Audio performance : Sonic Core PCI V.5 and OTHERSSSS ???

[maxmaxmax]

Today
There are many manufacturers of sound cards: RME,APOGEE,MOTU,etc...
This presents written "hardware specific" with a sounds better than sonic core pci v.5

Digital > Analog --- Analog > Digital ::: Dynamic range ::: 24bit/96khz --16bit/44.100Khz



you have really listened the difference with other sound cards ??

IN MIX and MASTERING :::
differences? , impressions? , quality ?

[Warp69]

Well, it depends on your standards and medium.

The AD/DA's are nowhere near mastering quality - but I don't think SC claims they have mastering AD/DA's.

In mix situation - that depends on your workflow. They're not good enough for me since I have a lot of outboard and have several roundtrips through the converters.

The A/D section have effective 16bit resolution.

But if everyone converts to 192kbit/s MP3, well...................

[maxmaxmax]

I would create a "studio of mastering.
...and I want to buy, another sound card for this work!
I Look at the features of SC (100db)...and I don't think of continue with this !!
....I was in love with this system !!
Beautiful platform (mixer, fx, synths, etc. ..) but the quality for the mastering, today, must be much more high.

U ? ...What do you think?


I try, also, a "hardware list" for my new studio of mastering (Converters,Compressors,Eq.,etc ...)

[Warp69]

I would create a "studio of mastering.
...and I want to buy, another sound card for this work!
I Look at the features of SC (100db)...and I don't think of continue with this !!
....I was in love with this system !!

Why don't you keep the Scope card and just buy an AD/DA converter? You can connect the converter and Scope through the ADAT interface.

Maybe I have another definition of mastering, but I don't think you can find a sound card for mastering - they don't exist. You'll have to use dedicated converters.

You already know this, but mastering is way more than $6,000 converters and EQ's.

[maxmaxmax]

I use an "Ultra A16" In & Out ADAT...What do you think of this?
or
better if, I purchase another type of converter? (apogee,lynx,etc..)

there is much difference of "Dynamic range" between ultra A16 and others (apogee, lynx, etc. ..)
What do you think?


Thx
Warp69

[Warp69]

First of all, there's only one way to determine if something will improve your sound - you'll have to try the units on your own material (most distributor will let you borrow units for testing).

Second, it's impossible for me to know if a better converter will improve your sound, but yes - apogee and lynx converters are better (apogee converters have a specific sound, tho). Would it matter in an untreated room with half decent speakers? Nope.

I can conclude that you want to improve your sound, but are you sure that the culprit is the converters? What else do you use?

Are we talking about mix setups or mastering?

[dawman]

If you have the greens the Aurora 16-VT w/ the the LT-ADAT expansion is a good start...
You would connect w/ the ADAT outputs of the Scope card, then the Aurora can use it's Variable Analog Trim Pots with their wide Gain stage, and the AES/EBU connectivity will allow superior hardware Reverbs too. The Analog can carry mic pre signals, other hardware effects like compressors etc.
But unless you are doing a Major Motion Picture, you already have a great mixing enviromnet, and a semi-pro mastering set up. Maybe route in some external hardware reverb and you'll be fine.
A decent Reverb w/ ADAT I/O's is the Alesis Q20, and also TC Electronics has a couple of nice verbs w/ ADAT I/O's.
If you have AES/EBU I/O's there are plenty of more expensive models.

Hey Warp69, how did you like the Ursa model from Seven Woods..?
I heard it at NAMM but it was connected to a Modular Synth rack which was really cool, but I never use verb on an analog synth and it sounded weird to me.

[Warp69]

Hey Warp69, how did you like the Ursa model from Seven Woods..?
I heard it at NAMM but it was connected to a Modular Synth rack which was really cool, but I never use verb on an analog synth and it sounded weird to me.

Well, to be honest.......... I haven't tested it yet

[maxmaxmax]

Thx WARP69
Thx XITE-1/4LIVE


hence,
I should buy "only" a converter (Lynx Aurora)and do not change the sound card (SC)?

with the monitors "PMC TB-2S" , where I do the connect for get with these,the linearity? ... directly to the output of the converter?

[the19thbear]

Before buying a converter look at this!http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-sho ... a8000.html

In a blind test, more people preffered the behringer ada8000 than the lynx converters!!

[dawman]

..The ADA8000 is a good deal for sure, I still have one. I used it with the old Creamware A8.
Those guys are always doing silly mp3 wars and even an crappy IR's vrs. Lexicon PCM's or Bricasti. mp3's are just plain bad for your ears, and I believe those guys over there are mush-heads.
Think about it, you mix with a sequencer all day in the box and then dump it down to iPod or mp3......then all day long tell yourself how good the SM57 sounds with the Mackie Mixer Mic Pre..
Those guys are shot.

[maxmaxmax]

instead of "A16 Ultra,Lynx Aurora,Labry Blu,Mytek,Apogee Rosetta,Benchmark Media ADC-1"
The favorite is "behringer ada8000" ???????

....seems incredible!!!, that the tests suggest as the best is choice behringer !!!

confused...confused...confused...HELP MEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!

[Fluxpod]

Less smileys more info.

What do you want to do?

[netguyjoel]

I have (2) ADA8000s, and for routing hardware synths..they work just great. I am currently looking into another mic pre for vocals & instruments, to be used with good condenser mics.

[garyb]

as mentioned earlier, fix the room first, otherwise you'll never hear the difference.

the A16 is good enough for all but the most demanding work at the highest spec. there's not that much of that work being done. most don't even know what good gear is, or what it does, or why and when to use it, so i'm not surprised that the Behringer won the contest, it works and it's cheap. for material that will never be listened to on anything other than an mp3 player, no more is needed....if my budget only allowed an ADA8000, i'd know that the converter wouldn't be the reason the song, performance or the music sucked. i'd prefer the A16, if budget allowed. if the sky was the limit for my budget, i'm sure i'd buy something in the $6-10,000 range, why not?

[siriusbliss]

Since I do everything front-to-back in Scope now, then all I can say is, that I recently got lucky doing a 'raw' master here in my studio, and when I sent it to a mastering-engineer friend at A&M, she said that it sounded very close to release-ready - and I'm NO WAY a mastering engineer.

I think it definitely helps to have good converters, but without a good room and some time spent listening to the mix, then I'm afraid that it can head into a downward spiral.

Recent interview with Bob Katz in RECORDING magazine - he mentions the value of the room, and keeping things simple.

Greg

[netguyjoel]

Which restates what I said. ADA8000 works for some things and not so well for others.

[maxmaxmax]

however ...
I Believe that "ADA8000 is a bargain for its price ... but, honestly, I think, that the difference in price so high on "apogee,lynx,mytek,etc.." justifies the quality in many factors! (Dynamic range,A/D - D/A 192KHZ,Dither in Class A,connects,etc..).
I search some testing between "A16 and Apogge or Lynx".
I'm thinking to buy: "Apogee Rosetta 800 or Lynx Aurora 8" ... if I change the "A16 ultra" ??!!
-----------------------------------
***Attention to all friends of the forum : " find the specifications of the four converters (A16 Ultra, Apogee Rosetta 800, Lynx Aurora 8, ADA 8000) and we publish this ... so, finally, no one can start a new thread with this converters ... I think it's useful to all! "

[garyb]

the main thing you'll gain in going from the A16 to the Lynx or Apogee is a slightly lower noisefloor. i doubt that it will be the difference in the quality of your mixes, but if you have the money, there's certainly no reason not to upgrade.

[Fluxpod]

If you upgrade go with the lynx 8-16 and the adat card.I wouldnt buy the behringer unit.It sounds ok but there is a power supply fault that can render the unit useless after some time.It doesnt happen all the time but often enought.I am still not so sure what you want to archieve but if you just want to replace the a16 which isnt bad imo then go with lynx but be prepared to spend a lot of cash.If you need a good 2 ch da or ad or both, look at the lavry black/blue.