Subject:starting over advise...

Posted by: trishtrash

Date:12/6/2012 11:00:58 PM

To keep a long stroy short... I'm finally ready to get a new computer up and running with a new DAW... probably Acid Pro 7... if I were to purchase a new sound card... what would you recommend?
Thanks!
tt

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: 519tbarr

Date:12/7/2012 8:57:26 AM

What type of soundcard are you looking for?
If it is a USB hub soundcard then I would recommend focusrite.
I have used M-audio in the past but there quality of soundbox/cards has become bad as of the last few years. I own a cheapies 2i2 Saffire Focusrite and it sounds fantastic for the buck. You can get better setups from focusrite that don't break the bank. Sound quality is what matters.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: trishtrash

Date:12/7/2012 10:41:07 AM

Not sure what I'm lookinng for... just advise on what's available and what works best.
I've been using an Echo Gina in my old system... I don't know if it's possible to run two systems through that, so I was wondering if anyone is familiar with any new product that did a quality job for them.
I'll look into focusrite... thanks.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/7/2012 6:08:52 PM

You could start by telling us some basic requirements like how many gizintas and gizoutas you need, line, or mic, etc.....

geoff

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: trishtrash

Date:12/8/2012 12:27:19 PM

All I really need is a card that connects my computer and Mackie mixer board... two ins and two outs. If other info is required, please ask... I can run my mixer and the Acid program just fine... getting that up and running is another story. Thanks for any and all help.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/8/2012 5:26:41 PM

There are just so many interfaces (interfae ??) that fit this criteria admirably. If you Gina no longer does it, you should be able to pick up an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 quite cheaply. Seems very compatible, well-supported, economical, and has excellent tech performance.

geoff

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: trishtrash

Date:12/9/2012 3:21:29 PM

Thanks Geoff...
Forgive my ignorance on this... but, once installed into my computer, would I just come in/out of the stereo jacks and in/out of my mixer with an 1/8 inch adapters?
Thanks again.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/9/2012 5:18:03 PM

yEP, JACK ADAPTORS IF NECESSARY. bUT BETTER STILL A (COMMONLY-AVAILABLE) CABLE WITH THE RIGHT PLUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE (ooops capslock !) - cos adaptors are a pain and just another place for something to go wrong !

geoff

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: trishtrash

Date:12/10/2012 9:47:08 PM

Thanks Geoff...
I didn't think they made stereo jack to 1/8 inch jack cables... but, I guess they make pretty much anything now.
Thanks again for your help...
Jeff

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: trishtrash

Date:12/10/2012 9:58:50 PM

Sorry...
One more question...or two.
I am only getting a new sound card cuz I plan on still using my old system.
If I change my mind on that and install my Echo/Gina into my new system... it's just a matter of updating the driver... correct?
The reason I plan to use the old system is becuz of the work that is in that system... is there a way to move the work over to the new system and new program?

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Steven Myers

Date:12/11/2012 12:45:21 AM

I didn't think they made stereo jack to 1/8 inch jack cables...

I think you mean 1/8 inch plug cables, and they do.
If you insert an adapter with a 1/8 plug, with cables hanging from it, into a 1/8 jack, you are applying a whole lot of stress to a device (the jack) which is designed to handle virtually no stress. This almost guarantees that you will have trouble maintaining good contact.
You can get a cable with a 90-degree plug, greatly reducing that risk.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:12/11/2012 8:20:44 AM

I've also seen a lot of chassis configurations with 1/8" jacks so close together that there isn't room for 1/4" to 1/8" adapters.

I've made a lot of my own special cables over the years. I usually keep a good supply of 1/8" mono & stereo plugs, the kind with the metal shell and spring strain relief, on hand. If i need a couple of 3 foot 1/4" to 1/8" cables i'll buy a 6 foot 1/4" to 1/4" cable, cut it in half, and solder 1/8" plus on the cut ends.

I've even recycled the 1/8" stereo cable from a broken pair of headphones and soldered a couple female XLR connectors on the end so that i can connect two good XLR mics to my camcorder. That's been an extremely useful item over the years.

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: inocmusic

Date:12/11/2012 11:34:02 AM

If I were starting over with a new computer and a new DAW, I think ACID Pro would be toward the bottom of my list, behind even ACID Music Studio

Before even worrying about 1/4" - 1/8" cables I'd be asking myself

Is you new computer going to be 64 bit (ACID Pro isn't)
Will you new computer going to be running win 7 or 8 (last update for ACID was when Vista was the new kid on the block)
Will you be running third party Plugins, several are buggy or partially functional within ACID such as Melodyne, some waves that use vst 3,UAD etc. etc.etc.

If I were starting from scratch on new machine I'd be looking at DAWs that were designed for current 64 bit OS, compatible with all the plugs I am likely to need, Id also like to see a DAW that receives updates less than every three new operating systems and bit architecture changes

I still have ACID Pro on an old XP 32bit machine so I can recall old projects if need be, but I would not reach for it as a DAW to start a project on on a recent computer with a current OS these years

Of course this is just one opinion and YMMV

Subject:RE: starting over advise...

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/11/2012 8:04:39 PM

Probably no actual reason to replace your Gina. They seem to have 64-bit drivers and Win7 drivers.

geoff