Best soundcard for Ableton Live?

ikke · Post by **ikke** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:35 pm

Im looking for a new soundcard to use with Live. Which soundcard/driver is best for Live? I currently have an M-Audio Audiophile pci but it has too few inputs.
I want good stable drivers
quality inputs (at least 4 analog ins, 1x ADAT in and at least 4 analog outputs)
I prefer a pci connection
zero latency monitoring and low latency options for vst (64 samples)
The most important thing is that it has to operate very smooth with Live! The DIGI001 for example has good drivers, many ins but the AD/DAs are of a bad quality. The EMU 1820M has the perfect specs (quality converters and many ins) but the drivers seem to s*ck.
Ive been thinking of getting an RME PCI (digi96) and add quality AD/DAs later via ADAT and start with a the cheaper alternative, an Alesis AI3. Ive heared RME has the best ASIO drivers..

All help appreciated

minimal · Post by **minimal** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:50 pm

RME all the way

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:41 am

What he said.

RME.

Never regretted maxing out my credit card for one.
Never heard a bad comment from anyone.
Never had a problem at all.

Sounds amazing.
Is amazingly fast.
Simply awesome.

-Ben

Mike Goodwin · Post by **Mike Goodwin** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:18 am

RME

I cant belive that I am gong to type this,.... but it seems that I see this question on the forum about twice a month! DAM

I cant rely give you a hard time though as the search function on this forum is tragic.

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:09 am

3 RMEs in a row

Once u get one u just can't help but tell others bout how brilliant it is.

I've heard Echo Layla is comparable, with pre-amps.

-Ben

Sebastian · Post by **Sebastian** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 am

who nakes the RME?

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:32 am

RME does

http://www.rme-audio.com/

-Ben

djazz · Post by **djazz** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:16 am

I have saffire and it runs absolutely smooth and nice, live and in studio situation.

But it has 2analog in +2 digital in ... which is fun because I use it as a digital aux bus for my lexicon. Of couse you with anything like the lexicon that has AD converters I can make the saffire 4analog inputs.

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:55 am

Another stoked RME user here--it is worth it, spend some extra flow, it will last long and serve you well, and the sound is great. Given the current shift from pcmcia cardbus to the new "express card", you should go for the RME Fireface 400 or 800, not the multiface in order to assure connectivity into the future (apparently pcmcia is getting phased out, firewire should be around longer).

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:20 am

I'd say the motu traveler for stability (6 months with ZERO issues) but the pre's and word clock kinda suck compared to apogee and rme (although I've never done a side by side

)

Of course, those are more expensive.

Unless you want to use protools, I'd personally stay away from maudio or digidesign.

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:41 am

RME is definitely the best on the PC side, though the MOTU HD 192 users claim nice converters compared to othe MOTU gear.
Both are rock solid. I have an old 828 that just keeps on kicking, and the RME is just nice.

you're on a PC I assume if you're looking at the EMU stuff, if you were mac it would be simple. I wanted the dual ADATs of the Fireface 800, plus the 192khz ability, but the pres on this are supposed to be insane.

http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/products/mio/

SubQ · Post by **SubQ** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:56 pm

it's so nice to see all this for the RME... I feel so good, specially for the fact that when I bought it, some snob Pro tools friends at a studio were joking on me, like "you're spending your money on the wrong things", etc. They never knew a RME interface, poor guys... Smoke any Digi by far.

Have a multiface for years and it never caused any trouble.

There's no better marketing than a good product in the hands of good people.

ikke · Post by **ikke** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:57 pm

The Metric Halio is way too expensive. and the Fireface is too expensive too

Is Echo ok? Ive used a Gina 20bit some years ago and I was very pleased with the sound of the converters and the stable drivers. But the breakout box was poorly made.. the connections broke off.. and it had crackles and noise when a wire was connected.

Is it a good idea to work with ADAT only? Lets say I buy an RME with 2x ADAT in/out and connect an Alesis AI3 and an MPC4000 (and an Apogee later instead of the alesis .... or maybe 3x ADAT in/out). Im gonna have more digital pops, no? And maybe samplerate issues?
(I am not familiar with digital connections and clock)

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:08 pm

ikke wrote:The Metric Halio is way too expensive. and the Fireface is too expensive too
Is Echo ok?

I would go with MOTU over echo, personally I've had great luck with the MOTU.

What about the Fireface 400?

or the MOTU Ultralight?

frisbeedisk · Post by **frisbeedisk** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:25 pm

minimal wrote:RME all the way

I agree - RME

As i stroke my lovely new Fireface 400