Soundcards for MAC

pru: piper

just want to buy a soundcard for my new G4 (show some respect for 933Mhz )

looking for some professional stuff - any suggestions? Sen? JJ?

Don't ask how many money I want to spend - it doesn't matter at all - if there's some cheaper stuff wich is good I'll buy that - if it's more expensive: well I have to save some money then. But I want some quality hardware.

Sen

MOTU stuff is quality. Digidesign stuff is an obvious ...

There's tons of good stuff.

What do you want it for? Recording? Playback? What are your needs?

pru: piper

production

I want 6 (or better 8) Chinch Outs, maybe also digital in/out - but didn't really specify my needs till now because I don't want to buy a new card when me needs will grow - this won't save any money.

Sen

good point pru:

the MOTU 828 type system is nice (I use that) - has 8 analog ins/outs and Optical ins/outs.

There's other systems in the MOTU line that may meet your needs better depending on your current equipment.

I like the 828 because it's on the firewire buss...nice for portability...PCI cards are fine too...but try using those on a Laptop without a magma breakout box

If you want to go more power, go full Digi rig...that'll set you back a few Deutschmarks tho...

pru: piper

Just checked MOTU stuff on a website - looks good (and costs also some Euros (remembering there is no Deutschmark anymore, we have this new crappy currency))

Is Terratec stuff and Emagic's EMI 2/6 also worth a check? Guess it's a bit far away from MOTU standart though.

DJ Fat Zed

If money's no object, go for the digidesign DH3 system with a 192 interface (about 18,000 Euros)

Other wise, you really should go external. Internal interfaces have too much noise and poor earthing. The MOTU stuff seems good and the digi001 is great but it can begin to sound coloured when you start layering tracks that have been recorded from it. You might like the colouration though, or you might not even notice it if you're not used to top end interfaces.

I'd be wary of built in preamps on interfaces. 9 times out of ten they are poor quality. They're never transformer balanced and your money might be much better spent buying an interface and a nice preamp. Go for focusrite or TL audio if you can. The red and green ranges are going nice and cheap second hand now and if you want new, the platinum stuff is ok and is a close you'll get to pro quality at that sort of price.

DJ Fat Zed

Oh and by the way, I'm not sure about the emagic interface, but steer clear of terratec, they sound HORRIBLE!!!!!

Sen

Lady J uses an emagic interface I think.

And it's true about preamps...Unless you're buying some huge assed all valve mixing console (and even then) the pres are never as good as dedicated pres...it's a whole pricepoint thingee.

Dedicated boxes for dedicated jobs, in the end...

LUCKY_STRIKE

MOTU stuff!!!
new cards out soon! and trust me they r $$$$ hot!!

FrankieP

I highly recommend a RME Multiface...
http://www.rme-audio.com/english/hdsp/multifa.htm

TRE8AL@BASSROOM

Pru: piper why did'nt you get urself the new g4 mac, 800mhz, super drive dvd and cd rewriter 80gb...

A good soundcard for a pc is a delta 1010 but for a mac..ummmmmmm
Actually its a good pci audio interface could be a good buy.


But i think you should Maybe go for a motu cheap and reliable

trebalz 2002

Sen

the 1010 is nice.

But I'm not sure how you can call motu stuff cheap, pricewise...it's $4 less than the 1010 at MSRP...

Sen

sorry, "it" being MOTU's entry level system

TRE8AL@BASSROOM

LOL

bionicbooty

I use ProTools, though at my home studio, I go through a dbx tube MicPre/converter - don't have the high end digi converters at the crib.

Bozak

ive got the MOTU 2408 and i love it! im not sure if the 828 has the same quality D/A conversion (24bit in this case) but ive heard that its comparable. the sound is left remarkably uncoloured and with the opti in/outs too you can't go wrong. protools systems are highly overrated (in my opinion - i know im asking for it from zed and bionic booty) unless you have the apogee converters.

bionicbooty

“	Originally posted by Bozak (in my opinion - i know im asking for it from zed and bionic booty) unless you have the apogee converters.	”

Supa-pimpalicious-$$$$$-slap!

Now, if someone asks for it, I'm know for giving people what they want. I agree, to get high-end digidesign converters is out of most everyone's home studio budget. Don't know how the 2408 sounds, though. I would guess it's comparable to the Digi 001 or MBox.