Next Steps Up From 2496 Sound Card? Anything Out There?
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Posted on Sep 23, 2005 02:08 pm
Vikki
Member Since: Sep 22, 2002
I,m using the M.Audio 2496 soundcard at the moment with Sonar 2.2, it works o.k but sometimes has a mad fit and the Latency thing cuts in and we end up with a garbled recording. I've down loaded the latest drivers and its still not a perfect thing. Is another soundcard the way to go? I use midi so it would have to have midi functions. Is there anything more professional out there without going with pro tools and mega money.
I have some reasonable outboard gear including preamps comp and eq, whats the best way to route each track through these outboard devices and add reverb eq etc? Is it best to buy a multi output soundcard and an external line mixer?
Vikki(uk)
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Sep 23, 2005 02:13 pm The Audiophile is a good card, if configured properly latency shouldn't be an issue...are you using ASIO or WDM drivers in Sonar? Try both see if it gives trouble with both...
I dumped my 2496 for an ESI Juli@, which does cost more, the latency is lower, I like the drivers better, but by no means is the 2496 "substandard" in any way.
VikkiMember
Since: Sep 22, 2002
Sep 23, 2005 03:02 pm I appear to be using WDM drivers. I've checked on the m-audio site but cannot seem to find any reference to ASIO drivers to download for my 2496 soundcard - have I got the wrong end of the stick here?
Do you find the ESI Juli@ far superior? Can you guide me to their website.
Thanks
Vikki (UK)
Sep 23, 2005 03:06 pm "far superior" no, but lower latency and an easier to use control panel. Check the dropdown in the audio properties sections within Sonar, ASIO should be available...M-Audio has better ASIO drivers than WDM, at least they did when I used it...
The web site is www.esi-pro.com but I really wouldn't recommend switching yet, the audiophile will do the job.
VikkiMember
Since: Sep 22, 2002
Sep 23, 2005 03:34 pm OK Thanks,
Found them, all set up with Asio drivers, will give it a run over the weekend. Just wondering if the M Audio 1010 is a good choice, i could run each output to a channel on a mixer and patch my effects into the send and return on the board, or are we best in the digital domain?
Vikki(uk)
Sep 23, 2005 03:43 pm The 1010 uses the same drivers as the Audiophile...all the Delta series does, so if your computer doesn't like the 2496 it could well not like the 1010 either.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 23, 2005 08:18 pm Vikki, are you looking to upgrade to more input/output on the sound card? Or is it just a matter of wanting to upgrade a bit and stay with the 2 channel i/o?
VikkiMember
Since: Sep 22, 2002
Sep 24, 2005 03:43 am I think i may be looking for something with better quality and the ability to use my standalone effects. I was looking for a way of being able to route my external effects onto a track instead of using plug ins, am i right in thinking good quality external effects will out perform plugins. I have a Calrec eq and LA2a that i would like to run on my vocal track and was thinking of adding a TC Electronics or Lexicon Reverb unit. The JLM 99V mic preamps i'm using seem to be top notch and i was trying to get everything at least on par with those.
Vikki(uk)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 24, 2005 03:08 pm Well honestly there are pluggins that in some instances will outperform the hardware. That said, a good piece of hardware in the signal chain going in is never to be turned down.
In the case of what you are trying to do, yes you can route signals out through the hardware and back in. And yes, more i/o can help with that. But it isnt the only solution.
Do you ever run through the LA2a in the signal chain before it goes to the track? If youre mixer has inserts, or even aux sends you can route the effects that way as well wehn tracking.
But if you are talking about adding them to the track after it has been recorded, yes indeed that can be done as well. I find myself doing it less these days, but I do route an allready recorded track out and through a piece of hardware and then back in with good results. And keep in mind it can be done with the card you have as well. IT is just a matter of taking your outputs through the hardware, playing the track through that and then recording it back into another track.
An advantage of doing this is you will still have the original track clean the way it was before the processed track was added. And you will have the otpion on mixing the two together is so desired.
VikkiMember
Since: Sep 22, 2002
Sep 30, 2005 06:04 pm Heres a quick test i did just to try out a couple of JLM Audio preamps i'd built running into the 2496 soundcard.There's no eq, just a bit of reverb added to the last couple of recordings. Levels weren't balanced out as this was done in a couple of minutes
www.eisenaudio.com/thelab/jlm99.mp3
Sounds a bit bright but it gives an idea what i'm getting, results seem to be worse on vocal tracks. Perhaps a good valve mic is needed.
Vikki(uk)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 04, 2005 08:38 pm Wow, nice guitar work. Especially the picking.
Anyway, the small condensor might be what is reaking havock on the vocals. The guitar sounded splendid as far as I can tell via the mp3. The voice didn't sound bad either. But a large diaphram would have a much better advantage on the vocals indeed as it is built for those types of recording. The small diaphram is more intended as an instrument or overhead mic. although I have heard some use it as a vocal mic with good results.
So yes a good valve mic or a good large diaphram will help you out there.
