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Delta 44, E-MU 1212M

C

ChiefOperator

Folks-

I'm building an automation system for a small station and am looking at soundcards. Most of my experience is with ASI and Digigram. Both of those cards are too expensive for the station's budget.

I'm looking at the Delta 44, mostly because I have experience with it. However, I'm also interested in the E-MU 1212m. Can anyone weigh in the E-MU? I would appreciate any experiences with either card. Finally, I'll be using analog outs.



http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=9872

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta44.html

Thanks!
 
You should be ideally asking this question of your automation system vendor as it's that application's support of your hardware that's the most critical factor.

I find it hard to believe that even the basic ASI 5111 at around $550 could be "out of budget", but if it is search for some used Digigram or ASI cards. You can frequently find some on fleabay for less than the cost of a new Delta or e-Mu card.

As for a software-independent card comparison - the Delta would probably be better suited to your needs. The E-Mu would be better suited for a production environment as it has higher sampling rates plus digital I/O - functions generally not used in automation playout apps.
 
I have used the E-MU card on a production computer and it worked just fine for my standards. However, the drivers included a mixer program that seemed a little confusing to setup. Being a man, I didn't ever consider reading the instructions, so it took a little longer than I would have liked to setup.

The Delta 44 is a beautiful sound card, and again, just fine for my standards. I like the external box because I don't like alot of cables hanging off my computer. The mixer software is a little more streamlined and easier to use.

For Automation uses, I would highly suggest the Delta 44. I uses them often and I like them a lot. I think most automation systems will interface with the Delta quite well too. The E-MU is a little better suited for production.
 
Add my vote for the Delta 44. Simple to install, I too like the outboard patch bay, and the newly released drivers are easier to work with than the ones that came with mine. Not a lot of documentation, but they are fairly intuitive.
 
Okay - the Delta series cards are very good IF:

1. You use Windows XP
2. You use an older driver (like 5057)

M-Audio was bought out by Avid, and the drivers have never been the same for the Deltas. The current Windows Vista / Windows 7 drivers are worthless (pops and clicks that cannot be fixed). I have a Delta 1010 on my home Win7 machine that I have to replace due to these issues.

There has been screaming and knashing of teeth in the M-Audio forums for months with M-Audios reply being "were working on it"....for months, no betas, no public testing, nothing.

http://forums.m-audio.com/forumdisplay.php?36-Delta-Series

That said, I have a plant full of Delta 44's on iMediaTouch automation (on XP Pro) and no issues. If you plan on ever using Windows 7, stay clear.
 
VoiceOfReason, Thanks for the info. I guess I am happy because I am using them on Windows XP machines, but so far I have had no issues with driver 5074. Granted I have only been using this new version for a couple of monthes but so far no issues. Also, thanks for the link to the M-Audio forum.
Nostalgia.
 
I had issues with Cool Edit on newer driver versions - once in a while a recording would be full of pops and clicks, but restarting the machine would solve it for a bit.

Went back a few driver versions and it's now stable, so that became my in-house official version.

It seems options for low-cost audio cards with balanced +4 I/O are dwindling. Yes, you can get low end Digigrams or ASI's for a few hundred bucks, but that's still a lot of cash for smaller operations.
 
Get a Delta 44, however make sure you pick up the old software if you'll need to use the routing capabilities. It seems the newer mixer app has all of those options removed.
 
Can anybody provide me with a link to the older drivers and/or mixer software? I run into a lot of the Delta 44's in the field and it might be handy to have the best software.
 
Here's a suggestion.....look for a used Echo Layla 24-96 pci-card and interface box. It's discontinued but you can find them on ebay for around $150. It's got 8 ins and outs and Echo does a good job on driver support.
 
One more question on the delta 44. Is adjusting audio input levels on the card flexible. I want to feed the (input) audition side of a Dynamax MX console into this card. Thanks
 
Lazy J said:
Can anybody provide me with a link to the older drivers and/or mixer software? I run into a lot of the Delta 44's in the field and it might be handy to have the best software.
Click to expand...

I have it. I use Delta's on my streaming encoders. If you still need it, message me and I'll zip it up and put it on my ftp for you.
 
Lazy J said:
I have used the E-MU card on a production computer and it worked just fine for my standards. However, the drivers included a mixer program that seemed a little confusing to setup. Being a man, I didn't ever consider reading the instructions, so it took a little longer than I would have liked to setup.
Click to expand...
Agreed, nice card, but software is just a bit too complex for the average user. Although the idea behind it is good.
 
richard.vanderveen said:
Agreed, nice card, but software is just a bit too complex for the average user. Although the idea behind it is good.
Click to expand...

Ah! You have presented the ultimate dilemma we face in forums where we are trying to share information and be helpful (as opposed to the problems we face in forms when we are just arguing over political opinions, etc.).

Who is an average user? Is it polite to say: "I am something north of the average user. Go ahead and lay it on me, full strength." Or is it EVER proper to say: "I can see from your posts you are something south of average so I will make this simple... just for you."

My first reaction to your post: "But an average user would never use THESE cards we are discussing.

I'm not poking at you. I just saw a bit of humor in your post, and this is a day when I can use all the humor I can stumble into.

I have found this thread useful as I use an Audiophile 24/96 which is in the same family, and works with some of the same drivers apparently. The thread started out a year ago, and came back to life in the last few days. I assume a year ago figuring out what to do about drivers for Windows 7 was still "test pilot" area. Having just become up-close and friendly with Windows 7 in the last 4 or 5 weeks, I am having to re-invent some of the same wheels talked about a year ago. The thread has been helpful.

Now, can someone steer me to the thread that helps me determine if I am "the average user" or just how far below the mark do I fall? ;D
 
According to a recent presidential comment: we are all below simply because we don't understand how public money is spent.

Maychance, I'll decide to keep more of mi dinero private.
 
TomZ said:
According to a recent presidential comment: we are all below simply because we don't understand how public money is spent.

Maychance, I'll decide to keep more of mi dinero private.
Click to expand...

Maybe I pushed the envelope a bit in trying for humor.... but your post is profoundly "off topic". Go find a political forum somewhere and knock yourself out.
 
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