Modartt user forum - recommended audio interface

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (traver02) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:12:39 +0000

I use with my PC (Win XP) this:

- external USB DAC made by Nuforce, the model is Icon HDP.

it is a very good headphone amplifier, has small dimensions, and it is not a toy (as others I used in the past) and can be used as a multi-purpose external sound card x the PC as an output for a preamp.(via RCA)

It is a very fine and detailed amp for Pianoteq.

I use it with these headphones:

- Sennheiser HD595

- AKG 501

same impedence: 120 ohm

talking about price is stays in the middle, not cheap, but not too expensive. it has indeed first-class components. if you search the reviews are all very positive.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (Pianophile) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:24:03 +0000

Just get an RME Babyface.

It's not the cheapest option out there but sounds great and has rock-solid drivers with very low latency.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (churchill) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:28:10 +0000

Any experience with Linux ? I'm looking for a compatible USB audio card with at least 2 or 3 stereo line inputs...

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (Luc Henrion) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:07:06 +0000

or:
http://global.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/forte
or:
http://tascam.com/product/us-322/
or:
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/track16
or:
http://www.presonus.com/products/AudioBox-22VSL

and so on ! :-)

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (rjawad1) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:40:02 +0000

i'll look into those. thanks for the advice.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (Ehudk) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:21:16 +0000

rjawad1 wrote:

Ehudk, the one you mentioned is, i think, cheaper than the one i was looking at.
If they all give about the same latency, what is the benefit of having one over the other? Some are quite expensive, after all. If i'm basically using it for pianoteq and nothing else, is there any real benefit to getting the expensive ones?

Some of them do have latency problems.
The thing with the trakror audio 2 is that you don't pay for things you don't need. It has only 2 stereo outputs for speakers and headphones and thats it. The DA converters are not bad.

If you want to go higher, the RME babyface is a very good option. For better sound quality, put your money on good high end headphones.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (paolopiano) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:02:09 +0000

great experience with fast track pro (M-audio).....

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (rjawad1) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:32:45 +0000

now the analog-digital converter: if i have a bad one, pianoteq will sound like a toy piano, and if i have a good one, pianteq will sound more realistic? is that over-simplifying? i never really noticed a difference in the pianoteq sound with the various sound cards i've had.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (varpa) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:17:34 +0000

Generally speaking what you pay for is quality analog-digital conversion (and vice-versa) and possibly quality of preamp (if any), and number of I/O channels. Even very cheap interfaces can do low-latency so that is not very good selection critiera. You should make sure you have configured your mac for low-latency also. There is some setup panel for that, though I don't know the details because I'm not a mac user.

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (rjawad1) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:56:13 +0000

Ehudk, the one you mentioned is, i think, cheaper than the one i was looking at.

If they all give about the same latency, what is the benefit of having one over the other? Some are quite expensive, after all. If i'm basically using it for pianoteq and nothing else, is there any real benefit to getting the expensive ones?

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (Luc Henrion) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:51:59 +0000

There are so many to choose from! Check all the "big names" if you can: I'm using various models from Motu, Focusrite and Tascam and they all do a good job. No big difference in latency.
BTW, MIDI isn't a problem for any PC/Mac: it's a very, very "light" and "slow" protocol. Building a tone from a model in real-time, like Pianoteq does, is another story!

Re: recommended audio interface

null@example.com (Ehudk) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:52:45 +0000

I use this one:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr...r-audio-2/

works great with pianoteq, nice sound quality and low latency driver.

recommended audio interface

null@example.com (rjawad1) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:28:06 +0000

my imac does a pretty good job about handling midi information real-time, but when playing a lot of big chords, i get a noticeable delay while using pianoteq. can i buy an audio interface to correct this? and if so, can someone recommend one? i was looking at the apogee 1, but i don't even know if it will make a difference. i used to have an emu 0404usb and had so many problems getting it to work that i just gave up and sold it.
thanks.