My bloated preamble: OK folks. I've had a good couple of months or so to poke around these forums, and I think I'm learning a few things from the collective -- there's some group-think but lots of good stuff too.

I keep learning about (or discovering) groovy microphone preamps that I think will fit the bill whenever I'm ready: perhaps RNP, or DAV BG1, or the Swedish two channel Line Audio...

Then maybe I could experiment with condenser microphones. But I sort of get an all or nothing message from the pro-audio specialists -- that you need to be at the industry standard, say Lavry ADDA or Apogee Rosetta ADDA to get good stuff. Another person piped in: Mytek is great and is used by mastering pros.

Of course Apogee has a nice $800 AD converer in the Mini Me, and there are some RME products too...


But this is what I want to know: is there a super duper ADDA that some dude has created, perhaps in a ma and pa outfit, an industry secret, an oasis...or am I dreaming.

I already have a Lavry Mini PRS that works well with dynamic mics. It could be used with condensers if I get phantom power, but it can't be used with line level inputs without opening the shiny box.

Any thoughts from folks out in internet-land would be appreciated.

My top end is the Crane Song HEDD. In all honesty, EMU could probably match it at a much lower price point if they wanted. EMU does a decent job in converter quality with its "m" series. The only box I can think of being cool for the price was the Kurzweil Rumour but that had to do with the quality of the converters and the quality of the reverbs.

The model they've listed in our local music store, Steve's Music...website:

EMU 1616M Mobile, at $599 CDN

Is this the price point where you get good stuff? Actually this would be brilliant perhaps as a mate for that Swedish dish, the two channel Line Audio -- but I suppose there's heaps of suggested add-ons like mic equalizers and compressors.

On the 1616m there's the cardbus version for laptops and the pci version for regular computers.

Here's some one eBay: http://search.ebay.com/1616m_W0QQfnuZ1QQfs...fsopZ3QQxpufuZx

Also, you should probably consider the Echo Audiofire 8. It's probably got more stable drivers.

Just an opinion, so take it for what it's worth...

Even budget convertor units of today (Presonus Firepod, for example) are far and above what were 'esoteric' brands just a few years ago...The Firepod (just as an example) is a much more advanced unit than any ADAT or DA88, yet how many superlative recordings/multi-platinum Grammy winners were done completely with ADATs? Quite a few...

I have and use the RME Fireface and a Tango 24 for all conversions, and get some pretty good results. Although ADDA is an important step, I think it is pretty far down the chain of importance...IMO investing into superior pres and mics, THEN getting into upscale convertors with good clocking is the key to building a successfull sounding shop.

That said, I use RMEs just because I have them and they work...when I get tired of them, Auroras are next, unless someone can sell me on the new SSL/Soundscape system (a definate possibility)....

You can work with RME with confidence....many top notch people (Ted Perlman, Husky Huskolds, et al) use RME, and get some pretty good sound.

Shoot...ADDA is one topic I've seen cause several fistfights and at least one shooting...tread lightly, and find the unit that is 1) in your price range; 2) causes the least amount of tradeoffs; 3) has a reputation for sound AND stable drivers; and 4) works with your system....

Don;t rule out an Alesis HD24XR either....the ones I've heard rank pretty close to the Radar Super Nyquist I have heard as well....

Good luck

Echo AudioFire 8 (PC, MAC

I like the above in the sense that it looks like it is focused mainly on AD and DA and not trying to be a kitchen sink.

I'm idealizing this thing...whoops it looks similar to the rest of the pack -- in that it has a pair of combo line-mic inputs. But you're saying the circuits are better than that EMU (from experience and/or what you've heard).


http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/FireWire...Fire8/index.php


My Montreal pro-shop audio owner has confirmed my impressions, that for non-commercial purposes, as in not making a CD or packaged music recording, my existing Lavry Mini-PRS shiny tin box is excellent, obviously purpose-built with one main application. But if I were to open up the Pandora's Box of multitracking, fastidious editing, he recommends just renting some gear when I need it, when I'm serious about a project.

Their view (or my paraphrasing of it) is that putting lots of personal money into the AD DA products is unwise, since there a shorter demand life for computer interface gear. He didn't say it, but my interpretation is that unless you're in the business, a $2000 ADDA is a bad investment. Strangely, they rent all sorts of Rosettas and (4 or 5 grand each) mic preamps, but the typical band (say Arcade Fire) rents a whole whack of gear at $10,000 to $20,000 a month, set it up in converted church they've bought, record the thing and return all that gear to the rental place when they are done. Also, with rental stuff the expense is totally chargeable to one project, so you don't get into so much gear acquisition agony.

OK conclusion: I sold on the idea of using mid-level boxes life the EMU or the Echo...I'm going to keep these suggestions in back burner -- perhaps in six months I'll act on it. But I must say I have a clearer idea of what I want to do.

Sound will be similar. Drivers will be better. There's also the PCI version which is the Echo Layla 3G.

When I got an EMU unit into evaluate I was stunned. It was like a magical step up over what had come before in that price range and it didn't take too long for some such as Echo to catch up.

BTW, on Ken's comments above, if you want stability, then nothing beats RME. Some of their stuff sounds pretty good too. But, they make you pay a premium for stability.

Which sounds better EMU or RME? or are they really close? It sounds like you're more impressed with EMU -- it should be really good with all that Creative R&D and Singapore money -- as in they might be doing more R & D than a ma and pa shop (fambly operation) would be able to do.

The top of the EMU line is the "m" series.

A comparable RME product costs two to three times as much.

The Echo stuff will be a lot closer to RME stability and sound as good as the EMU for the same price as the EMU.

Mucho thanks Steven -- I'll put this topic to bed until the day I impulsively buy the thing, or actually need it...I'm mainly going to stay put for another couple of weeks (I'm waiting for my groovy EV RE20s) and I need to see how those babies sound in their naked state.

A digital virgin's impressions of what to do changes over time. About a month ago I thought RME was manna from heaven. I still see it in good light, and nobody in forum-land says anything bad about, but obviously you need to buy a Rolex watch to tell accurate time -- at least half of the value perception is in the image, or marketing.

Both Echo and E-MU are priced well in the True North Strong and Free...I'll remember to pester the music store dudes about Echo.

Cheers.

The Konnekt 24D

Hate to be boring but is this unit well touted in this community? They don't have as wide distribution but theres a few joints that carry them.


http://www.tcelectronic.com/media/KonnektL...Cutsheet_UK.pdf


check it out: the one above is designed for the rigours of life on the road -- but it includes a bit of compression (to be applied sparingly, or tastefully

Weekend Update: In another forum I heard some more good things about Echo Product. (PS: I'll keep the name and model in my little black book for my next trip into the big city (the usual stuff: supplies for the still)).

Cognitive Dissonance: I've never used these units before so forgive me for asking what may sound to be a stupid question. The Echo Converter has two firewire (female) jacks. If your super-duper laptop, say an HP Pavillion dv9000 only has one firewire jack, I assume it's no big deal to switch the cable from one jack to another on the Echo unit? Perhaps the big impact is that if you're a rocker, you would need both circuits working at the same time, so you could hear what sounds you had previously recorded while laying down new tracks.

There's probably an add-on firewire jack I can get for my laptop --- but I should also say I've got four USB jacks, so there is some incentive to find a USB AD DA converter...

Resolution of this post: I ended getting a fairly basic little white box from this Danish Company, TC Electronics. The model is the Konnekt, and it is supposed to have good conversion circuits, and it has a cubase software...I'll let you know how it all turns out...apparently this company designs very good guitar pedals...as a future consideration this Viking sound card will go very well with the Swedish Line Audio two channel mic preamp, and that should close the file.