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USB Interface versus PCI soundcard. M-Audio MobilePre vs Audiophile 2496.

odie

odie

Gold Supporting Member
Mar 12, 2000
3,586
27
Minnesota, Earth, Milky Way
#1
I am looking at dumping my drummers tracks to PC and then recording the other tracks straight to PC. I wont be using more than a single stereo track at a time.

I narrowed a couple of options and I am not sure which route to go.

M-Audio MobilePre USB Interface

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Or the old reliable M-Audio Audiophile 2496

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I am running an older home brew PC with an Athlon 1800, 512 RAM. I also have a Dell laptop Inspiron 9300,Pentium M 730 (1.60GHz/533MHz FSB) a bit faster.

The option of the USB is nice in the fact that I dont have to swap out cards.(multiple sound cards a "no no"?) Along with the fact I can use on either machine as needed.
 
#4
i have a 24/96 also, but i would suggest the the MobilePre. it's got more for just a bit more cash and you'll get the most out of it i bet. just make sure you get the latest drivers (which i see i need to do doh! )and make sure that what ever program your using to record, you use the M-Audio ASIO driver. you're going to have Latency either way, but if you play with the settings you should be able to get something you barley notice. tweaking your computer can gain some performance in that department also. check out this site. Invalid Link Removed. with some system tweaks you can drop the Latency down even more.
 
#6
To be honest more than likely I will be doing most recording on the desk top versus the laptop. But who knows I might like the laprtop option. I just cant set that up for just music as my family uses that one. I really dont want to have to worry about latency though as my band is hoping to get something will can sell on a cd.

As far as programs go I have been using Traction(mackie) and Ireally like it.
 
#7
on my DELL, 2.4ghz, 533FSB and 1gig of memory, i can't hear any latency at all. i have my DMA buffer size on the 24/96 set all the way down. i doubt you're going to notice much on either machine. if you're doing a track at a time you should be fine. the Athlon 1800 is actually comparable to a 2ghz P4 so that should be alright also. i would think about doing some of those system tweaks to be safe though. either way, get the MobilePre because if you do decide to use your laptop, you can go mobile. definitely worth the money in the long run.
 
#9
your not going to notice that difference, M-Audio wouldn't put it out if it were going to make that much of a difference. BUT! considering both units cost the same, have about the same ratings, the Tascam has a little more to offer as far as expandability goes. read some reviews on each. either way you can't go wrong IMO.

edit

wow, first page of reviews on the Tascam lead me to say, M-Audio. too many dis-satisfied customers who bought the Tascam.
 

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