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Help on choosing USB audio interface
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other_reality
IsraTrance Junior Member
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43
Posts :
365
Posted : May 20, 2007 18:33
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Could anyone propose an affordable/decent USB audio interface? I need it to be cheap but decent, and I don't care about many ins-outs, just midi but with good converters. Please ,only the ones you've actually listened to...thx!
  Bring yourselves into the light
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mk47
Inactive User
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118
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4444
Posted : May 20, 2007 21:24
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le barde
Electrypnose
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32
Posts :
348
Posted : May 21, 2007 00:27
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i use emu 0202 ... i think it's a very good compromise for good sound quality at a low price.
just 1stereo in and one stereo out.. usb2, no external power.
only bad point, the box of the soundcard is too big for the connexions it offers. |
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Seppa
Started Topics :
8
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485
Posted : May 21, 2007 00:35
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what is your budget ?
I 've tested the tc electronic konnect 8, is not bad and have pretty good converters.
the only problem is that it uses firewire.
other then that for under £400 you gonna get average converters
You can get the konnekt for around £200, you can buy a pcmcia firewire card or a firewire pci card, if you don't have firewire.
the konnekt 8 is a real bargain it doesnt have much ins and out but it rocks.
I have 2 rme 400 and if i had to downgrade i would go for a konnekt series. |
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Seppa
Started Topics :
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485
Posted : May 21, 2007 02:43
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other_reality
IsraTrance Junior Member
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43
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365
Posted : May 21, 2007 22:17
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Get-a-fix
Getafix
Started Topics :
147
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1441
Posted : May 21, 2007 22:44
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 22, 2007 16:04
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EMU 202, 404 and NI kontrol (kontrol runs well here, despite many other voices)
have probably the best converters under 400Euro.
the question is:
budget?
How many in and out needed?
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http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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Seppa
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
485
Posted : May 22, 2007 16:41
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Quote:
| EMU 202, 404 and NI kontrol (kontrol runs well here, despite many other voices)
have probably the best converters under 400Euro. |
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With all due respect mate, you cannot compare an £80 audio interface with the konnekt which is under 400 euro.
the konnekt is very close to the rme fireface 400 in terms of converters.
Under 400 Euro you also find the focusrite saphire le which has also definitely better converters. than the 0202.
I never used the emu but its not a soundcard known for its converters. at £80 a sound card you can hardly mount good converters on it.
Quote:
| How many in and out needed? |
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answer.
Quote:
| and I don't care about many ins-outs, just midi but with good converters |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 22, 2007 20:56
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-22 16:41, Seppa wrote:
Quote:
| EMU 202, 404 and NI kontrol (kontrol runs well here, despite many other voices)
have probably the best converters under 400Euro. |
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With all due respect mate, you cannot compare an £80 audio interface with the konnekt which is under 400 euro.
the konnekt is very close to the rme fireface 400 in terms of converters.
Under 400 Euro you also find the focusrite saphire le which has also definitely better converters. than the 0202.
I never used the emu but its not a soundcard known for its converters. at £80 a sound card you can hardly mount good converters on it.
Quote:
| How many in and out needed? |
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answer.
Quote:
| and I don't care about many ins-outs, just midi but with good converters |
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First of all I said "probably".
Second, this is about USB interfaces isn't it? Saphire and Konnekt are Firewire.
third, as far as I know the 202 has the same converters as the 404, maybe I'm wrong. the 404 is 200Euro... can I compare this one? how high has the price to be before I can trust my ears?  just kidding a little
fourth, doesn't care about in and out, didn't read that, my bad.
fifth, he said "only ones you listend to". I listened to the above. I have the kontrol for live and RME FFireface800 at home. My neighbours have the 202, and I heard the 404 only once in a shop. Furthermore I heard several maudio (had one myself, for a week before I returned it) a line6 and a behringer. As fara as I can tell the 202, 404 and kontrol are the best sounding USB under 400euro.
If you include Firewire maybe the best under 300 Euro
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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Seppa
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
485
Posted : May 22, 2007 21:12
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Quote:
| Second, this is about USB interfaces isn't it? Saphire and Konnekt are Firewire. |
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I quoted the following :
Quote:
| EMU 202, 404 and NI kontrol (kontrol runs well here, despite many other voices)
have probably the best converters under 400Euro. |
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You say that they probably have the best converters for under 400 euro, and that's not true. so this is a wrong statment. I'm sorry but they "probably" have very average converters.
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| this is about USB interfaces isn't it? Saphire and Konnekt are Firewire. |
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No, this is not about usb audio interface. this is about a request for an advice where he ask for a usb audio interface with good converters, I adviced him a firewire one with a pcmcia or pci firewire card because it responds better to his request for an audio interface with good converters.
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| third, as far as I know the 202 has the same converters as the 404, maybe I'm wrong. the 404 is 200Euro... can I compare this one? how high has the price to be before I can trust my ears? just kidding a little |
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I would be very suprise if the emu had good converters. I did not listen to them but I take the risk . Price here is not the issue
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 22, 2007 22:52
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bandarlog
Bandarlog
Started Topics :
44
Posts :
809
Posted : May 22, 2007 23:36
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What do you guys think about the terratec phase26? I have the pci version (phase28) and am quite pleased with it (on the other hand: never had a superduper soundcard)
Btw: he was asking for a usb card not a firewirecard. I know FW is better and all, but I'm looking for a usb card only (since I bought already 2 FW cards and none of them worked on my laptop). So plz: some USB soundcardtips without much comment on "change your drivers/use FW anyway" would be helpful here
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Seppa
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
485
Posted : May 23, 2007 00:06
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subconsciousmind ,
Sorry mate, I didn't mean to be annoying.
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : May 23, 2007 01:07
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-22 16:41, Seppa wrote:
I never used the emu but its not a soundcard known for its converters. at £80 a sound card you can hardly mount good converters on it.
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Funny, I haven't tried any new EMU cards but they used to have a reputation for exceptionally good converters considering their price range, and I seen people rave about the 0202 on hydrogenaudio.org for example so my impression is quite the opposite.
They do use a good quality crystal converter chips, but maybe not the same quality analouge components as for example the konnekt.
At least the 0404 SN ratio is 117 Db which is not bad compared to konnekts 111.
You have to keep in mind the economy of scale, creative buy quite a few of their components compared to TC and hence can offer a good bang for the buck.
My guess is that the converters on the EMU will not be much worse than on the TC, but if you like good sounding preamps or are concerned with build quality the TC might be worthwhile.
That's like a said a guess and only based on assumptions and experience with previous models of EMU's cards, so don't take it as advice to go out spending.
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