subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : Jan 18, 2007 19:05
|
using 2XRME Fireface 800 here, (it's not under 1000USD by the way)
Works now fine.
can go down to 1ms latency on winxp with core2duo 2.4ghz overclocked to 3ghz. Could never do that with my former RME hdsp. Sound is nice, clean.
What do you want to do? need adat? need how many analog in outs? THIS is the first question.
Apogee will certainly give you the better sound when used with apogee converters.. RME is not the league of apogee, but apogee is (yes undertow) definitly not high end but only entry class of serious studio technology. RME is the maximum for everybody like us, and a good compromise for pro's when talking of converters.
I had the opportunity to have a side by side comparison of apogee and rme converter (not soundcard) and besides the matter of taste considering the clinical or less clinical sound the RME just had a lack of transportation of room impression. We were several people and everybody did a blind test the apogee always made the race. Considering the significantly higher price of the apogee I didn't find it worth the money, though.
Furthermore we have to see that RME has not the same converter quality in the soundcards as in the stand alone converters. (how could it, they cost almost same and are just converters) I also have a RME ADI-2 2ch converter which sounds better than my Fireface.
I read a test claiming that apogee can go under 1ms latency. So this may be the better choice today... but you will never be able to use it on a laptop and it's more expensive.
it's mac only? isn't it?
The "chips" discussion... it's much more than the manufacturer.. some use cirrus logic, others burr brown.. ha ha.. and everywhere there are different types, and different qualities within the same series... furthermore the layout of the soundcard, the powersupply and much more is important for the final sound.. so bringing this down to manufacturer of the chips makes no sense.
In the end one has to check what he needs... a plugin only producer just waste his money on expensive converter since DA is not as crucial as AD. If you do no recording, do not use external gear, you just need two or four outs and you can go for something like the native instrument kontrol, DA sound is perfectly ok, will overcome most commonly used studio monitors anyways...
I have the RME, and will keep it because it maches the rest of my equipment and my room.
If you go as high as apogee or more you will have to think over all the rest like room, monitors.. maybe even cables.  Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
|
|
|
