Good basic soundcard for G5? Are M-Audio Delta cards realy that unstable?

Question

Level 1

19 points

Good basic soundcard for G5? Are M-Audio Delta cards realy that unstable?

There are plenty of posts regarding soundcards, but there are a few specific points on which I'm hoping someone might help.

I currently have a Delta 66 on my old G4, (with which I'm very happy) and I'm getting a G5 Dual 2.5G (with PCI-X slots).
So, should I upgrade to a PCI-X compatible Delta 44 or 66 (or get mine converted)?
I keep coming across bad reports in the forums on Delta/M-Audio drivers and stability..or should I be looking at firewire? I always assumed PCI should be more stable and efficient?
I have a seperate TLAudio Fat 2 front end with which i'm very happy, so I don't really need more inputs and pre-amps.

Is anyone happily using a Delta 44 or 66 on a G5?? Are the seemingly high number of negative comments simply a function of the high number of Delta cards out there?
Any advice much appreciated!

G4 867DP MDD SD. G5 Dual 2.5G

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 3:37 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 23, 2007 3:48 AM in response to Philip Hall

Philip, I was once an advocate of M-Audio cards - but that was in my PC days. Since growing up to a Mac G5 I naturally bought an M-Audio card (Audiophile 192). From day one I had nothing but problems. To cut a long story short the hardware works but the drivers are very poor on the Mac!

Just as an aside I did splash out a lot of money on a Fireface 800 and that is just plug and go. Never had a single problem with it ever. Plus the sound compared with the Audiophile 192 is startling.

I appreciate not everyone can afford a Fireface 800, but can you afford to put up with constant hassle with M-Audio kit? Not me.

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Answer 2

Apr 23, 2007 4:27 AM in response to Philip Hall

Same problem here! I went from PC to Mac and had an Audiophile 192. For 6 months I watched my Mac and Logic crash 4,5,6 times a day. DO NOT buy M-Audio. Go buy a MOTU 828 MKII or a Traveler, just something with stable drivers. I own an MOTU Traveler and have had no problems since switching over.

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Answer 3

Apr 23, 2007 6:30 AM in response to Philip Hall

the only driver problems you will have with m-audio will be firewire ones. pci m-audio is solid as a rock.

i have a delta 1010. high spec converters and general sound as good as anything. you could do what i have done and have it modded at black lion audio. you can read about the gubbins of a delta 1010 and a few other interfaces besides there.

i worry about firewire these days. too many firewire busses get fried and there can be issues if you are using class compliant stuff such as certain interfaces and dv capture cards. my feeling is, you have the pci slots - you should use them.

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Answer 4

Apr 23, 2007 6:59 AM in response to Philip Hall

Hi, i would second rohan's comment about pci vs FW. (hope you had a good holiday in W.A.)
the amount of problems clients have when using the most common FW i/o's here are numerous, and it's with fresher mac's than my ol' girl.

another point of interest, maybe:
the mic pre's on most of the common units don't cut pro vocals well at all.
we've tested a few lately, and none sound that great.
anyone truly interested in top quality vocal inputs should start looking at dedicated mic pres with optional digital outs.
motu, particularly, should be avioded, unless you do the Black Lion mods.
the sound quality of the motu 828mkII pres could be likened to running chalk down a blackboard, except i think it'd offend the chalk.
best, david r.

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Answer 5

Apr 23, 2007 7:00 AM in response to Rohan Stevenson1

i agree. PCI-X cards are fine, and use the same converters as the Digi 002.

the one thing i had to do when i used a delta 44 card was search for the driver directories, and remove the jaguar.kext files. for some reason the m-audio driver loads modules that are not needed, and can cause problems. once i removed the files that were not needed for my system and rebooted. i saw a ton of difference.

but i have since moved on to the FF800, and like RTM says...it is some machine. i really dig it.

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Answer 6

Apr 23, 2007 7:23 AM in response to Philip Hall

Where's noeq?

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Answer 7

noeqplease

Level 4

3,589 points

Apr 23, 2007 7:57 AM in response to quadrupolesmurf

Good Morning foruuuuuuuuuuuum!!!

I "almost" chimed in on the M-Audio...but I'm tired of beating that drum.And someone else did it first...

Anyways,after being sick for a few days,I bet some are happy to hear me "quiet" down.

I'll be posting less and less,as I am gearing up for a major studio remodel.My two car garage is looking like it needs something...I know...a recording studio!!!

Just remember to keep revving the RTFM engine for those poor saps who need it,and always bash companies that bash us with bad gear.Be nice to those who are nice to you too...the Golden Rule.

Cheers

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Answer 8

Apr 23, 2007 10:01 AM in response to Philip Hall

You really think MOTU sounds bad? I've got a Traveler and the sound quality of that compared to the garbage M-Audio PCI card was like night and day. I've worked with a few different audio interfaces over the years and I consider MOTU one of the better ones I've worked with...especially compared to M-Audio. Guess everyone's different, but you'll never see me touch an M-Audio product again in this lifetime.

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Answer 9

Apr 23, 2007 3:16 PM in response to noeqplease

Just remember to keep revving the RTFM engine for
those poor saps who need it,and always bash companies
that bash us with bad gear.Be nice to those who are
nice to you too...the Golden Rule.

That sounds fair.

Good luck with the studio remodeling.

MBP 2.16 LP7.2.3 RME FF800 Mac OS X (10.4.9) RMX Reaktor 5.1.2 Reason 3.0.5 Live 5.2 Battery 3.0.1 Recycle 2.1 DFH

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Answer 10

Apr 23, 2007 3:19 PM in response to stevechristian

I had the non-HD 896 and I was completely disappointed. I sold it and got a FF800 and there's a huge difference. I don't know about the newer MOTU models, but I have no desire to buy anything from them again (with the exception of Ethno).

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Answer 11

Philip Hall Author

Level 1

19 points

May 3, 2007 5:04 PM in response to quadrupolesmurf

Thanks for all the responses on this.
Some quite polarised opinions on the M-Audio Deltas!
Most of the alternatives mentioned seem to be offering a lot more inputs/ SPDIf/ preamps/etc that I just don't need, and won't be using: I'd rather pay more for a few good A/D convertors, without all the extras!
Does such a product exist???

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Answer 12

May 3, 2007 11:39 PM in response to Philip Hall

the m-audio 1010 with breakout comes with the same converters as the 002R.

it is only 300-400 USD.

i would have to say that the RME HammerfallI series is probably around 500 to 600 USD.

that will get you some great converters, and also have the bells and whistles.

you just have to dig around. i mean m-audio isn't the downright worst in the world. the delta pci series is a good standard for home/project studios. also check into ECHO devices.

good luck with your purchase.

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Answer 13

KOROS

Level 2

290 points

May 4, 2007 1:01 AM in response to Philip Hall

I have 2 Motu 2408's with DA/AD converters giving me 48 in/out through the Motu PCi card and an 828 Mk II with firewire.
The 2408's link to the Mixer In's outs, sends, returns, the 828 is used when I'm out of the studio and need 8 ins and outs live. In the studio it is connected to a patch bay to give additional routing options.

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Answer 14

May 4, 2007 3:55 AM in response to Philip Hall

As said, PCIx is fine - I've been running a Delta 66 on my G5 for about 3 years now and NEVER had a problem with it. Firewire doesn't sound like fun from whats been said though...

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Answer 15

May 4, 2007 5:27 AM in response to siderealxxx

fw not fun as far as m-audio goes.

with RME and MOTU there really aren't any problems. i think buying the RME FF800 was my most relevant purchase after buying Logic Pro and my Mac.

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