Narcosia
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
3
Posted : Aug 25, 2003 08:54
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Hi. I need to buy a new soundcard and I'm having alot of trouble deciding between two very hot pieces of kit. I really need tweak and other studio central goers to set me straight. I'll fill you in on my situation and you guys help me decide which one to go for, OK?. This is a bit long, so hang in there.....
So, as you know I have to buy a new soundcard and I want the one I buy to last me for a very very long time and to be of extremely high quality. I am also investing in an Access Virus KC so I will be getting into using this hardware synth but I am very much a soft synth user also so latency is still an issue for me. My PC is currently a p4 1.6Ghz, 1GB SDRAM, 2x 80GB 7200rpm Western Digital HDD, and an ST AUDIO DSP24 Value soundcard . I run logic audio platinum 5.5. I know there are computer systems (PC and MAC) out there with tonnes more power (such is the nature of development in the tech sector) but my pc is more than capable of doing all the tasks required for making music and I would like to use it for as long as possible without doing a complete motherboard/cpu upgrade (anyway, I'm thinking of buying a mac in the future). I also have a p4 1.7Ghz laptop with 128 MB RAM (increasing RAM soon).
OK, so you know my system and my situation. Let's look at these two magnificent cards. I think most people know that the RME hammerfall DSP with Multiface is a very very tasty soundcard solution. Apparently the sound is crispy clear and as good as it gets, the DSP handles all the driver in the firmware so the computer gets a little less load, and it's a little bit smaller (1/2 rack space) than the 828mkII, but size is not an issue for me.
The motu 828mkII's big selling points are it's firewire plug and play, it has two mic pres/high-z guitar inputs (I do want to record vocals and guitar with my music and the hammerfall doesn't have these), and it can work as a stand alone digital mixer. If I was to find out that the mic pres/high-z's were of bad or not so great quality then I would be a little reluctant to get this card. Has anyone tried them out. I've heard reports that they are quiet and crystal clear.
So, it's obvious that these are both fine cards but I'm still having trouble deciding which one to get. I'm thinking the motu would be an awesome choice seeing as I could use it with my laptop also. I am a little worried about the latency though. I know the Hammerfall rocks in the latency department and as I said I'm a soft synth user so it's an issue. But if the motu can achieve acceptable latencies on my system then that's all I need to know. Are the ASIO drivers good with 828mkII? Would the ASIO drivers the one's I'd be using for running the motu in logic? I also think the virus kc is going to become a very large part of my production.
I don't want to buy the motu and then find out that the hammerfall is a better quality card. And, even though the hammerfall can be used with laptops, I would have to purchase the cardbus as well as the PCI card if I wanted to use it with my laptop (there's more money) plus then I wouldn't have a PCMCIA card slot to plug in my firewire PCMCIA and use my firewire HDD (which is really essential because the internal laptop drive is too slow).
I'm sorry this post is so long but you really need to know my situation to assist me in my desicion. Tweak and fellow tweakers, help me decide. I beg of you! If there are any other things/aspects you guys need to know about my music making situation to help me make my desicion then please post them here and I will get back promptly.
Regards,
Joe
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shahara
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
10
Posted : Aug 25, 2003 16:18
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Hi
I own the motu 828 which the mark II is an upgrade of but uses the same asio drivers and internally has the same a/d d/a converter's.
I don't know about the hammerfall as I have never used one but the motu is wikid!
The asio driver's give a very good latency response. I have never noticed any delay when using soft synths at all and it has a zero latency monitering output for when you are recording live through the card and processing too. I use Logic as well and this card has no problems at all. I think that it is a card is very adaptable for all live and sequenced music, with its 8 inputs and 8 outputs spdif and adat all able to be used simultaniously is is a flexible and reliable solution for studio and mobile setups. The digital converters are top quality and it records with no problems every time I use it. I believe that the mark II have more than one firewire port so you can daisey chain more fierwire devices through it so no need for a firewire hub on the laptop, although I don't know how advisable it is to chain up soundcard and harddrive! I think that my soundcard is probably the only piece of computer hardware that I will not need to upgrade which makes the expensive outlay worth it. I hope this will help you choose your card
(I don't work for motu!!!)
Peace innit Marcos;) |
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