PC Audio Interface Suggestions

[Jeremy Garber]

I'm looking to get a stereo audio interface for my PC. It needs to have at least 2 XLR and 2 1/4" inputs for recording. If it doubles as a preamp/phantom power/direct box, then that is a huge plus.

[brado32]

MBOX..

[Jeremy Garber]

Do you own an MBOX? It seems a bit pricey ($450 at Musician's Friend). I've heard that USB interfaces aren't fast enough. I don't like that it doesn't have MIDI connections either.

[AlSmith]

If you already have software (I assume you're still using Sonar), I'd steer you away from the mbox. I have one, and it's definitely overpriced, and severely limited (high latency, on and off performance); not bad for basic 2 channel location recording, but I couldn't recommend it for anything else. For about the same price, you can get an emu/creative 1820m, or, for way less, the 1212m. The 1820m seems to be the unit to get, for under a grand, especially for p.c.

[Jeremy Garber]

Yes, I will continue to use Sonar. I love Cakewalk products. I've tried other programs but none work as well for me.

I'm checking out the 1820M. It looks really great. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but I'd rather get something that will work for exactly what I want to do. I have one question though, is there any difference between the 1820M and the 1820 other than the daughter sync card? What is the sync card for?

I love the fact that it has 600 plugins that will run on the card's CPU and not my main CPU. It's looking like a good pick to me. I'm checking out some reviews right now.

[AlSmith]

The 1820m, and the 1212m both have the akm converters that are used by the high end digi and motu interfaces. I'm not sure what the m stands for (maybe "mastering grade"). The 1820 has the same i/o options (I think), and pre's, but has slightly lower quality converters.

[lukievan]

before you buy the e-mu 1820 or 1820M, go here:
http://www.productionforums.com/emu/for ... FORUM_ID=5

i got one a few weeks ago and have been having loads of trouble with it.
I'm running it on an Athlon AMD 1.6 GHZ with 768 MB Ram
I use Vegas and Acid to record, which may be part of the problem, but still...it should work without a lot of hassle.
The patch mix program that comes with it is cofusing, too.
It does sound pretty good though, when it works, and I imagine they wiill upgrade the drivers pretty soon, which should help.
Just warning you.

[vvv]

I love my M-Audio Delta 44, which is PCI, 4 TRS I/O.

Very stable, and no issues like I understand the EMU's to have, with their requirement for ASIO (not supported in my software, CEP.)

And unlike the EMU, it has a sturdy break-out box.

I got it for about US$150.

[Jeremy Garber]

I like the FireWire 410.