Is it time to give up on the Echo Layla 24/96?

I've been using this extremely versatile audio/midi interface for 15 years.  It has always performed well and I truly enjoy the 8 in/8 out analog and 8 in/ 8 out digital interface.  It uses a PCI interface card and frankly, finding motherboards with PCI slots is becoming difficult.  It's other limitation, at least for me, is the lack of "modern" preamps.  I don't do a lot of condenser mic recording, but when I do, I have to use an analog mixer for phantom power and pre's.  I wonder if it's finally time to move to a new interface.  I use an M-Audio Firewire interface for mobile recording.  It's great but limited to 2 ins and 2 outs.
 
So, what is the consensus?  Stick with the Echo, use the M-audio and swap cables every once in a while, or go with something new that has similar in/outs to the Layla?  I'm constrained by price (aren't we all...) so used gear is also an option.
 
Thanks all!
Dan

If it's still working on your system (which is pretty modern) there's no real reason to get rid of it. I have one and I keep it for my old system and/or if I want some extra channels. The ADAT/Optical in would allow you to connect an external pre amp unit (like a Focusrite Octopre) or another interface provided the extra unit has an optical out. Also the Layla has an optical out on to of the optical in so if you got a more modern interface that has an optical in (I'm not sure if the Fast Track has optical in) then you could use the Layla as the expansion unit and get some extra channels. Going either way ADAT/Optical connectors give you and extra 4 channels at 96khz or 8 extra channels at 48khz if the master unit has that many channels set aside for ADAT connections on top of it's regular inputs/outputs. For example my Focusrite 18i6 has 8 analogue inputs and an ADAT/optical in (no output though unfortunately). In theory if I connected the Layla up to the 18i6 I would all of a sudden have a 48khz 16 channel or 96khz 12 channel studio which is nice if I ever want to record a full band with a fully mic'd drum kit.
 
That doesn't take into account the extra spdif connector either.
 
What I don't understand is the Phantom Power issue. Mine has phantom power on the multi ins which is pretty standard for an interface. Does your not have this? The only interfaces I see with PP on all channels are rather costly. If that is what you are looking for though you can get a really nice Focusrite unit for under a grand which can be expanded to even more channels with an Octo pre.
 
Two other reasons I'm going to hang on to my Layla is the 18i6 only has two analogue outs for the monitors where as the Layla has 8. So if I want to run multiple outs to a board or something I can. The other reason is the resale value isn't very high. I paid over $500 for mine about 8 years ago and the most I see them selling for now is about $200. Usually less. Not nearly enough money to warrant losing all that extra functionality.
 
There are still MOBOs on the market with PCI but you have to make sure that the legacy PCI slot is Native not Bridged support otherwise the data is being handled by the PCIe chipset which can choke things up... which is why I ended up buying a new interface.
 
Cheers.

bruckner2
idk if you know but Echo Audio made a PCI-X replacement card for a while. they don't make them any more (i called recently and confirmed this) but you might find 1 on ebay??
 
also there's always stand alone phantom power units http://www.amazon.com/ART-PHANTOMIIPRO-Phantom-II-Pro/dp/B003S7LTI4 

I had been wondering about that. Thanks. Maybe they could pressured into releasing a PCIe card. The breakout box is fine. It's just the card connections that are getting outdated.

aleef
yeah it sucks that PCI is getting phased out. The 24/96's are solid work-horses. There is hope! if the Layla is still going strong, Asus and Gigabyte still have 2011 X79 MB's with 1 pci slot. Go ahead and get a mid/pro level preamp first man!! all you need is just one good signal chain. outboard control will always be better than software control.

I bought a high end ASUS MOBO because it had a PCI slot. Unfortunately I was not aware of the bridge issue when I did. Still a very nice board and I can hook up pretty much anything imaginable but that one little thing reduced the stability of my Layla. Ticks me off because I really did try to do my homework when choosing the board.
 
It still works after some system tweaks but if I push it too hard it craps out. :-/

Thank you everyone for your replies.  You've given me a lot to think about.  I'm leaning to leaving the Layla in place and if/when I need to record microphones, I'll switch over to the M-Audio in ASIO settings in Sonar.  Now, I need to figure out if my MB uses bridged PCI or not.  And the eBay search for the PCI-X interface card is about to begin!
 
Again Thanks,
Dan

Beepster

aleef
yeah it sucks that PCI is getting phased out. The 24/96's are solid work-horses. There is hope! if the Layla is still going strong, Asus and Gigabyte still have 2011 X79 MB's with 1 pci slot. Go ahead and get a mid/pro level preamp first man!! all you need is just one good signal chain. outboard control will always be better than software control.

I bought a high end ASUS MOBO because it had a PCI slot. Unfortunately I was not aware of the bridge issue when I did. Still a very nice board and I can hook up pretty much anything imaginable but that one little thing reduced the stability of my Layla. Ticks me off because I really did try to do my homework when choosing the board.
 
It still works after some system tweaks but if I push it too hard it craps out. :-/

Beep in this day in time, you should not be  crappin out. Why are you pushing it?? even the hardest of rock has a unwritten rule.

I would not drop an audio interface because of a lack of modern features.
If it's performing well, keep it - just ad a dedicated pre-amp or two to your setup.

Cookie Jarvis
I run an Echo Layla 3G here and it works great! I too built my own machine with an ASUS MB but have never had any problems with the soundcard. The only problem I have is knowing at some point I will replace the Layla and I don't see any viable alternatives other than maybe Rednet which will be very costly. Nobody is making PCI or even many PCIx interfaces any more, Firewire is becoming extinct, and USB is nothing I would ever consider....I still have a Pentium 3 450mhz running Linux...but it's a scsi 3 system. It seems whenever there is an excellent protocol it will be replaced with something cheaper with less functionality ;)
 
Bill

If you intend to run it on the same system and are only concerned the Layla itself might gack out you can pick up PCI 3Gs on Ebay for peanuts these days. If your current breakout box is still good then you could daisy chain them. If it's just the box or card conking out seems quite a few people are selling either component separately. I would mind picking up an extra box because with some maintenance my old system would be fine for tracking.
 
On a new system PCIe should be even better than PCI and quite a few companies offer them.

About Firewire :)
 
Its far from over !...The following PCIe-to-FireWire 800 adapter cards are qualified for use with Apollo and UAD-2 Satellite on Windows 7 64-bit systems.
 
Till Thunderbolt !

My Echo Gina3g works beautifully with my hardware listed below in my signature.

I believe RME and Lynx...two top end companies still make PCI card interfaces.  Also the custom builders (that frequent this site) use motherboards with PCI slots in them, with current processors, etc.
 
I was just looking at Echo's site today, as I own a 3G (after a Gina and two Layla20) and want to upgrade my setup all around and am trying to decide if the 3G is in the game plan.  Should StudioCat or ADK makes a custom build, then, my question is answered, as mentioned their motherboards have at least one PCI slot.
 
I've only read a lot about Echo products, since I've owned their products, but have nothing to compare with.  But reading I've always got the impression their drivers are top notch and the audio quality is equal to stuff costing twice.   But admittedly, wondering if the RME Hammerfall stuff would really make a difference.
 
Btw I NEVER use the preamps on any of my Echo stuff, and actually wish my 3G didn't have input 1/2 on the front with those cheesy knobs.  I've tried the preamps with some mics like a Beyer M160, and they didn't have enough gain to cut it with that mic. That and other reasons lead me to believe outboard pres will ultimately get the best sound and choices.  A good quality hardware chain into a decent card seems to be the route.
 
Then there's the Dangerous D summing box coming out of the computer.........
 

Is that different than the Layla3G? That's what I have with a very good Asus MB P8Z77 and it's rock solid. MB can take 32 GB Ram, which I have. etc.
 
But I don't use the mic pres so I guess that's a good thing.I picked up a Warm Audio WA12 Mic Pre (actually from some advice here and it's nice. I'll be keeping the Layla3G for a while-just built this PC a few months ago-couldn't be happier.

Hi for all,

Today, installed windows 7 ultimate 64 bit , and apparently seemed okay happened, but I can not release the sound, I get an error "the device is being used by another application please close any devices que are playing audio" ...
I've tried all possible and visible solutions in all forums that thought , and nothing worked .
You think the hardware of my computer to be incompatible with Layla ?

For the record , I am Brazilian and here in Brazil is very expensive to buy a current board

Thanks for listening

I still use a Layla 24 with a Focusrite Octopre and a second Layla with a  PreSonus DigiMax D8!  Both work great 16 channels!. But I also have a Millennia HV-3D running into a Layla 24!  
 
Max Arwood
 

Yes - this sounds like the Windows Default audio Device is set to use the audio interface, and SOME application (or even Windows) is using it right now, or just has it tied up, and Sonar cannot get at it.
 
For MY preferences, I NEVER let anything but Sonar or stand-alone music programs like Dim Pro and such point to using my audio interface.
 
For MY situation, I have a 2nd set of speakers available, and set the Windows Default Audio Device to go to THAT set of speakers (actually they are in the HDTV I use as my computer monitor, and my HDMI cable send both video and audio to the TV).
 
I NEVER have any problems with things conflicting with my ASIO drivers for my audio interface, by running as I do as listed above.
 
Bob Bone