2 questions:

I am in the market for a PC.. all that I am looking at come with Vista. Anyone have experience using Vista.. is it ok, etc.

I use Cubase 4. I use mostly all vst instruments and audio files; - don't need a lot of inputs/outputs etc. but do need great speed with vsti processing.

What is a good midrange priced soundcard option for me?

I'm gonna use this thread to ask a question relating PCI & Firewire. I was recently told that Firewire is my best choice in terms of speed, however, after researching some more (which I should of done ages ago), I found on "Tweaks" guide that a PCI interface is still the best choice as it has the greatest speed... I suppose my main question is why do a lot of people choose Firewire over PCI? Thanks a lot in advance!

quote:

Originally posted by neverforget I'm gonna use this thread to ask a question relating PCI & Firewire. I was recently told that Firewire is my best choice in terms of speed, however, after researching some more (which I should of done ages ago), I found on "Tweaks" guide that a PCI interface is still the best choice as it has the greatest speed... I suppose my main question is why do a lot of people choose Firewire over PCI? Thanks a lot in advance!

The most likely reason is that there are many more Firewire interfaces than PCI based interfaces these days.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J The most likely reason is that there are many more Firewire interfaces than PCI based interfaces these days.

Ah right, thanks. I was planning on a Firewire AI which was why I asked.

That and PCI is on it's way out. PCI-e coming in it's place. There are almost no soundcards for PCI-e, if any at all. Firewire will last longer

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quote:

Originally posted by neverforget (1)...I found on "Tweaks" guide that a PCI interface is still the best choice as it has the greatest speed... (2)I suppose my main question is why do a lot of people choose Firewire over PCI? Thanks a lot in advance!

(1)Well, this is pretty logical. A FW interface has to overbridge a certain distance, this distants can make it slower, however, this isn't noticeble with the current soundcards. PCI(e) doesn't have to overbridge this distance, that's why it's 'theoratically' faster.

(2)Most people choose FW or USB because of the all in the box functions. You will see that FW or USB soundcards have a 'break-out box' with (depending on the type) multi in/out, spdif, mic in, midi etc etc... It's pretty hard to fit that in a PCI(e) slot, plus, a break-out gives a company much more room to install hardware (like AD/DA converters, DSP chips, hard-wire connections etc...

Another factor might be that the most 'high segment' audiocards, mostly use USB or FW connections (check: MOTU, RME, Apogee, PreSonus etc..), than you'll have no choice other than USB of FW.

And btw, a soundcard looks cool in your rack

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Last edited by Theran on Nov-18-2008 at 15:04

Thanks a lot guys. I need a breakout box anyway so Firewire probably is the best choice.

quote:

Originally posted by neverforget Thanks a lot guys. I need a breakout box anyway so Firewire probably is the best choice.

Keep in mind that there are PCI/PCIe solutions out there that include a breakout box.

One thing I forgot to ask... The 1394a adapter on the new desktop I'm buying will not work with a Firewire 800 interface, will it? I take it I'd have to have 1394b to run an 800? It will however run Firewire 400, yes? Thanks again

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Keep in mind that there are PCI/PCIe solutions out there that include a breakout box.

Will do

Firewire interfaces are also handy in the fact that you can move them around, for example if im messing with traktor on the laptop i can hook it up to it, if im in Live on the PC i can hook it back up to the PC, saves me having 2 interfaces

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PCI cards with balanced outputs?