Looking for a card like this...

[Neur0]

Hi

Im currently using a sb live! platinum 5.1, but after being in several bands over the last 10 years as a vocalist, i want to start and do some recording myself.
What im looking for is a card with atleast 4 inputs. The thing is that im going to be recording a demo for a friend's coverband and the thing that worries me the most are the drums. All i have to go by now is plugging all the mics into my spirit folio and premix the lott before recording it on to 1 track. So what i really need (besides the fact i need another card anyway) is a card that lets me plug in several mics so i can split the drumset into a couple of tracks when recording. My budget is around 300 euro's (same as dollars really).
What would you guys do is my question. Im using samplitude 7 btw.
Thanks.

[Alan]

Either the Echo Mia($200.00 US) or M-Audio Delta 410 or 44/66 should fill the bill.

[Neur0]

Thanks, i like the looks of that m-audio 66

but it sais: System Requirements (PC):
• Windows 95, 98,NT, 2000 or ME

does that mean it wont run under xp ?

[MAMF]

They said the same thing when I bought my M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 but they had XP drivers on their website. Probably the same for the Delta 66 - check the website first.

Also bear in mind that you will still need mic preamps for your drumkits, which the Delta doesn't have.

[This message has been edited by MAMF (edited 04-30-2003).]

[Neur0]

Does this mean all mics, or just the ones using phantom power ? (pardon my newness)

i have a spirit folio F14, anything i stick in there can only come out as a mix, or am i mistaken ?

[mbbda]

You can use the pre's on your mixer. Take a lead from each channel on your mixer (the ones your using of course) from "direct out" to a channel on the delta 66. That way you can record at least 4 mic's on individual tracks http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif

Brett\

[Neur0]

K, ill need to find out how tho http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif
Ive never seen the delta 66 in real life, but the specs say it has 6 in's, but the breakout box only has 4, what about the other 2 then ?

[mbbda]

I think it is 4 analogue and 2 digital

[Neur0]

right i see...
Since i dont really need digital in's i may as well go for the delta 44. Another Q, should i keep my live! along side of it ? since i couldnt detect any normal outs other stuff...

[wogg]

I used by delta 44 with a SB live in the system with little trouble (at least no more trouble than there was with the SB by itself). I did get rid of the SB when I went to a nForce2 platform though. The on-board audio on my Asus A7N8X was better.

Also, the XP/2000 drivers for the delta44 are rock solid.

[Neur0]

Thanks, so if i get it straight you do need another card next to your delta 44...

[Matthew Skinner]

Have a look at the www.staudio.com (http://www.staudio.com) cport. 8 inputs which use the same converters as the delta 44 and 66. When you look at the quality/features and price of the cport you'll see why so many people purcahse them around the world.
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=33&releaseid=10207&magazinearticleid=149023&siteid=15

[Neur0]

Looks nice indeed, but 700 dollars is a bit more then i have to spend on a card right now, even though its much more then just a card. Besides, the Delta 44 is extendable with the omni/io box, so if i buy the Delta 44 i wont be limited to its current capabilities forever. Thanks for the tip tho.

[mbbda]

The reason you might want to use another card with the delta is because the delta doesn't have midi, it's an audio only card.
If your using the midi capabilities of your sb live or even soundfonts then running both cards could be a benefit. Although depending on the software your using you can use soft synths to do the same thing.
If 4 in/outs is enough then I think the delta 44 is a good choise.

[XenosoniK]

the C-Port usually sells for $399.

-Xeno

[MAMF]

Neur0,

Yes, you need preamps for all mics. If you have phamtom power mics you need preamps that come with phamtom power. I don't know the details of the Spirit Folio F14, but unless it has more than 1 set of outputs, you won't be able to record your drums to individual tracks on your computer. If you use the inputs on your mixer (1 for each drum/cymbal) you need the same number of outputs from your mixer to feed into the Delta for recording. Otherwise, everything will become mixed together and fed into the delta on only 2 channels. Make sure you understand the routing possibilites and limitations before you buy: I almost made the wrong choice and got a mixer that wouldn't allow alternate routing for simutaneous recording and monitoring (i.e. for vocals), but doing my research allowed me to make the right decision.

Good luck!

[Neur0]

Right, in another thread i said i was gonna get the Delta 44, but im now giving serious thought to the C-Port. I asume there are good XP drivers for it these days ?

[jrr]

There have been excellent WDM drivers for the STAudio DSP24 cards for ages - supporting both ASIO, WDM Kernal Streaming and GSIF.

I've been running XP with my C-Port and Media 7.1 for a long time now.

jr

[Neur0]

Glad to hear it, cause i ordered one http://www.audioforums.com/forums/wink.gif