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ok walters
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Looking for advice about sound cards for use on an automation computer for a new FM. ???
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What do you want to do: Multiple outputs from one sound card? AES or analog? Any internal mixing or fading within the automation machine? What brand of automation are you proposing?
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ok walters
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Basic music format running Zara or Arakkis Digilink. One output needed - analog - nothing crazy - just think I need something better than an on board card. ?? Hope that helps -
Digigram and Audio Science(ASI) both make a great sound card. For stereo applications I have used the Digigram VX222e and been happy with it. On ASI my experience is more limited, but what I've seen has been great. They have a virtual mixer that may prove helpful. I use an ASI6614 in our Automation system, but it would be overkill if you are just looking for stereo.
You might consider a USB type codec for audio interface. That will save you a PCI slot and *possibly* some aggravation.
Re the USB interface: I just installed a couple of Henry USB Matchbox 2 units with very good results. They're in an AM RF environment where the computer-based cards (not Audio Science) wilted. The Matchbox has a 120v power supply, 192kHz sampling rate (you can output FM Multiplex, if you want) and both analog and AES outputs.
One (ea) input/output stream with these things, if that matters. If you need multiple streams and professional-level in/outs, you're probably looking at Audio Science.
A 3-station cluster I work on uses Lynx cards, They seem to work well enough, but there aren't enough output channels to handle 3 separate stereo streams and a 4th overlap channel (the way Simian works). Googling the product, it appears there may be Lynx cards available with more channels... a possible consideration for you.
One (ea) input/output stream with these things, if that matters. If you need multiple streams and professional-level in/outs, you're probably looking at Audio Science.
A 3-station cluster I work on uses Lynx cards, They seem to work well enough, but there aren't enough output channels to handle 3 separate stereo streams and a 4th overlap channel (the way Simian works). Googling the product, it appears there may be Lynx cards available with more channels... a possible consideration for you.
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I know I will get flamed for this, but I use some Behringer USB interfaces on two stations. They are about $29.95 from Amazon. They are disposable, but I've never needed to replace them. They have enough poop to feed a +4 input with no problem, although they are unbalanced. Before everyone goes ballistic, very seldom does a week go by when someone doesn't comment on how good these stations sound. YMMV
I,too, have used the Behringer interface - still do! There were driver issues with Windows 7 early on but those were fixed a year or two ago.
Yes...multi-channel audio outs will require an ASI card.( Hope you've been saving up!) I was thinking the original poster wanted a single stereo channel, in/out.
Yah... you feel the need to duck when talking up Behringer. In the past though, I've used their stuff in certain applications with very good results.
Electronically, what I've used of theirs usually specs out surprisingly well... especially when considering the cost. It's the mechanics that fall apart. If you have to move pots around a lot, they'll fail fast. I had several mixers in one installation that used TRS plugs in and out. The mixers were quiet, sounded great and, for 3 years, sat in the back of the rack with no issues. Then I started having corrosion problems with the TRS sockets, so out they came... replaced by Henry mixers that work just as well, but cost a whole lot more.
For several years, they marketed a 6-band comp/limiter. It did a decent job... stellar, if you consider the thing cost around $300. Where do you get a 6-band processor for that kind of money? It was a bit clumsy to program and tended to pump a bit, but if you could set it up and leave it alone, it was certainly more than worth the cost.
Occasionally, I run into Behringer in production rooms and remote setups. Reasonably reliable and disposable as a cheap watch. Dump coffee into one of them and you just go to Musician's Friend or some other such place and replace the whole thing. Isn't worth labor to open them up.
Gotta say though... I tend to avoid the brand now, unless money is the paramount issue... mainly because of the mechanical weaknesses.... and maybe a little because of the professional drubbing you get around here when someone sees the stuff plugged in.
Electronically, what I've used of theirs usually specs out surprisingly well... especially when considering the cost. It's the mechanics that fall apart. If you have to move pots around a lot, they'll fail fast. I had several mixers in one installation that used TRS plugs in and out. The mixers were quiet, sounded great and, for 3 years, sat in the back of the rack with no issues. Then I started having corrosion problems with the TRS sockets, so out they came... replaced by Henry mixers that work just as well, but cost a whole lot more.
For several years, they marketed a 6-band comp/limiter. It did a decent job... stellar, if you consider the thing cost around $300. Where do you get a 6-band processor for that kind of money? It was a bit clumsy to program and tended to pump a bit, but if you could set it up and leave it alone, it was certainly more than worth the cost.
Occasionally, I run into Behringer in production rooms and remote setups. Reasonably reliable and disposable as a cheap watch. Dump coffee into one of them and you just go to Musician's Friend or some other such place and replace the whole thing. Isn't worth labor to open them up.
Gotta say though... I tend to avoid the brand now, unless money is the paramount issue... mainly because of the mechanical weaknesses.... and maybe a little because of the professional drubbing you get around here when someone sees the stuff plugged in.
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In another life, I was a Behringer dealer. I had excellent results with a very low warranty claim problem. Their stuff was also a great money maker in our rental department. We did make a point of rotating it out of rentals every couple of years, but we did that with everything, no matter who the manufacturer. After all, who likes to rent a piece of gear that looks like it just went through World War III? I found their build quality isn't much different from any other supplier of similar equipment, including Yamaha, Soundcraft, Mackie, Samson. Peavey and a ton of other similar products. Most of this stuff is so cheap you just throw it away if it starts giving you problems. I agree that a weak spot with most of it is the 1/4" TRS jacks. In some environments, they can become a source of intermittent problems. But that has been a problem that has long plagued the phone plug. It's nothing new and it doesn't usually seem to matter who made them, although I've had less trouble with Switchcraft than the knock-offs. They were originally designed for telephone switchboard use, where they were only plugged in for a short while, then re patched for a different connection. The act of plugging them in and unplugging them keeps them burnished with clean contacts. They really aren't designed for long term or high current connections. Still we persist in using them, largely because of price and universal acceptance. A quick shot of Caig DeOxit will keep them working for a long time.
Back to the original question, the Behringer USB interfaces do sound good and are cheap enough to keep a spare around.
Back to the original question, the Behringer USB interfaces do sound good and are cheap enough to keep a spare around.
Behringer makes some good stuff at throw away prices. When the board at the station gave up the ghost we bought a new one, naturally. After all the wiring we fired up the new board and a couple of things burned out about an hour after business hours on a Friday. With the owner out of town with his checkbook, we bought a Behringer mixer to get us a few days until new parts arrived. The boss came back to town and remarked how much more punch the signal had. He saw the Behringer and said he hoped it would hold up. That was on Monday. By Wednesday he said to buy a back up Behringer at 5% the price of the original board. Many years later we replaced the original Behringer with the back up...not quite a decade.
About the time the back up was put in, we took on a client leasing our entire broadcast day. He said he was excited to see our set up since we sounded so good (for an AM station). He was shocked to see the Behringer, quickly wrote down the model number and said I saved him some cash in the future.
I hear how Behringer is garbage but that's not my experience. The sliders get bad after a few years and if lightning doesn't blow out the power supply, you have a board that costs you pennies a day versus dollars. Plus, the 'plug and play' means not paying a day's work for soldering from the patch panel. And you'll never know the difference listening to the radio.
About the time the back up was put in, we took on a client leasing our entire broadcast day. He said he was excited to see our set up since we sounded so good (for an AM station). He was shocked to see the Behringer, quickly wrote down the model number and said I saved him some cash in the future.
I hear how Behringer is garbage but that's not my experience. The sliders get bad after a few years and if lightning doesn't blow out the power supply, you have a board that costs you pennies a day versus dollars. Plus, the 'plug and play' means not paying a day's work for soldering from the patch panel. And you'll never know the difference listening to the radio.
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Running the Xenyx X2222USB here as a main board......and LOVE IT!!
Prior to this I was running a Yamaha 12 channel unit....very nice, but I "outgrew" it....AND...it cost MORE than the Behringer!!
Mind you....I'm running this on a Part 15 FM station...so I really can't say how the Behringer stands up to high RF environments.....
Prior to this I was running a Yamaha 12 channel unit....very nice, but I "outgrew" it....AND...it cost MORE than the Behringer!!
Mind you....I'm running this on a Part 15 FM station...so I really can't say how the Behringer stands up to high RF environments.....
If you just want analog audio, I'd go with either an internal or USB Soundblaster card. Every automation supports them, they're inexpensive, the audio quality is excellent, and they aren't super driver or Windows resource heavy on your automation PC. The only thing you should add to the sound card output is an active balance box like a Henry. That way you get a balanced 0-+4db balanced stereo output. Digigram and Audio Science cards have multiple outputs and are nice and all, but they're not as simple and reliable as good ol' Soundblaster. Especially if you're just looking for a stereo output.
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