Hardware interface?!?

[Jim Steele]

I am currently shopping around for a hardware audio interface for my home studio setup (P4 running win 2000). I want at least 8 analog I/O and a few digital options. I have been looking long and hard at the motu 2408. Any other suggestions for something in that price range?

Thanks

[ottokbre]

how about two M-Audio 1010lt cards for the same price!
Thats 16-inputs plus SPDIF!

[ahmedgarcia]

I have the 1208MKII that works flawlessly with my 877PIII. Mine came with Cubase VST 5.1 and it rocks. It has 8 anolog I/O but with an additional 16 ADAT and/or TDIF. It runs off of a PCI-324 card that can allow an extra 2 more 2408MKII or even the newer MKIII to run together, giving you more I/Os. I use it with my Cubase, PTFree, CoolEdit, SoundForge, Acid, Vegas, Win amp, everything audio comes out of that thar thing.

The MKII can be found at a discount now that the newer MKIIIs are out. Good luck dude.

[swedishstudios]

The digi 001 has 16 i/o, 2 pre-amps, headphone jack (separate volume), excellent soundcard.....and alot more... Digidesign.com

[lilcapn]

digging the Presonus Firestation.

[Randall]

I have the ESI Wanirack 192X,it has 4 yns(with pres)does 192 and is reasonably priced,,sounds very.very good,they are in the process of releasing an 8 in model now

[stillafool]

Most of the interfaces on the market, although excellent, are using three year old converters, and are probably on there way out -- including the delta 10/10, the layla 24, digi 001, and others. I'd personally be taking a look at the motu hd 192, MOTu 828 mk iii., and the lynx 2. If I were going pro tools, I'd probably get the rackmount digi 002.

[friendlybunny]

RME Multiface

Sounds amazing...

[Tacket]

RME Multiface

Sounds amazing...

Ditto on the RME Multiface. Excellent A/D/A (due inpart to a rock solid internal sync). Fantastic ASIO support. Half rack space (very portable). I believe this thing can be powered from batteries too?

Also, if you ever plan on doing some remote laptop recording, its one of the only devices (other than Layla24 and Digigram) that have a PCMCIA option.

... tacket
madpeeps productions
www.madpeeps.com

[@?,*???&?]

Go with the Aardvark Q10. 8 preamps, stereo S/PDIF in and inserts on two channels along with a shielded audio card- under $1000.

[ctmsound]

http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=8&page=1

Looks cool. Would be nice if it had SMPTE and AES/EBU.

[llmonty]

+2 for the RME Multiface

Mine has been rock solid. I am listening to some cd's and mp3's through it right now for the first time and I can't believe all that I wasn't hearing before.

Listening to Low's "(That's How You Sing) Amazing Grace" is now truly a religious experience now

[dynomike]

Seeing as I have a 2408 (mkI, haven't tried the others), I'd say its good for the money, but I'm really finding some problems:
Its a total bitch to configure.
The d/a converters go into harsh harsh digital clipping really easily.
The a/d converters aren't bad though.. but its all unbalanced RCA!!! Which will probably mean you'll have to reach for a whole lot of adapters or new cables.
The Sync isn't that great either. I haven't had any huge problems, but its a little weird on smpte-clock. Sometimes it plays back at the wrong sample rate, resulting of course in serious pitch shifting.

I'd say, from what I've seen.. go for either the Frontier Dakota (16ch adat in and out) or the RME HDSP (24ch adat in out) and a external a/d, d/a box (the tango24 has 8 ch analog in/out, 8 ch adat in/out, and its cheap). Then you can add good a/ds, d/as later or a Digimax or something.

Its a lot more expensive to go this route than the 2408, but at least you won't grow out of it for a while, I'd guess.

Mike

[raygun]

the delta 1010 has been working for me flawlessly with every software i can throw at it. it also has nice software of its own for monitor mixing, a built in crossover and surround speaker placement. the latency i can get with the maudio drivers is amazing. it has midi and wordclock
but it is 24/96 so if you need 192 you have to look elsewhere.

[dynomike]

who the hell needs 192? who has SPACE for 192.. man. I'd like to try it, but unless your market is insane audiophiles with SACD systems, etc... I really think that is somewhat of a scam. I'm a little undecided due to the controversy on 96khz, but a converter rated up to 192 or even 96 will handle 48khz pretty nicely.

the 1010 lt has different converters than the 1010 i'm pretty sure... on the card, not external. sort of like the delta 44 and 66. watch out for that. but still, good bang for the buck. i like digital cards though. whatever