classic]

That shit sounds dope duce. But what happend to the m-audio firewire 410. I thought u were gonna get that. Oh well

also i see your getting an MPC now

Your finally crossing over to the DARK SIDE!!! Welcome!!! muhahahahahaha
lol

class...

 

[Shonsteez]

haha...yeah!.....Well I found a good deal on a 60 so Im steppin tha waters to test em' out! lol.....
As for tha firewire 410 - i think that i changed my mind since doing some research for a long time I realized it really isnt tha ideal setup i was looking for, and i also read a lot of user reviews that tha in's/out's in tha back arent very secure after some usage so....I think im gonna cop one of those EMU's.

Tha EMU soundcard combined with soundcraft desktop mixer and a Korg MicroKontrol - Ill be in freakin heaven!!.....Of coarse all of this stuff has to be accumulated very slowly, but ya know how it goes.

 

[classic]

FYI duce (kinda off topic)

Im streaming your shit as we speak from soundclick. I have been studying for finals to your beats dude. Your shit is very tight man. no joke(im not blowing smoke) This shit is keeping me focused for real.

keep it up

class....

 

[Formant024]

haha...yeah!.....Well I found a good deal on a 60 so Im steppin tha waters to test em' out! lol.....
As for tha firewire 410 - i think that i changed my mind since doing some research for a long time I realized it really isnt tha ideal setup i was looking for, and i also read a lot of user reviews that tha in's/out's in tha back arent very secure after some usage so....I think im gonna cop one of those EMU's.

Tha EMU soundcard combined with soundcraft desktop mixer and a Korg MicroKontrol - Ill be in freakin heaven!!.....Of coarse all of this stuff has to be accumulated very slowly, but ya know how it goes.

You could also sell the soundcraft and buy the break out version with 12 I/O's for a bit less of noise n static ( plus the 192kHz A/D converters goes well ), in such a setup you could get the mpc with 8 outs and stick em directly into the EMU, mixing is internal without Latency and no cpu usage.

 

[Shonsteez]

Class: YO! thanks man, I appreciate tha heads up, fa real....and im glad yer feelin my stuff too, its good to hear that people asside from myself and my inner-circle are diggin my tunes, thats always a ego boost...Much respect dude..

Formant: Wait,wait,wait,wait,wait,...a minute.....!>!>!>!>>>>>>>.......Which breakout board is this exactly!?!....I gotta get that thing man....and for future ref. I havent even got that soundcraft yet, im jus sayin im plannin on gettin soon cuz that things tha shit...but, now yer throwing all kinds of options out there man...fweehhheewww!.....Cuz that would be perfect for tha mpc once i get it in tha mail. hmmmmm???......Oh yeah, and tha reason i wanted to get tha soundcraft is cuz i figured it has better preamps and eq'ing for mic'n an emcee than tha upper models and tha ones yer suggesting....is it not even worth it?

 

[Formant024]

Well, read through the specs and if there's something you dont understand or cant get into perspective than drop a note cq. question and I'll give you some insight. There are numerous setups to be achieved from this kind of farmcard which you can set by personal preference, point is that you must understand what your preferences really are ;-)

http://www.emu.com/images/flash/E-MU_emulator.swf
hit the hardware tab on the right and you'll see what the breakout looks like and features.

Specifications

General Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 96, 192kHz from internal crystal or externally supplied clock (no sample rate conversion)
Bit Depth: 16 or 24 bits
PCI Bus-Mastering DMA subsystem reduces CPU usage
Zero-latency direct hardware monitoring w/effects

(that simply means top notch shizzle)

Analog Line Inputs (6) Type: servo-balanced, DC-coupled, low-noise input circuitry
Level (software selectable):
- Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu maximum (balanced)
- Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV maximum (unbalanced)

Frequency Response: +/- .05dB, 20Hz - 20kHz
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -110dB (.0003%)
SNR (A-weighted): 120dB
Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 120dB
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -115dB
Common-Mode Rejection (60Hz): > 40dB

( 6 inputs for all outs from a mpc1000 )

Analog Line Outputs (8) Type: balanced, low-noise, 3-pole low-pass differential filter
Level (software selectable):
- Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu maximum (balanced)
- Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV maximum (unbalanced)

Frequency Response: 0.0/-.35dB, 20Hz - 20kHz
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -105dB (.0006%)
SNR (A-weighted): 120dB
Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 120dB
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -115dB

( 8 hardware outs which is nice for a mix/blend on a 8 chnl vca console, luxury option though but can be usfull, in my personal opinion analogue blends much better than any digital card since they seem to give more headroom. I've found some 8 chnl consoles with digital output for masterlink or any other master recorder with support for Logic and PT )

Combo Microphone Preamplifier/Line Inputs (2) Type: TFPro™ combination microphone preamp and line input
Frequency Response: +0.8/-0.1dB, 20Hz - 20kHz
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz min gain, -1dBFS): < -120dB
Line Input:
- Gain Range: -12 to +28dB
- Max Level: +17dBV (19.2dBu)
- THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -94dB (.002%)
- Dynamic Range (A-weighted, 1kHz min gain): 100dB
- SNR (A-weighted, min gain): 100dB
- Input Impedance: 10K ohm
- Common-mode Rejection Ratio (60Hz): > 40dB

Microphone Preamplifier
- Gain Range: +10 to +50dB
- Max Level: -12dBV (-9.8dBu)
- THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -95dB (.0018%)
- SNR (A-weighted, min gain): 100dB
- Input Impedance: 330 ohms
- Common-mode Rejection Ratio (60Hz): > 80dB


Headphones (stereo) Type: linear power amplifier
Frequency Response: +0.0/-0.35dB, 20Hz - 20kHz
THD+N (1kHz, max gain)
- 33 ohm load: -70dB (0.032%)
- 600 ohm load: -85dB (0.006%)


SNR (A-weighted): 112dB
Dynamic Range (A-weighted): 117dB
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS, 600 ohm load):< -100dB
Maximum Output Power: 500mW
Output impedance: 22 ohms
Gain Range: 85dB

Phono Input (stereo) Type: RIAA equalized phono input
Frequency Response: +/-0.5dB, 50Hz - 20kHz
THD+N (1kHz, 10mV RMS unbal input): -76dB (.015%)
SNR (10mV RMS unbal input, A-weighted): 90dB
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -80dB
Maximum level:
- Professional: 80mV RMS
- Consumer: 20mV RMS

Input capacitance: 220 pF
Input impedance: 47K ohm

( YES! drop your SL's into these for sampling from records straight into the pc )

Digital I/O S/PDIF:
- 2 in/2 out coaxial (transformer coupled)
- 2 in/3 out optical (software switched with ADAT)
- AES/EBU or S/PDIF format, switchable under software control

( not using the 6 out from the mpc, try the digital out put then )

ADAT:
- 8 channels, 24-bit @ 44.1/48kHz
- 4 channels, 24-bit @ 96kHz (S-MUX compatible)
- 2 channels, 24-bit @ 192kHz

( this isn't neccesairly for ADAT machines, it has become a protocol to connect 8 chnls of audio from one machine to another with ADAT interface which is quite practical )

Firewire:
- 400 Mbps 1394a port (6-pin)
- Compatible with DV cameras, storage peripherals, etc.

MIDI
- 2 in, 2 out


Synchronization Internal crystal sync at 44.1, 48, 96, 192kHz
External sample rate sync
- ADAT
- S/PDIF (opt. or coax)
- Word clock (75 ohm termination, switchable)

SMPTE LTC Timecode
- Converts between longitudinal time code (LTC) to MIDI time code (MTC)
- Regen, stripe, and conversion modes
- 24, 25, 30 drop, 30 non-drop frames/sec
- Compatible with 29.97 fps timecode
- Input level: 0.5 - 4V p-p
- Output levels: +4dBu, -10dBV (software selectable)
- Input Impedance: 10K ohms


Retail Box Contents
E-MU® 1010 PCI card
E-MU AudioDock M
E-MU Sync daughter card
EDI (E-MU Digital Interface) cable (3 meters)
Sync cable
Mini-DIN MIDI adapter cable
Headphone splitter cable
PC power cable
Quick Start guides for Emulator X and E-MU 1820M
Emulator X Software CD-ROM
Four Emulator X Sounds CD-ROMs
Operation Manual on CD-ROM
Creative Professional Software CD-ROM
- Windows 2000 and XP Drivers
- E-MU PatchMix DSP
- E-MU E-DSP FX Library

 

[Shonsteez]

Oh!...Im just a doof and didnt realize that tha breakout box was tha what i was looking at all along?!......

My real question is do you think tha preamps are jus as good as tha soundcraft mixers'?

oh, i forgot to mention that tha main thing is that tha stuff i chose was also way more on my budget than tha superior emulator desktop sampling system....that things a good price for what u get but its still like 600-700 dollars, thats way outa my league unfortunatly

tha 1212m is 199.00, tha soundcraft dektop mixer-4 channel- is 150.00 max...and tha KorgMicro is tha most expensive part still all adding up to tha same mount of money or even less>?

also tha compact 4 mixer has RIAA for record player recording, and two XLR mic pre's with adjustable eq.....thats pretty good, and theres a whole lotta of other crap that it has too for that little of money....thing is is that its cheap...but still good quality....that brand is underrated inmy opinion.

 

[Cold Truth]

damn... ima have to cop that 1820 here in july. this kind of sucks, since i just bought a presonus blue tube pre amp for $150..... but im going to get this thing anyways, it looks like it is much more efficient than my current setup, which makes monitoring a pain to switch between headphones and speakers. with this, i can just hook up the headphones in addition to the external outputs... hells yeah, thanks for the heads up, and i am glad formant seems to think it is a good product... i knew about these but didnt take them too seriously and didnt look at them in detail.

and ill co sign classics take on your music, but you already know that.

 

[classic]

sup folks

WHat bad things have u guys heard about the m-audio firewire 410??

I know its a little pricey but that thing is great. I have it set up so i can play straght from my computer to my surrond system with optical spdif. Recording vocals is great. I switch between my labtop and my tower cpu with no problems(plus 2 firewire ports). the 8 outs give me pleny of room to grow. (Im only using 2 so far along with optical spdif) Its protable and durable!!!!

I know it sounds like a sales pitch but i think this thing is really worth a second look

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=5f35def5b4107998b11119907053a313

class....

 

[Shonsteez]

No, no. I wasnt down' it tho...I still think that its got good specs, but from a few user accounts here and there and just reading what most people have to say about it - its not a bad unit, but its also just not right for what im partcularly tryin to accomplish...Well, it is, but it isnt. See, I have this stigma about m-audio. Ive actually bought products in tha past from them, and for tha most part everything is pretty solid. One thing I dont think is cool though, is tha common driver conflicts with many XP users and tha Support that M-Audio provides is supposed to be horrid unfortunatly. I jus dont want to run into any problems and in tha grand scheme of things I think that i found a system that will work just as efficiently if not better for about tha same exact price or maybe less?.....

With tha 1212m - 199.00, combined with tha 4 channel soundcraft compact mixer - 130-150.00 ..........I get tha same features combined that tha firwire 410 has just without tha firwire and no worries of driver conflicts.http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=121

I dunno? - - - Im still brainstorming, but i think that its a good setup....im jus afraid of droppin tha loot on tha 410 and not likin it and i know that tha EMU soundcard is solid and that tha Soundcraft is too cuz my pops has tha fullblown version PA at his house and that thing has superior MIC PRE's.....

ps....thanks Cold, and conrats on coppin some new gear as well!

 

[classic]

true that man. Cant argue the set up thing. Only u know whats best for u. I say go with the 1212m casue you seem to be more confterable workin with that.

Al least your gettting the MPC lol

good luck and let us know what your decsision is

be easy


class...

 

[Shonsteez]

Hmmmm...Well. I jus bought my girl her engagement ring finally since her birthday was around tha corner so i dont think im gonna be seeing my music room grow for quite some time but thats tha way tha cookie crumbles ya kno?...Shit!, it was about time anyways tho man, weve been together for like 5 years already and its like were already married, im jus a big kid tho and that shit sounds too grown up too me alot of tha time. But yeah, i think its gonna be a while.

 

[2_nice]

the emu card is great on paper. i've looked at them a bit. major thing is
EMU ARE NOW OWNED BY CREATIVE LABS and you could be looking at serious conflicts/instability, latency other bullshit
ALSO of course the a/d and d/a converters are not as good as those found on rme interfaces. echo interfaces, apogee interfaces, lynx interrfaces etc. (there are other factors involved in a/d d/a quality than dynamic range/s/n ratio, thd, and frequency range. and complexities involved in the aforementioned effecting the perceived quality of converters)
upside ADAT IN/OUT easy to use better convertors with your system or something like the focusrite octopre or presonus digimax (not the lt) (these are dope bits of kit both of them)
VERDICT i wouldn't be able to tell someone that this card is the pure dope because i don't know about the drivers possibility of conflicts etc. if the card is alright in that department
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER IN THE PRICE RANGE

 

[Formant024]

the emu card is great on paper. i've looked at them a bit. major thing is
EMU ARE NOW OWNED BY CREATIVE LABS

Creative owns EMU for quite some time now, they still remain number one survivor in the synthesizer market for the last 20 years at least which is an achievement by far. Their technology and R&D departement has developed integrated solutions for a serious number of products by different OEM. These are products that are credited by most people here without realising that they're working with EMU technology since the logo is not featured on the console.

That's one thing.

serious conflicts/instability, latency other bullshit

Creative Labs does NOT and I repeat, does NOT produce professional audio cards, this however has nothing to do with EMU since EMU's contribution to the SB line is merely programming OEM (p)IC's and drivers. These are not outstanding achievements in the lines of audio technology and somewhere I doubt that such actions are likely to be handled by the EMU departement but by Creative's own R&D. EMU's asset for Creative lies in selling technology and EMU's little catalog of products shows that they do not need an intensive list of various applications to make the company lucrative or in the least, surive. Mind you, they've been selling technology for years making them key within the industry. These exploits are not for the open market for obvious reasons.

That's another thing, you have issue's concerning serious conflicts/instability, latency other bullshit then your problem lies with the fact that you bought a SB instead of a dedicated audiocard.

ALSO of course the a/d and d/a converters are not as good as those found on rme interfaces. echo interfaces, apogee interfaces, lynx interrfaces etc. (there are other factors involved in a/d d/a quality than dynamic range/s/n ratio, thd, and frequency range. and complexities involved in the aforementioned effecting the perceived quality of converters) upside ADAT IN/OUT easy to use better convertors with your system or something like the focusrite octopre or presonus digimax (not the lt) (these are dope bits of kit both of them) VERDICT i wouldn't be able to tell someone that this card is the pure dope because i don't know about the drivers possibility of conflicts etc. if the card is alright in that department

What are you thinking comparing the EMU card with either an Apogee, Lynx or RME ? Focusrite Octopre or Presonus Digimax, very nice, just not audiocards but extra pheriphals which are easily embedded into a farmcard. Extra implies to additional gear that could be saved, ergonomicly speakin here. The one you hadn't named yet that comes closest to the capabilities of the EMU is the Digirack except for the expensive and not always neccesary amount of pre amps ( just depends on your wishes, but in general most peeps wont use it in a bedroom studio since it's not efficient, 2 would be enough ). Drivers ? What about asio 2.0, ezmost common will be supported. Nothing I'd worry about.

FIY ( get some facts straight )
http://www.freewebs.com/barkmonster/24bityeahright.htm

It's a bit dated so newer cards haven't been tested, so I rounded up some specs concerning the snr output ( the more dB snr, the more headroom you have ).

All 24(?)bit

EMU 1820 (etc ) - 115 dB
Echo Layla - 115 dB
Digidesign Digi002 - 114 dB
RME HDSP 9632 - 110 dB
Edirol UA1000 - 110 dB
SB Audigy 2 ZS - 108 dB