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DrExtrovert
11-04-2006, 01:05 PM
Ok this may be a typical question: Best sound card choice ?
WIN XP Pro SP2 AMD Barton 3200+ with 2gigs of ram will be my platform.
I need at least 4in\4out (1/4 inch) some kind of Digital IO. and Midi.
PCI or USB 2.0 or Firewire <-doesnt really matter I want the ability to upgrade when and if it's needed.
I would like to use Pro Tools LE 7.1 or Cubase, not sure as to which just yet.
Motu product ?
PreSonus product ?
M-Audio's Delta 66 ?
M-Box 2 <----I am a tad confused on this. Can I use my current Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platnium, or do I need a compatible sound card to go with the M-Box 2 ?

Your suggestions....
Thanks in advance for any and all input.
itsplayed
11-04-2006, 01:21 PM
If you want to use ProTools your hardware choice is severely limited, even with the M-audio hardware you won't be running with ProTools LE. Decide this first before moving on.....weigh the pros and cons to a ProTools system carefully. Personally I'd avoid it unless I had at least ten grand to spend and even then I'd go with a Radar system.
DrExtrovert
11-04-2006, 04:23 PM
Like I said...I am not certain if I will be using Pro Tools or not. I am aware that going with Pro Tools means less choices on hardware. My main concern is having a sound card that meets my needs and I have room to grow if needed. I can always use any Program out there to address my needs. I want a great card which is what this thread is about.

Thanks.
oretez
11-04-2006, 04:54 PM
apogee Rosetta 800
itsplayed
11-04-2006, 07:27 PM
Like I said...I am not certain if I will be using Pro Tools or not. I am aware that going with Pro Tools means less choices on hardware.

How can we possibly begin to suggest the best hardware choice when your unsure if your going to be using ProTools?
sabianq
11-04-2006, 07:48 PM
sounds like we need a sound card skicky

i use the Aardvark lx6 and i love it
DrExtrovert
11-05-2006, 02:10 AM
How can we possibly begin to suggest the best hardware choice when your unsure if your going to be using ProTools?

OK so I will not use Pro Tools...Come on guys why is this an issue ? I'm sorry that might be my fault. I want to know what you guys think is the best soundcard. Don't give me software opinions. Who cares ? I have a lot of skill using ANY software app. It honestly does not matter. I simply want to know what you guys think is the best soundcard out there.....
itsplayed
11-05-2006, 06:51 AM
I wasn't trying to be difficult, my questioning was very ligitimate and necessary.

If your looking to run ProTools LE software then your only choice would be specific Digidesign interfaces.

If on the otherhand you had asked about what would be the best interface to run ProTools/HD, I would have suggested this interface.......

http://www.prismsound.com/music_recording/studio_products.html

http://www.prismsound.co.kr/ada-8xr.htm

Now that you have ruled out running a ProTools system the field of interfaces from which to choose expands dramatically. That said, If you can afford it, I would still suggest the interface linked above as being "The Best" in a firewire solution for running other DAW software as well.

If it's a bit pricey for you....tell us what your budget is and we can take it a step further.

Also "The Best" is very subjective and never 'cut and dry'.....what's best for one person is not always what's best for another.
DrExtrovert
11-05-2006, 10:45 AM
Nice ! I could not find a price on that bad boy though...Sorry !
passerby3141
11-05-2006, 11:13 AM
I was curious too,

http://www.vintageking.com/New-Brands/Prism-Sound

They only give the list price when you click the link to each product, but that will give you an idea what you are getting into.
itsplayed
11-05-2006, 11:33 AM
The firewire unit will set you back around $10,000.00 , but you may be able to snag one for around $9,000.00 if your lucky.
sabianq
11-05-2006, 08:06 PM
you guys can be cruel,:rolleyes:
dont listen to them, their just being, uhhh... welll..


the interfaces mentioned above are some of the top of the line stuff.

check out the way less expensive MOTU interface.

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite/
DrExtrovert
11-05-2006, 08:33 PM
you guys can be cruel,:rolleyes:
dont listen to them, their just being, uhhh... welll..


the interfaces mentioned above are some of the top of the line stuff.

check out the way less expensive MOTU interface.

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite/

I knew what they were doing. Thanks sabiang...I had my eye on the Motu Ultralite as well. The more research I do the better it looks.
itsplayed
11-05-2006, 08:43 PM
Sorry, but I wasn't trying to be cruel. Was or wasn't the inquiry...."I want to know what you guys think is the best soundcard?"
As I stated, If you give us an idea on what software you'll be running, what your Input/output needs are and what your budget is....we could better serve you. I'm all about being as helpful as I can be and not being cruel.....and just so your aware, that Motu unit won't be running ProTools!
sabianq
11-06-2006, 09:15 AM
your right, itsplayed, you were not being intentionally cruel, you were being truthful.
but isn't the truth sometimes cruel?

as for the protools thing, the motu wont run the HD version (Pro Tools HD uses there own type of PCI-X / PCIe cards)
but,

In April 2005, Digidesign released Pro Tools M-Powered which brought almost all Pro Tools LE functionality to a subset of M-Audio USB, Firewire and PCI interfaces.

"Pro Tools Free" was released as a free version of Pro Tools 5.x. It is limited to 8 audio tracks and 48 MIDI tracks. It will only run on Windows 98/ME and Mac OS 9. There was also "PowerMix" version of Pro Tools 3.4-4.3 that was able to run on Macintosh built-in audio.

you can go the the website and download a copy of it for free, but like it is stated above, it will only run an a windows 98 second edition system.

i would look at using a cake walk product like sonar home edition.

you will be way happier.
jmail
11-06-2006, 09:29 AM
The truth is never cruel... Just bare-naked at times, and rather embarrassing... The question is similar to "Who's the best guitarist?", which involves music genres & matters of personal opinion...
oretez
11-06-2006, 02:03 PM
"Pro Tools Free" was released as a free version of Pro Tools 5.x. It is limited to 8 audio tracks and 48 MIDI tracks. It will only run on Windows 98/ME and Mac OS 9. There was also "PowerMix" version of Pro Tools 3.4-4.3 that was able to run on Macintosh built-in audio.

you can go the the website and download a copy of it for free, but like it is stated above, it will only run an a windows 98 second edition system.



Unless there has been extensive code rewrite (not merely 'upgrade' or enhancement) PT-free needs to be viewed solely as 'demo' product for individuals looking to see if the 'logic' of PT can be a functional part of their process . . .

by itself it (in the past at least) failed entirely as a 'way station' (as opposed to advert) to more robust PT applications and with other nearly as inexpensive more robust options available it was never satisfying as a 'one and only' solution

any way you look at it, it was something of a marketing gaffe