[linux-audio-dev] Soundcards...

[james at dis-dot-dat.net]

On Fri, 28 Jan, 2005 at 04:14AM -0600, Jan Depner spake thus:
> On Fri, 2005-01-28 at 02:41, james at dis-dot-dat.net wrote:
> > On Thu, 27 Jan, 2005 at 04:00PM -0500, Eric Dantan Rzewnicki spake thus:
> > > On Thu, Jan 27, 2005 at 08:18:02PM +0000, james at dis-dot-dat.net wrote:
> > > > Hi peeps.
> > > > Just looking for some quick advice about a new soundcard.
> > > > I'm looking at getting something like the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.
> > > > This is to replace a SB Live! Value.
> > > > Does this seem like a sensible (though cheap) move?  I'm expecting a
> > > > better card.  
> > > 
> > > Certainly.
> > > 
> > > > The reason I'm thinking about changing to something not hugely
> > > > dissimilar is because under ALSA, I'm rally not impressed with my SB.
> > > > The volumes seem wrong - loudest seems to clip before it's off the
> > > > card.  I have no use for all those fancy effects that it does, since I
> > > > can't make use of them in my setup anyway.
> > > 
> > > There's been a thread going on for the past week or two on
> > > linux-audio-user about an alternative driver for the emu10k1 cards. It
> > > sounds like a lot more of the functionality is useable with this driver.
> > > I didn't pay close attention to the thread, though, since I don't have
> > > one of these cards. Check the archives.
> > > 
> > > > Up until now, I've been using headphones mostly, with a couple of sets
> > > > of cheapo speakers as monitors, with a super cheap amp.
> > > > I'm about to splash out on some real nearfield monitors and a real
> > > > monitoring amp, although I'll still be spending less than £350 (That's
> > > > UK pounds, in case the symbol doesn't come out as it should - there's
> > > > a reason I'm not sure it will, but let's not get into that).
> > > 
> > > came out fine here. I think it depends on the recipient system's locales
> > > setting or something.
> > 
> > I was more worried about Emacs' refusal to write it without C-q before
> > it.  I thought it might decide to do some weird encoding.  It has done
> > in the past.
> >  
> > > > With a nicer monitoring setup, obviously I want a decent soundcard.
> > > > Does the Audiophile work well with ALSA?  Are there any better
> > > > alternatives?  Am I being silly, and can just somehow "fix" my
> > > > SBLive/ALSA setup?
> > > 
> > > The audiophile, like all ice1712 cards, is very well supported by alsa.
> > > The delta series (44, 66, 1010, 1010lt) all use this same chipset and
> > > driver, as do several good cards by some other manufacturers. 
> > > envy24control is a great mixer app included in the alsa-tools 
> > > specifically for use with these cards. Many linux users are happy with
> > > their flavor of ice1712, myself included.
> > 
> > Hmm.  Maybe I'll splash out on the Delta 44.  I can get it for around
> > £100 ($200 ish).
> > 
> 
>     But why get the 44 for $200 ish when the 1010LT is now $230 ish? 
> Even if you don't use all of the channels now you will later ;-)

Here they're selling at more like $350-$400.  If the difference was
just £15, I'd buy that instead.

Plus the 1010LT doesn't have the breakout box, which I would find
quite handy.
 
> Jan
> 
> 
> 
> 

-- 
"I'd crawl over an acre of 'Visual This++' and 'Integrated Development
That' to get to gcc, Emacs, and gdb.  Thank you."
(By Vance Petree, Virginia Power)