2 channel high-end soundcard recommendation

infiniteposse · 12th May 2004, 03:28 AM

Hi all-

I just got myself a 1.5 Ghz G4 Powerbook and now it's time to get myself a solid soundcard. The obvious choices (in my mind) are 1) Apogee Mini-Me 2) Metric Halo ULN2 or 3) MOTU 828mkII. I've read again and again that the first 2 wipe the floor with the 3rd, but it's not quite left my mind as an option...

I currently use a 2408MKII with good pre's - GR MP2NV and RNP, so onboard stellar pre's isn't a 100% neccessity, but another flavor would be nice. I've read nothing but great things about the MH ULN2's pres and the card as a whole and I've subbed on their list as well and it looks solid all around. The Mini-Me has a solid following as well, but USB isn't very attractive, although most users say they can do what they need to do.

I'll be using Logic Audio Pro 6.0 and would like low latency so I can use soft synths pretty gracefully.

Has anyone laid ears on all of the above and made the same kind of choice?

Any guidance appreciated.

Many thanks-

Lee

neilsby · 12th May 2004, 09:29 AM

The MOTU has 20 inputs and 22 outputs which is well in excess of your needs. Wouldn't it be better to invest more money per channel and get something similar in price with 2 channels, such as your first two options.

Neil.

Judge · 13th May 2004, 02:41 AM

I was gonna post a new thread but i'll post it as an extention to this one.

i'm looking for a 2 chan ad/da converter for max $750.

I was looking at the Motu 828MkII

but it seems to have inputs and outputs than i need so i was wondering if theres anything better in this price range

nasty · 18th May 2004, 03:49 AM

I've got a uln-2 and a 2882.If I was you,I would get a used 2882 or 2882dsp.You've already got 1 super-low noise preamp(the great river) and one relatively low noise preamp in the rnp.The main benefit of the uln-2 over the 2882 is the 72dbs of real quiet gain.Otherwise,the 2882 is just as good.The 2882's pre's sound good with loud sources but if you're recording quiet stuff with ribbon mics they're pretty noisy.A lot of people seem to think the metric halo stuff is the best for a stand-alone interface/convertor/pre.Trans audio group is now the distributor for metric halo which says a lot.They represent brauner,soundelux,etc.The mastering engineer bob katz has a 2882 which says a lot also.
You might want to email metric halo and see if they have any demo or blemished units.I got my uln-2 for a real good price this way.

nasty · 18th May 2004, 03:57 AM

By the way,I sold my rnp and me-1nv to get my uln-2 and haven't really missed them too much.I kind of miss being able to drive the great river hard
but I think the uln-2's pres are probably better than the rnp.But-I needed 10 channels for drums.If I didn't need the 10 channels,I would have kept the rnp and great river.What I really want is one of those hamptone tube pres.

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12th May 2004, 03:28 AM	#1
infiniteposse Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 295	2 channel high-end soundcard recommendation Hi all- I just got myself a 1.5 Ghz G4 Powerbook and now it's time to get myself a solid soundcard. The obvious choices (in my mind) are 1) Apogee Mini-Me 2) Metric Halo ULN2 or 3) MOTU 828mkII. I've read again and again that the first 2 wipe the floor with the 3rd, but it's not quite left my mind as an option... I currently use a 2408MKII with good pre's - GR MP2NV and RNP, so onboard stellar pre's isn't a 100% neccessity, but another flavor would be nice. I've read nothing but great things about the MH ULN2's pres and the card as a whole and I've subbed on their list as well and it looks solid all around. The Mini-Me has a solid following as well, but USB isn't very attractive, although most users say they can do what they need to do. I'll be using Logic Audio Pro 6.0 and would like low latency so I can use soft synths pretty gracefully. Has anyone laid ears on all of the above and made the same kind of choice? Any guidance appreciated. Many thanks- Lee

12th May 2004, 09:29 AM	#2
neilsby Gear nut Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Posts: 94	motu 828mkII The MOTU has 20 inputs and 22 outputs which is well in excess of your needs. Wouldn't it be better to invest more money per channel and get something similar in price with 2 channels, such as your first two options. Neil. __________________ Carillon P4-2.6, 1gb ram, MOTU 828mkII, Win XP, Logic 5.3 Platinum.

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13th May 2004, 02:41 AM	#3
Judge Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 50	I was gonna post a new thread but i'll post it as an extention to this one. i'm looking for a 2 chan ad/da converter for max $750. I was looking at the Motu 828MkII but it seems to have inputs and outputs than i need so i was wondering if theres anything better in this price range

18th May 2004, 03:49 AM	#4
nasty Gear nut Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 141	I've got a uln-2 and a 2882.If I was you,I would get a used 2882 or 2882dsp.You've already got 1 super-low noise preamp(the great river) and one relatively low noise preamp in the rnp.The main benefit of the uln-2 over the 2882 is the 72dbs of real quiet gain.Otherwise,the 2882 is just as good.The 2882's pre's sound good with loud sources but if you're recording quiet stuff with ribbon mics they're pretty noisy.A lot of people seem to think the metric halo stuff is the best for a stand-alone interface/convertor/pre.Trans audio group is now the distributor for metric halo which says a lot.They represent brauner,soundelux,etc.The mastering engineer bob katz has a 2882 which says a lot also. You might want to email metric halo and see if they have any demo or blemished units.I got my uln-2 for a real good price this way.

18th May 2004, 03:57 AM	#5
nasty Gear nut Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 141	By the way,I sold my rnp and me-1nv to get my uln-2 and haven't really missed them too much.I kind of miss being able to drive the great river hard but I think the uln-2's pres are probably better than the rnp.But-I needed 10 channels for drums.If I didn't need the 10 channels,I would have kept the rnp and great river.What I really want is one of those hamptone tube pres.