KVR Audio

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:14 pm

I'm soon gonna be shelling out for some new gear. Can you guy's tell me if the following sounds ok (I've read MANY reviews and independant opinions on forums - all seem favourable):

Controller Keyboard >>>

CME UF6 'or' Novation Remote 61

Sound Card >>>

E-Mu 1212m

Headphones >>>

AKG K271

Headphone Amp >>>

PreSonus HP4

Now, some questions
1 - Will I need 'balanced' cables to connect the 1212m to the headphone amp?
2 - Can the headphone amp be used in conjunction with active monitors (I will be purchasing these in spring) or would I connect those straight to the soundcard as actives have their own amp?
3 - What is the best headphone amp for under £100?

Thanks for bearing with a n00b

Cheers guys

ras

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:03 pm

i've got the Emu 1212m, i've had nothing but good luck with it...i use the adat i/o, but if you can get away with stereo analog i/o, balanced cables are the way to go...you can run the box as far away as you need (within reason) without noise concerns, but unbalanced 1/4" sould be fine for short runs....if you need more input channels, Behringer makes an 8 ch pre with adat outs (Behringer ADA8000 Ultragain Pro-8 A/D/A Converter), people seem to like 'em...

i looked up the HP4 headphone amp and indeed it looks like you can hook up active monitors directly, it includes a dedicated monitor level control and mute, nice touch! i haven't done much headphone amp comparison in years, but if you are going to record lound guitars/drums/etc, make sure you will get plenty of CLEAN voulme from whatever you choose, it definatly makes a difference....

there's a AKG headphone/Presonus HP4 deal at Musician's Friend:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=l ... id/241541/

not sure if they ship to Europe though....

good luck!

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:33 pm

Thanks for the info man - appreciated

Just out of interest, what are you running to the ADAT interface?

cheers mate

ras

soulata · Post by **soulata** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:56 pm

ras2a wrote: Headphones >>>

AKG K271

Headphone Amp >>>

PreSonus HP4

hp4 is a good choice (although the new behringer powerplays give better bpb)

i prefer at fhp40 (or something) to akgs.

k

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:54 pm

I have just been looking at the Behringer POWERPLAY PRO-XL HA4700. Looks good, also it's only £69 (www.dolphinmusic.co.uk). However, it's a rack-mountable - a little too large for me (dont have a rack cab). I'm thinking of maybe going for the E-Mu 1820m - In this way I could connect my headphones directly...but would this be better or worse than using a 'dedicated' headphone amp?

thanks

ras

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:00 pm

ras2a wrote:Thanks for the info man - appreciated

Just out of interest, what are you running to the ADAT interface?

cheers mate

ras

i have a Yamaha AW4416 standalone DAW with the adat card, i had it before i got a computer that could do run native DAW apps...i got the Emu card because it was the cheapest way to go for adat i/o at the time, i think it may still be? out of curiousity, what is it that you plan on doing with your setup if i may ask?

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:04 pm

Hi Ross,

Yeah, I used to write computer based music many years back (talking 95/96 here). But I had to get rid of all my gear (Quadrasynth, Wavestation SR (sob) AKAI S2000 etc etc). But recently I've had a renewed interest (along with some spare cash...always helps). I've always said that I would get back into it when I could...and now I can - Albeit on a budget.

I used to write all sorts of stuff and also did some music for some sci-fi conventions here in england.

Tis good to be back...

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:50 pm

ras2a wrote:Hi Ross,

Yeah, I used to write computer based music many years back (talking 95/96 here). But I had to get rid of all my gear (Quadrasynth, Wavestation SR (sob) AKAI S2000 etc etc). But recently I've had a renewed interest (along with some spare cash...always helps). I've always said that I would get back into it when I could...and now I can - Albeit on a budget.

I used to write all sorts of stuff and also did some music for some sci-fi conventions here in england.

Tis good to be back...

sorry, i wasn't clear...i meant what are you trying to record as far as live instruments vs. synths (hard or soft), asking because of the cans amp, i thought you might be doing a few people at once (not that it's any of my business

), i wondered if analog stereo i/o would be sufficiant, maybe a small mixer would be better than a cans amp for example.....

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:12 pm

ross g wrote:sorry, i wasn't clear...i meant what are you trying to record as far as live instruments vs. synths (hard or soft), asking because of the cans amp, i thought you might be doing a few people at once (not that it's any of my business ), i wondered if analog stereo i/o would be sufficiant, maybe a small mixer would be better than a cans amp for example.....

My apologies. Well I don't 'plan' on using any live instruments - just soft synths/samples etc. So a mixer is prolly not required for me. However, feel free to make some recommendations for me? What would, say, £200 get me? It's possible that I may want my sis to lay down some elec guitar stuff later - so now you mention it, a mixer may be handy)

cheers ross

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:38 pm

ras2a wrote:
ross g wrote:sorry, i wasn't clear...i meant what are you trying to record as far as live instruments vs. synths (hard or soft), asking because of the cans amp, i thought you might be doing a few people at once (not that it's any of my business ), i wondered if analog stereo i/o would be sufficiant, maybe a small mixer would be better than a cans amp for example.....
My apologies. Well I don't 'plan' on using any live instruments - just soft synths/samples etc. So a mixer is prolly not required for me. However, feel free to make some recommendations for me? What would, say, £200 get me? It's possible that I may want my sis to lay down some elec guitar stuff later - so now you mention it, a mixer may be handy)

cheers ross

if you are just doing stuff by yourself, a VERY small mixer might be better,you've got inputs when you need them for mics/synths/fx, etc, if a mate jams with you, you got the channels and you can use a splitter cable for cans...if you are doing mostly soft synths you may not need the Emu breakout box (ie if 2in/2out is sufficiant), but that may also eliminate the need for a mixer altogether....

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:55 pm

Ross, can you make some recommendations for a small mixer - high quality/low noise?

thanks matey

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:27 pm

i don't know all the brands, but i've known the mackies to always be good, Yamaha makes a mixer for under US$100 that's supposed to be very good for the money...here it is:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=r ... id/630048/

can't really go wrong with that baby....

ras2a · Post by **ras2a** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:59 pm

ross g wrote:i don't know all the brands, but i've known the mackies to always be good, Yamaha makes a mixer for under US$100 that's supposed to be very good for the money...here it is:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=r ... id/630048/

can't really go wrong with that baby....

No way, I was actually looking at that one on several sites here in the uk. Great minds think alike

thanks Ross, you've been a great help

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:21 pm

ras2a wrote:
ross g wrote:i don't know all the brands, but i've known the mackies to always be good, Yamaha makes a mixer for under US$100 that's supposed to be very good for the money...here it is:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=r ... id/630048/

can't really go wrong with that baby....
No way, I was actually looking at that one on several sites here in the uk. Great minds think alike

thanks Ross, you've been a great help

no problem man, good luck to you, keep on posting!

i forgot to mention, my friend has that Yamy board on his home setup and says it's tits, and they talk it up at the store i used to shop at (i've been doing mailorder mostly besides the pawnshop finds), plus i've never had a major problem with any yamy stuff, i still got my DX100 and she still works fine ....

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:42 pm

Why Emu? E.g. the AudioTrack Maya1010 PCI card is very affordable, has eight analog inputs/outputs with pretty decent AD/DA converters.

Two outputs can be switched to be headphone outputs. These drive pretty loud and I don't have any need to get an amp for my cans. And you can send the same outputs to your active monitors!
http://www.audiotrak.net/maya1010.htm

The same card goes as the ESI ESP-1010, which has a 19" breakout box instead of the 5.25" breakout box of the Audiotrak.
http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=54

Advice on some gear?