Tag: Sound cards

One of the most advanced external audio interfaces of Roland comapany is a FA-66, designed for professional studio work via Firewire connection. It can receive signal from other devices with 96 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits per sample precision, wherein internally signal is converted from digital to analogue and vice versa with 192 kHz frequency. On its frontal panel there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack connectors with sensitivity control knobs, instrumental Hi-Z mode switch and clip indicator for second one of them; digital inputs switch with power, output and synchronization indicators; mono/stereo and control switches and volume control knob for Direct Monitor function; TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output and main outputs’ volume control knob. To both inputs +48 V phantom power can be connected, they are balanced; device can work in full-duplex mode ( playback and record sounds simultaneously ). On back panel of interface there are : ground connector; power adapter input; Firewire/adapter powering switch; Firewire inputs of different sizes; internal sampling rate switch; phantom power and limiter switches; MIDI input and output; optical digital input and output; 4 balanced TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; 2 RCA gold-plated inputs; and their sensitivity control knob.

Noise level of analogue inputs of Roland FA-66 is -95 dB, signal to noise ratio for outputs is 105 dB, for inputs 102 dB; device can be powered from adapter or Firewire connection and draws 650 mA maximum. In Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 audio interface works via specialized drivers with WDM and ASIO 2.0 interfaces support; in Mac OS X via built in drivers with Core Audio interface support; via which it works with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Device’s body is made from aluminum and has nice rounded corners; its sizes are 164 ( width ) x 148 ( depth ) x 44 ( height ) mm and mass is 0.7 kg.

Package contains : Roland FA-66 audio interface itself, FireWire cables with connectors of different sizes, CD-ROM disk with drivers and different programs, power adapter, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is very good with great characteristics and large amount of connectors and functions; wherein there is need to note that FireWire ports are available not in all computers, so, studio computer should have them in order to work with device. It can do the job, which USB audio interfaces can perform ( for example of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, ESI, Roland itself, M-Audio and other manufacturers production ), and among them there are devices equal to it in quality and connectors amounts and types terms. So, here is need to look on devices’ prices, accordance of their characteristics to tasks, which interface will perform; and availability of different ports of studio computer.

Company ESI has USB audio interface UDJ6, oriented on playback of 6 sound channels ( mainly this is needed on live performances ) and able to work with 96 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits per sample precision. On frontal panel of device 4 RCA gold-plated outputs are placed, on back panel : USB port for communication with computer and powering, power indicator and TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output ( its contacts are inside and they are nickel-plated ). Audio interface works with maximal sampling rate only with 2 channels, with larger channels amount it works with sampling rates up to 48 kHz.

ESI UDJ6 has following characteristics : output signal level -10 dB, 100 Ohms impedance, digital to analogue converter works with 112 dB dynamic range and THD+N -94 dB, headphones output ( maximal power 60 mW, signal to noise ratio 110 dB and ( THD+N )/S -70 dB, 0.03 % ); device is powered from USB port and draws maximum 250 mA. Audio interface works in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 via specialized drivers with ASIO 2.0, GSIF, MME, WDM and DirectSound interfaces support and in Mac OS X 10.4 and newer via built-in drivers with Core Audio interface support; via them device works with modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) and applications for DJs. It sizes are 6 ( width ) x 7 ( depth ) x 2 ( height ) cm.

Package contains : ESI UDJ6 audio interface itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and Image-Line Deckadance v2 LE program, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is good, but it has narrow specialization and here is need to look on its price and prices of audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, M-Audio and other manufacturers : among them can be interfaces with the same or larger amount of analogue audio outputs, much wider functionality and the same or even lower price.

Company M-Audio released new external sound card Micro DAC, allowing to reproduce sound with better quality, than built-in sound cards of mobile devices, and having sizes of flash drive. Device has : 1/8″ mini-jack analogue headphones output and digital optical, high/low impedance switch for headphones, USB plug for connection to computer ( desktop or portable ). Sound card supports 48 kHz and 16 bits work mode; is powered from USB port; and its body is made from aluminum.

Package contains : M-Audio Micro DAC external sound card itself, warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : novelty is interesting and allows to receive sound of higher quality, than built-in audio cards of mobile devices, and has small sizes and mass. From the other side : its price is 100 USD – for smaller sum there is ability to buy high quality entry-level studio audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, ESI and other manufacturers and receive much more functions and support of 192 or 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample work modes. Yes, they are larger and have bigger mass, but give much more possibilities and the same way allow to receive sound of much higher quality, than built-in audio cards of mobile and desktop computers give.

Among professional audio interfaces for large studio use there are devices, which can work through FireWire/USB/MIDI ports, for example, Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610; it can work with smapling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision. On its front panel there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, able to work in instrumental Hi-Z and microphone modes, instrumental mode, compressor, +48 V phantom power and PAD function switch buttons and their LED work indicators and amplification level control knobs for both inputs ( to them MIDAS preamplifiers are connected ); 2 TRS 1/4″ jack headphones outputs with volume control knobs, stereo/mono and Direct Monitor function switch buttons with their states LED indicators; indicators of states of analogue inputs and outputs, FireWire, USB, MIDI, optical and coaxial inputs and outputs, digital connection selection switch, volume and mixing balance knobs and button-selector of channels for volume control. Back panel of card has : power adapter input; MIDI input and output; USB and FireWire ports; Kensington Lock slot; optical and coaxial inputs and outputs; 8 balanced linear TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; and 2 linear balanced input connectors of the same type.

Connectors of Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 have following characteristics : frontal inputs ( 102 dB dynamic range, impedance 1 MOhm in instrumental Hi-Z mode and 3 kOhms in microphone mode ), back panel inputs ( dynamic range 100 dB, 47 kOhms impedance ), outputs ( 200 Ohms impedance, 8 dB maximal output level ), headphones outputs ( 10 Ohms impedance, 22 dB maximal output level ); device can receive power from 100 – 240 V and 50/60 Hz power lines and consumes 20 W of energy. Audio interface sizes are 50 ( height ) x 241.3 ( width ) x 161 ( depth ) mm and mass is 1.1 kg ( it seems, that its body is made from aluminum ). For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0, WDM and MIDI interfaces support; in Mac OS X device works without additional drivers with support of Core Audio interface; through them device works with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others.

Package contains : Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 external audio interface itself, USB and FireWire cables, power adapter, warranty card and user’s guide; after purchase there is ability to download from manufacturer’s website DAW Tracktion and VST/AU effects and instruments sets. Audio interface is great : with large amount of connectors and good characteristics, it is designed for professional studio use and has according price; for smaller sized studios there is ability to find audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer itself, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other manufacturers production with smaller connectors amount, the same quality of components and lower price.

Among products of Focusrite company there is external USB audio interface Forte, having 117 – 118 dB real dynamic ranges. It can work with sampling rates up to 192 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision; to its microphone inputs Focusrite preamplifiers are connected. Its top side has LCD display and work indicators and combined knob-button control; frontal side has TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output. Its back panel has : power adapter input, USB port for communication with computer and powering, loom socket ( allowing to use different kinds of inputs connectors ) and analogue balanced left and right TRS 1/4″ jack linear outputs. Loom connector has XLR and TRS 1/4″ jack inputs for microphones and other signals sources; one of the device sides has Kensington Lock slot. To microphone inputs +48 V phantom power can be separately connected, it is available only with power adapter use; they also can work in instrumental Hi-Z mode.

Chips of Focusrite Forte, handling digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions work with 120 dB dynamic range; accounting analogue part values for them go down to 118 and 117 dB accordingly, these are very good characteristics for audio interfaces. Card’s ports have following characteristics : microphone inputs ( THD+N 0.0007 %, noise level -128 dB ); linear inputs ( SNR -116 dB, THD+N 0.003 % ); instrumental inputs ( SNR -111 dB, THD+N 0.003 % ); analogue outputs ( THD+N 0.0008 % ); headphones output ( SNR 116 dB, THD+N 0.0008 % ); channels isolation is 90 dB. Device is bundled with Focusrite Midnight plugins suite, having VST instruments and effects, and Forte Control application; for it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, accordingly, via which device can work with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. Device body is made from aluminum, its sizes are 170 ( depth ) x 116 ( width ) x 36 ( height ) mm and mass is 476 g.

Package contains : Focusrite Forte sound card itself, USB cable, loom connector, power adapter, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is great : it has high sampling rates, precision and dynamic ranges and compact analogue inputs connection; before purchase there is need to look on prices of this device and close audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite itself, Roland, M-Audio, ESI and other manufacturers production, choosing the most appropriate one for specific tasks.

Company Roland released compact audio interface Super UA for recording and playback of sound with support of 352.8 kHz sampling rate and 32 bits per sample precision. With such frequencies it communicates with computer, internal digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions are performed with sampling rates up to 192 kHz. On its frontal panel 1/4″ jack and 1/8″ mini-jack headphones outputs are placed; on top side : buttons for microphone inputs 1 and 2, linear input, headphones outputs and linear outputs work modes control, volume control knob and signal levels indicators. On device’s back panel there are : power adapter input, ground connector, USB port for communication with computer and powering, additional module connector, left and right TRS 1/4″ jack linear outputs and the same type left and right linear inputs. On additional module there are : 2 XLR microphone inputs with +48 V phantom power indicators and 2 XLR linear outputs. Analogue inputs and outputs of device are balanced.

Ports of Roland Super UA have following characteristics : maximal headphones output power 200 mW + 200 mW for 40 Ohms headphones and 65 mW + 65 mW for 300 Ohms headphones; analogue connectors noise level is -96 dB; linear inputs have 112 dB dynamic range, microphone inputs 111 dB and linear outputs 118 dB. Maximal current draw by device is 1000 mA; sizes of main module are 115 ( width ) x 161 ( depth ) x 44 ( height ) mm and mass is 490 g, of additional module 136 ( width ) x 65 ( depth ) x 42 ( height ) mm and 360 g. For sound card drivers are released for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 and newer operating systems with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, accordingly, through which it can work with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others; device can also work in DSD mode.

Package contains : Roland Super UA external sound card itself, power adapter, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is very good : high sampling rates and precision, balanced inputs and outputs and large amount of connectors; here is need to look on its price, quite possible, that audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, M-Audio, ESI and other manufacturers production are better money investment, because for small and medium sized studios 96 – 192 kHz sampling rates and 24 bits per sample precision are enough.

Among Behringer audio devices there is dock-station iStudio iS202 for Apple iPad ( 1, 2 and 3 generations ) with advanced audio recording and playback functions. Device can work from 2 A and 12 V power adapter or 8 AA batteries; on its top panel following controls are placed : buttons for phantom power +12 V switching for microphone inputs, Hi-Z mode switch for input 2 and AUX mode switch for inputs; separate knobs for amplification control of 1, 2 and AUX inputs; monitor mode switch for headphones ( 1, 2 and AUX inputs, signal from iPad ); volume control knobs of main outputs and headphones. On its frontal panel 1/8″ mini-jack output for headphones is located; on back panel there are : power switch button; power adapter input; composite video output; USB port ( probably, device can be used as external USB audio card without connection to iPad ); MIDI input and output; two TRS 1/4″ jack inputs for expression and foot switch pedals; 2 TRS 1/4″ jack main balanced outputs; ground connector; 2 RCA linear/AUX outputs; combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack output, which can work in microphone ( balanced ), linear and instrumental Hi-Z modes; another one such input, which can work only in microphone ( balanced ) and linear modes. On bottom side of Behringer iStudio iS202 there are batteries compartment and panel and holes for connection to instrumental stands.

Behringer iStudio iS202 connectors have following properties : microphone inputs ( gain in 25 – 55 dB range, maximal input signal level -7 dB, 2.6 kOhms impedance ); linear inputs ( gain in 0 – 30 dB range, maximal input signal 16 dB, impedance 40 kOhms balanced and 20 kOhms unbalanced ); instrumental input ( gain in 0 – 30 dB range, maximal input signal 16 dB, 16 MOhms impedance ); AUX input ( linear mode : amplification -infinity – 0 dB, +22 dB maximal input signal; phono mode : amplification -infinity – 52 dB, -40 dB maximal input signal; both modes : 47 kOhms impedance ); main outputs ( signal level -infinity – 6 dB, maximal output level 13 dB, impedance 240 Ohms balanced and 120 Ohms unbalanced ); headphones output ( signal level -infinity – 6 dB, maximal output level 16 dB, impedance 150 Ohms ). Device sizes are 305 ( width ) x 216 ( depth ) x 75 ( height ) mm and mass is 1 kg ( without power adapter, batteries and iPad ).

Package contains : Behringer iStudio iS202 dock-station itself, power adapter, 3-year warranty card and user’s guide. All in all device is interesting and has lots of audio connectors, part of inputs and outputs are balanced; however here is need to look on dock-station and external studio-level USB audio interfaces : it is possible, that such interface with similar ports sets of Steinberg, Behringer itself, Focusrite, Roland, M-Audio, ESI and other manufacturers production cost less. Their purchase is more suitable, because they can tightly integrate with modern DAWs ( FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others ) via specialized drivers with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio support.

Company M-Audio released new external DAC Transit Pro with support of work modes up to 384 kHz sampling rates and 32 bits per sample precision. It is able to convert digital USB signal to optical one and output analogue signal to headphones connectors with built in amplifier. On sound card frontal panel 1/4″ jack and 1/8″ mini-jack headphones outputs with their volume control knob are placed; on back panel : optical output, optional power adapter input and USB port ( for communication with computer and powering from it ) are placed.

M-Audio Transit Pro has following characteristics : signal to noise ratio 112 dB, THD+N 0.003 %, support of headphones with 16 – 600 Ohms impedance and support of Direct Stream Digital ( DSD64 and DSD128 ) modes. Audio interface is powered via USB connection, but can receive power via power adapter input, for example, when it is connected to notebook and there is need to save its battery. For it drivers are released for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.9 and newer operating systems.

Package contains : M-Audio Transit Pro external sound card itself, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. This audio interface’s main task is to convert digital USB signal to optical one with ability to output high-quality analogue signal via headphones ports. For its tasks it is very good; but if there is need in more functional external sound card for wider range of tasks ( high-quality analogue signals recording, MIDI ports support, high number of analogue outputs and other functions ), then it is better to buy one of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio itself or other manufacturers production.

Among ESI devices there are compact audio interfaces, capable to record stereo sound, for example, PHONORAMA, supporting sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision. Its frontal panel has : 2 RCA inputs with gold-plated connectors for stereo sound recording; grounding connector; and Mini USB port for communication with computer and powering. Its back panel has : 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs for headphones and speakers connection or signal passing ( judging by ESI UGM96, only their outer rings are look like gold-plated, but connectors themselves are inside and they are nickel-plated ); and power and peak indicators for right and left channels. To card’s inputs preamplifier is connected for signal level increasing.

For ESI PHONORAMA drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interfaces support and for Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support, with which in modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) there is ability to use card’s capabilities to their full extent. Cards characteristics are as following : ( THD+N 0.0025 %, 10 kOhms impedance ), with Moving Magnet systems connection ( THD+N 0.03 %, 47 kOhms impedance ), with Moving Coil systems connection ( THD+N 0.08 %, 47 kOhms impedance ), linear outputs ( THD+N 0.0022 %, maximal output power 100 mW and 32 – 600 Ohms impedance ); analogue to digital conversions ( dynamic range 102 dB, S/(N+D) ratio -92 dB ), digital to analogue conversions ( dynamic range 108 dB, S/(N+D) ratio -97 dB, channels isolation 100 dB ). Devices usually consumes 1.1 W of power and 500 mA maximal current; its sizes are 6 ( width ) x 7 ( depth ) x 1.7 ( height ) cm.

Package contains : ESI PHONORAMA sound card itself, USB cable, optical disk with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio card is very good for its tasks and in comparison with similar Roland, Behringer and other manufacturers devices, it superior to them in sampling rate and bits per sample precision; wherein ESI devices usually cost less, than audio interfaces of other manufacturers.

Among USB audio interfaces of Focusrite there is portable device Saffire 6, oriented for reliable work on live performances; it can work with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision; to both inputs of interface Focusrite preamplifiers are connected. Front panel of card has : 2 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, which can work in linear/microphone and instrumental Hi-Z modes; signal amplification control knob, work mode and PAD function switches and signal and clip indicators; phantom power +48 V switch for both inputs; mixing control knob ( between input analogue signals and sound from computer ) and its work mode switch; device’s volume control knob and USB and MIDI connections states indicators; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) monitor headphones output, their volume control and its source switch. On back panel there are placed : Kensington Lock slot; USB port, through which it is powered and communicates with computer ( it has no need in additional power adapter ); MIDI input and output; 4 RCA outputs with nickel-plated connectors; and 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) balanced outputs.

DAC and ADC of Focusrite Saffire 6 dynamic range is 114 dB; accounting full analogue and digital parts, it goes down to 105 dB for analogue to digital conversion and to 103 dB for digital to analogue conversions; ports characteristics are as following : microphone inputs ( signal to noise ratio 105 dB, THD+N 0.0025 % ), linear inputs ( signal/noise 105 dB, THD+N 0.001 %, noise level -90 dB ), instrumental inputs ( signal/noise 105 dB, THD+N 0.0025 %, channels isolation 80 dB ), TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) balanced outputs ( THD+N 0.0025 % ), RCA outputs ( THD+N 0.03 % ) and headphones output ( signal/noise 103 dB ). With device Xcite+ package ( including DAW Ableton Live Lite 8, software synthesizer and sounds samples packages ) and VST/AU plugins package ( among them there are compressor, reverberation, gating and equalizer ) are shipped. For sound card drivers for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interface support and Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support are released, which allow modern DAWs ( REAPER, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live and others ) to use its capabilities to their full extent.

Device sizes are 220 ( width ) x 145 ( depth ) x 45 ( height ) mm and mass is 1 kg; manufacturer does not tell what amount of current device draws, but judging by amount of inputs and functions around 200 – 600 mAh. Package contains : Focusrite Saffire 6 audio interface itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Maximal sampling rate of device is not the highest one, but it has MIDI connectors, balanced outputs and high analogue connectors specifications. So, when there is choice between this sound card and devices of Steinberg, Behringer, ESI, M-Audio, Roland and other manufacturers, there is need to look on their prices and accordance of technical details to specific tasks, for which device is bought.