Creative Professional E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 - Sound card - 24-bit - 192 kHz - 112 dB SNR - stereo - Hi-Speed USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this device to complement my very nice HD595 headphones but like one of the previous reviewers mentioned I received a whole lot of crackles and pops. I did some research and concluded that it was my Dell Laptops high DPC latency that was really responsible for the poor output and as a result I am now using it with my desktop.
With my desktop I get clear highs, a punchy bass and a crispness that has brought a big smile to my face :).

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The E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 Audio Interface is the ultimate portable USB audio interface for PC Offering pristine 24-bit/192kHz recording and playback and direct monitoring, the Emu 0202 is able to give you a host of professional features in a compact, USB bus-powered package. The 0202 USB sets a new standard in portable USB audio, providing users with two Class-A preamps that can be run independently or in stereo to amplify guitars, keyboards or microphones, with individual ground lift switches for optimal audio performance. What is included E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 AudioPod USB cable E-MU Software/Manual CD-ROM with: Windows XP, x64 and Mac Drivers Owner's Manual and Tutorials Quick Start installation guide E-MU 0202 Features Premium 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters (A/D: 113dB SNR, D/A: 112dB SNR) deliver unmatched USB audio fidelity - gold-plated connectors for pristine audio quality Ultra-low noise Mic/Hi-Z/Line preamplifiers enable you to plug microphones, keyboards and guitars straight into your computer with professional results (XLR, 1/4 inch TRS, and 1/8 inch) Ultra-low latency USB 2.0 drivers offer accurate timing and playback of your recorded audio and software instruments Hardware zero-latency direct monitoring (mono/stereo) allows you to record and overdub with no annoying delay Plug-and-play operation with hands-on control of all major functions like direct monitoring level, headphone level, preamplifier gain and more Compatibility with most popular audio/sequencer applications - ASIO2 and WDM drivers I/O Configuration Class-A Ultra-low Noise Mic/Hi-Z/Line Preamp XLR, 1/4 inch TRS and 1/8 inch* Inputs (113dB SNR) Class-A Hi-Z/Line Preamp 1/4 inch Input (113dB SNR) Two 1/4 inch Outputs (112dB SNR)

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M-Audio FireWire 410 4-In / 10-Out FireWire Mobile Recording Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this soundcard and have been wrestling with the drivers non-stop for two months... nothing seems to work. Crackles and a high level of whitenoise in the background.
Tech Support responds very courteously and quickly, however, their advice is to reinstall the drivers... Gee who would have thought of that. I've only done that about 100 times... Sometimes the meters on the driver interface are dancing wildly when no sound is going through it... Sometimes when I reinstall the meters behave normally. That's the only thing "fixed" by reinstalling - however the fix is always temporary...
I get the impression that the tech support knows that there are some problems with the driver and with the unit. Hot swapping has blown a lot of firewire boards - including mine (replaced it and now I never hotswap).
I have had nothing but problems - my ipod's system software is trashed if ever I plug it into the firewire port beside the 410. It took me three times to realize that the problem was the 410 not the iPod. This was just salt in the wound... Solution from Tech support - "don't plug an Ipod OR ANYTHING ELSE into the firewire port if the 410 is plugged in also. But, whatever you do, don't hot swap the 410 or it could blow your board!" Thanks a lot. So I have to shutdown. Unplug the 410, plug in the iPod and restart just to sync my iPod... so much for the convenience of firewire.
Tested the 410 in my powerbook in an attempt to isolate the problem... bad idea. Now my once rock solid powerbook doesn't recognize the firewire card and the wireless PC card would not talk to the airport base station. Solution: reset basestation, clean reinstall system software to reinstall drivers for the PC cards (native to OS 10.3). Thanks alot.
I have read reports of people having problems with this unit. It only seemed like a fraction. I hoped I wouldn't be one. I am.
If I had a G5 that was dedicated to music, I bet I could get this soundcard to work great. But, unfortunately, I have a G4 (maxed out with RAM and the hottest processor I can put in it). And I use it for writing, photos, video, games AND music.
For any mac user who is not making a dedicated music work station, I would highly recommend that you steer well clear of the 410 and of M-audio products just to be safe. There are other options out there that don't have the same problems.

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M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is TRULY an audiophile 2-channel card. I purchased it to transfer some music on vinyl to digital format from a high-end turntable, and it has done that remarkably well. Another pleasant surprise is the quality of playback on the computer - the subwoofer really 'came to life'. Even my 128k i-tunes stuff sounds TOTALLY different even on my [high-end] computer speakers.
That being said, here's some tips:
1) Get & install latest drivers for your OS from the M-Audio website before doing ANYTHING else - then shut down & unplug PC and install the card.
2) Feel free to ignore ALL software in the package - I'm recording & playing back fine without it. Everyone should check out the free "Audacity" recording/editing package.
3) For best results, use good cables. I'm using Audioquest Mini-1 to go from card to computer speakers, and Audioquest G-Snake to go from turntable phono box to the card. These 2 cables (in 2-meter lengths) cost about the same as the card. :-(
4) Can probably co-exist with your previous sound setup - just make sure you go through the various Windows Control Panel areas and define which to use for what. Same is true for most applications - check the preferences to use the right card/audio system.
Also, I'd like to address some 'negative' comments I've seen here & elsewhere:
A) Comes with old manuals & drivers: TRUE - but website is very complete & up-to-date - they had all Windows variants covered pretty well, except maybe 64-bit Vista.
B) Takes over (removes) Windows volume controls: TRUE - and good riddance! All playback apps have volume controls, plus theres the physical knob on most speakers - who needs more of them interacting and complicating things?
C) No 1/8" (3.5mm) jacks: TRUE - that connection is for "toys" - this card has gold-plated stereo RCA connectors - plus MIDI & S/PDIF connectors!
D) No surround/gaming modes: TRUE, but can co-exist with another consumer sound card or (as I'm doing) on-board audio (see my tip 4 above).
Bottom line - if 2-channel stereo is your 1st priority - check the website for the drivers you need and, if they have you covered, BUY THIS CARD!! :-)

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The Audiophile 2496 embodies a quantum leap in computer audio fidelity and performance unequaled by other audio cards in its price range. This critically acclaimed PCI card features premium digital audio converters, elegant board design, and ultra-stable drivers just like the rest of the Delta line, but with a simpler I/O configuration. As a member of the Delta family, the Audiophile 2496 supports all computer platforms and major software programs, ensuring seamless integration and rock-solid performance. See why the Audiophile 2496 is one of the best-selling digital audio cards in the industry.

36-bit Embedded DSP All Delta cards contain a 36-bit embedded DSP enabling a software-driven patchbay/router for all analog and digital I/O--all with extremely fast throughput for low-latency software monitoring. A single unified control panel provides settings for clock and sample rates, buffer sizes, individual signal levels for every input and output, adjustable +4dBu/-10dBV pad controls and digital I/O control on up to four installed Delta cards. All controls are also easily accessible through most professional audio software applications for seamless integration and operation.
2 x 2 Analog I/O Accepts common unbalanced audio on gold-plated RCA jacks.
24-bit/96kHz Fidelity The 2496 features 24-bit/96kHz converters with a 100dB dynamic range.
S/PDIF Digital I/O with 2-channel PCM Get CD-quality sound from devices with S/PDIF outputs.
SCMS copy protection control Allows a recording device to successfully record the audio data.
AC-3 and DTS Pass-Through The S/PDIF digital I/O supports surround-encoded audio, for sending surround sound to your home theater.
1 x 1 MIDI I/O The 2496's break-out cable features 1 x 1 (16-channel) MIDI operation.
Zero-Latency Monitoring Monitor your audio signals without delay.
Ableton Live Lite Included Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live--the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments--as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences--together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use.
What's in the Box Audiophile 2496 PCI adapter card, Break-out cable for S/PDIF and MIDI connections, Software CD, User's Manual

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Numark DJ I/O Multi Channel USB 2.0 DJ Audio Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use this for my portable DJ set up.I run a Windows based Laptop with Virtual DJ Pro. It separates each virtual decks into a right and left channel that I plug into a mixer via RCA cables. It provides full, clean sound with absolutely no lag. I have used this card for a couple of parties, it's small and runs off the USB port on my computer, so all I have to do plug it in and I am ready to go.
I wish it had XLR outputs though, so I could connect it directly to my JBL IONs without an external mixer. It's still a great value for the price.

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A compact, portable audio interface expressly designed for DJs, mobile music producers and other musicians who work with computers, the Numark DJ I/O connects easily with a standard USB cable to the computer and supplies extremely high-quality, 24-bit audio to output systems. With the DJ I/O, you can use your favorite DJ software and take full advantage of cueing and monitoring.
Compact and rugged enough to live in your gig bag, it has RCA stereo outputs and a headphone output so you can cue and output your main mix simultaneously. It also has a 1/4-inch mic input so you can be the life of the party.
The DJ I/O has stereo outputs for a main sound system, a secondary or monitoring system and headphones, as well as a microphone input with a hardware volume control. The audio interface comes with premium ASIO drivers, which enable you to easily optimize your system's audio performance.
Practical for use in a wide variety of setups, the convenient and highly portable DJ I/O is most commonly used with a combination of music-mixing software and a hardware controller such as TOTAL CONTROL, Stealth Control, or MixMeister Control. The DJ I/O delivers extremely low-latency audio performance for real-time playback accuracy at a choice of CD-quality 44.1kHz or premium 88.2kHz sample rates.
You can use DJ I/O with Mac OS X, Windows XP, or Vista. Both 32 and 64-bit Windows are compatible. The USB device is bus-powered so no additional power supply is needed, and you can optionally power the DJ I/O using a six-volt AC adapter (sold separately)
Features and Specifications
DJ audio interface for use laptop performance
Ultra low-latency playback for real-time mixing
Two independent RCA stereo outputs for main and recording systems
Microphone input with adjustable gain (1/4-inch)
Stereo headphone output (1/4-inch TRS)
Studio-grade, 24-bit, 44.1 kHz and 88.2 kHz audio quality
ASIO drivers with control panel for fine-tuning system performance
USB bus powered, requires no wall power
Output Level: +2.0dBV +/-0.5dB
SNR: > 100 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.008%
System requirements: Mac OS X; Windows XP or Vista (32- or 64-bit)
Backed by a 1-year warranty

What's in the Box DJ I/O audio interface, USB cable, software installation CD, quick start guide

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Echo Indigo PCMCIA Audio Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Firstly, don't be turned off seeing that very few people have rated this product. The truth is that, if you look around for a PCMCI audio card in audiophile sites and stores, you will see this product reviewed exceptionally well. The average Joe only goes for the commercial hype and don't know of any venerable professional audiophile products.Let me put one thing straight. If you decide to pay for this product, you better be having some good quality headphone (and i don't mean a Bose :-).. for all those who think Boss is any good..) like Grado, some higher end Sennhieser, Koss, Etymotics, Sure, etc. Because if you don't, you may be disappointed with this sound card. The analogy is if you have a bad eyesight and you are viewing a girl from 20 feet, it wouldn't matter if she got pimples on her face or not, you won't make any difference. On the other hand, if you have a good eyesight, you will notice the difference. Same goes here, if you sport a cheap headphone, don't waste your money on any high end audio gear.>: The first thing you will notice when you play an mp3 is the well improved Bass, near pristine high ends. A few hours with the Indigo io and you'll hate to listen to anything without it. Indigo gives you much more depth to the music and overall a fabulously improved sound quality.>: Another very important feature of the Indigo io is its near zero latency via its input jack. If you play some music instruments and would like some quality hook up to the laptop and yet be portable, you have no other way to go except the Indigo. There is no other product in the market that gives this quick response in a PCMCIA form factor.>: The comparison if of interest to many people. The Indigo blows away Creative in terms of sound quality. Its like comparing a Mustang to a Corola in terms of speed and acceleration. If you have a 7.1 speaker system you would like to hook your laptop then Creative is the only option. I use a Headphone and I want the best sound quality, so Indigo is all for me. Some people say "for games the Creative is better".. I just don't understand that.... if the output sound quality is way better by the Indigo then how in games it will give poorer output than creative.... just doesn't make sense.>: Headroom Total Bithead.

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