I'm looking for an audio interface so I can work/monitor/mix with 24bit/96kz

your headphone amp has spdif etc ? 

otherwise you will introduce it.

the roland quadcapture is quite nice imo

If you don't do any recording with live mic's or guitars, there's no reason to shoot for 96kHz. UNLESS ... that is what the output of your synths and vst's is. If your synths and samples are only 48kHz/24bit, you'll gain nothing by using 96kHz/24bit.

There's a lot of good reason to record at 96kHz and higher if you are doing any kind of live work. Biggest reason is the higher your sample rate, the lower your latency. Essential for guitar work.

As for which interface ... it's hard to say. I think now is a bad time to buy an interface with Windows 8 right around the corner. If there's any problems with Windows 7 drivers, they may not get updated going forward, and if you are planning on using Windows 8, there may not be drivers available for it when the time comes to switch.

It's not a good time to upgrade or make a purchase right now in my opinion.

John


What do you expect to get with a 96 khz sample rate? Are your ears that good? Meaning you can hear frequencies beyond 20 khz? 

I don't know if my ears are that good. I figure that 96 khz is around for a reason, especially since people are paying for it.

Fog


your headphone amp has spdif etc ? 

otherwise you will introduce it.

As written: 
3) Connect audio interface spdif out to my DAC spdif in. 

mleghorn

I don't know if my ears are that good. I figure that 96 khz is around for a reason, especially since people are paying for it.

Working with 96kHz is advisable for the same reason that working with the highest resolution images possible in Photoshop is. While it's true that the finished product is going to be distributed and experienced in a much lower resolution, processing and mixing will be more accurate, especially if you're time-stretching or pitch-shifting. Why do photographers whose work is going to end up as a .jpg on the web process their photos at the highest possible resolution in RAW?

sharke

mleghorn

I don't know if my ears are that good. I figure that 96 khz is around for a reason, especially since people are paying for it.

Working with 96kHz is advisable for the same reason that working with the highest resolution images possible in Photoshop is. While it's true that the finished product is going to be distributed and experienced in a much lower resolution, processing and mixing will be more accurate, especially if you're time-stretching or pitch-shifting. Why do photographers whose work is going to end up as a .jpg on the web process their photos at the highest possible resolution in RAW?

And you got that from where?.


There is no analogy. It simply doesn't work that way. All high sample rates do is increase bandwidth.  

I'm currently using the generic USB audio out interface (with ASIO4ALL)

What exactly is that? USB is not an audio out, its a serial communications port. What do you have plugged into it? 

AT


If I'm reading right, you need a USB interface w/ SPdif out, capable of 24/96 out.  I imagine there are a ton of them, all the way from the Hilo Lynx (which you would want to use their headphone out, I imagine).  Browsing Sweetwater, the lowest priced spdif output interface I saw that I would trust was the Roland Quad Capture.  That is about a 10th of the Lynx price ($250).  There are plenty of choices inbetween.
Also, for the sake of the OP, lets not turn this one into a sample rate thread.  The man wants to work at 96 rate.
@

Yes, that's what I want. Thanks for the recommendation. 

  Tascam has a reputation for sub-par drivers. Also if you are looking to update to Win 8 when it comes out I would go with the Roland. They have been very reliable with new drivers.

USB connection from my computer to the DAC in my headphone amp. Sonar recognizes the driver for it. I think it's called "Generic USB Audio Out" (or something like that)

This sounds to me like the weak link in the chain. Get yourself a pro quality soundcard like an M-Audio or MOTU that have drivers meant for this kind of work. I don't really know much about this Headroom Desktop amp, but you're the first I've seen in this forum using one. 

Out of curiosity: do you mix with headphones? 

sharke


Out of curiosity: do you mix with headphones? 

Yes I do. It's not ideal. I've taken my CDs to other places to hear them on various systems. Bass is my main blind spot with my current setup. Having a good speaker system setup would be the remedy for that.

mleghorn

sharke


Out of curiosity: do you mix with headphones? 

Yes I do. It's not ideal. I've taken my CDs to other places to hear them on various systems. Bass is my main blind spot with my current setup. Having a good speaker system setup would be the remedy for that.

I have the same problem, in that I live in an apartment building in which I have to think of neighbors (loud music is one thing, quite another to have the same 4 bars on loop for 10 minutes at a time!). I do try and check mixes on speakers as often as possible, during the day if I have time. But it's quite possible to mix on headphones once you get to know them. I just wondered also if it's necessary to have audiophile listening requirements for doing mixes, particularly if they're going to end up being played on sub-audiophile equipment. I have a pair of Grado SR80's coming straight out of my M-Audio Fast Track and they're great, although I always have to make allowances for bass because they're relatively light in that area. Have you tried the Redline Monitor plugin for mixing on headphones? It's not a miracle worker, but I do find that it helps tremendously. My 60 day trial just ran out and I'm seriously considering buying it:  http://www.112db.com/redline/monitor/

I am so jealous!

Ever since I got my Delta 1010 I have had nothing but issues with the drivers....(Win 7 64 bit)

Now I cant work in anything other than 44.1 no matter what driver I use (no way I am going to re-install windows either).. Also I have that nasty M-Audio problem of random audio stopping and having to kill the windows audio service and restart it.

Also, it says on the site its a 64 bit driver but when you look at what processes are running you can clearly see that its running in 32bit.

I regret the day I ever got the blasted thing.

Rain

markyzno


DONT get anything thats M-Audio. They cant write drivers for Toffee.

M experience has been quite the opposite. I've worked w/ m-audio interfaces for over 12 years now (Delta and Fast Track, on PC and on Mac). In 12 years, I've had to roll back drivers ONCE for the Delta, in late 2004 I think. 


Just saying...