sound card for laptop

[firubbi]

i want to buy a sound card for HP EliteBook 8460p (that has a firewire/express54) this will be use in live (i'll need digital output only, spdif or adat) but im looking for a good one.

please help me find a good one

so far i found:
1. RME Babyface $774
2.Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 $300

os is win7.

[firubbi]

is these 2 are the best option here or else?

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by firubbi

is these 2 are the best option here or else?

Babyface all the way. If you can afford it, go for it. Nothing at that price point will give you access to top-notch pres and converters.

[rksguit]

Like E said!^

[Jeezo]

Don't ask again !! Babyface ...
more ports ? ......Roland octacapture
more budget ?......... Fireface UC

[Masaaki]

If you just need SPDIF for live, Focusrite Saffire 24 Pro or Scarlett 8i6 would do the job. Saffire 24 is a little picky in terms of the Expresscard selection for FW connection. Scarlett line is new, USB 2.0 interface, but there are some driver issues reported. I believe because it is new, so I guess Focusrite will figure it out shortly. Consult their forum about the stability of Scarlett lines.

The difference would be low latency performance (which may be an important factor for live use), and Babyface will win in that department.

[PaPi61]

Babyface has ADAT. Which is a million times more reliable than spdif.

[fastlanestoner]

I love the Saffire line. I have the 8560p machine. Amazing! It's never let me down.

[rksguit]

Anything under $500 is going to sound/operate similarly.Babyface $250 extra,but SOUND, more than worth the extra,as many many have insisted.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by rksguit

Anything under $500 is going to sound/operate similarly.Babyface $250 extra,but SOUND, more than worth the extra,as many many have insisted.

Don't forget the peerless "install and forget" drivers and the TotalMix software, possibly the best virtual mixer ever designed.

[Masaaki]

I always wonder some people spend >$1000 worth of computers immediately, and at the same time, say $700 interface is too expensive.

[rksguit]

Originally Posted by PaPi61

Don't forget the peerless "install and forget" drivers and the TotalMix software, possibly the best virtual mixer ever designed.

Which is WHY Im thinking,go the extra for the UC.I do have a lone Firewire port on my GA-Z68-UD3 motherboard,so Im also thinking-FF400,getting a teeny bit cheaper now,and can be "daisy chained",unlike USB.There will be NO interface shopping,until-somebody,anybody buys my Peavey "JSX" 2x12" 120w,3 channel combo amp @ $1600,these amps were $3450 new.This one is "as New",but NO bites.Money "everywhere" seems tighter than ever,for almost everybody right NOW.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by rksguit

Which is WHY Im thinking,go the extra for the UC.I do have a lone Firewire port on my GA-Z68-UD3 motherboard,so Im also thinking-FF400,getting a teeny bit cheaper now,and can be "daisy chained",unlike USB.There will be NO interface shopping,until-somebody,anybody buys my Peavey "JSX" 2x12" 120w,3 channel combo amp @ $1600,these amps were $3450 new.This one is "as New",but NO bites.Money "everywhere" seems tighter than ever,for almost everybody right NOW.

The UC can be linked via ADAT to a preamp, if you need more than 8 analog inputs or more than 2 mic inputs. I really don't see any advantage with the 400 (linking via ADAT is way better than daisy-chaining FW, which often results in problems.) But if you have no use for the 8 analog inputs (i.e. if you never record more than one instrument at a time), the Babyface is really all you need. Babyface also has ADAT and TotalMix, BTW, and the drivers are the same as UC and UFX.

[rksguit]

Ah,but you have BOTH don't you? Im just amazed other brands have not copied,these designs. Apparently there is a "black" baby that goes under another brand,that has nowhere near the feature set of the BF,BUT it's casing is identical!The name escapes me,and I would never buy it,I just remember your inquiry as to a black BF.

[jeremyglover]

Originally Posted by PaPi61

Babyface has ADAT. Which is a million times more reliable than spdif.

what? i've never had a problem with SPDIF.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by jeremyglover

what? i've never had a problem with SPDIF.

An optical protocol is inherently more stable and reliable than an electric one.

[777Cleopatra]

Originally Posted by firubbi

i want to buy a sound card for HP EliteBook 8460p (that has a firewire/express54) this will be use in live (i'll need digital output only, spdif or adat) but im looking for a good one.

please help me find a good one

so far i found:
1. RME Babyface $774
2.Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 $300

os is win7.

RME Babyface + Rode NT1A + Shure SM57 + Rolls Headphone Amp | eBay

[rksguit]

Originally Posted by 777Cleopatra

RME Babyface + Rode NT1A + Shure SM57 + Rolls Headphone Amp | eBay

If it didn't include the headphone amp,I'd be very tempted by this one......good spotting.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by 777Cleopatra

RME Babyface + Rode NT1A + Shure SM57 + Rolls Headphone Amp | eBay

Shipping $162.26

Say what?

[Masaaki]

I agree. Looks fishy.

[Masaaki]

Originally Posted by rksguit

Ah,but you have BOTH don't you? Im just amazed other brands have not copied,these designs. Apparently there is a "black" baby that goes under another brand,that has nowhere near the feature set of the BF,BUT it's casing is identical!The name escapes me,and I would never buy it,I just remember your inquiry as to a black BF.

It is the quality of the preamp/ADC, which sells the Babyface well, but also the driver. When I first saw the presentation of the UC/Babyface line at NAMM (only youtube), the guy explained how they did the research on almost all the USB chips on the motherboard on the market, and then start writing the driver to be able to get low latency and compatibility.

That's something other companies can't emulate.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by rksguit

Ah,but you have BOTH don't you?

True, but I bought the Babyface only when the need for a mobile recording rig arose (it's small and bus-powered, no need to carry around another AC adapter and no need to disconnect my UC when I want to record outside the studio...), and I still only use Babyface with my laptop. Come to think about it, I actually don't need the UC, since I never record more than one instrument at a time in the studio and 90% of my work is ITB. But at the time I bought the UC, the Babyface was not available yet. I guess I could sell the UC and buy another Babyface, but why bother. And maybe one day I may suddenly need to have more than 2 analog inputs. I my line of work, I've come to expect the unexpected.

[MadforBrad]

Originally Posted by PaPi61

An optical protocol is inherently more stable and reliable than an electric one.

spdif is a protocol that can be implemented digitally or electronically. I suppose most sound cards would use the electronic method but both have no error correction. Not sure why they aren't using more robust protocols. I guess it doesn't really matter if the distance is short.

[PaPi61]

Originally Posted by MadforBrad

spdif is a protocol that can be implemented digitally or electronically. I suppose most sound cards would use the electronic method but both have no error correction. Not sure why they aren't using more robust protocols. I guess it doesn't really matter if the distance is short.

You mean optically or electrically. Yes, but 90% of the times spdif is implemented electrically (because it's cheaper and it doesn't require fiber optic cable.)

[Masaaki]

Some believe optical cable is more vulnerable to jitter, but I don't know that is true or not. For short distance, it reall doesn't matter.

SPDIF is for 2ch, ADAT is for 8ch, that is the difference of protocols, either transmitted by optical or coaxial. I believe Babyface's ADAT port can be used as optical SPDIF (from the Fireface driver setup).

So, yes, Babyface has ADAT, which is definitely the advantage over other interfaces, in terms of expandability.

As to the superior digital transmission protocol, MADI (AES10) standard is superior, strictly requiring reference clock, and able to transmit 56-64 channel over single optical cable, over 2000m. When MADI is used over coaxial, the limit is 100m, AFAIK. But this is something implemented with a large stadium sound systems, things like that.

[MadforBrad]

Originally Posted by PaPi61

You mean optically or electrically. Yes, but 90% of the times spdif is implemented electrically (because it's cheaper and it doesn't require fiber optic cable.)

more like 99. ya i haven't ever seen it to be honest. It was meant for consumer grade parts but it is out there somewhere. ANyways, i'l shut it.

[rksguit]

Originally Posted by Masaaki

I agree. Looks fishy.

Especially from Indonesia to Au........Could'nt he just pack it tightly,under the rim of a Frisbee,and I'll just stand on the beach in Darwin, and catch it?

[Masaaki]

Fedex international is actually expensive, and the seller shows the contents inside the box. I was wondering something like the fake Babyface (the black thing...forgot the name) is inside the box, but seems okay.

Tempting to bid?

[rksguit]

RME had a link [sorta] to the black faker,ah brainstorm it was called the "Nanoface ALVA" I reckon.......bid? no.