Best Audio Interface for 8-Channel Input Recording

ORIGINAL: dwhite

I've been using Cakewalk Sonar since Pro Audio 9. I've used the software by creating many MIDI tracks and recording my audio tracks one at a time (e.g. vocals, acoustic guitar, saxophone, etc.).

I have a jazz band that I want to record in my basement studio, but obviously my older Echo Audio Darla-24 is not good enough to record an entire band. The Darla-24 only has 2 inputs and I need to preserve separate audio tracks to do a proper mix of the band. Therefore, I'm looking to buy a new audio interface and I need advice on what to buy.

I need a minimum of 8 simultaneous input channels (keys, bass, sax, gtr, kick, snare, toms, overhead). Does it matter whether I use Firewire (IEEE) or PCI? Hard-disk space is going to be eaten-up quickly therefore I should probably buy a dedicated audio hard drive. Does it make a difference in terms of latency or performance whether or not the drive is external (through USB) or internal?

Please give me audio setup recommendations. I've had no problems with Echo Audio, therefore I'm inclined to use them. I see many recommendations for MOTU products. However, I've also heard their products are only good for Macs and the Windows drivers are terrible.

Thanks...

Dave White

There are a lot of folks that use the M-Audio Delta 1010 and seem to have good luck with it in Sonar. I'm sure the Echo would be good also, e-mail them and see if they have done any testing with Sonar with the new ones. The RME Fireface is the best firewire one but $$$$. The Presonus Firepod sounds great but has two major flaws, no software mixer for monitoring and doesn't autoswtich sample rates like a normal sound card. Some folks are having good luck with the Mackie 400f but some have a few problems, it's kinda new and some bugs might take a while to find and fix. Some folks like the MOTUs some don't, maybe a few will pipe in.

ESI MaXiO XD (1600$) Audio/Midi Rack Unit with PC Interface.










This ESI 'system' is equipped with the best converters available from AKM, and the RMAA results just seems excellent.

Specifications - EX8000;
- High quality 24bit 192kHz ADC; 123dB Dynamic range
- High quality 24bit 192kHz DAC; 120dB Dynamic range
- E.D.I connector
- Ultra low noise MIC pre-amp
- Sample rate : 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
- +48V Phantom Power supply
- 10 step LED Peak meter (for every channel)
- Analog Input: 8 XLR (Combo) Connector(+4dBu/-10dBV)
- Insert : 8x1/4" Phone jack
- Analog Output: 8x TRS/XLR bal connector(+4dBu/-10dBV)
- Headphone Amplifier
- 8ch Digital I/O: AES/EBU & Coaxial support upto 24-bit/192kHz
- ADAT I/O, S/MUX, Word Clock Input via BNC connector

- PCI host Card;
- 32bit PCI Interface : PCI Bus-Mastering support
- Full Duplex - Simultaneous Record/Playback
- 32ch In/32ch Out, 24bit 192kHz Audio Stream I/O
- 4 Port E.D.I connectors and 1 port M.D.I connector
- Hardware Input monitoring
- 192kHz SPDI/F Coaxial Digital I/O
- 1In/1Out, 16 channel MIDI
- PCI slot compatibility - designed to suit for +3.3V and/or +5V PCI slot
- supports EWDM driver: MME/WDM, DirectSound, ASIO 2.0, GSIF 2.0
- Windows®XP/2000 compatible


More information can be found from MaXIOXD.COM.


In low-price category, Hercules 16/12 FW has least lot of functionality and properties included.




Reviews:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb05/articles/hercules1612fw.htm
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/02/10/hercules_16/index.html


Junski

There are a lot of good potential choices.
Each having relative strengths/weaknesses.

These all work well
- Emu1820m
- M-Audio Firewire 1814
- Echo Layla 3G
- RME - Anything

If attaining 1.5ms latency isn't the largest factor in your decision, the Emu 1820m's fidelity is really hard to beat (120dB dynamic range).
RME, Echo, and M-Audio are all rock-solid and roughly equal to each other (fidelity wise - meaning A/D D/A).
The Firewire 1814 is portable... works well with Sonar... and allows you to also run M-Powered ProTools.

You really can't make a bad decision with any of the above.
I'd focus on the features/connections/etc that will best fit your specific scenario.
(Make a list of things you must have... things you want to have... etc)

NO Echo, the older stuff they made was great, i am not fond of the new at all.

Echo is a particularly bad choice if using an A8V Deluxe mobo... ;-)
As in... it won't work.

Otherwise, I've had good luck with them.

Hi there,
I've used a DSP24 from ST audio / Hoontech for many years with few problems if any. It's cheap as chips, too with a 8in and 8out breakout. They've subsequently released a full on XLR breakout box. It's worth a look although some people have had problems I've found it to be Sonar friendly.
Oddly,
Oddboy

I've also heard a rumor that the firepod and it's sample rate switching problems are SONAR specific. There seems to be people using that unit with other apps that have no problem switching rates on the fly. Even someone here has reported sucessful sample rate switching on the fly. In fact, I've had trouble switching sample rates on the fly with the FF800, FWIW.

Can anyone say Lynx or Sydek? Both fine cards. EMU quality? whatever................................

Using a MOTU Traveler with WDM drivers and is running fine with no glitches, low latency, ultra-quiet. Best Interface I've used so far. I have a decent SIIG II firewire card as well. Once installed and configured, I was good to go. I can pay attention to the music!!

the m-audio delta 1010 is rock solid if you are looking to go PCI

Why not firewire?

Save some money, get a presonus Firepod. You can record 8 channels at a time. If you dont change sample rates, then it works. O only use 44,100 so, hey, I am happy. I have multiple outs and canhave plenty of Monitor Mixes or head phone mixes as well from withing Sonar. I use the thee isa Cue mix section jsut for a head phome amp.

Musician friends on-line has a nice deal going on. ~~> Firepod with Free item Buy a Firepod and get a Free Maxrack Product of your choice! (TUBEPre, Comp16, EQ3B, HP4)







It's agreat product and not too expensive.

Ohhey, I know you are secretly using the firepod

Peace

I have a MOTU 896 Firewire Interface on ebay right now. I used it flawlessly with Sonar for over 2 years.

ORIGINAL: jcschild

NO Echo, the older stuff they made was great, i am not fond of the new at all.

The old Echo Layla 24/96 was as good as it gets, and I still think it's possibly the best card on the market today. Funny it's gotta be 5 years old by now. Why they messed with a great design I'll never know. Anyway, dwhite, you can probably get yourself a Layla 24/96 on ebay for around $300.

Delta 1010 has worked great for me for over 5 years without a hickup. IMO, any investment into higher quality converters is wasted money. The Delta's are already ridiculously accurate. You can spend over $10K and still not get a 1% improvement in accuracy of reproduction, and any miniscule improvements realised would be negated by human hearing limitations.

2nd it state an EIN of 135.5! thats uh 5.9db better than the theoretical limit!

Nerdy nitpick alert.... that's 5.9dB worse than the 144dB theoretical 24bit limit. So it's not impossible... just improbable