Audio Card, budget 300$, for electronic music?

Discussion in 'Studio' started by Highdom, Mar 6, 2018.

  1. taskforce

    taskforce Audiosexual

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    Actually Firewire's (IEEE1394) minimum latency is about the same as USB3 at around 0.03 ms. That's why it was adopted by the pro visual industry (cameras, specialized video cards & accessories) for a long time for instance. Now though, it's nearly abandoned and there hasn't been a mobo with onboard firewire for years, and even the pci/pci-e cards are rare now.
    Thunderbolt is the brave new world's protocol (but top end hi tech comes with a price heheh). With the right adapter it can accomodate Firewire, USB, Ethernet and DisplayPort compatibility while in practice it's a 40 gbps pci-e connection on a USB C connector.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2018
  2. taskforce

    taskforce Audiosexual

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    If i was you, i 'd hold my horses and save some more money. Around the 500 dlrs is the sweet spot of the mid category. There are many good sounding cards around this price that fit your description. The Audient ID22, Focusrite Clarett 2Pre, Steinberg UR28M, Motu 4Pre.
    Why rush to go on the lower end of the market sacrificing quality for just 100-150 more dlrs.
    Patience is virtue mate :winker:
     
  3. Moogerfooger

    Moogerfooger Audiosexual

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    You know they took the word sarcasm out of the dictionary.... lol
     
  4. anvier

    anvier Ultrasonic

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    Agree, I have the ID22 and i`m very happy with it, wait and spend well the money
     
  5. Batoumba

    Batoumba Producer

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    you want the best ASIO Driver's , crystal sound ,a soundcard build to last forever , and really good support in the event it actually doesn't ?

    if you are willing to compromise not having a fancy shiny box full of in's and out's looking for place on your desk to stack it , then your best option and bang for buck would be either the old version RME HDSP9632 which is legacy PCI (plenty of mobo's still come with a PCI slot) , or even better spend something extra and get the RME HDSPe AIO , you simply cant go wrong with this soundcard and you probably will carry it with you for years to come ,and over to any new pc's you will be building in the next 2-3decades .

    *only drawback might be it doesnt have a mic pre-amp and a headphone amp like many all-in-one boxes , but let's be honest it's better you get dedicated ones with better quality than the budget fit 16ins and outs in a plastic usb or firewire external box
     
  6. jamzprod

    jamzprod Noisemaker

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    Save up some more and get an RME babyface, even if it's 2nd hand. Don't go cheap on interfaces.
     
  7. Blorg

    Blorg Producer

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    Thought you were serious, I actually agree. A high-end interface is about as useful for electronic music as a closetfull of high-end mics.
     
  8. boomoperator

    boomoperator Rock Star

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    Nothing wrong with a high end interface if you’re into audio quality. But then your monitors and room acoustics are also important.
    You mean that the pre-amp of an interface isn’t important for electronic music, because you don’t use it.
    I’m in the same boat, I need an interface with 6 or 8 outputs for surround mixing, but I don’t like to pay for class A mic pre amps..
     
  9. Blorg

    Blorg Producer

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    There's nothing wrong with a Patek Philippe wristwatch if you like being on time. The money could be better spent (e.g. on a car, so you wouldn't have to walk), but you're right, nice things are nice.
    And A/D converters, and brand/boutique markup, yeah.
    OP doesn't,
    but most of the suggestions here don't have 6 or 8 outputs.
    "Class A" doesn't mean "classy" or "best"; it's not a grade. It simply describes % of the wave cycle a transistor/op amp/tube is under load (class A = full cycle, pulling current 100% of the time). When applied to preamps (as opposed to power amps), it's just meaningless marketing lingo. Pretty much every preamp ever made is a Class A preamp.
     
  10. vcf

    vcf Newbie

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    Give a look to Behringher FCA1616, has many input and outputs (also digital), and good midas preamps...
     
  11. Recoil

    Recoil Guest

    [​IMG]

    This is my configuration, it all depends on ASIO, will the RME HDSP9632 card help me lower the DSP load? :beg:
     
  12. taskforce

    taskforce Audiosexual

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    RME cards are top of the bunch when it comes to latency. The HDSPe AIO which is the successor to the 9632 was able to go as low as 0.8 ms in my tests. My colleague has it in his comp, in our secondary small remix suite in the studio. Even the old pci 9632 was among the best back in the day with 2ms @ 24bit/96khz.
    Keep in mind my main cards in the studio are MOTU but that is because of personal choices for convience and compatibility with other crucial parts. If latency was my absolute concern, RME is the king.
    Cheers.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2018
  13. midi-man

    midi-man Audiosexual

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    Thanks for the info.
     
  14. midi-man

    midi-man Audiosexual

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    I hope you know I was not being sarcastic.
    It's like all cars have 4 wheels. They all get you from place to place.
    But they are all not the same in ride and comfort.
     
  15. taskforce

    taskforce Audiosexual

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    Edited, yep, i didn't get the joke ...
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2018
  16. Moogerfooger

    Moogerfooger Audiosexual

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    Guys guys... It’s a joke nobody got... Just read the OP title and you’ll understand what I meant.
     
  17. taskforce

    taskforce Audiosexual

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    Sht, how silly of me, got too uptight about it... Excuse me, i get it now alright, "for electronic music?"... You were right, the OP had it coming with that title but i completely forgot about it. For a moment i thought you forgot your "abc"'s lol.
    Sorry mate.
    Cheers
     
  18. Recoil

    Recoil Guest

    I bought a RME HDSP9632, and my problems ended :metal::crazy:
     
  19. ptpatty

    ptpatty Platinum Record

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    Honestly, the Behringer u-phoria umc404hd for about $90 USD is great, especially for electronic music. I got one to connect to another computer in my studio basically for some midi recording needs. It more than met my expectations.

    PS Don't tell my pro friends that I bought a Behringer product. :)
     
  20. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

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    This, can't go wrong with behringer umc models.
    Great preamp, lots of gain, drivers and price.

    Only the the headphone amplifier isn't that loud with the gain half open, and distorts after that. So I would recommend buying the Behringer headphone amp with it
     
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