Dec 27, 2004 06:56 pm yup, their gone, but an HRC member is trying to get a support group going www.homerecordingconnecti...=6289&frm=2
Aardvark out of business?
Posted on Dec 27, 2004 06:53 pm
JBryant398
Member Since: Dec 27, 2004
I've been trying to get ahold of Aardvark for a few days now, but thier website is down and the support number that is in my Q10 manual is disconnected. Does anyone know if they have a new support number or if they shut down for good?
Thanks,
Matt
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Dec 27, 2004 06:56 pm yup, their gone, but an HRC member is trying to get a support group going www.homerecordingconnecti...=6289&frm=2
Dec 27, 2004 07:03 pm Wow. I am stunned.
My Q10 developed a nasty little issue yesterday. Every time I plug the breakout box in, my PSU fries. Dead. I've gone through 4 PSUs making sure that was for sure the case.
Boy, I don't really have $800 to burn on a new DAW interface, and without it, no way of making that money.
I guess I better start shopping for something. Any suggestions on what a good substitute would be? I for sure need phantom power on at least a couple chans, other than that I suppose at least 8 I/Os as well.
My brain is frothing.
Dec 27, 2004 08:49 pm I am confused as to how just plugging in the breakout box could fry the PSU, but stranger things have happened. Is there anything in the case that is touching the PCI card for the Q10? Just grasping straws at this point, but have you tried moving the card to another slot as well?
Dec 27, 2004 11:49 pm hmm thats a new one... Are you plugging the breakout box in while the computers on or something? I could imagine it happening that way if phantom power is on... maybe...
Dec 28, 2004 11:58 am Yeah, well, all of my common sense dictated that it made no sense either. I did try 3 different PCI slots, and always plugged in the breakout box while the computer was powered down.
I even tried it with different combinations of other components (Sound Blaster, Network Card, etc.) plugged in, and once with only the Q10 plugged in. Same results every time. Deep fried PSU. It smelled horrible too! :-(
Dec 28, 2004 01:41 pm I wis looking at buying one of those Q10's - just as well I didny methinks...
Heard a few issues and now the companys gone oot the box...I too could do with a similar spec/price model for consideration....
Coco
P.S. JBryant..thats a real bummer..hope ye get it sorted.
Coco.
Dec 28, 2004 01:44 pm makes me wonder if we should start an unofficial Aardvark Users forum here...unless of course zek plans to, I don't wanna step on zek's toes...DeadCows get angry when ya do that.
Dec 28, 2004 08:45 pm Well, I got myself a new PSU and unfortunately had to get a new motherboard as well. I had an old style P4 (Socket 423) so I ended up getting a new CPU as well. To boot, I had bought RDRAM when I got the comp, so I had to switch to some DDR. It's running really nice now, though. Athlon 3000+ with 1Gb of RAM.
I'm thinking of getting either the MOTU 24I/O or the HD192 since I figure I should take this opportunity to take the studio to the next level. Anyone have any experience with either of these?
Dec 28, 2004 10:13 pm I'll be calling the Marketing VP and the CEO in the next few days and I'll ask if they have any input on your problem... Or the phone number to one of their engineers
I'm not really sure about me doing a forum as I don't really want to deal with it :) And unless the drivers go GPL there won't be much to talk about.
Dec 28, 2004 10:22 pm That would be great zek. I'd greatly appreciate it. I had it recently upgraded (last month); I'm not sure if it's pertinent, but it might be worth mentioning.
Dec 28, 2004 10:50 pm JBryant, of the 2 you mention, the MOTU is really the better choice. Their gear is built to be added onto easily. I had issues with their midi interfaces but have done several installs of the 24 i/o and other pieces of their hardware and the quality is great. Not cheap by any means, but if you want to spend the cash and have a very large and upgradable system then that is an excellant choice.
Dec 28, 2004 10:56 pm I'm not sure I understand. The 24I/O and the HD192 are both MOTU products...
Dec 28, 2004 11:49 pm I think both of us were thinking the Protools HD 192
Dec 28, 2004 11:55 pm That would make sense. Actually now that I look at it, my wording was a little odd. My apologies for the confusion there.
Dec 29, 2004 12:00 am Na, but that is what I was thining exactly, the PT HD 192. Way to much money, and once your into it, its like signing your name in blood. Or is that paying with your blood, no its paying with body parts. HD 192 $arm, second HD 192 $leg. And so on.
OK, not funny I know, just messing with the PT guys here.
But ya, the MOTU 24i/o will give ya just as much if not more for less money.
Dec 31, 2004 11:59 am i just bought a q10 from one of the owners of Aardvark. he told me that they are having legal problems with another "partner" but they do plan on comming back when all is said and done.
ps got the q10 for $525 brand spankin' new!!
peace
wyd
Jan 05, 2005 02:41 am do it start the forum
all us q10 owners need help db master
Jan 05, 2005 03:20 am Whoa...wyd...$525...just goes to show...its not so much what you know...friends in high places huh?
Cheers,
BM:-)
Jan 05, 2005 12:11 pm haha yeah i guess so, accually i got it off of ebay (buy it now for $525) and didn't know who i was gettin' it from untill i called.....it's kinda cool cuz the company is based in a town that i used to live in (go small business!!) so we got to talk a bit, but yeah they do plan on gettin' back up and running, just not sure when.
peace
wyd
Jan 05, 2005 02:57 pm Dang...I've been watching the Q10's on eBay...just too gutless to buy at that price...didn't know you could call...is that before purchase?
Been thinking about geting a second one...$525 is a good price by our standards.
Cheers,
BM:-)
Jan 05, 2005 03:07 pm i don't think his phone number was published, i called after the sale was made, and made contact by e-mail first. one wierd thing was my card wasn't shielded (big aadrvark logo)...that whole piece was missing. but the box was still factory sealed and everything so i had no worries. it's workin' great! anyone want my copy of Cubase LE it came with? lol
peace
wyd
Jan 05, 2005 03:22 pm Lol...but that is wierd...but its working great...so...nae worries.
Cheers,
BM:-)
Jan 05, 2005 10:04 pm Just a personal note to those thinking of buying an Aardvark product cheap. The company may or may not come back, keep that in mind before you lock in on that bargain.
I bought several 1 gig portable drives when they were the big thing years ago. From a company selling them very cheap indeed compared to the compatition. Well gee wiz, they went under. Leaving thousands of people with nowhere to go to get media for them or to get updated drivers. This was back running Windows 98. Well finally all these years later, guess what, someone finally wrote a driver for windows XP. Now I can finally get at all my stuff that has sat for years due to no drivers.
So beware of Aardvark products for sale with now company to back them up, new or not, it is now bargain if there is no Aardvark.
And just quick note $525.00 is not a bargain by any means. I saw them in their heyday going for about $395.00.
Jan 05, 2005 11:31 pm NZ$2100 here and in Australia :-( unless you can find them second hand...even then people want an arm and a leg for them. Also Aardvark is not common here.
But Noize what does it mean...I mean does it mean the Aardvark won't work?...at all?
Cheers...or maybe...damn!
BM
Jan 05, 2005 11:47 pm No, it just means that there will be no customer support. And if you buy one and the driver disc is not up to date, which is usually the case even with the biggest names, you will have no new drivers to install it and get it working. Also if it breaks or whatever, there is nowhere to turn.
If you have one now and its working you can think of it this way. The next update to Windows XP or what ever, or your recording application, or some other software update might make those drivers unusable or unstable. And without the company working on driver updates, your piece of hardware is now useless unless you want to forget about doing software updates to your OS or recording app.
I personally didnt care for the Aardvark hardware, but I know many went for it for the price.
Truth is it could happen to any comapny out there. So its not just Aardvark, they just happened to be getting popular when it did happen.
Jan 06, 2005 12:25 am The driver disc I have now...that wouldn't work when installing a second Aardvark?
Cheers,
BM
Jan 06, 2005 12:24 pm ick...i guess i'll just never change anything in my setup again! if it's not broke then don't fix it! heh man now i'm not lovin' my interface so much, infact i'm downright nervous....that said, yes Mum i think if the one you have now is workin' fine, then you can use the same driver for a second one (there's accually a few pages in the manual dedicated to that).
peace
wyd
Jan 06, 2005 07:27 pm Indeed, and hopefully the fact that Zek is on top of things no one should be left tottally out in the cold. I am guessing they were much more popular then most peeps thought so some one out there will probably write a third party driver if the need arises.
I didnt mean to get everyone up in arms, just stating the possibel scenario's if indeed they do not survive and return.
Jan 06, 2005 10:39 pm Nae worries Noize...yaeh...just looking at my post above...doesn't look too friendly...just more alarm I think.
Cheers and sorry 'bout the confusion there,
BM:-)
Jan 06, 2005 11:24 pm Not worried at all BM. I knew you understood what I was gettin at. I posted more for the benifit of others who might not a seen it as say maybe, you and coco ans zek.
But ya, if it was me I think I would hold out a bit till I could see what was going to happen with them.
Jan 21, 2005 04:10 pm Does anyone know how to contact any of the company owners?
I would really like to see them release the sourcecode for the Q10 drivers into the public domain so that enthusiasts such as myself can continue to enhance them.
I've already left a message one what I believe to be Erik Lovell's (VP Sales&Mktg) home phone, and am hoping he is kind enough to reply.
Any leads would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
-Clint
Jan 21, 2005 04:13 pm lemme get back to ya on that, i got a phone number for ya, but it's at home...i'll drop ya an e-mail or somethin'
wyd
Feb 28, 2005 05:15 pm Any updates on Aardvark... specifically the Q10 drivers for XP? Are they out there anywhere?
Feb 28, 2005 05:33 pm nodda, i've been keepin' my eyes open myself.
Feb 28, 2005 06:50 pm I'll probably make a trip up to ann arbour to see if I can find Mr. Levin this week or next. He doesn't seem to answer his phone any more.
Most of the employees I've spoken too said that they left while the company was still operating. They are also not supprise by the situation either.
join the yahoo group launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/aardvarkpro/ to stay abreast of plans. If I can't track Igor down then we will probably have a letter writing campaign to music mags... for whatever it would be worth.
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