Selecting Hardware for Music Production

[Matthew Polashek]

Sean Darby wrote:
> Hi again!
>
>   
>> PCI seems to be the most solid most of the time.  M-Audio and RME are 
>> the most well supported, but EMU is right behind I believe.
>>     
>
> When you said EMU is "right behind" did you mean EMU or RME currently
> has more support for Linux?
>   

RME used to have their Linux drivers on their website.  Lots of 
support!  Same thing for M-audio.

EMU never did.  However, there has been some great work by developers on 
the EMU drivers.

> If both are pretty solid anyway, I'm guessing it doesn't matter too
> much. If I see any gear that's equivalent between the two I might go for
> the one at a more affordable cost.
>
>   

RME has a better clock.

>> Firewire audio drivers are not well developed and the hardware 
>> manufactures have not been forthcoming with assistance.
>>     
>
> That makes sense. I never even heard of FFADO until someone mentioned it
> in here.
>
> Actually, I never heard of "MADI"/multichannel audio digital interface,
> either. (Whoops, I thought it was "inputs" for the "I".)
>
>   
>> The best IMHO is the RME Hammerfall series.  The 9652 is pretty great 
>> and really well supported in Linux by the manufacturer.  An RME card 
>> with an Apogee clock and A/D with a True Systems Mic pre is a pretty 
>> common find in a studio these days.
>>     
>
> Cool! I'll try to put RME at the top of the list of options to consider.
>
> ...now if I can figure out how to incorporate other audio gear into the
> mix along with the appropriate RME device (all of that hopefully at an
> affordable price).
>
>   

One possible chain could work like this:

Sound source --> At2020 --> Behringer ADA 8000 --> RME 9652 --> Jack --> 
ardour --> disc.

How does that sound?  Check out my sax tracks on jandmjazz.com.

>> There are RME interfaces with Breakout boxes and without.  The Multiface 
>> and DIGIface are good as well as the hammerfall PCI stuff.
>>     
>
> So much RME stuff, I wouldn't know where to start! :)
>
> Thanks again! Great input!
>
> Sean Darby
>
>
>