??? 'bout the 1820/1820M w/ Sonar 5

Posted on Feb 02, 2006 04:17 pm
Hue
Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member Since: Apr 11, 2004

This EMU card has me intrigued, as it seems to have an output section devoted to 7.1 monitoring . Nice, but it leaves me with a coupl'a questions...

- Can it be configured for 5.1 ?

- Are you guys using surround-sound mixable software to tap this feature ?... if so, what are your thoughts on it ?

- Also, how are you using the outs that got free'd up from foldin' back to monitor ?(if you do that)... seems like this could open up quite a few other routing posibilities .

- Any reason why I should choose this card for 5.1/7.1 mixing, over routing the outs of a Sonar to the 'ol AC97 outs for the 5.1 thing ?(If that's even posible ?)

- Also 'bout that EMU... I know it does 'some' simultanious tracks at 24/192, but how many before it asks to be dropped down to 24/96 . Just interested really, 24/96 is fine .

I was bitten by the surround-bug on the road trip... the car we drove had a 5.1 system in it, so I decided to explore the idea to see what it'd take for me to get into mixing in it .

Any light shed on the subject would be appreciated .

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Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Feb 03, 2006 07:38 pm

Hue, both my ESI interfaces will do 7.1 as well. I am not sold on those E-mu interfaces just yet. Some are having great luck, while others cant get them to do jack. One thing I have heard is limited track count or high latency buffers to get a clear sound. Cant confrim that as I have not tried one yet. I may make a trip to GC though this weekend as I am puzzled by Gongchimes problem with his E-mu interface and the included EmulatorX package that he seems to be having major issues with. So if I do I will check one out and beat on it a little.

But back to routing to the AC97 for 5.1. Yes you could do that, but it may have problems syncing itself to the timing of the interface you used to record with. And you will surely be held to 44.1/16 with the stock card.

jmail
jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005

Feb 04, 2006 06:14 am

I've got an 1820M and it's fantastic - however, the 5.1 7.1 issue is another thing (I don't use it, so I don't miss it)... Depending on how you want to implement it, it may or may not work. They've got multi-channel WDM output, but not input (still just 2 channel in), and they do not have pass-through yet, which the folks trying to use it for DVD movie playback don't much care for... Check out www.emu.com and go to Support, Knowledge Base and start digging in there. Also, some of their "back issues" under the News heading talk about the different issues with the cards. One article even explained setting up for WDM 7.1 sound.

However, the "issues" folks have with the interface are quite similar to issues with other interfaces. The EMU gear is definitely more finicky than an RME, but not as finicky as an Edirol. The driver's "quality" probably have a bearing on that, as does internal hardware choices made by the manufacturer's (hence the price differences, I'm sure...).

Hue
Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

Feb 04, 2006 03:21 pm

Thanks guys .
Noise, I will look further into the ESI cards . As far as synching the 97, could I route it that way JUST for mixing, so it doesn't have to deal with my 24/96's inputing ? Ah, but then I'm stuck at the 44.1/16... which, is something I wanted to avoid . Hmmmm...

jmail, are you saying that it will only record two tracks at a time ? 18 inputs, and y'a only get to use 2 at a time ?