I'm contemplating upgrading my soundcard to something a bit sexier. I only need a few ins/outs (as long as one of them is digital) & I also want DSP effects/synths on it. At the minute the current contenders are:

1/ New Emu 0404 - nice looking card, dirt cheap. Not sure about the sound quality - haven't had chance to test it out. Only has effects
2/ New Emu 1212 or 1820 - Again, good looking card - uses same A-D as protools systems (woooooo!). Effects only
3/ 2nd hand Creamware Luna - Mmmmmm, creamware. Effects, synths - if it's 1/2 as good at the Pulsar is supposed to be then it'll be stunning. My favourite at the minute
4/ 2nd hand Yamaha DSP 2416 - Cheap, and a bit old - but still supposed to kick arse.

Does anyone own any of the above? I doubt if anyone has been able to compare and of them, but if you own one - let me know what you think.

Cheers

SS

PS: Before anyone says it - I can't afford a PowerCore

i cant reccomend the Emu 1820m enough

fantastic soundcard, and the dsp fx are quite good, and have no strain on your cpu.

quote:

Originally posted by TranceMasterUk i cant reccomend the Emu 1820m enough fantastic soundcard, and the dsp fx are quite good, and have no strain on your cpu.

meh.. they're OK... You have to render them in real time which sucks... I prefer Waves and/or the FX on my Powercore

If you can't afford a powercore, why not a UAD-1.. they go for about $100 less.

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Yeah the emu onboard effects suck, i never use them. The uad is awesome and some of the plugins are great, my favorite being the pultec eq. I never tried an eq that sounds this good, you gotta hear it too believe it. Poco is a no miss, masterx3 virus(not included) and the classicverb.

quote:

Originally posted by trancenrg69 Poco is a no miss, masterx3 virus(not included) and the classicverb.

Those are basically the only plugins that I use out of the 12 that came with my Powercore... plus the (seldom) MegaVerb if I'm doing a real world instrument like a piano or guitar since MegaVerb is the port of a $6000 room emulator

I feel like all I do on this forum is talk about the Powercore... those ******s should start paying me or something

But those are the only worthwhile threads lately..

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo meh.. they're OK... You have to render them in real time which sucks... I prefer Waves and/or the FX on my Powercore

get the vst version that they released then.

can use them in your host.

yes of course i prefer waves, but he wasnt asking about waves or other fx.

i still highly reccomend the emu 1820m

as said said, the fx that can be used on its dsp chips are quite good, didnt say they where the best, cause there not.

master x5 for the poco is amazing!!

Thanks for the replies guys. I had also considered the UAD-1 aswell - I'll check out the prices today.
Alanzo - I've been using the Waves plugins for a while and they do indeed rock - in dream world I'd be able run them on a DSP card and not strangle my CPU with them!
It's interesting to hear that you guys with the Powercore aren't using much other than the Virus plugin & 1 or 2 effects. For the prices I've seen the PoCO + Virus plugin, I'd still buy a hardware Virus, but thats just me - I like knobs

EDIT: I've just checked out the UAD-1 and I see it's only a DSP card with no I/O. Not sure if I wanted to go with a 2 card system.

That is not the reason me and others like alanzo bought the pco/virus bundle. It's is a no brainer, that working with vsts is more efficient, easier to use, costs less, and increases workflow. Alot of big producers are using vsts more and more these days because of those reasons. Hardware has it's advantages as you just stated "tweaking thos knobs" but thats why more companies are releasing midi controllers with more than enough knobs to tweak to your hearts content. Also you can pick up a virus A for very cheap and use that as a controller for the poco virus. there are many possiblities at your disposal.

Still a Virus KC is one sexy machine, I'll admit.

A UAD card isn't supposed to have I/O's. It's powers the uad plugins to be used in your sequencer. It's all internal, and one of the major advtanges of that is no external noise. The plugins UAD are modelled after like the 1176LN or Pulteq are old hardware units that have been the industry standard in many studios for many years. Problem with analog gear is it introduces noise. Just be warned, don't expect the UAD to make your tracks sound professional just by adding a few inserts. You have to understand how the plugins work. It's the subtle differences that make all the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by trancenrg69 Just be warned, don't expect the UAD to make your tracks sound professional just by adding a few inserts. You have to understand how the plugins work. It's the subtle differences that make all the difference.

DAMN! You mean the UAD doesn't come with a 'MakeMyTrackGreat' plugin
Its about time someone made a PCI DSP Card that you can just load VSTis into - now that would rock.

Yeah well they got somethin similiar to that but its external.

http://www.museresearch.com/receptor_overview.php