Soundcard/interface opinions needed!

tuxedoma · 4th February 2005

Hi guys!

i don't mean to bug you or anything but as i said earlier im a bit new to all this and i'm reading/writing a lot to know all of this better...

im now ready to buy a new soundcard/interface and i'd like to know what would be the better option for me...

i have about 750$ budget

i narrowed my selection to these

1- M-audio Firewire 1814
2- Motu 828MK2
3- Emu 1820m

Someone where i buy my gear recommended i get m-audio but im not sure...the thing looks cheap and i don't want to get a cheap sound out of my card...

i know motu has a solid reputation

but the unit that really interest me yet is the EMU 1820M i heard indeed pretty much mixed review on it...but reviews were either REALLY GOOD or REALLY BAD nothing in middle...

so what do you guys think of this card...do you think i could get Pro/demo stuff out of it?

I mean sonicaly does it stands up with a MOTU or any Big name cards?

do you think i may be better off with something else?

And about the m-audio firewire 1814 anybody has comment on this one?

Well any input/advice on this is welcome...

thanx again for reading and helping me!

thermos · 4th February 2005

If you only need a few channels and are mac based you can find a metric halo uln-2 used for that money. The 2882 sounds pretty good, (WAAAAAAAAAAY better than the motu) and this one is supposed to be better.

Digamma · 6th February 2005

Hi,
I think the general consensus on the motu, is that they have alot of features, but ther converters suck, and sound thin.

Out of the three cards you mention, i'de definatly go with the Emu. Their converters have very good specs. I haven't heard the Emu, but alot of people think they sound great, especially for the price. I have also heard that the emu has a alot of problems with there drivers and software. Maybe that has been solved by now.

My advice is to look into the Rme cards, they are so much better than the rest of the cheaper stuff. They have a large variety of cards and you can find one according to your needs, like number of inputs, outputs, analog, digital etc. There ADDA is great.
Check out the multiface, digiface, fireface, and also the Pci cards.
Great stuff.

Cheers

kudzu · 7th February 2005

second the RME recomendation...but their mac drivers r a bit suspect...
Firewire, as a method of audio/video data transfer, isn't as stable as the manufacturers would have u believe...
Go in with ur eyes wide open

4th February 2005	#1
tuxedoma Gear interested Joined: Feb 2005 Location: quebec/canada Posts: 11 Thread Starter	Soundcard/interface opinions needed! Hi guys! i don't mean to bug you or anything but as i said earlier im a bit new to all this and i'm reading/writing a lot to know all of this better... im now ready to buy a new soundcard/interface and i'd like to know what would be the better option for me... i have about 750$ budget i narrowed my selection to these 1- M-audio Firewire 1814 2- Motu 828MK2 3- Emu 1820m Someone where i buy my gear recommended i get m-audio but im not sure...the thing looks cheap and i don't want to get a cheap sound out of my card... i know motu has a solid reputation but the unit that really interest me yet is the EMU 1820M i heard indeed pretty much mixed review on it...but reviews were either REALLY GOOD or REALLY BAD nothing in middle... so what do you guys think of this card...do you think i could get Pro/demo stuff out of it? I mean sonicaly does it stands up with a MOTU or any Big name cards? do you think i may be better off with something else? And about the m-audio firewire 1814 anybody has comment on this one? Well any input/advice on this is welcome... thanx again for reading and helping me!

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4th February 2005	#2
thermos Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,656	If you only need a few channels and are mac based you can find a metric halo uln-2 used for that money. The 2882 sounds pretty good, (WAAAAAAAAAAY better than the motu) and this one is supposed to be better.

6th February 2005	#3
Digamma Gear nut Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 128	Hi, I think the general consensus on the motu, is that they have alot of features, but ther converters suck, and sound thin. Out of the three cards you mention, i'de definatly go with the Emu. Their converters have very good specs. I haven't heard the Emu, but alot of people think they sound great, especially for the price. I have also heard that the emu has a alot of problems with there drivers and software. Maybe that has been solved by now. My advice is to look into the Rme cards, they are so much better than the rest of the cheaper stuff. They have a large variety of cards and you can find one according to your needs, like number of inputs, outputs, analog, digital etc. There ADDA is great. Check out the multiface, digiface, fireface, and also the Pci cards. Great stuff. Cheers

7th February 2005	#4
kudzu Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 709	second the RME recomendation...but their mac drivers r a bit suspect... Firewire, as a method of audio/video data transfer, isn't as stable as the manufacturers would have u believe... Go in with ur eyes wide open