Sound card,Dac, or audio interface for composing

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Don't spend any money that you do not have to spend on gear, it will not make you a better composer.

I owned a studio for years, I write songs for fun now. I like to get about the best of everything when I can. So I've got decent converters and mic pres, mics, and instruments. Good monitors, too. But I still write as I've always written, back when all I had was a tape deck with a mic input and my vocal mic from my band.

[OmegaP]

Update i've used a couple of interfaces since then,a Tc impact twin and another Mackie Blackbird. Just couldn't use em latency was horrible on 6 gigs.They sounded great though.

I was looking at Ross Martin audio 1794 dac and was wondering if i got a profire 610 and this dac how would i control the output volume? Could the main output control from the profire control how much volume the dac is putting out?

As you can see i'm clueless and i really need to settle on a steady interface here soon so i can get to work.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by OmegaP

Update i've used a couple of interfaces since then,a Tc impact twin and another Mackie Blackbird. Just couldn't use em latency was horrible on 6 gigs.They sounded great though.

I was looking at Ross Martin audio 1794 dac and was wondering if i got a profire 610 and this dac how would i control the output volume? Could the main output control from the profire control how much volume the dac is putting out?

As you can see i'm clueless and i really need to settle on a steady interface here soon so i can get to work.

So is it that you just want to spend money? What is it about what you have that you do not like? If I was pressed to buy a new interface today, I'd probably buy a Babyface. But that is me. I did -just- buy an Akai EIE Pro four channel device, but the jury is still out on how it performs.

[Squidding]

Personally, and just my two cents, as someone who also owns the Profire 610 I really don't think you NEED another DAC with it. The DAC in the Profire is good enough, and I'm not sure you're going to hear much of an improvement just upgrading to a new DAC. I'm no expert though.

As far as the Profire being able to control the volume with that specific DAC, I'm not sure. Most of the setups I've seen that have a DAC running into an audio interface are able to use the volume on the interface because that's where the main amp is. If the DAC you're looking at has an amp in it as well though, then I would think you'd need to turn the knob on the DAC up somewhat, and then feed the signal running out of it into your Interface where you'd be able to use the volume control on the interface.... If that makes any sense.

Maybe someone with a little more experience than myself can provide a better answer.

[OmegaP]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

So is it that you just want to spend money? What is it about what you have that you do not like? If I was pressed to buy a new interface today, I'd probably buy a Babyface. But that is me. I did -just- buy an Akai EIE Pro four channel device, but the jury is still out on how it performs.

The main thing is stability the one's i had were horrible in the driver department aside from the profire. I just wanted a step up in the dac department thought i might help me make better mix decisions.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by OmegaP

The main thing is stability the one's i had were horrible in the driver department aside from the profire. I just wanted a step up in the dac department thought i might help me make better mix decisions.

an external DAC will have no affect on the performance of your audio interface.

[OmegaP]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

an external DAC will have no affect on the performance of your audio interface.

Yes sir i know i just want better playback quality while composing and mixing.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by OmegaP

Yes sir i know i just want better playback quality while composing and mixing.

Maybe check out the Babyface, or maybe an Apogee. I'm partial to RME because of their superior drivers and performance (among other things) but there are several options in the 2 channel format. (The Babyface is also expandable, should your needs grow again....)

[bicasaur]

I'm running the Profire 2626 with external DAC and it needs volume control after the output. You will hear an improvement I think, but you will hear a much more obvious improvement with a monitor upgrade.

[OmegaP]

Thanks fellas for the great input much appreciated.