wanted Ubuntu Studio hardware advice

[Hartmut Noack]

Am 27.02.2011 15:30, schrieb Ralf:
> Ancillary to Mike Holstein, IMO for audio it's important that the
> graphics is passiv, no fan, no noise. Even for 3D animation any slow 3D
> support is fast enough.
>
> The power supply should have a large and slow fan.
> Take care to buy silent HHDs.
>
> I've got a question too. I'm searching for an audio device.
>
> I've got two Terratec EWX 24/96 PCI cards and I don't like the muddy
> sound. For sure, it might not only be the cards that produce this sound,
> I guess it also has to do with issues for Linux audio, but OTOH those
> issues might have to do with a less good driver, jackd or something else
> for Envy24 cards, I dunno.

Every envy24-based card I used in the last 9 years under Linux worked 
perfectly well for me.
They need to be set up with a somewhat complicated mixer though 
(envy24control) but once done, the cards provide at least the same 
sound-quality as my Presonus Firebox, with a homeopathic lesser 
distortion and at least the same dynamics/headroom.
As long as ALSA and Jack are concerned, the ICE1712-driver for these 
cards is the best one I every used under Linux. All features available, 
perfectly stable, latency below 5ms is no problem. Only Pulse Audio does 
not work well with ICE1712...

If you want something better, go for a Hammerfall, I dare to doubt, that 
any lesser beast will deliver listenable better results.


best regs

HZN

>
> Perhaps the audio device should cost less than 1000,- EUR or better
> less, than 500,- EUR. I would prefer 4 or more IOs, but just 2 IOs would
> be ok too. The most important things to me are
>
> - no issues with Linux
> - a good sound quality, at least as good as good consumer hifi equipment
> - very, very, low latency to fight jitter for MIDI recordings
> - if possible 4 IOs or more, but 2 IOs are ok, if the sound and handling
>    is ok
>
>
>