EMU 1820 Digital Audio System

[dcwave]

Anyone heard one of these? Or know of any reviews?

The usual 'zines have at least two page ads for them. The i/o looks nice but I am leary about Emu and Creative Labs.

Emu 1820 Digital Audio System (http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?maincategory=754&category=754&product=2210)

[Boom]

I really want one of these cards. Ive posted to several forums and have hard no complaints, people using them seem very happy. The Emulator-X sampler is supposed to really rock.


Why be leery of Creative? Creative cards are great, theyre great for everyday PC use and gaming. The Emu cards are designed for recording, unlike the Soundblaster cards. I may be wrong, but I would think a company as big as creative would have the resources to write good drivers. I would not confuse this card with an Audigy.

[Alan]

My brother recently bought one(1820)and I'm very impressed with the converter quality,especially for the price range($400.00).Our only complaints so far is the drivers seem to dissapear after long use(4 hours+)and the unit can only be powered internally by your PC and the mixer is overly complicated with no detailed documentation.The effects are arverage and can only be used on output(so far as we can figure out).The Asio driver performance is very good performance-wise(4ms solid in Sonar 3)but the WDM drivers are not happening at all yet.The on board mic pre is a bit below average as well,but useable.Overall though,it's worth getting just for the converters,best Iv'e heard in the under $1,000 range or better.

[Probos]

Originally posted by Alan
My brother recently bought one(1820)and I'm very impressed with the converter quality,especially for the price range($400.00).Our only complaints so far is the drivers seem to dissapear after long use(4 hours+)and the unit can only be powered internally by your PC and the mixer is overly complicated with no detailed documentation.The effects are arverage and can only be used on output(so far as we can figure out).The Asio driver performance is very good performance-wise(4ms solid in Sonar 3)but the WDM drivers are not happening at all yet.The on board mic pre is a bit below average as well,but useable.Overall though,it's worth getting just for the converters,best Iv'e heard in the under $1,000 range or better.

I was considering this card and the M-Audio Firewire 410. I'll be using Samplitude 7.22,...I've heard good things about both units, but I'm still undecided.

[Probos]

Originally posted by Alan
My brother recently bought one(1820)and I'm very impressed with the converter quality,especially for the price range($400.00).Our only complaints so far is the drivers seem to dissapear after long use(4 hours+)and the unit can only be powered internally by your PC and the mixer is overly complicated with no detailed documentation.The effects are arverage and can only be used on output(so far as we can figure out).The Asio driver performance is very good performance-wise(4ms solid in Sonar 3)but the WDM drivers are not happening at all yet.The on board mic pre is a bit below average as well,but useable.Overall though,it's worth getting just for the converters,best Iv'e heard in the under $1,000 range or better.

Well, I ended up buying an EMU 1820 for my new DAW. Seems like a really nice unit, install was a breeze, no problems at all. But like you said the mixer/digital patch bay is totally confusing to me,..I don't know what the hell I'm doing! I can't even get a signal to show up in the WaveLab Lite software that came with it much less Samplitude 7.22. I will have to print out the PDF "owners manual" that came with it tomorrow and try again,...I feel like a complete idiot. If I can't figure it out I'm gonna take it back and get an Echo Gina.

[Alan]

Originally posted by Probos
I can't even get a signal to show up in the WaveLab Lite software that came with it much less Samplitude 7.22. You have to create a "send" on a channel in EMu's software mixer to make it availible in your app.

[Probos]

Originally posted by Alan
You have to create a "send" on a channel in EMu's software mixer to make it availible in your app.

I was trying to do that but the layout seems confusing to me, and the PDF manual they provide is not too helpful. I will have to go home after work and really learn how to use EMU's mixer today because I think it will end up being a great product for my needs. Thanks.

Bill

[Alan]

Originally posted by Probos
I was trying to do that but the layout seems confusing to me, Just right click on one of the mixer strips and you'll get the send option.

[Probos]

Originally posted by Alan
Just right click on one of the mixer strips and you'll get the send option.

I finally got it working yesterday. I set up the The EMU analog input MIC lines A and B to be ASIO sends 1/2 and 3/4 respectively. I didn't even have Samp set up correctly to begin with so under "Options" I went into "Global Audio Devices" and set up the recording and playback devices to be my EMU, set the drivers as ASIO and set the latency...it recognized everything without a problem and then I could see a signal on the level meters in Samp. Thanks for all your help.

[Probos]

A quick update,...my EMU 1820 works great with Samp and sounds great! A little time spent looking the manual over and clicking around went a long way.

I do have a question though,..do you think it's worth the extra $100 to get the 1820M just for the improved A/D coverters? I'm considering taking back my 1820 and exchanging it for the 1820M.

[Samplecraze]

I think so Probos. I did benchmark test on this card for review and I clocked 117.9dBA on the 1820M and 109dBA on the 1820. Worth the upgrade for that extra dynamic range. You also get the sync daughter board and the Emulator X software.

[Probos]

Originally posted by Samplecraze
I think so Probos. I did benchmark test on this card for review and I clocked 117.9dBA on the 1820M and 109dBA on the 1820. Worth the upgrade for that extra dynamic range. You also get the sync daughter board and the Emulator X software.

Thanks for the info! I'm taking my 1820 back today and getting the 1820M. :cool:

[D-Roy]

Right on Probos. I think it's great how flexible the signal path is with the 1820 but it is a little daunting at first. I wish I would've spent the extra duckets for the 1820M. (samplecraze 's got the idea) Maybe it's not too late to return and swap. ;) Let me know how it's working for ya