Guitar Gear Forum

I've pretty much had enough of the BSOD's from my ESI interface that I use for mixing playback.

I've narrowed it down to either the RME ADI-2 or the Mytek Stereo96 DAC, both have s/pdif inputs that I can use for recording the Kemper and pretty good D/A quality from what I can tell.

Anybody use either? For now I'm leaning towards the Mytek since based on gearslutz hearsay the RME has slightly less low end and the Mytek is about $50 cheaper.

One funny thing of note about the Mytek, the ones sold in Europe cost about $600 and say "made in Poland" on the back. The ones sold in the US say "mytekdigital.com" on the back and cost $1000. (It's the same exact device with different text if that wasn't obvious).

Mytek is top O the line pro stuff . I don't think you could go wrong there .

Well Benchmark DAC2 DX would be top of the line. But it's a bit much for just D/A.

Edit: Blech, it won't work. Neither of those can be used for recording through USB.

Doesn't anyone make anything like the ESI I have, but that actually works properly?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... oCD-Dw_wcB

will this work

I was actually just looking into the Babyface. So yeah I think it'll work.

Only problem with it is that it only has optical input for s/pdif, so I need to get a converter for it so I can use it with the Kemper.

Maybe I should just get an old Sounblaster PCI card that has s/pdif connectors off amazon, they're like $20. Then connect the Mytek to that? Should work right?

Edit: I tried installing a different driver version for the ESI, hopefully it'll get rid of the glitching.

I don't know but perhaps there are some pro cards that have the options you need . I use Lynx audio cards and they have been great all these years . I use a Lavry converter and a friend uses the Myteks with the same cards . He also has a Babyface and speaks very highly of it .

Actually I just looked into the Lynx L22 as well. Edit: I mean E22.

Everything else looks fine but I'm not too fond of the fact that I'd need to chain three different cables and adapters between the Lynx and the Kemper for s/pdif connection.

I'm hoping that changing the driver version fixed the glitching on my current interface and I could just use it. But I still kind of want to get a Mytek or a used Benchmark for DA.

nakedzen wrote:Actually I just looked into the Lynx L22 as well.

Everything else looks fine but I'm not too fond of the fact that I'd need to chain three different cables and adapters between the Lynx and the Kemper for s/pdif connection.

While it may be a fine way to do it I think it may be a little out of the norm . Most folks would probably be using these with the AES/EBU connections into a converter . I would just plug the XLR from that into the converter and rock. I had a L22 is was a excellent piece , before I went to the AES16 and the Lavry for 6 inputs . The L22 has the converter built in so you don't need another converter to use it . Nice and simple and quality .

^ninja edit'd

I think I'll go with the Lynx E22 card once I get the funds. Probably will be a big step up from the ESI even if it remains stable with this driver version.

That will be a huge step up and give you what you want and also have other input options .What are your DAW's specs ?

I use Reaper. What kind of specs you mean?

I don't need any more inputs though, this is strictly for at home use for mixing. I use the Steinberg MR816 at the rehearsal space for vocs and drums.

nakedzen wrote:I use Reaper. What kind of specs you mean?

Computer specs , CPU , ram pci slots etc etc

That's not a DAW though.

AMD Athlon X2 260 3.2gHz, 8gb ddr3 ram, 250gb SSD drive, pcie slot,

nakedzen wrote:That's not a DAW though.

AMD Athlon X2 260 3.2gHz, 8gb ddr3 ram, 250gb SSD drive, pcie slot,

digital audio workstation is the whole package You will benefit greatly by adding a recording drive me thinks

Well to be exact, no it isn't. Either software or a standalone recording device. Not a PC. But I digress.

I'm using an external USB drive (WD Elements something-or-other) for recording. Would getting an internal drive be an improvement, what do you think?

yes it is ! but who cares , yeah I think so maybe run it by gear sluts if you are a member there . I'm still using velociraptors and I have a separate drive for everything , sound samples ( ez drummer and synths and whatever else ) storage , OS , Record drive , and clone backup . If and when I go to a SSD it will probably be just for the OS maybe a record drive . as the seek time and FSB is not an issue , however writing to a SSD maybe a factor but I think those guys at gear sluts have already proven it all works nicely and pretty sure it's still the norm to have a separate write to audio drive . it doesn't have to be a ssd but it will keep you from writing to the OS drive over and over and give the best latency settings .

I didn't pick from your post if meant you use external drives or internal SATA (or PCIe) drives?

nakedzen wrote:I didn't pick from your post if meant you use external drives or internal SATA (or PCIe) drives?

Internal assuming you have a tower , an external would work if you have a sata for external drives . I have a tower so they are all internal .

Yeah I have a tower. I think I'll get another of those SSD drives I got for the OS for recording. Seems to work pretty well, no problems this far. It's a Kingston SSDNow V300.