Upgrading my Audio Interface, but what to get?

[phas3d]

RME HDSPE 9632 shouldn't be much more than $300. Sounds good for the price. Plus RME drivers are rock solid.

[sc2071]

I actually was considering that. But it seems that PCI is slowly being phased out. I'm a little hesitant purchasing another PCI card when my next motherboard upgrade may not even support a conventional PCI expansion board.

It's too bad their cheapest PCIe card is firmly in the over $500 price point!

[phas3d]

Thing is at $300 you don't have many quality choices. Best I could advise is a Focusrite or a Lexicon. Other then that I don't see many options that I would consider an upgrade from what you have.

[Alndln]

For FireWire I'd go with the PreSonus FireStudio Mobile($299.00) and for USB I'd go with the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB($199.00). This is in keeping with the price range you suggested and driver stability.

[Getafix]

I'm selling my RME HDSP 9632 in case you're interested.

[MarkyGoldstein]

My recommendation, and that's maybe a bit tough: don't go for cheap stuff. Always save your pennies for high end.

[Fab4ever]

I have and love the HDSP 9632. I got it to upgrade from M-Audio, and it's worked incredibly well for me. I too am moving to a new computer with a 64-bit environment, and I plan on sticking with the 9632.

[phas3d]

Used to have the 9652 and was pretty happy with it. Only changed because I needed a portable setup and Fireface 400 also has some great converters for the price tag too.

[sc2071]

I appreciate the advice all! I guess given my budget, it's stick with what I got or get the RME 9632 (and if so, make sure all motherboard upgrades support PCI).

Thanks!

[phas3d]

That is one way. The other is Focusrite Saffire. It is a good choice too and it's external, therefore you can change computer without worrying about it.

[sanjari]

Same topic, but a bit different.

I currently have a BLA modded Delta 1010. Works and sounds great. But I would like to get more portable (Firewire or USB I guess). Here is what I would like :

1) To be at least on par with my modded Delta 1010 in terms of AD/DA quality.
2) I currently favor my SCA C84 preamps (Millenia Clones). I like them a lot. If I am to pay for preamps on an interface, I'd like something that can compete with these, so I can loose my Delta and rack of preamps all together.
3) I really dont need more than 4 preamps / inputs.

Any ideas on what can deliver this ? Do the RME UC preamps compete with something like this ? MR816 ?.... Maybe the AVID Omni will have some sort of portable option in the future.... Help a guy out

Forgot to mention, I am not interested in spending Prism Orpheus money. And I am PC based.

Steve

[aman74]

Originally Posted by sanjari

Same topic, but a bit different.

I currently have a BLA modded Delta 1010. Works and sounds great. But I would like to get more portable (Firewire or USB I guess). Here is what I would like :

1) To be at least on par with my modded Delta 1010 in terms of AD/DA quality.
2) I currently favor my SCA C84 preamps (Millenia Clones). I like them a lot. If I am to pay for preamps on an interface, I'd like something that can compete with these, so I can loose my Delta and rack of preamps all together.
3) I really dont need more than 4 preamps / inputs.

Any ideas on what can deliver this ? Do the RME UC preamps compete with something like this ? MR816 ?.... Maybe the AVID Omni will have some sort of portable option in the future.... Help a guy out

Forgot to mention, I am not interested in spending Prism Orpheus money. And I am PC based.

Steve

Maybe he doesn't mind, but that's a big time thread hijack.