[linux-audio-user] Opinions on M-Audio Audiophile 2496 / USB or similar?

[Clemens Ladisch]

Frank Barknecht wrote:

> daniel.vincent at blueyonder.co.uk hat gesagt: // daniel.vincent at blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
>
> > Is anyone on the list running either of the two M-Audio setups
> > currently available: the Audiophile 2496 (PCI) or the Audiophile
> > USB? Alternatively, can anyone recommend something similar?
> > Incidentally, I'm currently running Mandrake 10 (Community), with
> > the 2.6x kernel...
>
> The USB won't run on kernel 2.6 at all, because it, ah again, violates
> the USB specification. There are some patches that can enable this
> card, but you'll need to patch the kernel yourself, AFAIK. Plus: I
> don't know if the USB is supported by ALSA. Last time I looked (about
> two months ago) there was no firmware loader.

The Audiophile USB doesn't need a firmware loader because it already
has an EEPROM with the firmware.

Other M-Audio devices have an EEPROM, too, but M-Audio didn't bother
to put the firmware in there.  (I have a report from someone who got
the Sonica to work by simply burning the firmware file into the
EEPROM.)

> Conclusion: Don't buy it, there are many USB devices which are
> easier to set up.

And if possible, don't use a USB device but a PCI card.


HTH
Clemens