Soundcard/interface to get out of the box?

[Brackish]

I'm mixing all ITB (in the box) right now. Want to try a hybrid
system by adding some outboard hardware.

Looking for recommendations on an interface to get out of the
box (and get back in). Looking for something appropriate for
classical work so I'm thinking something pretty transparent.

[tenor39]

Can't beat the Lynx products, especially the AES 16 cards for the computer and their Aurora converters for digital I/O.

Lynx Studio Technology, Inc.

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by tenor39

Can't beat the Lynx products, especially the AES 16 cards for the computer and their Aurora converters for digital I/O.

Lynx Studio Technology, Inc.

thumbsup

Aurora 16 has 16 Digital in/out and 16 Analog in/out in only 1RU.
With AES PCI(e) card it's a great DAW interface.

[Brackish]

Thanks. Will look into those suggestions.

Right now, I'm assuming (BUT I've never gone out of the box before) that I'm only going to need two outputs and two inputs on the soundcard. Just looking to do some outboard compression on the final stereo mix.

So what am I looking at here then for this scenario? A PCI card with 2 outs and 2 ins?

Would the main consideration be quality of DAC and ADC on the soundcard?

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Thanks. Will look into those suggestions.

Right now, I'm assuming (BUT I've never gone out of the box before) that I'm only going to need two outputs and two inputs on the soundcard. Just looking to do some outboard compression on the final stereo mix.

So what am I looking at here then for this scenario? A PCI card with 2 outs and 2 ins?

Would the main consideration be quality of DAC and ADC on the soundcard?

Then go for the Lynx L22 soundcard. Stereo analog and digital I/O, expandable to 8 channels with a daughter card. Best internal card I've heard.

[DannyL]

+1 on All Lynx Products!!

You could also look at the Lynx 2:
2A : 4 in / 4 out analog
2B : 2 in / 6 out analog
2C : 6 in / 2 out analog

All Lynx 2 series also have 1 AES pair i/o as well, with time code i/o (needs an older firmware, available on line), Word clock out and WC or video in + the LS expansion slot

If you want to get in and out as well as monitor in stereo the lynx 2 may be your best choice.

I have a Lynx 2A & the LS AES card for an addition 8 digital (4 pairs) i/o.

I also use an Aurora 16 in both my mobile rig and my mix room.

The sound is world class. The service is the best in the business, hands down. They have helped me tremendously over the years. And they are really nice to talk to. A great company. As I have said before: "Come for the sound, stay for the service."

Regards;

Danny

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Thanks. Will look into those suggestions.

Right now, I'm assuming (BUT I've never gone out of the box before) that I'm only going to need two outputs and two inputs on the soundcard. Just looking to do some outboard compression on the final stereo mix.

So what am I looking at here then for this scenario? A PCI card with 2 outs and 2 ins?

Would the main consideration be quality of DAC and ADC on the soundcard?

You need at least two stereo outputs and one stereo input to use outboard processors for ITB mixing.

Output 1: To Analog stereo processors
Input 1: From Analog stereo processors
Output 2: Monitors

After finding the right compensation for latency in the external processing loop it should be ready to go.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by DannyL

I have a Lynx 2A & the LS AES card for an addition 8 digital (4 pairs) i/o.

I also use an Aurora 16 in both my mobile rig and my mix room.

Hey Danny.

How does the sound of the Lynx 2 compare to the Aurora?

[studer58]

At a lower price point than the Lynx, you could consider the Echo Audiofire line of products....an Audiofire 4 or 8 would do what you require. Check the GS threads on comparisons between it's converters and the Lynx....they may even be identical ? However, there's more to the sound of a converter than it's chip alone, I believe. I use the AF8 and have no qualms about using it for classical and chamber work, but have no first-hand comparison experience with the Lynx to line it up against.
Apogee Duet vs. Echo Audiofire8.... any advice ??

Lynx Aurora/Audiofire 12/Delta 1010

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Hey Danny.

How does the sound of the Lynx 2 compare to the Aurora?

I have used the Lynx 2 with the Aurora, and have used either as word clock master or slave. If there is a difference between them sonically, I do not know what it is. It would be an interesting test to seriously A/B the two, but they really do sound alike.

Regards;
Danny

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Hey Danny.

How does the sound of the Lynx 2 compare to the Aurora?

I have a few Auroras but no LynxTWO to compare, but here's what Lynx says:

With a design very similar to that of Lynx’s highly acclaimed Aurora converters, LynxTWO delivers near Aurora-quality specs and performance in the compact PCI card format. In fact, using the optional LynxTWO/Aurora Interface Kit, your LynxTWO can act as the computer interface and front end for the Aurora converter.

The specs are the same except that the Aurora's analog out is 10dB less noisy: -107dB vs -97db

That could be important, I think, only if you use the analog out to drive an analog mixer or other critical analog outboard gear.

Lynx Studio Product Comparison

[Jonathawkes]

I would go for at least 4 channels of IO. There's no easy way to listen to what you're doing with just 2in 2out. If you decide you want to do a pass of compression on just the drum buss or guitars or what have you, you'll really appreciate the extra channels for ease of monitoring.

[sonare]

I may not be assuming correctly, but if you are planning on importing your tracks my advice is to spend your money on a "better box" (such as Sequoia) if you want to do serious classical work. The journey you are considering will be (in the long run) a bottomless money pit as you constantly upgrade and expand and STILL will not have S-D editing (with great x-fade editor) and all the other things included in Seq that work and sound better than inexpensive hardware.

Rich

[boojum]

Originally Posted by sonare

I may not be assuming correctly, but if you are planning on importing your tracks my advice is to spend your money on a "better box" (such as Sequoia) if you want to do serious classical work. The journey you are considering will be (in the long run) a bottomless money pit as you constant upgrade and expand and STILL will not have S-D editing (with great x-fade editor) and all the other things included in Seq that work and sound better than inexpensive hardware.

Rich

And if the price of Sequoia scares you, try its little brother, Samplitude. It has the same x-fade editor and many, many good plugins and a good audio engine. SAM comes in various price levels as does Sequoia. I use SAM and like it a lot.

[sonare]

I just took a look at the Samp and Seq feature list and Sam does not have the same x-fade editor (or source-destination editing). The only Seq option that changes the price is if you want the maintenance agreement, which really acts as an automatic upgrade feature (for $500/yr). Seq 11 has just about every feature and plugin you could want or need, including 2 kinds of noise removal/reduction software, new 6-band EQ that works either with oversampling or with phase linear algorithms, and much more (including 3 kinds of Powr dither). With this I would not have needed to spend money on Algorithmix Noise-free or linear phase EQ, or Izotope. Not needing to buy those plugins would alone have funded Sequoia. Once you use it you will realize that there isn't anything that you might imagine you wish you could do that you CAN'T. It is fantastic-- easily dial in specific needed digital delay on the channels you need it, microedit using the object editor, and I have not even scratched the surface.

Rich