M-Audio Delta 1010Lt...What do i need?

Posted on

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member Since: Aug 11, 2005

I am planning on getting the M-Audio Delta 1010Lt sound card, the main reason being so i can have mulitple inputs and record a number of tracks at once on seperate tracks. I am planning to use the Phono/RCA annalouge connections to connect my mics. The main issue of corse i pre-amplification as i dont think these inputs are amped in the card. I was originally going to use my behringer eurorack ub1202, as the line inputs have jack inputs which can also be used as outputs, however after trying this out, it seems tht taking thr signal from there creates a horrible hum. ive tested using a mic thru XLR. to the mixer, out via jack cables and going into a number of amps as well as my sound card, also tried it with lots of differnt cables and mics, but still i get this horrible hum. Anyone got any ideas why that is there? it is most likely because the jack socket was not desinged for tht purpose and quality of its output wasnt the 1st thing on the list. As this plan has not gone tits up what am i going to need? i need to pre amp around 6 mics at the same time, am i looking at having to get an outboard preamp too? please help

thanks guys

[ Back to Top ]


Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 22, 2005 02:19 pm

I'd certainly question the validity of using an input jack as an output. It seems that the circuitry isn't there for that to work well.

I looked at the 1202, and you won't get 8 separate outputs out of that thing.

You can do what I did, get a yamaha mg16/4, and use the inserts as individual channel outputs. Just push in the 1/4" TS jack to the first click, not all the way.

The two first channels on the 1010lt are preamped, but not the rest. The 1010lt has xlr connectors on the first two channels, whereas the other 6 are rca.

After you get the output from the 1010lt, run that into one stereo channel on the MG, and you can monitor the incoming signals (from the channels), plus the output from the computer (through the stereo channel). Then run the mains out to the monitor solution.

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Nov 22, 2005 03:15 pm

I thought the 1010lt was ten in, two being XLR. No?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 22, 2005 03:30 pm

2 preamped, 6 line input (RCA), 2 spdif, or 1 spdif & 1 midi. Something like that.

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2005


Nov 22, 2005 06:51 pm

ive had a play and a look around and come up with a few more thoughts:

Out of my behringer i can still get 2 track out of that i.e. use the line inputs 1 and 2, one panned left, one right and then use the main out, putting left in one rca input and the right in another, thats 2 (count with me lol). as i dont have an aux on the 1202 thts all i can muster from that piece of kit

I then have the 2 xlr inputs that are already on the mixer, those are simple enough and that equals 4 (lets here you....4!)

The rest i cant get in without having another piece of kit, it being a larger mixer with direct outs, or a multi-channeled pre amp. say for example, i got a 2 channel mixer like the behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO MIC2200 just for example, that would allow me to plug 2 more mics in there, then take the outputs from them and plug in another 2 mic, equally a total of 6, or if i had 2 of them or some other pre amp with 4 channels, that would be 8, which i dont think id need more than that.

any none see any flaws in that plan?

the main thing is, with the card id already have 4 inputs (2 form my mixer, 2 in the card alrady) and its just a case of getting some pre amplification for those other tracks.

p.s. if i do do the preamps option ne one got ne ideas on my best option (2 or 4 channel preamps)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 23, 2005 09:46 am

I'd agree, mostly, though it seems like there's some typo's in your text.

I believe you meant '2 xlr inputs that are already on the card' instead of mixer.

Also, 'i got a 2 channel preamp' instead of mixer.

Seems that this would work, but I have to add a few issues.

1. Make sure the hardware supports the same bit rates, and sample frequency. Probably not an issue, but is something to consider.

2. Different clocks on different devices. You'll be preamping your incoming signal with 3 different preamps. Three different clocks, may lead to the tracks getting out of sync after a long tracking. It may not, but it may be something to research.

3. 1 single mixer would keep all your signals together, greatly simplifying your monitoring solution. Plus making any future routing, or other cableing tasks easier, and more common sense.

4. The differing level of gain / noise / headroom on different tracks, from different preamps. It may be better to have them all the same (or closer) than haveing differing levels in your tracks. It would probably drive me nuts to have 2 very clean, 2 so-so, and 2 medium to decent, if you know what I mean.

Certainly, these issues aren't stoppers, but they may equate into more trouble than they're worth in the long run. The mg12/4 has 4 xlr preamped channels, where the mg16/4 has 8.

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2005


Nov 23, 2005 12:37 pm

yea lol, sorry bout the typos, i was in a hurry cos i had to get to work, but at least u got wat i meant

as for the issuies u raised ill take em into consideration and see how it goes, ur rigt about alot of it, and ill research ur other concerns, thanks for ur input


Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 23, 2005 12:47 pm

no problem, good luck.

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2005


Nov 23, 2005 01:45 pm

one more question, ur point about clocks:

"Different clocks on different devices. You'll be preamping your incoming signal with 3 different preamps. Three different clocks, may lead to the tracks getting out of sync after a long tracking. It may not, but it may be something to research."

is this going to also be an issuie if i just used my mixer channels 1 and 2 (panned left and right, and out into 2 seperate RCAs) and the 2 XLR connections already on the card. if u use those 4 together would it still create a timing problem between the 2 from the mixer and the 2 already on the card?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 23, 2005 01:52 pm

well, i did this in my studio, and didn't seem to notice any out-of-sync. Usually I would only input 6 lines (from the mixer) and avoid the 2 xlr built in to the 1010lt.

I have done a few things with all 8 though, but I didn't do any long recordings, so I may have stayed within not-hearable limits. I'd say it's possible, maybe probabable, but i guess it's as possible with three as it is with 2 preamps.

I may try that when I get my studio built back up again, test two mic signals, 1 into 1010lt, and 1 into mixer, then 1010lt and see if there's any drift after 10 minutes or so.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 23, 2005 07:35 pm

ONe thing that needs to be cleared up here is the clocks thing. Pre-amps do not use or have any clock source. They are just what they say they are, a Pre-amp for the signal coming into the recording device. Clock's are used only by the recording device, or a synth or sampler device or software. the clock is simply for syncing one device to another. Meaning if you have an outboard recording device and you want it to work in time with a PC DAW, you will need to sync them up via some type of audio clock, or other form of time code. Midi is also used a sync or clock device to keep differant device's in time with each other.

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2005


Nov 24, 2005 04:47 am

does that mean i shouldnt have a timing problem when using my inputs from my mixer and on the card itself at the same time?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 24, 2005 11:35 am

NO, there will be no timing issues between your mixer and sound card. Unless of course you plan on running 600 feet of cable from the mixer to the sound card, then you might add about 1 millisecond of delay.

Just remember, the only thing that is going to add any noticable latency is the sound card's driver's or its hardware if a cheaper model, in comination with your PC's capability's.

Wannabe Producer/Tech Student
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2005


Nov 24, 2005 08:54 pm

ok, cheers man, thanks for the input

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.