Which Audio Card ? Dual G4, Osx, Tascam Tm-d1000 Options

[makingmusic4him]

I am moving from Windows to MAC (sounds of applause in the back ground).
Have a dual G4, OSX.

No audio cards yet, just 'out of the box' machine.

Have various midi instruments.
Have TASCAM TD-M1000 that can respond to remote midi commands.

Ultimate goal would be to have DP4 or Logic 6 (I currently have Reason 2.5) working with the Tascam mixer, so that midi, live sound and samples can all be mixed together with OS X based DAW.

Any idea on what would be a good PCi audio card for this ?
DP4 or Logic or what ??

Thanks for any ideas,
Bill

[rafisaar]

I started by using Emagic's EMI 6|2 interface (came with the package deal I bought) But it was VERY limited, and questionable audio quality.

Fusion Head wrote this quote.

What is meant by "VERY limited".
Is it just an issue of number of inputs/outputs or is there more behind this claim?
This issue is very crucial to me as I don't need that many inputs and I'm seriously looking at the EMI 6|2m.

Also, what does it mean "questionable audio quality"? What exactly is wrong or bad with the 6|2's audio quality?


Thanks!
Rafi

[m0no]

about getting the warm sound on a motu. Just run it through a voice strip or something like that. I treat all my vocals and i must say they sound a lot warmer than my o3d. wich i sold recently. must say my studio is no without mixer... And it rocks..

[Fusion Head]

In response to rafisaar's question about why I thought the EMI 6|2 interface was "limited"... two reasons:

First, yes, it did not have as many inputs as I needed (it has 6 line ins... I wanted at least 8 line ins, and ideally a couple of mic pre's). Note also that the interface only has one MIDI IN and OUT, and those ports replace the digital in/out (i.e. can't use both at the same time), if this might be an issue for you.

Second, in regard to sound quality... I had not used the EMI interface for that long but during that time I did not notice any major problems with the EMI as far as really "bad" sound quality. But a sales guy at Emagic actually recommended I upgrade to something better (I must say I was a bit shocked, but also impressed, when I heard him talk about their own product this way!) I think his point was that the EMI interfaces are a good value and okay for a "starter", but if you are serious about sound quality you are going to want something with better quality A/D converters.

For these two reasons I got the MOTU. But the EMI might be just fine for you, especially if you get it as part of a package like I did with the Emagic Production Kit, etc.

[rafisaar]

Fusion Head,
thanks a lot!

This clarifies it well and enforces my decision to go for the Gold Production Kit (I'm using a mixer for the mic and other inputs, so the 6 INs should be enough for me).
As for MIDI, seems like I'll have to get another box anyway, like the MT4.

If I need better audio, I can always add a better card in the future.


Thanks again,
Rafi