M-Audio Audiophile USB

[cyclops]

The unbalanced I/O are a bad thing?


http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM03/Content/MAudio/PR/Audiophile-USB.jpg

[LC]

Don't worry about balanced/unbalanced.

The only time you need to worry about that is when you need to use extremely long cables or you happen to be in a room with a lot of interference in the air.

So as long as you don't plan to use it on a live stage or put your cables next to dimmer switches, unbalanced will prolly be fine. The difference between balanced/unbalanced won't make the difference between a clean/rotten recording in a home studio environment.

[jscales]

Has this been released yet?

how does it record audio - can you use, say sonar + it's effects and have no delay?


thx,
J

[LC]

jscales.... monitoring anything with software effects will suffer from latency/delay. Computers need a little bit of time to calculate such things no matter how fast/powerfull they are.

Almost all hardware will allow you to do what you suggest though, it's more a thing concerning your software than hardware. And direct monitoring is ususally preferred.

[jscales]

Hi LC,
thanks for the response. Sorry to sound uninformed here, but by input monitoring could you explain what this means? I take this to mean with effects from Sonar or have I misunderstood that?

any recommendations on what I can do on the software side to fix this. I'm somewhat unhappy with the situation at this point.

I have until saturday to take the unit back.

I'v talked with Sonary support and after the second mail, they still haven't been very helpful (yet).

I guess I just want it to do what I thought it was supposed to do.


thanks for you input (no pun intended), I appreciate it.

J

[LC]

I don't know sonar myself (I'm a logic user).

But most software allows you to route signals.

Try 2 things... try to find a "software monitoring" option in sonar. Otherwise try to find it in the M-audio software.

You can do 2 things... try to use the direct "software monitoring" which means the imput is routed straight to an output and you get little to no delay but certainly no effects processing.
Or use the processing and live with the delay.

Also use the newest drivers you can find and set the dma buffer (that's in the M-audio controll window prolly) as low as possible without the sound getting choppy.

[jscales]

LC,

thanks for the response.

So you are saying I live with the latency/delay or use Direct, which will require me to use my own effects from, say, my own guitar amp or something like that?

What good are the effects in the computer then? I would think that the delay will also be imposed on a vocal using any effects like reverb in there.

Emagic - nice. Is that the Mac version?

How do you get around the latency situation? Do you use a different audio card? Or do you simply don't do that kind of stuff or ??

Let's say I really wanted to access those effects in the computer with my guitar, what audio/midi cards would you recommend? .. that is, within a reasonable price range 200-300 (us dollars) ??

thanks for the previous information, I appreciate it.

sincerely,
J

[Polaris20]

I'm a little peeved that M Audio put phantom powered XLR inputs on the MobilePre, but only a 16bit sample rate, and a 24bit sample rate on the AUdiophile USB, but no XLR input or phantom power. WTF???

[the_grouse_mouse]

Originally posted by Polaris20
I'm a little peeved that M Audio put phantom powered XLR inputs on the MobilePre, but only a 16bit sample rate, and a 24bit sample rate on the AUdiophile USB, but no XLR input or phantom power. WTF???

check out M-Audio Duo, or Quattro with omni add on, or Edirol UA5

"squeak"

[Polaris20]

Originally posted by the_grouse_mouse


check out M-Audio Duo, or Quattro with omni add on, or Edirol UA5

"squeak"

I know, but I was going for size and all-in-one.

[LC]

Polaris.. the audiophile range is really the semi pro stuff to help people get into recording... if you want all in one at premium quality you'll have to go for something like the Duo as the Grouse mentions.

it's just smart business on their part. Give people a nice package but not all inclusive... then they'll buy the "real" stuff later once they find out it lacks slighlty. BTW... if you're on a budget it's worth it to consider whether 24 bit is really worth your last penny.

Scales... No not the mac version, which means that version 5.5 will probably be my last. In all honesty it does everything I need and I don't feel like switching because I finally have my pc running beautifully. Don't want to start over. And who says I have to upgrade anyway... I can use this proggy for many years to come no problem.

Best plugins/effects to use whilst monitoring a "live" signal? No idea... I never do. I just route everything through a mixer and monitor the sound pre computer, thus no effects, no latency.

So in all honesty I can't give you specific advise on what to buy...

I'd say go for something with good dsp's (digital sound processors) on the board, or preferably in a breakout box, and something that has good drivers. Which M-audio does provide, but so does echo for instance.

Don't worry too much about it, it won't hurt ;) Just find something that seems to be right for you, in the end we all always find it lacks in some silly way and end up buying something newer/more complete/even more expensive.

[goliathslayer]

I didnt know the usb was for sale yet, anyone know the best priced place?

[We Got Da Funk]

Originally posted by Polaris20


I know, but I was going for size and all-in-one.

Polaris, check this (http://www.m-audio.com/news/pdf/M-Audio_OmniStudio_PR.pdf) out.