Topic by Gotacki

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Topic: Soundcard for 5.1

Hi,

I'm looking for a soundcard wich is able to use the 5 outputs of Pianoteq.  I've already got a Presonus USB which is fine for a stereo purpose, but I tried Pianoteq with 4 speakers elsewhere and it's hard to come back to my stereo setup !

As a matter of fact, in a stereo setup, the sound is good in the 'Hot spot', but a piano player always move when playing bass or trebles and the stereo sound becomes, well... not so good...

I would dream of a not to expensive soundcard :-)

All soundcards I've seen have outputs and many inputs (and highly priced). But I only need outputs (at least for 5 speakers, but i would prefer 6), so I don't see why I would pay for Inputs (and I already have my usb presonus for that...).

Of course, Asio driver needed...

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Check out focusrites range. I bought a 6 out (Saffire Pro 24) FireWire, but they also do USB. And if you use a modern mac, you can use a firewire to thunderbot adapter.

Worth a look anyway,

Hope this helps,

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

http://www.thomann.de/gb/focusrite.html

Reply by Gotacki

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Thanks Sigasa !

I've just looked at your link and thoses Focusrites. They look good :-)

At a much lower price... I saw an 'output only' soundcard : ESI UDJ6
Any return on this product ? (latency, stability). 

(By the way, I saw that there are Kawai VPC1 at Thomann B-Stock (100€ cheaper !) - strange for a new and great keyboard like this !...)

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

while I agree about the quality of Focusrite interfaces, I don't see an USB one that would fit the bill: the multiple outputs are in fact multiple types of output. I have for example an 18i6, and here's what you get: 1-2 = stereo line, 3-4 = stereo headphones, 5-6 = stereo S/PDIF. Probably not what you're looking for...
I have an old ESI interface too, and it's still reliable as on day one. Not the model you mention however.

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by Gotacki

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Ok, I have ordered  the ESI UDJ6...

I will post a review later (still shipping...). If it works well, it would be an affordable solution for using the 5 outputs of pianoteq...

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Gotacki wrote:

Ok, I have ordered  the ESI UDJ6...

I will post a review later (still shipping...). If it works well, it would be an affordable solution for using the 5 outputs of pianoteq...

I look forward to your review Gotacki.

It is surprising how adding, as I have, even a simple pair of Creatives's original T20's on the floor at the front either side of the underneath of my keyboard makes. Together with my studio monitors (ESI nEar 05 Experience), the sound, even though I'm only using a stereo signal for both pairs, is vastly improved giving a much more convincing feel of a real acoustic piano in the room.

I'm thinking of perhaps purchasing E-MU's 0204 audio interface and the latest Creative T40's. I'm currently using an E-MU 0202 and I love the sound quality of this. However, I'd like the 0204 for the extra seperate outputs which would allow me to experiment a little more with PianoTEQ's outputs.

We'll see!

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Last edited by sigasa (13-05-2013 19:36)

Reply by Gotacki

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

I just have got the ESI UDJ6 :

This device works perfectly. I now have got 6 outputs on the Asio driver of this soundcard ! All the levels are set with the software driver. Just be aware that it needs a high bandwith for the usb. At first, I plug it with a usb that was already busy with another device and the driver never wanted to lauch (it was crashing without any information). The problem was solved by using another usb port...

Min Latency is 96 (I run at 128)
Samplerate is 44100 or 48000 with 6 channels.

I tested it on Win 7 with the ESI driver (asio4all don't seem to work very well with it, as it add small latency).

I can say that I am satisfied with this soundcard. It seems perfect for my pianoteq usage. I can use my other soundcard (presonus) for other stuff (recording, ...). It's not expensive and does what it is deserved to do.

I made a try with some old small speakers (some old small Lonsen speakers, on the floor) in adition of my Prodipe 8 v2. The result is a lot better for simulating the presence of a real piano but the quality of these speakers is really not good enough for my purpose (it crackles a lot, no bass and the trebles are agressive). I will have to wait for christmas for a new pair of monitors...!

Maybe I will first buy a mono speaker for a central voice, then a second pair that will be on the floor... ?

Anyway, I think that Pianoteq deserves a multi monitors setup :-) ! I am looking forward to see what sound setup other users have done (mics and speakers position)  ?

Reply by skip

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Well done, but are you aware that the levels on the headphone output may not be the same as the line level outputs?  You must be using at least one of the headphone channels in order to get 5 channels - yes?

Greg.

Reply by LTECpiano

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

It is a good idea to experiment with discreet audio channel outs now that you have your multi-channel interface.  One source in the U.S. that has very low pricing on class D audio amps and speakers is:  www.parts-express.com

As far as speaker placement is concerned . .  I like to keep the speakers close in to the piano . . on the floor and around but close in.  A piano does not send out sounds in stereo . . it sends out sounds from many different places but all within the normal space the piano actually occupies.  You may have the speakers as close to each other as is convenient . . let your ears do the work . . they will do the stereo processing.

Have fun,

Lanny

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Reply by Gotacki

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Skip is right. I will have to use the headphone channels in order to get 5 channels.

I tested my headphone on the headphone output and on the Line Outputs (with a mono to stereo adapter) and the level is the same.

But in order to use the headphone stereo output with a monitor speaker, I first have to buy a stereo to mono cable (which is not expensive), and a monitor... !

LTEC, thanks for the advices ! I will share my experiments...

Reply by Beto-Music

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

Maybe it's a stravaganza...


But why not a update to pianoteq also work with 7.1 sound ???


PunBB bbcode test

http://www.millerbros.co.uk/i/q/buyingg...agrams.jpg



Perhaps also some adjusts options like impedance of the walls and for the ground too, in the virtual space.

Last edited by Beto-Music (20-05-2013 16:50)

Reply by skip

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Re: Soundcard for 5.1

That's good that it's the same level. Of course, it wouldn't have been a big problem if it didn't match - just as long as you were aware of it, that's all.  (assuming the level was broadly compatible with whatever it was driving)

Greg.

Last edited by skip (21-05-2013 12:32)