I currently have an m-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI card.
It does a job but I fear that I could get better results with better quality converters and a more accurate sample clock.

I would prefer a PCI card over anything else because of the bandwidth but I do have a TI Firewire controller so I won't rule out firewire.

I currently output from the 2496 on unbalanced RCA to a consumer amplifier and would wish to continue this arrangement ie monitor via consumer amplifier.

Currently I can only connect 1 stereo analogue input to my 2496 at a time ( and tbh I don't mind working htis way) and do this via a Yamaha MG-10/2 analogue mixer which also serves as a pre-amp for (very rarely used) Mic input, so pre-amps are not a priority.

My priority is better quality converters, accuracy of sample clock, ease of incorporation into my current home setup, reduced CPU load (if possible), and cost!!

I am looking at the E-MU 1616M but have heard horror stories about compatiblility and notice it has balanced TRS 1/4" Outs.

I am looking at a couple of FW solutions: the RME FF400 for one and the DIgiface2 + PCI card. Both these have the 1/4"TRS balanced line outputs too which possibly presents me with a problem.

My budget is realistically c. £300 GBP pounds sterling but might stretch to £500
This budget rules out Lynx and Apogee and certain other high end cards.

My comp specs are AsusP5W DH Deluxe, E6600Conroe, 2048Mb DDR2 Samsung RAM, XP Pro SP2 is the O/S and not likely to move to Vista for a while yet (but haven't ruled it out).

I use SONAR 6.2.1 rewired with Reason 3.0.3 mostly for electronica/dance using both external hardware sound sources via MIDI and soft synths.

I already have a Motu MTPAV USB which could be used as a MIDI interface and clock source if required but would anticipate the audio interface to also have MIDI onboard but if I have to sacrifice the MIDI to gain the most accurate converters, then so be it, provided I can keep everything synced OK.

What say you?

The Audiophile 2496 was fairly well regarded in it's day but obviously you can get better. However, I'm not sure you would notice much difference if you are still recording things through your little Yamaha mixer. This is probably the weakest link, especially for recording microphones. I presume you are mostly recording hardware synths.

Maybe you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone and still keep your Audiophile. A pre-amp/DI/line-in type device with built in converters could replace your desk and may well have better converters than the audiophile. You would connect the devices digital output to the S/PDIF in of the Audiophile.

Devices like this include the aphex 207D, DBX386, art DPS II, or the focusrite platinums (with digi card option).

This is just one way to go. There are many other options (including a brand new interface) but this would be quite easy, means you can keep the Audiophile and get rid of the Yammy.

Regards

ROB

Quote abba_x:

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I presume you are mostly recording hardware synths.

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The Yamaha is only really used if I record my trusty old JP8080 or sample a pad off my ancient D50 or if anyone brings round a lump of hardware. Very very seldomly it is used to record vocals (eeeek!!) which are subsequently heavily processed anyway.
Most of my music is created using VSTi soft synths these days but I am looking for the highest accuracy when rendering these to 24bit audio to be honest. I don't think the 2496 is giving me that after having heard Apogees at work in a pro studio I visited recently.

I presume by 'rendering' you mean an internal 'bounce to disk' / 'export audio mixdown' type of process. If this is so then the sound card makes absolutely no difference to this process and to the quality of the rendered file. It is simply a mathematical operation that goes on within the internals of the computer.

The soundcard would only make a difference if you were literally playing back the track and then recording it either back into the pc (doesn't really make sense) or to another device. If this were the case then again using digital connections would be advised if possible to avoid any conversion.

Regards

ROB

as said before, a new interface won't make any difference to your recordings, since you do everything internaly. the only advantage it would give you is to be able to hear more accurately what you're doing especially in the bottom end (that's where apogee's come in). That wont happen anyway thru an unbalanced rca out to hifi amp... My advice? Get a UAD-1 or a Focusrite liquid mix to have decent eq and compression (the lm being the best choice in terms of what you get for no extra cost)... Then give your digital masters to a pro studio for mastering and for that "expensive" sound (or get your label to do that for you)...

Or you could get a set of proper active monitors...

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